Dao Lu Board Meeting
| Date | 28th April 2019 |
| Time | 11:00 |
| Location | Lloyd Park Community Room |
| Chairing | Janet Allman |
| Minutes | Colin Bootle |
Present
| Aileen Hamdan | chair, instructor | AH |
| Ewa Nevisandah | treasurer | EN |
| Colin Bootle | vice-chair | CB |
| Sankofa Small | director | SS |
| Wendy Saville | volunteer | WS |
| Marilyn Moseley | volunteer | MM |
| Daniela Garlashelli | volunteer | |
| Jin Jie | volunteer | |
| Janet Allman | volunteer | JA |
| Patricia Cutler | volunteer | PC |
| Joe McPhoy | instructor | JM |
| Veronica Lewis | guest | VL |
| Ann Faal | student | |
| Catherine Furlong | student | |
| Karen | student | |
| Delia Heather | student | |
| Rose Floyd | student | |
| Flavia Columba | student |
Apologies received
| Nadia Rogmati |
Minutes of previous meeting
The minutes of the previous meeting, held on 19th January 2019, were agreed.
Matters arising from minutes
No matters arising from the previous minutes that were not on the agenda for this meeting.
Finance – sustainability
All students have paid £25 monthly fees.
AH explained two forms of instructor payment – delivered to homes etc (contract work £30 – £60 paid immediately to instructors, as we are paid straight away), and regular community classes. Community class fees account for about a third of Dao Lu income. Instructors have been paid about £20/hour for regular classes, not guaranteed, with money left over at the end of the financial year. With the new payment system, we hope to improve rates and regularity of payments to community class instructors.
WS – initial feedback positive. AH – website and marketing materials need to make clear concessions available. WS suggested make until 1st of next month free, so longer free time, rather than a single free session and then pay drop-in rate. No vote taken.
Finance – accounts
Accounts were presented for all to read.
Governance – director
CB has informed Companies House of the director changes.
Governance – DBS/insurance
WS no longer requires a DBS, as is currently not volunteering to work with children and/or vulnerable adults.
There are no outstanding DBS requests.
Projects and new groups
VL – reported on GP house, Triangle House, Leytonstone. Usually 12 people, mostly mature patients of GP. Trying to shift focus onto wellbeing. GP is making available business cards to patients (on reception table). Patients are encouraged to join the Dao Lu fee structure.
Dao Lu classes are advertised on rolling TV in the waiting/reception area, where patient names appear. The model is to get GPs proactive to encourage patients to join, for wellbeing (also encouraging Parkrun). Improves quality of life. Have a lot of patients that fall – helps reduce this.
SS reported that Handsworth House don’t promote it the Dao Lu classes and forget it’s on. There is a poster there. Aileen to speak to them, introduce ideas from Triangle House.
Borough of Culture – AH explained the background since July 2018 when bid the was won. We got One Hoe St free, 1.5 hours fortnightly. About 10 people attend (mostly from Dao Lu).
Waltham Forest is starting to have meetings about legacy, after the year of culture. Lack of facilities is raised, joint usage, reduced rates for facilities to make affordable to local community groups.
Muslim women’s groups – PC may have access, to speak to AH.
JM – schools, hard to get in. AM reported on previous demonstration sessions at Walthamstow School for Girls (“Green School”) etc. VL – anxiety around exams etc (medicine alternative, life skills) so around GCSEs is a good entry point. Market tai chi for channelling energy.
AH explained community and contract classes.
HHH – could move to Lloyd Park, room available, but rates are much higher than HHH, though we do have a block arrangement for Lloyd Park facilities. Discussion re. sustainability of HHH has raised awareness and numbers are better. Very cost effective, £10 (room in winter, outdoors in summer). Discussion that Lloyd Park was convenient for some students, but countered that HHH is more convenient for other students, and spreads our range over the borough.
SS – raised issue of Qi Gong, we need to integrate it more into our class. Should we be learning a Qi Gong form? AW sometimes includes it. AH includes simplified form. AH pointed out that we should have training and qualification from Master Yip, to ensure we teach consistently.
Action Point – all encouraged to mention Dao Lu to GPs.
Media and Communication
Our telephone number is now operational.
AOB
Commerce – T-shirts etc. Hoodies, branded. Should be on website to wear uniform.
AH to ask St Barnabas re. secure storage, so some students can leave weapons at class.
Request for the website to have an annual calendar.
SS mentioned diabetes awareness, especially amongst Caribbean women, who are not well represented in tai chi groups.
Mention that dementia training is recommended.
There will be a yoga session on Saturday, 22nd June, 430 – 6.30pm. Details to be posted on the website.
Next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Saturday, 27th July 2019, at 1 – 3pm at One Hoe Street. AH has booked the room.
Chair of next meeting: Sankofa Small
Minutes to be taken by: Colin Bootle
End of meeting
The meeting closed at 15:45
Action points
All encouraged to mention Dao Lu to GPs.
AH to ask St Barnabas re. secure storage, so some students can leave weapons at class.
CB to add an annual calendar to the website.
CB to post yoga session details on the website.
AH to work with Nadia Rogmati to enable her to become a lead instructor.
AH to organise instructor training.
AH to ask instructors whether they would like to take up Qi Gong training.