Shepway Lib Dems Member & Supporter Update: June 2015
Many thanks to everyone that attended our New Members Welcome Event on Saturday: it was lovely to see you. What's great to see is how diverse (and numerous!) our new members are - astoundingly the Shepway Lib Dem membership has soared by a third since the General Election! If you weren't able to be there, don't worry - we've got another event coming up on 18th July: see below!
It's fantastic to know there are so many people that are determined to stand up for liberalism and for people locally. Together, we WILL make a difference.
I'm sure everyone will have been shocked at the tragic death of Charles Kennedy on Monday. Charles has been an MP for 32 years, and was well known to many of us, and a good friend of Shepway Liberal Democrats. He'll be hugely missed.
The nominations for the Party Leadership election closed yesterday, and Tim Farron and Norman Lamb have been confirmed as the two candidates. Ballot papers will be dispatched to all members on 24th June, and the winner announced on 16th July.
Hustings meetings are being held across the country for members to hear the candidates speak and ask questions. Any member can attend any hustings meeting, not just the one nearest you.
Our Campaigns
We've launched a series of petitions locally on issues that are going to be come increasingly important over the coming months and years under the Conservative Government:
- Keeping the Human Rights Act
- Blocking the Government from snooping on us online in the name of security
- Retaining the ban on fox hunting with dogs
Please be amongst the first to show your support by signing our petitions. If you've got feedback or views on these campaigns you'd like to share we'd love to hear them - email gary@shepwaylibdems.org.uk
Coming Up...
There is a National Day of Action to stand up for the Human Rights Act on Saturday, 27th June. We've yet to make firm plans locally of how to get involved, but we're sure we will do so. We'll be in touch with more details as they develop, but in the meantime if you are available on that day and would like to get involved, email tim@shepwaylibdems.org.uk - if we know lots of people are going to be there, we can do something bigger!
All members, supporters and friends are welcomed to join us at The Puffins in Peene for our President's Summer BBQ from 4pm onwards on Saturday 18th July. Bring the family, children and friends: The Puffins has a great play area for children and gardens to explore. See our website for more details and to RSVP - we'd love to see you there.
Liberal Democrat Federal Conference in Bournemouth is from 19-23 September and ALL members are welcome. You can learn more about Federal Conference, what it is, the rules and becoming a voting representative on our website.
One thing YOU can do today
Do you know ONE person who you can ask to join the Liberal Democrats locally? We know its obvious, but if every member got one more person to join tomorrow, we'd double in size! It might be a partner, parent, child (over 14's preferred unless they are REALLY young starters), friend or even just that person you talk to at the shops occasionally! If they support the Lib Dems - ask them to show it by joining the Party.
As you'll know, membership costs just £1 a month (£1 a year for under 25s and students!) - they can join online at www.libdems.org.uk/join
Any questions about Party membership (your own or more generally), or for copies of paper membership forms for those who don't want to join online, please contact Shepway Membership Secretary Gary Fuller (gary@shepwaylibdems.org.uk) - he'd be happy to hear from you.
Until the next time!
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