Compass Newsletter 19 July 2006

Email Newsletter: 19 July 2006

Dear Compassite

Following our highly successful national conference ‘The Shape of Things to Come’ that took place last month, it’s important we build on the momentum we created at the event for the more equal and democratic world we want to bring about. It’s now more crucial than ever Compass members take action on this, so I’m writing with some important updates on ‘next steps’ you as a Compass member can help with, furthermore I’m pleased to announce we have over 2000 members.

Fundraising results – over £20,000 raised by members

Over the last month many members will have received a phone call asking to pledge a regular gift to fund our work. I’m delighted to inform you that the fundraising campaign has raised £20,000 per year for Compass in monthly standing orders. I’d like to hugely thank all our members who’ve pledged their support in this way. If you’ve not yet returned your standing order form if you could do so ASAP I’d be very grateful. If you did not receive a call and would like to pledge a regular gift please email me.

Campaigns Officer – Zoe Williams joins the team

Partly as a result of the new funding pledged from members I can today announce that in August Zoe Williams will be starting as our Campaigns Officer and I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome her. Zoe joins us from Harry Cohen MP and will be working to develop the campaigning side of Compass both inside and outside of Parliament. In the immediate future she’ll be working on a new pro-active campaign to ban advertising to children and will be focussing on the political renewal of one town or city. In all of this we’ll involve Compass members every step of the way. I very much hope you’ll be able to support Zoe in her campaigning activities when she starts in August and wish her all the best. Compass now has full time staff working on organisation, policy and campaigns – these mutually supportive posts create the foundation to develop the ideas, organisation and influence to make our political beliefs a reality.

Setting up local groups – a call for local convenors

Over the next 6 months we want to start setting up local Compass groups, so that local members can meet up to discuss and debate new ideas and help connect Compass’s national campaigns to the local level as well as to build our membership base further. We need enthusiastic people to come forward to help co-ordinate and set these up (arrange a free venue, send out email reminders to local members, invite speakers etc). If you’re interested in setting up a local group in your area please email me or give me a call.

Compass Youth – calling all young members

We’re currently in the process of launching a youth and student group for Compass members aged under 26. A small group have held some initial meetings to plan possible activities. The ideas we’re working on so far include a campaign to end discrimination against young people in the minimum wage and getting involved with the campaign against increased student tuition fees. The first event will be at the beginning of October and their next meeting will be on Tuesday 1 August 2006 in London, they’ll endeavour to meet during Labour conference in Manchester in late September so that younger members further north can get involved, though a lot of discussions have been over email. If you’re a young Compass member aged 26 or under interested in helping or getting involved please email david@socialspider.com.

Annual General Meeting – Saturday 9 September

The Annual General Meeting will be on Saturday 9 September in London, the meeting is free to attend and will include a major speaker. An official announcement, including details of standing orders, the annual accounts, a political positioning statement and planned activities will be sent to all members 6 weeks before the meeting takes place. The AGM is part of the internal democracy of Compass and we’ll be encouraging as many of our members to attend this important meeting. Members will also have the opportunity to have their say in the official business of the AGM via post and email.

New publications – discussion pamphlets on the unions, Labour Party renewal and NHS, plus proposals on the Good Society

Over the coming months ahead we’ll be publishing new discussion pamphlets on the unions, Labour Party renewal and the NHS. Furthermore, as part of our on-going policy review/manifesto process proposals on the Good Life will be published in September for further consultation.

Website comments facility

The Compass website is fast becoming a hot bed for online debate. Whenever we post up a story on the website there’s a comments facility so you can add your viewpoint. We very much encourage you as a Compass member to take part in these debates and make your voice heard, so we get things right – visit www.compassonline.org.uk. In the future we’ll be developing the website further to include more news, views and comment from the Democratic Left.

Finally, I’d like to thank you for your ongoing support, Compass now needs members like you to start setting up local groups, to build our membership at the grassroots level, to help us start to pro-actively campaign on the issues we as the Democratic Left believe passionately about, and now more than ever we must do as we’ve always said we’d do and “be the change we wish to see in the world”.

Compass has started to become a crucial point of intervention and renewal for the democratic left – we now need your help if we are to continue to rise to the challenges ahead – I hope you can be part of making this happen over the summer and beyond.

Many thanks

Gavin