FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Looking ahead on boosting the funds
Winter 2007/8
THE Friends’ finances received a welcome boost in 2007 with £4000 from last April’s fund-raising dinner dance at Cannizaro House and two members each donating £1000.
Treasurer Nick Thomas said: “We
are extremely grateful for these superb gestures. They have made a material
difference to our ability to pay for bedding plants this year. We have also been
delighted to receive a number of other donations and to welcome several Friends
to life membership, introduced last summer at the Annual General Meeting.
“These funds are already being put to good use. Our contribution to the summer
bedding in the Sunken Garden was just under £2000 and we will shortly be
required to pay for our share of the winter planting, which is likely to be the
same amount again. We are also
discussing longer term plans with Merton and the costs. We will update you with
more information on what this means when it becomes available.
“With changes on the Committee and among our invaluable non-Committee
supporters, we have not been as well placed as in previous years to send
reminders to those Friends who prefer to pay their subs by cash or cheque rather
than by standing order. If you are among these members and have not yet paid
your subscription for 2007, please do send a cheque soon to Willow House,
payable to the Friends of Cannizaro Park.
“Despite the outstanding generosity of
many Friends, we do depend on members’ subscriptions for our continued
financial strength and ability to continue working with Merton to save Cannizaro
Park from the worst effects of the Council’s budget cuts.
“Going forward, we plan to rationalise our cash and cheque subscription
arrangements to make life simpler for members and for our administrative
procedures. From the new financial year in April, all members who do not pay by
standing order will receive a subscription reminder inviting them to renew their
membership by 30th June. We would, of course, be delighted if more members
switch to payment by direct debit. Forms for this option will be sent in our next
mailing.”