The Launch Night, and Juggling Workshop on Thursday April 3rd 1997 started at 8:00 p.m.and was organised by prospective new members Stacey Murphy, and Matthew Schofield. Expert juggling tuition was provided by members of the Huddersfield University Juggling Club, the evening was rounded off with a spectacular display of Fire juggling.

Members from Bradford, Leeds, and Rothwell Groups supported the event, a display on past and future events for the benefit of Prospective new members who attended the Launce was set up.

The National Chairman’s Column

After returning home from the National Conference in April I felt tired, but mildly exhilarated! Seriously though, I do feel a heavier responsibility than I did before the Conference, now I'm the first National Chairman of the new Plus! And I also set myself the task of promoting recruitment and expansion of Plus. However I also feel that we had a glimpse into the future of Plus at the Conference;

• Gary S showed that enthusiasm and exuberance can make a difference
• Clare Jones, Sheffield Plus showed us that there is a market for Plus amongst the young
• Geoff and Lis Buller, Lincs Quest, second Plus Group showed that there is a market for Plus amongst those over the age of 35
• North Thames and Chilterns Area showed that friendliness is key
• Northern Area showed that Development can take place with few hands to help
• East Anglia Area showed that Training benefits Plus and individuals
• London and South East Area showed the value of sound financial management
• Midland Area showed us that any crisis can be weathered
• Southern Area showed us that new ideas can come from the most unlikely sources

There were so many people to thank, I hope we included everyone, if not, then here’s a special thank you for those we missed.

At the June National meeting we appointed Kirsty van Lieshout as Publicity Officer, she has big plans to publicize Plus which I hope everyone will get involved with. We also re-appointed Dave Filer as National Activities Officer, I know this isn’t a Constitutional post, nevertheless the NEC felt the need for the post to co-ordinate activities and help with procedures for organising events for Plus nationally. Sadly no Training Officer was appointed, nor Internet Coordinator, though Mark Hewson stood in at the meeting.

Between now and the end of the year there are many exciting events planned, especially those for members nationally; there’s the Kings Lynn Group Summer Do which includes the National Rounders competition, the Milton Keynes MAD weekend which includes the National Karting organised by So’ton Friends (Plus) Group, Northern Area’s NEAT weekend in Sheffield which includes a new National Pool tournament and of course WASH in November.

At the June NEC meeting a small group led by National Publicity Officer, Kirsty van Lieshout was set up to create a new image for Plus, including a new logo, the group’s ideas will be presented to the July NEC meeting and launched nationally in September. Many opportunities for publicity are presented by the changes to Plus! The first week in October is National New Members Week, lets start planning and publicizing for it now, there are plenty of great events at Group, Area and National scales to promote to prospective new members and then by October lets sign up as many new members for WASH as possible and surpass the WASH 300 target.

John A Smith
National Chairman

Extract from Plus News Summer 2006

Deputy National Chairman’s Bit

I was a bit surprised when Ian asked me to write a piece for the Chairman’s bit in Plus News!

As I’m also Northern Area Chairman I must mention the Bradford Bargain Break, thanks to everyone who attended and made it such an enjoyable event, I’d also like to thank Janet Rintoul who was the chief organiser and motivating force behind the event – well done. Well done also to Richard Morton, this year’s winner of the National Go-Karting competition which was held on the Saturday. We are investigating the possibility of running the event again in 2006.

The latest NEC meeting was held in early October, this was the second that I chaired; I may be starting to get the hang of it now. Sandra Brogan said I was “masterful”, just don’t mention the apple pie!

The NEC and others are working hard to put the Area Lead Option for the restructure into practice. Read more about this further on and in the Gazette.

While writing this article the thought struck me that in a way 18 Plus will be a new organisation next year, so why not have a recruitment drive to Publicise the new 18 Plus?

All the Groups, Areas and National should be involved.

New 18 Plus!

New events!
New membership fee!
New organisation!

New 18 Plus!

It’s all very well having a new structure to make 18 Plus well organised at the administrative level, but if 18 Plus isn’t recruiting new members then we’re going nowhere. This would be a good topic for Onelist; let’s talk about recruitment ideas, but more importantly, let’s put the ideas into action as well!

I was recently asked where I’d like to see 18 Plus this time next year – settling in to the new structure, members getting involved in their Area Conferences to make decisions to ensure the continuation of 18 Plus into the future, new 18 Plus and Quest Groups being opened and all existing Groups recruiting new members.

When I first joined 18 Plus the slogan was;

The more you put into 18 Plus, the more you get out of 18 Plus!

John A Smith
Deputy National Chairman

Extract from Plus News Autumn 2005

Natiotional Federation of Plus Groups

Great Britain