Letnet AGM 2018 Sunday 13th May Campbell Park

Letnet AGM on Sunday 13th May 3.30 to 4.00 followed by a picnic in the park, or at Hilarie’s if raining.

Several of the admin group members are planning to step down, so please consider joining the admin group and/or taking on a role. To help you see what’s involved, here’s a list of roles:
CHAIR (currently Peter)
The visible head of the group. Chairs admin group meetings and the AGM. Acts as spokesperson for local press, etc. Produces an annual report for the AGM, detailing the group’s achievements during the year.
TREASURER (currently Peter)
Keeps a record of the group’s sterling income and expenditure. Deals with expenses claims. Co-signs cheques. Produces accounts for the AGM.
SECRETARY (currently Sarah)
Takes the minutes of admin group meetings and the AGM. Writes letters to other organisations if/when necessary. Sends emails to members to notify them of events, etc. Maintains the email list of members.
NEWSLETTER EDITOR (currently Sarah)
Produces the newsletter approximately four times a year, from contributions from members and notices from the admin group, and emails it to members.
MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY AND DIRECTORY COMPILER (currently Emma)
Sends information about the group and membership forms (by email or post) to people enquiring about joining. Sends further information, including the directory, to new members. Keeps a database of members, including contact details and offers and requests. Uses the database to produce reports on membership for the rest of the admin group and to create the Directory, which is sent to members.  Produces an annual report for the AGM. (Requires Microsoft Access).
CC ACCOUNTANT (currently Val)
Receives electronic and paper translips and manually enters the transactions into a database. Stores hard copies of translips and makes back-up copies of the database. Creates accounts for new members and deletes the accounts of people who wish to leave the group. Produces statements for members 2-4 times per year, and emails individual statements and a balance sheet to members. Produces an annual report for the AGM. (Requires Microsoft Access).
CONTACT FOR MEMBERS WITHOUT EMAIL (currently Carol)
Prints and posts copies of the Directory, newsletter and other communications from the admin group to those members without access to email.
WEBSITE CO-ORDINATOR (currently shared by the admin group)
Posts reports to our website. Also deals with the technical side. Further improvements are needed!
PUBLICITY (currently shared by the admin group)
Ensures local organisations have copies of our leaflet. Writes occasional articles about LetNet for submission to the local press.
NEW MEMBERS’ CONTACT (currently vacant)
Contacts members when they first join the group, to offer help with filling in their offers and requests form, and to encourage them to come to forthcoming LetNet events.

MK Soup Friday 24th March

The next MK Soup is happening on  Friday 6th July at the Christian Foundation in Wolverton Square. There are usually at least 8 letnet members there scattered around the room. All are welcome to join in. Just ask at each table and you will soon find a letnet member.

http://www.mkfoodrevolution.org/mk-soup/

mksoup

Letnet reaches new Milestone

Peter Hughes, Chair of MK LetNet, and Lettie, the MK LetNet Mascot, with a basket of items made or donated by MK LetNet members (2)Have you herd? MK LetNet, the local skill-sharing group for the Milton Keynes area, has welcomed member number 500.  Our reporter caught up with Lettie, the MK LetNet mascot, to find out what it was all about.

MK News: Welcome, Lettie, and congratulations on reaching this milestone.

Lettie: Yes, it’s heifer so good – I could jump over the moon!

MK News: Yes, well. Lettie, I can’t help noticing that you are, in fact, a cow.

Lettie: No flies on you! Milton Keynes has long been associated with our concrete cows so, when MK LetNet was set up, the name chosen for our alternative currency was the concrete cow or cc.

MK News: And when was that?

Lettie: Over twenty years ago – and, since then, we’ve bullt a thriving group!

MK News: Enough cow puns!

Lettie: Sorry, you’re right, I was milking it a bit. Mooving on….

MK News: Could you tell me how MK LetNet works?

