Reports submitted to the Regional AGM 2005

Regional Officer’s Report

This, as you all know, is my final year as Regional Officer, we do now have a nomination for Vera Oates to take on this position and I am sure she will make a very good Regional Officer. I have certainly enjoyed my three-year stint in this position, it has been a revelation to see how much work goes on in the background with the Management Committee and the Executive Committee and I feel that it has been a privilege to take part in the meetings of these committees.
I wish every success to Vera and will obviously give her all possible assistance in the transition period.
I also take this opportunity to thank those members who are standing down this time, Celia Daniels, Noreen Iceton, Linda Irving & Kate Marsh. 

Barry

Treasurers Report

In the year 2004/05 we have made a profit of £1536.73 (draft accounts), this figure excludes the 2005 AGM costs and income and also includes some income for the Cumbria IST day, the costs of which have not yet been invoiced.  The attendance at the Durham Festival was higher than anticipated resulting in a profit of just over £1000, historically we have usually lost money on the one day festival.  IST events have paid for themselves this year.  As in previous years we have used the Regional Transfer to subsidise a large part of the costs of Wheel North.  We now have funds of just over £9000, these act as a contingency in case for example  we were in the unfortunate position of an event such as the festival running at a loss. 

Heather

Regional Training Officer's Report.

This year's Inset days have gone well to date. My thanks to the organisers.
Tyne & Wear IST event is very full, well over the maximum number of 30.
I suggest early booking to secure a place on training days. Please give full support to the March, April & May days to avoid the risk of not getting a place in September & October.
If you attend a training day outside our region please let me know for my records.
Remember that attending National Congress, National Training Week or studying on one of BWY's Modules counts as IST.

There is a change to the advertised IST events for this year.
The TPOT (Teaching Practice Observation Teacher) Training Day has been re-scheduled from November to April 2006, the weekend of 22nd-23rd. Anyone wishing to attend should contact Betina Mitchell.

Up to now booking on an Inset day has been on a first come first served basis but serving teachers must attend IST & have priority. Where numbers go well above the maximum of 30, student teachers may be asked to give up their place. I hope student teachers understand the necessity to do this and take it in good heart. You will be teachers yourselves soon.

Plans for Inset 2006 have not gone as smoothly as I would like for various reasons.
The chief one has been how to accommodate BWY's ruling that First Aid knowledge is compulsory.
Unfortunately we have lost the services of Heather Fleet who has the greater responsibility of BWY Chairman. Within our region, to my knowledge, we do not have a BWY yoga teacher who is also a qualified first aid teacher. So to meet our needs I have been negotiating with St. John Ambulance, British Red Cross & NHS Trust for South Cleveland and I have put together a package for the County Reps. to use to set up first aid training within their counties.
This training can be separate from normal IST or can be treated as IST at the CR's discretion.
The training will be a one day course to the standard of 'Appointed Person' & will carry a three year certificate. It will be requested that yoga teachers' specific needs will be included in the course. It has been recommended that the fee for this course is £20. There is a small amount of work still to be done then this should be up & running.

IST 2006.
To date only two Inset days are in place for counties Northumberland and Tyne & Wear.
Cleveland & Durham's is almost ready and these three events will be advertised in Winter Wheel North & Yoga Two. In the meantime I am working hard to get both of Cumbria's days in place.

Jean
 

Editors Report

No doubt you will be aware that Colin and Karen are currently travelling back to Australia via India and that I have taken over the position of Acting Editor until the AGM. I would take this opportunity to thank Colin and Karen for the work they have done both for Wheel North and for the two issues of Spectrum that Colin produced.

You may have also noticed that Wheel North is now being printed with all pages in full colour rather than the previous 8 pages. This is all down to a huge investment in a new printing press at CP offset printing which means now that all printing is carried out in full colour. In view of this we agreed at the last committee meeting to increase the cover price to 75p and to increase all advertising rates by 50%, this equates to the previous price for colour adverts. We are indeed very fortunate to benefit from the generosity of CP offset printing as they only charge us a sum that barely covers their costs. On top of this they also distribute copies to teachers throughout most of the Region free of charge (unfortunately they do not cover the Cumbria Area). If any teachers would like a supply of Wheel North magazines for selling to their class members then do please let me know.

Barry
 

Cleveland Report

We have maintained membership this year at around 50. This includes 1 DCT, 18 teachers and 7 student teachers.

During the year we have held 6 member days and 2 teacher support groups [also open to student teachers] at Nunthorpe Youth & Community Centre.

A good variety of workshops have also been held during the year at the Yoga Space thanks to the organisers Colin Thompson and his partner Karen. The Yoga Space moved earlier in the year to ‘Healing Hands’, a complementary therapy centre near Saltburn, and as Colin and Karen leave us to return to Australia we wish good luck to Leslie Wood who will take over as main organiser. Also we offer our thanks to Colin and Karen and wish them well for their future.

