The Plymouth Laryngectomy Club (PLC)

A Charitable Support Group for Plymouth Cancer Laryngectomees

The Voice of PLC

October- November 2011
Address: c/o 80 Warleigh Avenue, PLYMOUTH, PL2 1DH, Devon, UK Mobile: 07745819828 (text only) Email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk Website: http://plymouthlc.webs.com

FOREWORD BY THE CHAIR

Written by Geoffrey N. READ Dear Friends & Supporters, The Plymouth Laryngectomy Club is now one-year-old and has just held its first Annual General Meeting. The results are reported later in this newsletter. I should like to offer my thanks on behalf of all Club Members to Ted BURNETT, a founder Member and our Chair for our first year. And behind every good man there is always good woman! So our thanks also go to Liz for her support in our first year... not least for her photographic efforts! Now we have a new Committee which hopefully will carry on the good work. I should particularly like to thank Fiona MARTIN for volunteering for the post of Entertainments Member. This should spread the work load considerably. Thanks Fiona! Our first year was spent getting the Club organised, writing constitutions, rules and regulations, etc. Now we have that fairly well organised we intend that the Committee should handle the day-to-day management of the Club and then report its actions to Members via the Clubs Newsletters. This will then mean that our monthly Club Meetings will become less cluttered with Club business. We still intend to have a meeting one month at the Mustard Tree and the next away from Derriford but we really hope to make them just that much more sociable.. giving our Members more time together. We do hope you will give us your support!

EDITORIAL COMMENT

NTERNET Links. If youre reading this on-line and come across words with blue lettering that are underlined, then you can click on these links and be taken directly to another site for more information on that particular topic. If you read this on Microsoft Word, you can put your cursor over the link, hold down the Control (Ctrl) Key and click! Ed.

LAUGH AT LIFE!

HE BAD AND THE WORSE NEWS. A man visits the doctor for a check-up and after some tests, the doctor comes in with a grave look on his face.
Doctor: Man: Doctor: Man: Doctor: Man: Well, I have some bad news and some really bad news. Well, give me the really bad news first. You have cancer, and only six months to live. And the bad news? You have Alzheimer's disease. That's great! I was afraid I had cancer!

PERSONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

H C

APPY BIRTHDAY TO Jean READ for Saturday, 1 October 2011. Jean is currently serving on our Committee as Treasurer. Thanks for all your hard work Jean!

st

ONGRATULATIONS TO Ted & Liz BURNETT for Friday, st 21 October 2011 on the occasion of their anniversary. Ted was the Chair of PLC for 2010 11. And we all know that behind any good man is a good woman! Well done Liz!

N R
S

OVEMBER 2011. No celebrations in November? Have we missed anyone?

OSEMARIE STEVENS. Although Rosemarie was not feeling well enough to attend the Clubs first AGM she sent word to wish all those in attendance her very best wishes! Thanks Rosemarie! We hope you continue to improve. USAN STEPHENSON. Susan is being admitted to hospital th on Wednesday, 19 October 2011 for a further operation and shes expected to be in for a couple of days. The Club will be making sure that Susan has everything she needs!

Geoff
Chair, PLC

The Plymouth Laryngectomy Club (PLC) is an Affiliated Member of: The National Association of Laryngectomy Clubs (NALC) In Association with Macmillan Cancer Support Registered Charity Number: 273635 Our Funder: Macmillan Cancer Support A Member of The Plymouth Third Sector Consortium (PTSC) Patrons & Medical Advisors : Mr. W.M. BRIDGER, FRCS - Consultant ENT Surgeon, Mr. Tass MALIK, BSc FRCS (Gen), FRCS (ORL H&N) - Consultant Otolaryngologist, Head & Neck / Thyroid Surgeon, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth.

THE FIRST PLC ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

UR OCTOBER 2011 Meeting took place at the Mustard Tree Cancer Support Center at Derriford Hospital on th Friday, 7 October 2011 at 11 a.m. There were 13 members in attendance... probably our best attendance yet! The salient points of the meeting, including the results of the election of a new Committee are given below.

Payment. Members are kindly requested to pay their 5 Subscription at the November 2011 Meeting. If you do not expect to attend that meeting then it would be appreciated if you could pay the Treasurer as soon as you can. Her Contact Address details are at the top of the front page.

