January newsletter

PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU'D PREFER TO RECEIVE AN EMAILED NEWSLETTER RATHER THAN A HARD COPY. FIRST TEN PEOPLE TO DO THIS WILL RECEIVE A FREE DRINK AT THE NEXT MEETING THEY ATTEND!


1 This month’s meeting is in the George Pub on Trafalgar Street in Brighton, in the non-smoking section - we have a table booked – on Wednesday, January 24 from 7.30pm. If you are coming from outside Brighton via the train station, walk under the bridge outside the station. This is Trafalgar Street, the same street that our old meeting place, the Nelson, is on. The George is the veggie pub at the end on your right. If you have any problems finding it call Rachael Glazier on 07939 258172 or Adrian Colley on 07944 566728 on the day.


2 This month's meeting is your chance to represent the branch at the 2007 Annual Delegate Meeting at the Holiday Inn in Birmingham, April 12 to 15. Our current record-breaking numbers (more than 250) mean that this year we can send three delegates instead of the measly two of previous years. So if you are interested in representing the branch then put your name forward either at the meeting or, if you can't attend, via email. If there are more than three candidates, the representatives will be decided by a vote on the night. You must be fully paid-up on the subs front to be a delegate.


3 The preliminary agenda for the ADM has been sent to us. We have two copies. If you want one, we can put it in the post asap. There are 190 or so motions, covering everything from an increase in subscriptions to a motion asking the ADM to condemn the Israeli conflict in Lebanon last year. You can download a copy of the agenda from the bottom of the page at http://www.nuj.org.uk/inner.php?docid=1072


If you want to propose an amendment to any of the motions then you need to come along this month and have it adopted, by a vote of the meeting, by the branch. If you can't make it, then email us and we can consider your request at the meeting. This is the only remaining chance you will have to influence the ADM. In March, we should have the final agenda and that meeting is the chance to influence and propose a branch stance on how our three delegates should vote on any motion. That is, the March meeting can instruct our delegates to vote a certain way on any of the ADM motions.


4 Thanks so much to everyone who responded to our email asking what you'd like from your branch. Among the various suggestions was a request to hold meetings outside of Brighton occasionally. Please let us know if you think this is a good idea, and if so, which town would be best.


We've also received plenty of ideas for talks: how to make more money as a freelancer; how to make it in book publishing; what editors really get up to; and lots of suggestions of potential speakers to approach. More ideas are welcome, including what would entice you to the occasional meeting. Answers on a postcard to nujbrighton@gmail.com or 6a Chatham Place, Brighton, BN1 3TP.


5 And thanks to everyone who turned up a the Christmas do last month. About 30 people attended and we just broke the 200 quid barrier when it came to totting up the booze bill at the end of the evening. If you have any pix we can put them up on the site.


6 We have copies of January's Searchlight, with in-depth assessment of the BNP’s 'successful' 2006 and what can be done to ensure they don't have a good 2007, Justice for Colombia mag and a small pamphlet from Working Class Movement library in Salford. Email nujbrighton@gmail.com and we'll bung them in the post to you.


7 Keep an eye on the branch website at www.nujbrighton.org.uk as it has the latest updates on NUJ campaigns, freelance meetings and general information on Brighton happenings. Feel free to add your own posts, just email nujbrighton@gmail.com to join in.


8 In case you missed it at the top, we'd love to cut down on the number of newsletters sent by post. Please let us know if you would like us to email the newsletter in future.