Author: EditorP

Volunteer needed – Membership Secretary for The Friends of Lewes

We are currently seeking a volunteer to take over the role of Membership Secretary for Friends of Lewes. The Membership Secretary plays a key part in helping FoL with its mission to Keep Lewes Special. This is a great opportunity to learn more about FoL and to develop skills in a membership role.  The role should take about 1 to 2 hours per week on average and full training is available. It is unpaid but reasonable expenses will be reimbursed (postage, stationary etc). If you are interested, please get in touch with Di Wilkins via membership@friends-of-lewes.org.uk to arrange a chat on a no commitments basis. The key duties are below:

(1) Membership Services Committee (MSC)

As Membership Secretary you will be a key member of the MSC which reports to the Executive Committee. Your role means that you are ideally placed to advise on:

  • changes and trends in membership levels
  • how to engage members, their interests, feedback and needs

You may also wish to participate in the planning and delivery of FoL events, although this is entirely optional. The MSC meets 4 times a year for 1 hour.

(2) Membership Payments

  • Process new membership subscriptions and renewals via our easy-to-use online system Membermojo (1-2 times per month, 1 hour each time).
  • Handle a small number of renewal reminders and payments by hand (1-2 per quarter, 30 mins).
  • Provide information on all the above payments to FoL’s Treasurer (1-2 times per month).

(3) Membership Levels

  • Provide information on the size of the membership to FoL’s Executive Committee (monthly) and Membership Services Committee (quarterly).
  • Consider any trends and actions required and advise the Committees accordingly.

(4) Communicating with the Membership

  • Email the membership regarding upcoming events, event reminders, new information on FoL website and newsletters (ca. 1 to 3 times per month, 1 hour per month).
  • Respond to queries from members as appropriate.
  • Promote FoL’s events through online listing websites and media (The website and social media is handled separately).

(5) FoL Newsletters, AGM papers & Annual report

Working with FoL’s Secretary:

  • Send out FoL’s newsletters three times a year. This includes emailing the membership and printing and posting around 30 hard copies (1-2 hours each time).
  • Send out the AGM papers and Annual report once a year as above (1-2 hours each time).

(6) Gift Aid

  • Calculate and submit an annual return to HMRC so that FoL is reimbursed Gift Aid on its membership subscriptions and donations (0.5 day once a year).

This role would suit someone reasonably numerate with some IT skills and you will need access to a computer and ideally a printer/scanner. As you will be handling personal and financial information, you will need to follow the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and to be aware of/develop your knowledge of IT security (e.g. avoiding email scams).

Lewes Priory – Guided Tours, May to September 2024

Guided walking tours of one of England’s largest and most successful monasteries

Saturday 25 May, Saturday 8 June, Saturday 22 June, Saturday 27 July, Saturday 24 August, Saturday 28 September

Over 450 years, between c.1080 and 1538, Lewes Priory became the richest religious house in Sussex and the most important of the English Cluniac foundations – in architecture, influence, art and learning. This tour brings to life the splendour and colour of the Priory as we walk through the remains of its massive buildings – plus the rare opportunity to see inside the Gundrada Chapel at Southover Church.

Assemble at 2.30pm prompt:
Trinity Church, Southover, Southover High Street,
Lewes BN7 1JH.

Tour duration:
Approx 2 hours. Sturdy walking shoes advised. Wheelchair access on paved slopes. No public toilets. Bring umbrella if wet. Dogs on leads.

BOOKING ESSENTIAL
£10 (£8 for members of Lewes Priory Trust) 
Sorry, no refunds, all income to Lewes Priory Trust.

Buy in person or by phone
with credit/ debit card:

Lewes Tourist Information Centre
187 High Street, Lewes, BN7 2DE
6 High Street, Lewes, BN7 2AD – (Temporary Location)

Tel 01273 483 448

Celebrating 30Years of the European Federation of Cluniac Sites

https://lewespriory.org.uk/?location_id=313&item=528

 

 

 

 

Become a Friend of Lewes

 

“Tremendous Trees” at Lewes Climate Hub

From 5th June to 15th June, open Wednesdays to Saturdays, 11.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m.

All events at Lewes Climate Hub, Lewes House, 32 High Street, Lewes, BN7 2LU

The Trees Committee of Friends of Lewes manage the Lewes Urban Arboretum Project, which has led to global recognition of Lewes by ArbNet as an “arboretum town”. Since 2012, the Committee has been working with the community, local councils, and schools to increase tree canopy cover in Lewes – both for wildlife and for their beneficial ecosystem values.

Their i-Tree Ecosurvey suggests that Lewes needs to almost double the existing number of trees to become resilient to climate change. Drop into the Climate Hub to find out more about their work, the importance of trees for wildlife, and browse their suggestions of trees you might grow in your garden.

  • Add to our “Taking Steps for Wildlife” collage by sharing your ideas for improving biodiversity in Lewes.
  • Have a go at our Tree Quiz for a chance of winning a £25 garden token – you may check all your answers by looking at the displays!

PLUS: Saturday 8th and Saturday 15th June: Make your own tree medallion to celebrate the wildlife that depends on trees.

Saturday 8th June, 11.00 am-3.00pm, Join Rustic Tim to learn how to make your own beautiful flower decoration out of wood, (£2 a flower).

Saturday 15 June, 1.30pm, “Trees for your garden and how to look after them”, a talk by Keith Sacre, arboriculturalist and member of the Trees Committee of Friends of Lewes. Keith will share his knowledge to help us all know what to think about when choosing a tree for our gardens and the different steps to take to help it thrive.

The Benefits of Trees – a talk by Keith Sacre

New historical plaque in St Anne’s Crescent

A new historical plaque has been added at 29 St. Anne’s Crescent to commemorate Lewis Bilbie Rees, a jockey born in 1898, who lived there from 1924 to his death in 1972. He won the 1922 Grand National on ‘Music Hall’. His brother Fred had also won that race in 1921 on ‘Shaun Spadah’, now buried near Lewes Racecourse. For a full list of historic plaques please see Friends of Lewes List of Plaques (April 2024 update)