EW COMMITTEE. A new Committee was elected as follows:

HANKS FROM THE Outgoing Chair. Ted BURNETT thanked everyone for attending this meeting and for the support that the Members had given him during his tour of office. Ted also thanked Geoff and Jean READ for their support on our Committee for the Clubs first year.

Chair. As no volunteer was forthcoming, Geoff READ was elected to sit in as Acting Chair until such time as another volunteer stepped forward. Treasurer. Jean READ was re-elected to continue in this post for a second tenure. Entertainments Member. Fiona MARTIN was elected. Secretary. Geoff READ was re-elected to continue in this post for a second tenure.

OTES OF THANKS.

Professional Staff. During our recent difficulties with running the Club, Maggie JARVIS (Clinical Nurse Specialist), and Julia POCKETT (Speech & Language Therapist) very kindly jumped in to run the Club for us. Club Members agreed to formally record a vote of thanks to them both. The Mustard Tree. Club Members also agreed to formally record a vote of thanks to the Supervisor, the Staff and the Volunteers of the Mustard Tree. They allowed our Club to use their facilities for our meetings over the past year and have been the perfect hosts!

AFFLE.

September 2011. 8 was raised at the raffle we held on our Coach Trip to th Dartmeet on Saturday, 10 September 2011 and this was passed to our Coach Driver as his tip. October 2011 Fiona MARTIN won the September 2011 Raffle so she provided the prize for todays Raffle! Todays raffle took place during the lunch break of the Laryngectomy Information Study Day and was therefore open to everyone attending. A sum of 23 was raised! Pam WALLS (non-Club Member) won the First Prize of a National Lottery Ticket! Percy FURNEAUX won the Second Prize of an Electric Knife and one of the attending Professional Staff won the Ornamental Candles. November 2011. Percy will therefore be providing the Raffle Prize for the November 2011 Raffle! The Club has been charging 50 pence for a strip of five raffle tickets. Members agreed that in future, the Club should charge 1 for a single ticket. However theres no limit to the number of tickets that each person can buy!

THE PLC TREASURERS ANNUAL REPORT

EAN READ GAVE a review of the Clubs accounts for the first year. This was summarised as follows:

The Club started off with zero funds. The Club had nearly 800 awarded to it and the rest was chipped in by the Club Members themselves. With over 700 in the bank the Club is in quite a healthy state. It was the hope of Club Members that the new Committee would start to think of ways in which our Club could help Macmillan Cancer Support.
CREMATE ME A businessman on his deathbed called his friend and said, "Bill, I want you to promise me that when I die you will have my remains cremated." "And what," his friend asked, "do you want me to do with your ashes?" The businessman said, "Just put them in an envelope and mail them to the Inland Revenue Service and write on the envelope, "Now you have everything."

UBSCRIPTIONS. Our subscriptions rules previously read:

A mandatory fee of 5 per Friend or Member on joining and a voluntary contribution of 1 per month.

The members agreed that the Club should change its Subscription Rules to read:
A mandatory fee of 5 per Friend or Member payable at the November 2011 Club Meeting and thereafter at each AGM.

Contact The Voice of PLC Newsletter Editor Geoff Read on (01752) 563800 or 0774581928 (text only) or email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk, or go to PLC website at http://plymouthlc.webs.com

THE PLC SECRETARYS ANNUAL REPORT

EOFF READ GAVE an overview of what the Club had achieved in its first year. He pointed out that the Club had agreed a Constitution, built a website, issued a Newsletter and held Monthly Meetings. But there was still a lot of work being done in the background and this included: Affiliations: Our Club has been successful in forming affiliations with other clubs and organisations. These included:
National Association of Laryngectomee Club (NALC) Speak Easy Club in Cornwall Exeter Head & Neck Cancer Club The Recovery Club in Cornwall The Torbay Laryngectomy Club

