FAKENHAM & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF TRADE
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD AT
BUTCHER ANDREWS FAKENHAM
ON 8TH AUGUST 2011

PRESENT
Brett Corder (Chair), John Lingwood, Carl Lake, Julie Sheldrake, Steve Hall, Andrea St Quintin

APOLOGIES
Chris Vanderloo, Philip Moy, Diane Shilling

MINUTES OF JUNE MEETING

Ran through and signed as present and correct.

A few updates arose from those minutes as follows:-

Galton Blackiston has agreed to be the new Patron. JL will speak to him about attending a future meeting of the Chamber;
It was unknown if any subs remained outstanding and this will be addressed when DS is present at the next meeting;
JL has spoken to the company that provides the Christmas Lights and is awaiting a response;
The new website for the town, designed by SH, is renamed as Fabcom

MATTERS ARISING

Nothing to report

CORRESPONDENCE

Nothing to report

NEW MEMBERS

Nothing to report other than no response to date from The Running Horse

TREASURER’S REPORT

A healthy balance was reported

FAP – JOHN

The AGM was held recently. The current Chairman is due to retire. A replacement has not yet been appointed.

KICKSTART - BRETT

The Fakenham Fayre takes place on 27th August. The procession starts at 1pm with the Fayre commencing at the Millenium Park at 2pm. There are numerous events occurring in the town in the weeks leading up to this event, including PubFest, quiz nights, beer festivals and a “Fakenhams Got Talent” contest at The Running Horse. Further details can be found on the Kickstart Facebook page.

The Chamber will have a stand. ASQ will prepare a flower arrangement which can be raffled. BC will arrange a basket from his shop and a cake for another “Guess the Weight of the Cake” competition. A family ticket to the Fireworks Display will also be a prize.

JL will provide the marquee.

BC will write to all chamber members. He needs a list of all current paid-up members (Action DS). There will be an opportunity for members to advertise on the day. New boards need to be purchased to accommodate and JS will look into costs (Action JS).

A rota needs to be finalised for the day. DS, PM and CV need to advise of their availability. JS and JL can do 3-6pm. Cover is needed for 1-3pm. ASQ can do the last hour. (Action DS, PM and CV).

ANY OTHER COMMUNITY UPDATES

Nothing to report

PR PRESS UPDATE

Nothing to report

RECENT PLANNING APPLICATIONS TO TOWN COUNCIL - JOHN/BRETT

Nothing to report

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Fireworks

The next meeting will be the main Fireworks meeting;
BC will organise the posters again as it was agreed that the colouring competition worked well last year and is a good way to involve the local community, but the number of categories would be reduced to infants and juniors. The prizes would remain as last year. (Action BC);
DS to write to all members offering advertising space. Cost of £25.00 agreed as per last year (Action DS);
BC to do a plan of dates for run up to Fireworks as he did last year (Action BC);
JS provided print out on Scotty’s Little Soldiers (from DS) and JL provided an update. They are very keen to be involved as the main charity this year. JL will be doing some publicity with them on North Norfolk Radio on 31st August. It was agreed that they would benefit from 50% of the funds raised with the other 50% divided equally between 5 local charities. BC will speak to Adrian at the Church to obtain a list of local charities (Action BC);
Query as to who can open the fireworks display with a few local celebrity potentials outlined.

Website

SH updated the Chamber on the progress of the revamped website. He will circulate the test site to all committee members for all to look and feedback. There will be a google map link on each page. All members will have a new user ID and will need to set up a new password, but this is straightforward. Members can then edit their details. The photos of committee members are on the site. SH asked that feedback could be given in the next four weeks;
Facebook and Twitter are to be set up and a newsletter link is available via mailchimp.com;
The need for a distinctive logo/picture/phrase was discussed. The Chamber needs a brand. BC will speak to some 6th Formers at the Fakenham College to see if they can come up with some ideas (Action BC);

Presidency

BC will not be standing for re-election as President;
JS will not be standing for President;
PM to be asked if he would be willing to stand, or an advert will be placed in the Fakenham Sun to highlight the need for this role to be filled (Action BC);
Committee to give this point some further thought

FIREWORKS POSTER COMPETITION 2010

October 2010: The Chamber recently ran a Bonfire Night colouring competition between local schools, which attracted around 1200 entries. Judging took place at Fakenham Parish Church and winners recieved £30 book tokens, with runners up being given £15 tokens.

