All members of Bury Liberal Democrats are invited to our next Members Meeting on Monday 22 October 2012, 6.30pm.

The meeting will take place at the home of Andrew and Ann Garner, 82 Glebelands Road, Prestwich M25 1HL (close to the 135 bus route, and about 5 minutes walk from Prestwich Metrolink).

The meeting is open to all members of the Liberal Democrats in Bury. It is an important meeting which will be looking at our strategy for local campaigning. More information from ann@burylibdems.net.

A number of elections will take place on 15 November 2012.

Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner
Elections will take place across Greater Manchester to elect the first directly elected Police and Crime Commissioner. The Lib Dem candidate is former Police Inspector Matt Gallagher – we’re the only party standing a former Police Officer for this important post.

More information on Matt’s campaign here.

Bury Council By-Elections
Following the resignation of two Conservative councillors, voters will also be electing Councillors in Church Ward and North Manor Ward on 15 November 2012.

Help needed: Are you available on the night of 15 November 2012 to attend the Bury part of the count for the Police and Crime Commissioner elections from 10.00pm (We expect this to also be the count for the Bury By-Elections. If so please contact Tim Pickstone as soon as possible (07976 831 686 – tim@burylibdems.net)

Manchester Central Parliamentary By-Election
The parliamentary by-election is also expected on 15 November in Manchester Central Parliamentary Constituency.
The team in Manchester need our help – and there is delivery and canvassing activity happening every day, and phoning which can be done from you own home, and work on polling day itself.

If you can help Lib Dem candidate Marc Ramsbottom then there is more information on his campaign here.

Date for your diary:

All Liberal Democrat Party members in Bury are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting of Bury LIberal Democrats on Monday 26 November 2012, 6.30pm. Venue to be confirmed.

This is an important meeting which will set the strategy of the Association for the coming year, and elect the Officers and Executive Committee for 2013. All members are encouraged to make every effort to attend.

Papers, and a call for nominations will be circulated early in November.

On Sunday – 30th September, your local lib dems are running a coffee morning to raise funds for Macmillian’s important Cancer support work. 11.00 am – 2.00pm – all welcome!

Last year they raised a staggering £10million through this ‘World’s Biggest Coffee Morning’ event. We’re doing ours on Sunday due to work commitments. Address- 82 Glebelands Road, Prestwich, M25 1NJ. Tel 773 5450 (mail@anngarner.net).

Fiona has donated wine and a wicker basket towards the raffle – huge thanks.

I’m going to get different kinds of sweets for a guess how many and draw a donkey for a ‘pin the tail’ game – so if its not in your diary, please mark our event as worth coming to – and if you can also help, yes please!

Fiona and I have also put our diaries together for our next Lib Dem Women’s event – Jean has offered to talk us on a tour of John Rylands library followed by lunch in the historic Town Hall.

Hope to hear from you soon,

Ann – Membership Development Officer

A Parliamentary by-election will take place shortly in Manchester Central constituency. We have an excellent candidate, former leader of Manchester Lib Dems – Marc Ramsbottom

Marc’s campaign has a new HQ: Unit 4, Chancel Place, Store Street, Manchester, M1 2WB (behind Piccadilly Station)

From this Friday, 28th Sept, Marc needs help bundling up 30,000 surveys for Royal Mail delivery!

If you can help, please meet at new HQ from 10am. Turn up any time that suits you! There’s plenty of parking and we’ll have the kettle on!

Please click on the link below to let us know when you are coming:
http://doodle.com/fzmc87h55raawtvx?lt=2

Greater Manchester Liberal Democrats have selected retired former police Inspector Matt Gallagher to be their candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner.

Matt Gallagher said,

“I have 30 years police experience, and a detailed knowledge of the Greater Manchester Police. That is why I am best candidate to work with police officers and cut crime across Greater Manchester.”

He added,

“Survey after survey shows that the public would prefer to see a former copper as Police Commissioner than a failed former politician. The people of Greater Manchester now have that choice.”

Matt has a strong public service record. His grandfather was a police officer, his wife and daughter are mobile carers and his son is a Royal Marine Commando.

Mr Gallagher served for thirty years with GMP, six as a front line inspector in the force’s elite Tactical Aid Unit, where he confronted the city’s drugs gangs and organised football hooligan’s, and targeted anti-social behaviour and gun crime.