Head & Neck: Theres a question hanging over the Club at the moment as to whether our Club should remain as a Laryngectomy Club or whether it should become a Head & Neck Cancer Club. This will be for the newly-elected Committee to progress. Macmillan: The newly-elected Committee should think of ways of how our Club can help Macmillan Cancer Support. After all, they have helped all of us! Our Club should also be thinking of looking at the Macmillan Training Programme so as to ascertain which courses our Members might like to take part in the coming year. Membership: Our membership is fairly healthy. Julia POCKETT (Speech & Language Therapist) and Maggie JARVIS (Clinical Nurse Specialist) conducted a survey this year to ascertain the views of all laryngectomees in the Derriford catchment area. Members agreed that a similar exercise should be undertaken this year but that this time it should have some involvement by the Clubs Committee. NALC: Our Club is affiliated to NALC which is as our umbrella organisation. Our Club is able to use their Registered Charity Number. More of our Club Members should try to make an attempt to attend NALC events including their Quarterly Meetings and its Annual Dinners. Newsletter: This is available to everyone on our website and a copy is mailed to those Members not on-line. Peninsula Cancer Network: For the past six months or more Geoff had been participating in some training and attending very informative meetings and panels regarding Cancer Support, Cancer Rehabilitation and the National Cancer Peer Review. This is just Geoffs way of trying to give something back. If any Member wishes to know more Geoff would be happy to discuss this with them. Website: The Members expressed their thanks to Kanda (our webmaster) who had built our website from scratch and maintained it for us! Kanda is saving us a fortune! For those Members who can go on-line, please note that our Club is on Facebook as well. Please remember to click on the LIKE button when you visit!

Members agreed that such affiliations are to be encouraged. Club Business: No-one likes bureaucracy but some bits are essential... especially when public and donated money is concerned. Our Constitution is essential and legally mandatory. Our Club would not have received the funding it has without it! The Clubs current Constitution needs updating and Members agreed that that the newly-elected Committee should take this on board. The Minutes of our Club Meetings are also essential for a similar reason. The Committee does record minutes and stores them but the Club does not formally issue them to Club Members. Instead the Committee publishes the salient points in our Newsletters (similar to what you are reading now!). That said, the Clubs Business Papers and its Accounts are open to view by any Club Member at any time... subject to the appropriate request being submitted to the Chair. Emergency Devices: The Club was recently investigating whether it could get a grant to purchase Press-Dont-Panic audio devices for laryngectomees in times of emergencies. This will be up to the newly-elected Committee to progress. Entertainments: Now the Club had funds, perhaps its Members could get out a bit more! But first our Club Members have our Christmas Dinner to look forward to! Forecast of Events: A copy is always available on our website. However notices are also placed in our Newsletters. Funding: Our Club may be able to obtain monetary grants from other charitable trusts such as the Plymouth Drake Foundation. The newly-elected Committee will need to decide precisely what they need the funds for prior to any application being made. But the Committee will need to be guided by its Members! Goodybags: All members should now be aware of what this project is about. Its to provide some useful information and gizzits to new laryngectomees. It will be up to the newly-elected Committee to decide if it should go ahead. The Committee will need some volunteers from to help out on this.

Contact The Voice of PLC Newsletter Editor Geoff Read on (01752) 563800 or 0774581928 (text only) or email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk, or go to PLC website at http://plymouthlc.webs.com

THE PLC TRIP TO DEVORAN

EVEN INTREPID CLUB MEMBERS travelled from th Plymouth to Devoran on Wednesday, 14 September 2011. It was well worth the three-hour round trip by car. The weather was absolutely beautiful and our Club Members, along with some from The Recovery Club in Cornwall, were treated to a lovely Soup & Sandwich lunch. Afterwards we had a round-table discussion and a general exchange of ideas. One message that came through loudly and clearly from all three clubs was that we must all make a concerted effort to attract more members to our respective club meetings and functions. It was generally agreed that joint meetings such as todays should be one way ahead for us. At least its a chance to see new faces. But how do we get to meet new laryngectomees with the constraints that Confidentiality place upon us? The fifty-nine thousand dollar question! The suggestion of changing our clubs from Laryngectomy Clubs to Head & Neck Cancer Clubs was briefly mentioned but there wasnt immediate enthusiasm for such an idea. However, it was generally accepted that this would open up the membership rate of our three clubs.