Winners and runners up were Isaac Blackford from Weasenham Primary School, Chloe Register from Fakenham Juniors, Megan Fox at Hindringham Primary and Marcia Pope from Fakenham Juniors.

Weasenham and Hindringham Primary Schools, as winners, were each awarded £100, with Fakenham Juniors being given two £50 runners up awards.

The colourful posters, which promote the Fakenham Fireworks Display on 6th November, are now brightening up the windows of the empty Pearce Electrical shop in Fakenham's Oak Street.

FIREWORKS AT THE BARRACKS

October 2010: The Chamber's 2010 Fireworks Display will once again raise money for 'Help For Heroes' and will feature an appearance by personnel and vehicles from Swanton Morley barracks. North Norfolk Radio will be there as well to provide more entertainment, of course.

This provided a great photo-opportunity for the local press this week, as members of The Chamber, the lads from the barracks, radio station representatives and Lawnwise & Leisure (who run the display) were all on hand to promote this year's event.

FAKENHAM FAIR 2010

The Fakenham Chamber of Trade attended the 2010 Fakenham Fair. Pictured below are members of the committee on the Chamber stand.

The amount raised by the Chamber on the day was £128.50, which was donated to Kick Start Fakenham towards future town events. Pictured below is KRYSTAL FEIN who was visiting on holiday from Germany and won a hamper from Corders Budgens, presented by Chamber President Brett Corder.

Also pictured here is NEIL RASPBERRY, winner of the Fakenham Fair 'guess the weight of the cake' competition.

COMMITTEE NEWS

Stuart Cuttler has sadly resigned from his position as President of the Chamber due to personal circumstances.

The committee would like to wish him well for the future and thank him for his time and effort over the last 18 months.

HELP FOR HEROES DONATION

The photo below was taken at the presentation evening for Help for Heroes. Money was raised from the 2009 Chamber fireworks display. The cheque was for £2,500.00 and the evening was attended by helpers from the fireworks display.

Left to right in the photo are:-

David Hunter, Major James Chandler, Lord Craig, Stuart Cuttler, Mike Coates, Brett Corder

NEW MEMBERS WELCOMED

We currently have over 60 Chamber members' businesses listed on our website. If you run a business in the Fakenham area, or know a business owner who could benefit from membership of the Chamber, please get in touch.

Find out more on this page

NEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS REQUIRED

The Chamber Committee is actively looking for new Committee members. Anyone who is interested should contact the Secretary, Diane Shilling by e-mail or by telephone on 01328 820861

NEW HONORARY MEMBER

North Norfolk Radio has been voted the Radio Academy's 'East of England Station of the Year' and they broadcast to the region from their studios in Stody, North Norfolk. As well as entertaining us, much of their time is dedicated to supporting the local community through charity work and they make many public promotional appearances 'on the road' throughout the area.

They have worked closely with us for a long time and have contributed greatly to the success of our annual November firework displays. We're now pleased to welcome this very successful local business to the Fakenham Chamber as an honorary member.

FAKENHAM FARMERS MARKET

The Farmers' Market is held in the Market Square between 8.30am & 12noon on the FOURTH Saturday of every month (please note this is not always the LAST Saturday).

A wide variety of fresh top quality local produce, seasonal variations, usually 25 to 35 stalls. A traditional market with atmosphere, value and entertainment, come early to avoid disappointment.

Website available at www.fakenhamfarmersmarket.co.uk