Page 17 - ALG Issue 4 2014 Digital Edition
P. 17
Interview with
Interview with Andrea Hallissey from the North West
How did you become the secretary for the NWCAA?
I held the post of secretary for a small Allotment Association when
a very persuasive guy by the name of Alan Hull contacted me with regards to helping him contact West Cheshire Allotment plot holders to set up the West Cheshire Allotment Federation. As Federation secretary I attended my first NWCAA AGM and during the meeting I was approached by both Alan Hull and Andy Percival with the idea to put myself forward as secretary.
‘It will only be taking minutes four times a year’, they said...so it began.
Is the role what you expected?
I didn’t have a clue what to expect. It’s evolved into much more
than taking minutes four times a year that’s for sure. Working with the team has been a rewarding and exciting experience, which has opened up a whole new world to me. I never thought I would get the opportunity to exhibit at Southport Flower Show and come away with a large Gold Medal and Challenge Trophy. The whole team and our volunteer members worked wonders to put the display together in six weeks and to achieve the awards was amazing. I think we all realised just what a great team can achieve, working together.
How does the NWCAA function?
Effectively would be my assessment. As a team we work well together sharing the load. There is a lot of trust, enthusiasm and respect between executive officers. I hope this comes across at our regular meetings and site visits. The increased attendance and participation in our meetings shows we must be getting something right.
What were the priorities for you when you first started?
Communication and cohesion between regions is patchy and often not seemingly encouraged. More support for regional initiatives such as shows and promotional campaigns could be better.
Communicating news and events to the wider membership
is problematic; although the website, quarterly e-news and new facebook page along with the revamped magazine are starting to address this problem they do need to be publicised more widely by NAS representatives and passed on by site secretaries.
When we make site visits the first question is always; ‘What or who is NAS and why should we continue to pay subscriptions?’
As a so-called membership-led Society this has and should ring alarm bells.
What do you consider to be the most pressing issues
facing the NAS regional panels at the moment?
Retaining membership following the damage done to the Societies reputation involving NAS management disagreements over the last twelve months.
There is financial pressure of promoting NAS and administering to such a large region on insufficient funds.
Also there is a lack of support for the army of volunteers working on NAS behalf, not only in the NW but the whole country. The modern age needs modern technology to keep pace or we will find ourselves left behind.
The role is time-consuming and sometimes challenging – can you tell us what you get out of it?
That’s an easy one.
The role can be as challenging as you want to make it. I’m a person who loves to throw energy and enthusiasm into
For me the whole reason for our existence is to help and support the many Allotment Associations and Societies in the North West. There are many varied and difficult problems being faced by these groups on a day-to-day basis. Having a reliable point of contact means problems can be dealt with quickly and effectively. Improving communication between ourselves, individuals and sites had to be the main focus.
Sometimes it works, other times it doesn’t.
everything I do. Sometimes it works, other times it doesn’t. It has been a steep learning curve and I have learnt a lot from the team, who encourage me to attend and take part in many council forums, site visits and discussions.
Receiving appreciative messages from members, having sorted out what to them seemed an impossible task makes the whole thing worthwhile.
Having worked to improve the communication
network it became clear that there is a need for a strong, focused organisation to represent plot holders here in the North West.
Many NAS members visited our display at the recent Southport Flower show looking for support and advice. Advice was readily available to many as they already held NAS membership. Many conversations revolved around pointing them in the right direction to find this advice. NAS mission statement, aims and objectives impressed many non-members. The NWCAA proactive approach over the last 12 months has brought a lot more work but has also shown just how important a national support network is to the Allotment Association/Society, Committee and plot holders.
What do you feel has been your most successful initiative?
It has to be improving communication between ourselves and the Associations/Societies. And also promoting ourselves as the face of the National Allotment Society in the North West.
It became obvious when I first took on the role that information was not getting out to those that matter. Our aim at the beginning of the year was to contact all NW members listed on the NAS contact list. This we did and I now send out a regular Friday newsletter to 415 member associations who in turn forward on to their members. This has lead to the setting up of a facebook page and new look website, both of which have taken on a life of their own. I hope members now feel they can contribute to all areas with their opinions and views and get more involved in NWCAA and ultimately get the NAS message across to a wider audience.
How do you feel the relationship between
the NWCAA and the NAS works?
On a personal level contact between myself, Head Office and the Mentor administrator works well with requests and enquiries being answered and dealt with quickly.
From my side of the fence I have contact with many association secretaries and committees who are having a hard
time keeping their respective groups ticking over from day-to-day and deserve all the support they can get.
What advice would you give a new regional secretary?
Firstly remember no member of the team is any more important than the other.
Make the role your own. Stamp your own personality into everything you do. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes or ask questions and remember there are always two sides to a story. Take the ups and downs and learn from them. You can’t and won’t please all of the people all of the time. Don’t beat yourself up about it.
Most of all remember what it’s all about and ENJOY.
What’s your favourite allotment recipe?
Difficult to choose. I suppose it has to be anything done with sweet corn. Adore the first cobs of the season.
Corn on the Grill, a family favourite. Memories of Scout camps when my children were younger.
5 cloves of garlic; Butter; 1 tablespoon of sugar; 1 teaspoon of salt 1 teaspoon of ground cumin; 1 teaspoon of black pepper
1⁄2 lime, juiced; 2 tablespoons of hot pepper sauce
6 fresh corns
Pre-heat a BBQ. Heat the garlic and butter in a small pan over a low heat. Stir together the sugar, salt, black pepper and cumin in a small bowl. Stir into the butter mixture along with the lime juice and hot pepper sauce. Brush the corn generously. Reserve some of the mixture. Cook the corn on the grill for about 10 minutes and then brush with the remaining butter and serve.
Andrea Hallissey
NWCAA secretary
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