We held our usual joint IST day with Durham in April at the Arts Centre in Darlington. The subject was ‘Dealing with Back Pain’, taught by Maureen McCarthy. We had our maximum number of students in attendance and have taken on board the suggestion that the room was probably too small for the numbers present.

Val.
 

Cumbria Report

MEMBERSHIP Total: 104 (as yet 23.08.05)

IST 2005

IST No 1: Di Kendall – ‘Kinesiology, The Anatomy of Movement’ (15th May 2005)
IST No 2: Phil Xerri – ‘Basic Breathing , Pancha Kosha & the Chakras’ (15th October 2005) 35 delegates expected

IST 2006

IST No 1: Mohini Chatalini (Date to be confirmed – February 06 or May 06)
IST No 2: Pam Horton - ‘TPOT’ (22nd or 23rd April 2006)
IST No 3: Maureen McCarthy - ‘Bad Backs’? (14th October 2006)

COUNTY REP POST

Due to an unexpected turn of events in my personal life I have had to return to full-time employment which has put a considerable strain on my role as County Rep for Cumbria. I am conscious that since starting this new management post I have been here there and everywhere with my job and am often out three to four evenings each week. I just do not feel that I am doing justice to the post of BWY County Rep. I have been forced to recognise that the situation is only likely to get worse in the months ahead and am therefore reluctantly looking for someone who could take over. I am anxious not to let the Wheel down and do not intend to simply drop the work in someone else’s lap without offering support but I feel that there must be somebody out there who could give a little bit more time to it than I can.

When I took the job on last year I was extremely enthusiastic and feel really sad that circumstances have changed in this way. I can say, however that I have really enjoyed the job, particularly the contact with the membership and the Northern Region Committee, who are a very supportive group. I am happy to talk to anyone who may be considering the job and I will give an honest account of the commitment. I believe the workload is manageable if you are around in the evenings and weekends, can get over to Newcastle 4-5 times a year and have some time each week to handle the administration for the IST Days, enquiries etc. PLEASE GIVE THIS SOME THOUGHT!!!

IN GENERAL
Cumbria is going from strength to strength with the start of the North Lakes Yoga this year. There seems to have been an increase in other one day and weekend courses around the county as well so I hope this trend continues in 2006.

Celia Daniels
 

Co. Durham Report

At the end of November 2004 there were 80 members in Co. Durham and membership now stands at 72, of whom 25 are qualified (active) teachers.

The highlight of the year, as ever, was the Durham Festival in July – a one day event this year – the key attraction being Jayadhara, with support sessions from members of the committee. Back in April, an In Service Training Day was held in Darlington on the topic of how to adapt one’s teaching according to different back problems. This session was taught by Maureen MacCarthy and was well attended (perhaps too well attended!), by 30+ members.

The Darlington Yoga Group continues to be the most active part of the county, with a varied programme of monthly events, a summer school and more.

As most of you probably know by now, I am having to stand down due to other pressing commitments. We are lucky that, so far, one person has come forward to stand for the post of Durham County Rep. I would like to wish my successor well in the post and offer my heart-felt thanks to all the committee members for their kindness and support.

Kate
 

Northumberland Report

Current membership is 46, compared to 45 in 2004 and 2005. We have gained 6 new members since October 2004. There are 13 teachers, 1 DCT, and 3 student teachers. Karen Merkin-Eyre has left BWY and (Minutes edited for web publication at this point)
Foundation Course 1 with Maria Houston-Knight is due to start November/ December 2005.
IST day on Mudras and Bandhas with Pam Horton was well received.
Yoga Northumbria is focusing on Stannington as a venue for monthly events, as Wylam and Hipsburn have been poorly attended. Vimala Storey from Yogaville USA to teach at Stannington 3 December 2-4pm.
Bank balance is £159.50 (£66.00 paid to Stannington for future events). October 2004 was £269.50.

Om Shanti Sandra
 

Tyne and Wear Report

Membership 98
including: 28 Teachers, 19 Student Teachers, 26 Foundation Course Graduates.

This years IST Day with Diana Kendall on Chakra Vidya was a great success. Very, very well attended and a lovely atmosphere, with a shared lunch which gave us a chance to mingle. Diana was, as always, very interesting and inspiring.

Another successful Foundation 1 Course was completed in June 2005 with 11 Students gaining Certificates. I have also started the long awaited FC2 Course on 1 October, and I will be starting another FC1 at Gateshead College on 19 November 2005. Please inform your students about Foundation Courses - it has certainly brought more members into the BWY fold.

This is my last report, as I will be stepping down at this AGM, and making way for a fresh face. I have thoroughly enjoyed my 4 years as Tyne & Wear Representative and I thank you all for the friendship and support you have given me over the time. I am really delighted that the Student/Teacher Support Group is now up and running and is being well supported, and I thank Margaret Thornley for volunteering to continue to organise it. Although I am stepping down as Rep., I hope I will still meet up with you all at yoga occasions organised by someone else.

Love and Best Wishes, Linda Irving
 

Nominations for Committee Positions.