News
News, views and opinion
from the world of BLESMA
BLESMA ready
for regeneration
Inaugural combined AGM and Members’ Weekend is the first of many changes to come
B
LESMA’s Annual General Meeting
was combined with a Members’
Weekend for the first time this year.
More than 100 delegates attended
the event in June and had the chance to
meet other Members, exchange news and
find out what has been happening across
BLESMA over the last 12 months.
The AGM began with an address from
the National Chairman Lt Gen Sir Cedric
Delves KBE DSO. Sir Cedric spoke about
how BLESMA is coming through a period
of change and stressed the need to ensure
the charity continues to meet the changing
needs of its Members in what is an everevolving sector. To that end the Board of
Trustees recently commissioned a study
to look at where the charity currently
stands, what it does and how it does it.
The result? A need to be regarded as
specialists. Sir Cedric spoke of BLESMA’s
intent to remain the principle association
for the Service disabled, to assist Members
to live independent and fulfilling lives,
to inspire and celebrate potential, bring
comfort and continue to be there for life.
Headquarters has already made changes
as a result of the findings. The activities
04 www.blesma.org
programme is already being extended, there
has been a new appointment overseeing
prosthetics delivery, and the fundraising
team and their remit have been expanded
(see separate story on p22).
National Treasurer Charles Bishop then
spoke about the 2012 Accounts – which are
in good shape. Legacies received had been
very beneficial but he counselled caution as
they were unpredictable. Modest investment
in fundraising was deemed appropriate to
offset such risk. A number of resolutions
were then voted on. One adjusted the size
and composition of the Board and this was
reflected in the subsequent election of three
The Salisbury Plain Military Wives Choir
new Trustees – all Members who had been
injured in Afghanistan.
Delegates then attended a seminar, with
presentations coming from several HQ staff
on the work that is currently being done
at Headqua ????????????? ?????????!????)????????????????????????????????)?????????????????????Q?????????)????????????
??????????)????)
???????????????????????????+?a?????????????????????????d??????????)??????????!?????????????????????)???????e??????????????????????)???????????!?????????????????)?????????????????????)?????)???????????I????????????5????????(?e????????????????????)????????????)????????A?????1????
?????????????)%????????????????????????????? ???)???????????? 1M5?????????)????????????????????????Q??)M????????A?????5???????]???
????)
????????????????????1????)A??]????????)???????? ???????9???) ???????????!??????
???????????????)??????????????????????????)??????????????????????? 4????)5??????d?]?????????????????????((