Lettie: I cud. LetNet stands for Local Exchange and Trading Network and MK LetNet allows members to give and receive all kinds of goods and services without the need for money. Members trade with other members using our alternative unit of currency: the cc – ccs have no sterling value and the amount charged is negotiable between the people trading. When a member spends ccs, their account is debited – this is not a debt, but a commitment to provide goods or services for another MK LetNet member at some time in the future. When a member earns ccs, their account is credited. Everyone has skills that could be useful to someone else and the LetNet system allows members to make creative use of all their talents, and gives access to a whole range of goods and services, without the need for cash.

MK News: What kind of goods and services?

Lettie: Cowntless things. Everything from ironing, gardening and shopping to proofreading, translation and computer support. We currently have members offering therapies such as acupuncture, shiatsu and reflexology; teachers of maths, music and various languages; and practical people offering carpentry, decorating and DIY. Some members make art and craft items, or bake cakes; others offer lifts in the car; and there are always items for hire, including gardening equipment and meeting rooms. If you find yourself with unwanted Christmas or birthday gifts, come along to one of our regular trading days and find a good home for them. You can even earn ccs by coming to one of our events and making the tea!

MK News: Sounds like a good system.

Lettie: Yes, but MK LetNet isn’t just about skill-sharing; we’re also a thriving social group. We have a full dairy of events, listed in our regular moosletter – everything from pub meals and theatre trips to walks and gardening days.

MK News: And you’ve just enrolled your 500th member?

Lettie: No, we don’t actually have 500 members, but we’re about to enrol member number 500. Every new member is given a unique number. For technical reasons, the first was number 100 and, over the years people have left the group and others have joined. We currently have just over 100 members, going up to number 508. We thought reaching member number 500 would be a bit of a milestone worth celebrating, so that person received a special box of goods made by our bullient members.

MK News: Great! Can anyone join?

Lettie: Anyone living in the Milton Keynes area, though under-16s need to have joint membership with an adult. Membership is free of any sterling charge, so you’d be udderly mad not to join!

MK News: So how do I become a member?

Lettie: Phone 01525 385153; write to MK LetNet, 4 Esmonde Way, Leighton Buzzard, Beds, LU7 4HE; email admin@mkletnet.org.uk; or check out our website: www.mkletnet.org.uk. And do it soon if you want to beef a part of our oxmas events.

MK News: Thank you for speaking to me, Lettie.

Lettie: You’re moost welcome.

 

Carol’s Garden Day

A wonderful Letnet day at my allotment, a true proof of the wonder of Letnet – so many of you came and the place is completely transformed. Thank you so much to Mary, Gail, Hilarie, Athina and Jonathon, Catherine and Michael, Peter and Jack, – and me of course! Lots of ccs winging their way to everyone who came12 July 14 Building the BBQ

 

Carol

On Ya’ Bike! – A Letnet Success Story

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LetNet Bike Project

LetNet Bike Project

A number of bikes were advertised through Letnet  I went to get one and took away a folding bike.  I contacted another member to enquire about the ‘Men in Sheds’ project as I thought that cleaning up the bike and bringing it back to life might be a lovely project for them.  He was not sure but I took it along and met all these men and had a cuppa with them, and then they took the bike out of my car and I left it with them, without having any clear arrangement other than saying I would pay for any parts needed, such as new tires.

Lo and behold, on Sunday, my bike arrived for my tea party with my bike, which as can be seen from the photo, looks gleaming and wonderful and I am very grateful to everyone involved.  I did pay CC’s for the bike.  So I regard it as a real Letnet success story – it just shows you what is possible through Letnet and a bit of initiative!

 

Murder Mystery Evening

War Cabinet Desk

War Cabinet Desk

Another fun evening solving both foul treason and a dreadful murder was had by Let-netters; and others in the underground War Cabinet London bunker (as shown above – temporarily moved to leafy Buckinghamshire due to the incessant bombing).  A 3 course wartime menu was served in the NAAFI upon production of ration cards.

Our thanks to George (Letnet member) for organising this fun Letnet event.