FREE TRIP TO BRIGHTON! (22 Sept)

Would you like a FREE TRIP TO BRIGHTON during Labour Party Conference 2013?

As activists in Walthamstow CLP and 7days4stow are continuing their work alongside Movement for Change, here in Walthamstow we are organising a coach to take CLP members to Brighton for the day on Sunday 22nd September, to hear what our activists are working on.

There is guaranteed entry to the Movement for Change Fringe event, promising to be one of the most engaging and interesting events at conference this year.

As well as hearing what Walthamstow activists are getting up to, you will also get to hear what other Labour and trade union activists from across the United Kingdom and across the Labour movement are working on in their communities using the power of community organising with Movement for Change.

It would be fantastic to get as many Walthamstow Labour members down to Brighton to support our activists, take in Conference 2013, and enjoy a day out at the seaside in Brighton.

Movement for Change will be funding the coach if we fill the required number of spaces - meaning that this trip is FREE TO ALL LABOUR PARTY MEMBERS, if enough people are interested.

The Movement for Change Main Fringe Event is outside the conference zone itself, so you DO NOT need to purchase a full security pass in order to attend.

If you’re interested in attending, RSVP to the event here, or call Jack on 07805825809, or emailjack@movementforchange.org.uk

Refounding Walthamstow - how should the local party be organised?

Following the 'Refounding Labour' consultation launched by Peter Hain, and its adoption by last year's conference we are now considering what we should do in Walthamstow. We are in the process of moving our AGM to November as requested by the National Party, so this will be a short 'year' (started in February) and one decision to be taken in November is what other changes (if any) we should make.

From now till the November meeting we are consulting with local members and supporters in various ways. Today sees the first of a series of 'brainstorming meetings', which is to quote our chair Simon Redfern 'a session where you can bring any idea to the table – sensible, crazy, anything goes – no idea is a bad one.' Don't worry if you can't make it today. There will be more sessions over the summer. There will also be discussions at branch meetings, and we're planning to launch an online survey shortly, so even if you can't get to any meetings (or you just don't like meetings - something we'd also like to hear about) you can still have your say. In addition you can also email any comments you'd like to make to: walthamstowclp@yahoo.co.uk (preferably with 'refw' in the subject line).

So what's it all about? There's a whole set of documents you can download from the party's members' website Labour membersnet refounding pages here. If you're a supporter and not yet a member (or if you just find it difficult to log in to membersnet) you can get some of them here, in slightly different format. Many of the points raised can be dealt with at informal meetings and discussions, but there are a few questions that need a formal decision at the November meeting:

• How do we take formal decisions (see below for some examples) - do we continue with a General Committee, or with a smaller Executive?
• How often do we meet, and when?
• What are meetings for?

Some examples of recent and forthcoming formal decisions:

• Who should be our conference delegate?
• Resolutions on blacklisting, and effects of housing benefits changes
• Should we change how we organise the party?
• Should we submit a 'contemporary resolution' to conference
• Who should be our officers (chair, vice-chairs, secretary, treasurer)?