THE PLC TRIP TO LANGAGE ENERGY PARK

EVERAL OF OUR Club Members took part in a trip to rd Langage Energy Park on Monday, 3 October 2011 where we were joined by some members of the Devon & Cornwall Food Association (DCFA). We were given a guided tour of the plant and an extremely interesting presentation by Mr. Roy BAILEY, the Operations Manager of Centrica Energy. Roy made it a really fun time... even though what they produce is a very serious business. That was obvious when we had to get dressed up in hard hats and fluorescent jackets. We thought Eileen FURNEAUX looked particularly fetching!

THE PLC FORECAST OF EVENTS

ALENDAR of EVENTS. A copy of the Clubs Calendar of Events, including Future Entertainments for the next 12 months or so, is available on our Clubs website. Please keep yourselves up-to-date by taking an occasional peek!

OVEMBER 2011.
th

We should like to thank both the Speak Easy and the Recovery Clubs for making our Plymouth Club Members so welcome! You were excellent hosts and we look forward to meeting up again sometime soon!

Monday, 7 November 2011: Monthly Club Meeting The next Monthly Club Meeting is scheduled for Monday, th 7 November 2011 at the Mustard Tree at 11 a.m. Members should try to arrive by 10.30 a.m. for a cup of tea before the start. John MCKENNA of Colebrooke Housing Carers has kindly accepted our invitation to be our Guest Speaker.

ECEMBER 2011.
th

Monday, 5 December 2011: Monthly Club Meeting. Members agreed to use this meeting to discuss items that they had not had time to discuss at previous meetings. There will be no guest speakers. As usual, please arrive at 10.30 a.m. for refreshments. Monday, 12 December 2011: The PLC Christmas Dinner will be held at Leandras Restaurant in Plymouth City Centre at 7 p.m. The cost of this event will be offset by Club Funds. However, we must ask that Friends of PLC pay the full price! Those wishing to attend should first notify Geoff READ who will then send a copy of the menu choices. These must be completed th and returned to Geoff by no later than Monday, 7 November 2011... the date of our November 2011 Meeting. Please book now to avoid disappointment. Those members who would like to can bring a pressie along on the evening to the value of not more than 5. These will then be placed into our Grand Christmas Draw.
th

A
Photographs courtesy of Ron and Rose WILLS

GM FOR 2012. Geoff READ will propose at the November 2011 Meeting that the 2012 AGM be st scheduled for Monday, 1 October 2012. See the slideshow at Photobucket and at PLC Facebook Page.
Contact The Voice of PLC Newsletter Editor Geoff Read on (01752) 563800 or 0774581928 (text only) or email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk, or go to PLC website at http://plymouthlc.webs.com

THE PLYMOUTH LARYNGECTOMY INFORMATION DAY

PENINSULA CANCER NETWORK

N INFORMATION DAY was held on Friday, 7 October 2011 at The Mustard Tree Cancer Support Centre, at Derriford Hospital. The day started with the Clubs first AGM and thats reported on at Page 1 of this newsletter. That was followed by a buffet luncheon kindly provided by our product representatives. The afternoon session included a very wellreceived presentation by Trevor PHILLIPS, our Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist who talked about Managing Your Chest and Breathing after Laryngectomy Surgery. The audience were then divided into two groups to discuss: The Carers Perspective and The Patients Perspective All in all, a highly informative and sociable day! So much so that the general consensus was that we should make this an annual event! The Day was well attended by professional medical staffs, medical suppliers and of course laryngectomees. Our especial thanks go to the Maggie JARVIS (Clinical Nurse Specialist), and to Julia POCKETT (Speech & Language Therapist), for organising the day. And we would also like to thank the Mustard Tree and its volunteers who were wonderful hosts as always and kept us supplied with never-ending cups of tea and coffee throughout the day!

th

EOFF ATTENDED THREE Internal Validation Panels for the Peer Review Process in September: Head & Neck at Dartington on Thursday, 15 September 2011. th Gynaecology at Lifton on Monday, 26 September 2011. th Urology at Dartington on Tuesday, 27 September 2011.
th

Geoff was a Panel Member as a User (patient) Representative. Should anyone wish to have further information, please dont hesitate to contact Geoff.

