Staring at the Stars

Thank you for having me! I'm delighted to be the Shepway Lib Dems Chair for 2006, and am looking forward to working with the whole local party. I would like to thank John Hughes and the other outgoing members of the Shepway Exec for their time, effort and huge commitment especially in the last year.

One of the first things we've been working on is a range of events for members and supporters for the New Year - some political, some not, but hopefully all fun! Our events are for ALL members - if you've never been to one of our events before, why not make a New Year resolution to come along?

On 12 January, we're delighted that we will be joined at Saltwood Village Hall for "Kickstart 2006" by Lembit Opik MP. I've known Lembit for years (he signed my wife Season as a Party member over 10 years ago - she still has to thank him fully for that!) and am especially looking forward to seeing him and Party Deputy Director of Campaigns Neil Fawcett - the Lib Dems nationally still have a lot of faith of us in Shepway!

I'd love to see every member at "Kickstart" - Lembit is a bit of a media star and a great speaker, and with food and a cash bar as well, we hope this will be a flying start to our 2006 campaigning. For more details of this, see the events section on the back of this update and on our web site. Also look out for more events including a New Year Party on 1 January, a Valentines Quiz in February and our St Patrick's Day Hooley!

Finally, on 26 January we've heard there will be a by-election in Hythe North to Hythe Town Council following the resignation of Jacky Gandy due to work pressures. It's our first political test of 2006, and a critical election to the balance of the Town Council itself (there are currently 8 Lib Dems on Hythe Town Council, 7 others and this one vacancy).

Our candidate in Sam Matthews is already well-known on the streets of Hythe as a dedicated campaigner - and with our help, he'd make an excellent councillor too. If you can spare an hour or 2 to deliver, survey or phone in Hythe North at any time, please contact us in the office - Sam and the team look forward to seeing you!

Have a great Christmas - I hope to see you in the New Year!