Branch Information

Help - information or advice.

Please feel free to telephone or email committee members with any concerns you may have (see below).

Coffee mornings.

     The Branch holds a coffee morning on the first Saturday in each month from 10.30am until approximately 12.30pm. Usually there are two or more committee members present at these good humoured gatherings, giving members an opportunity to air their views and get to know their fellow members in pleasant surroundings. The Chichester coffee mornings are held at the St Martin's Tea Rooms, St Martin's Street in January, March, April, June, July, September, October and December, and at the Royal Oak (which is on the right-hand side of the road going North on the Chichester road) in Midhurst in February, May, August, and November. Please note that the room we use at the St Martin's Tea Rooms is upstairs (free of charge), but all attending are expected to order a refreshment before proceeding upstairs. Please note that the September coffee morning for Chichester is put back one week due to Party Conference in Torquay

Party Funding

     Political parties, of all persuasions, never have enough money! We, in the Chichester Constituency Association, are fortunate that, so far, we have been able to keep afloat financially - but only just! If our bank balance is getting low, or extra funds are needed for a particular project, then this will be made known in a branch newsletter. However, if you are able to make a donation to the Chichester Branch at any time, please, send a cheque to the Branch Treasurer or Chairman. Cheques should be made payable to UKIP Chichester.
     A positive way in which you can boost local funds and, at the same time, rattle our opponents, is to recruit new members. UKIP rules state that the recipient office/branch of a new member's joining fee can keep the money for their own purposes. Thus, by ensuring new members send their membership application form and cheque to Derek Hunnikin, branch funds will be boosted. All membership renewals must be forwarded to Head Office. Membership application forms are obtainable from Derek.

Publicity

     UKIP is frequently criticised for not generating publicity for its cause. The BBC receive huge financial grants from the EU when a programme has shown the EU in a favourable light and, no doubt, commercial broadcasters receive similar inducements. We have first-hand evidence of national newspapers printing members' letters, having edited out all reference to UKIP. Thus, those who do get our cause into the public domain are to be congratulated. Adverse publicity tends to be unrestricted. These facts should induce all of us to write to the BBC, ITV, and newspaper editors, as frequently as possible. Only by such action will it become apparent, to those who control the media, that perhaps they are misguided to ignore the tide of hostility generated by the public towards the EU.

     The root of our problem could be that, in October 2004, the European Court of Justice gave the EU Commission the power to control the press!

Pressure groups do a wonderful job by informing the public - but are toothless. Only MPs can repeal the European Communities Act, thus securing our withdrawal from the EU, and only a large UKIP membership will persuade existing MPs to support our aim. At the last election UKIP had about 30,000 members and the Lib/Dems 80,000. Having more members than the Lib/Dems would act as a huge wake-up call to the political establishment and the media.

It follows, therefore, that the sooner we recruit 100,000 members the sooner we shall leave the EU.

Informative websites:     www.ukichichester.org     www.taxpayersalliance.com/eu

                                          www.ukip.org                     www.eurosceptic.org.uk

Chichester Branch Steering Committee
as at January 2010

Election of Steering Committee members takes place at the Annual General Meeting but, when there are vacancies, with the agreement of existing committee members, new people can be co-opted to serve. The Steering Committee is restricted to 12 members, plus the Chairman. Jeanne Paramour has stated that she is happy to stand down if another person, from North of the Downs, is willing to take her place. The committee generally meets on the morning of the third Wednesday of each month, and members are welcome to attend as observers, when their comments will be welcome. Observers are not permitted to vote on resolutions. Committee meetings are held at Lavant Memorial Hall and start at 10.00am. However, should you wish to attend, please, check with a committee member that arrangements have not been made to postpone the meeting to a later date. Some Committee Members have served for five or more years and new talent would be welcome. As an observer, attending a committee meeting gives one the opportunity to gauge what contribution you could make to the efficient running of the branch.

There are currently three vacancies on the Steering Committee.

Chairman                         7 North Road, Selsey. PO20 0BW
Bernard Smith                 Tel: 01243-604186     e-mail; bernard.a.smith@gmail.com

PPC                                   Crossways, 4 Cherrylands, Fernhurst, Haslemere GU27 3PH
Andrew Moncreiff              Tel: 01428-643159   e-mail: amm@streamfast.co.uk
                                             Andrew is our Prospective Parliamentary Candidate

Treasurer                            56 Worcester Road, Chichester PO19 5DZ
Michael Mason                  Tel: 01243-781003     e-mail: lisa.mike@tiscali.co.uk

Asst Treasurer 1                  Joan Pearkes           Tel: 01243-531404
Asst Treasurer 2                  Nigel Sitwell              Terl: 01243-773002

Membership Secretary       Situation vacant. Volunteer required, please.

Press Liaison Officer            21 Newlands Lane, Chichester, PO19 3AT
Jim McCulloch                       Tel: 01243-773752   e-mail: ukip@mculloch21.fsnet.co.uk
                                                  Jim also acts as 'agent' for prospective candidate for local and
                                                   parliamentary elections; in addition he controls our website.

Peter Beukers                        Tel: 01243-613281   e-mail: peterbeukers@hotmail.com

Juliet Richards                       Tel: 01243-641482 Committee Meeting Minutes Secretary

Lady (Joan) Vallat                  Tel: 01730-81311813

Jeanne Paramour                   Tel: 01730-814728

Derek Hunnikin                        Tel: 01243-532509

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