THE AIMS OF THE PLYMOUTH LARYNGECTOMY CLUB

THE PURPOSES & AIMS OF OUR CLUB ARE: Purpose: The Club is formed to promote the rehabilitation of Laryngectomees in the Plymouth area. Aims: To collect and coordinate all information relevant to the rehabilitation of the Club Members and disseminate it so as to encourage a bond between the Club and its Members. To raise funds to enhance the rehabilitation process of Club Members. To promote public understanding and appreciation of the needs of Club Members who have undergone laryngectomy; their carers and their families. To promote proper access to Social Services and other agencies that can cater for the needs of Club Members. To assist in research and other projects that would be beneficial to the Club Members.

THE SOUTH WESTERN AMBULANCE SERVICE: A REMINDER

Photographs courtesy of Liz BURNETT

See the slideshow at Photobucket and at PLC Facebook Page.

EOFF RECENTLY VISITED the South Western Ambulance Services Training College recently where he met up with Lizzie RYAN, the Education Business Manager. It was agreed that the Ambulance Service Emergency Control Room for our region could flag-up the names and details of our Club Members so, in the event of a medical emergency, the Service could ensure that their paramedics could be properly briefed that the patient was a Laryngectomee so they would know what to do, and more importantly, what not to do! The Service could also ensure their ambulances would be kitted out with any special neck-breathing equipment that may be necessary. The Data Protection Act forbids me passing anyones personal details to anyone else without that individuals authority. So if you wish to take part in this scheme, would you please ask Geoff to send or email you an Application Form? He will then ensure that your details are passed on 5

Contact The Voice of PLC Newsletter Editor Geoff Read on (01752) 563800 or 0774581928 (text only) or email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk, or go to PLC website at http://plymouthlc.webs.com

to our local Ambulance Service. This authorisation will need to be renewed every six months but dont worry... the Club will send out reminders. One last point: Laryngectomees do not have to be Club Members to participate in this Scheme and we have passed blank forms to Julia and Maggie to dish out to their patients as required.

HE RECOVERY CLUB Newsletter. A copy of the September 2011 Newsletter has been sent out to those on-line. If anyone not on-line wishes to have a hard copy then do please contact Geoff. Click on this link to see the Newsletter.

NEWS & CURRENT EVENTS

DISCLAIMER Please note that the views and opinions expressed in this section are not necessarily those held by the PLC Committee nor its Members.

ACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT Newsletter. Change is in the air this autumn in the Mac News Autumn 2011. Leaf through the autumn edition of Mac News to find stories about supporters like you, as well as information on our services, events and more. If you are unable to obtain a copy by clicking on the link above then just contact Geoff for a hard copy.

HE SPEAK EASY CLUB Newsletter. A copy of the September 2011 Newsletter has been sent out to those on-line. If anyone not on-line wishes to have a hard copy then do please contact Geoff. Click to view it online.

The Plymouth Laryngectomy Club (PLC)

ENINSULA HEAD & NECK Cancer Support Group. (PHANCS). Are you interested in a Support group for head and neck cancer patients and carers? This could take the form of: Group meetings, One-to-One meetings, Information / advice by post or E mail An on-line web site, Telephone help line, Or a combination of the above.

We have established that there is a need for such a group and are in the early planning stage. If you would be Interested in helping with setting-up the group please contact Mac MERRETT at phancs@btinternet.com or telephone: (01392) 8412490. Click on this link to see more.

Come join us!

Our Members and Friends meet on the first Monday of every month.

LYMOUTH ONLINE DIRECTORY. The Plymouth City Council recently launched the Plymouth Online Directory of social care and health services. Our Clubs details have since been included.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Our grateful thanks to :

TRIKERS WILL CRIPPLE the country from November right through the year apparently. Union barons have insisted that a one-day walkth out would take place on 30 November 2011with others in the pipeline. UNISON has 14 million members which includes NHS staff such as nurses, paramedics, cooks and cleaners. Try to avoid any medical appointments on this day!

THE PLYMOUTH DIOCESE

http://www.plymouth-diocese.org.uk/

for their assistance in reproducing copies of this newsletter

Contact The Voice of PLC Newsletter Editor Geoff Read on (01752) 563800 or 0774581928 (text only) or email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk, or go to PLC website at http://plymouthlc.webs.com