South Manchester MP John Leech added,

“I supported Matt because he was made for this job. 30 years a copper, six years in the Tactical Aid Unit. Better a copper with an understanding of the job that a failed former minister.”

He beat former Councillors Jackie Pearcey and Qassim Afzal polling over half of the first preference votes.

Just a reminder that there is a ‘Stuffing – with tea and cakes’ afternoon this Friday (31 August 2012) ) from 1-3pm at Ann and Andrew Garner’s House 82 Glebelands Road. All members or supporters welcome – email ann@burylibdems.net for more information or if you can help.

Can you help for an odd evening or two? Our Lib Dem friends over in Bolton, who also lost lots of Councillors in May – have a very (for us) winnable by-election in a few weeks – The Hoskers and Hart Common Ward to get David Wilkinson (who was a much liked, popular cllr and lost by a small margin in May) re-elected to Westhoughton Town Council. They can only achieve this by improving their canvassing data – which involves knocking on doors (which I will help you do) – can you help? I can give lifts over in my car, from Prestwich, please email me asap with when you are available.

Fancy Afternoon Tea – with good conversation and letter stuffing for a mailing to supporters on Friday 31st August at Ann Garner’s house from 1-3pm? We’d appreciate your help and offers of cake are also welcome!

A Lib Dem organised Macmillan Coffee Morning – part of their World’s Biggest Coffee Morning Event is being held by members at my house on Sunday 30th September – from 11-2pm to raise much needed funds. Its an opportunity for Lib Dems to openly invite members of our local Prestwich Community and supporters to join us and raise funds for this much needed cause as well as get some leafleting done too. I’ve already had offers of help from members of our Lib Dem Women’s Group – let us know what you can do to bake or help or attend the event (do you have a contribution for a hamper to raffle etc).

This is just a quick update on what’s happening with the Bury Lib Dems.

There are still a few un-claimed raffle prizes from our Lib Dem post-election party (it was a good wake actually) – numbers: 15, 160, 195. Please let me know asap and if un-claimed I’ll offer them to the NW Dinner, next week.

Thank you to our members Kamran and Ann for offering their services to the NW selection Panel for the list of Lib Dems for Euro Elections. Please let us know if you too are interested in getting involved in local party and wider opportunities.

There are a few up and coming events we thought you might like to get involved with:

Saturday 7th July – Winning Teams – training on campaigning, best use of Connect and re-building our membership and helpers based (venue to be arranged for either Bury or Bolton). Its usually 10-3pm. Please get in touch for more details.

Saturday 14th July – Inspirational Brunch with Andrew Stunell MP. Draft programme available on request, but its 11-3, funded by the Gender Balance Task Force with inspirational speakers and activities to support people’s political journeys.

The next meeting of the local party is in August, with a date to be confirmed. Also in August is our annual summer BBQ, so look out for details about that, as well as our annual dinner which will be taking place in November and for which we’re now starting to plan. It will take something special to beat last year’s very enjoyable evening at Croma in Prestwich.

Sunday 27th May – Post Election – Members Get together – from 4pm – 7pm (all welcome inc children).
Ann (Membership Secretary) & Andrew Garner’s Home – 82 Glebelands Rd, Prestwich M25 1NJ (close to 135 bus route). Please bring a bottle, yourselves and something towards a fun raffle (to start building election funds for next time!). mail@anngarner.net

This is a social event for all local members and supporters, this Sunday afternoon from 15.00 at the home of Ann and Andrew Garner, 82 Glebelands Road in Prestwich. It would be lovely to see you there, and please feel free to bring along friends and family. The more the merrier! With any luck the weather will hold and it will become an early Summer garden party.

But if not, there is still time for that at the Bury Lib Dem Summer BBQ which will be coming up in August. Look out for an email about that nearer the time. So if you want to come on Sunday, bring a bottle and come on down. Raffle prizes gratefully received as well!

The next meeting of the bury Lib Dem Executive committee is also coming up soon. This will be at 6.30pm on Monday 18th June, also at 82 Glebelands Road in Prestwich. There’s lots to discuss in the wake of the elections, so mark the date in your diary. All members welcome.