Membership/General Interest

Identified as one of the potential show-stoppers right from the start, we still struggled to understand what level of interest there was in a local veterans club.  Whilst we waited in anticipation of the SMS message from Whitewater Health we pushed on with advertising the club through whatever channels were available.  A website was built and published and a facebook profile and private group were launched.  Posters were created and distributed by hand in both Hook and Hartley Wintney, to doctors surgeries, community halls, supermarkets and general noticeboards.  This exercise was supported by a big effort to become visible in local community facebook groups.

We will never know if that effort brought any positive returns, as we still didn't get a response or request for more information from anyone. So determined to "not die wondering", work continued on the background efforts preparing the clubs constitution document, processes and procedures.

Venue

There was a feeling that potential show-stopper number 1, level of Interest, was outwith our control and all that we could do was to make as many veterans as possible aware of the venture.  Potential show-stopper number 2 however, was a different kettle of fish.  Of course we could find a suitable venue, wouldn't we?  The only questions being a) how long would it take to find? and b) how much would it cost? Thankfully, through the generosity and foresight of someone, these issues were going to disappear at my meeting with a representative of the scout group.

Following an email request to the Hook scout group I met with Sandra Tidy for a cup of tea and a chat about the plans we were putting in place.  What a great meeting, that ended with the scout hall being offered and accepted as the future venue for The Hook Veterans Club.  Now all we needed to do was get the club off the ground.

Funding

On funding we seemed to be stuck in a vicious circle.  In the main we couldn't apply for grants until we had a Constitution, or controlling document, in place and would need a bank account.  We couldn't get a bank account until we had a Constitution and for that we ideally needed Trustees in place, which we hadn't so far managed to attract.  It was decided therefore, that any set-up funding that was required would need to come from what could be found down the back of the sofa!  This could have been a mistake but it was decided if there was going to be an attempt at starting a club it should be done properly and look like we ment it!