HMSA members weekend 2012

[Maggie]

Thanks! It never even occurred to me to check into EDS groups! I'm gonna get right on that!

[loosebones]

Barkingmad - I've had a few questions asked of me about the residential by other forum users.

If they sent off a deposit and got no receipt are they still on the residential?

I know it takes time and effort but is it possible to send out a quick email to all those who are confirmed as going to the residential as I think there is some confusion within the group.

ps - Tabi sent off the money and had no receipt - she would like to know if she has been allocated a space? (she's staying with me right now)

[Blaadyblah]

Heads up, you'd be better emailing her, barkingmad isn't on the boards frequently and might not see this for days. Anyone who remains uncertain should contact her direct on admin@hypermobility.org for clarification.

[Retro]

Also please bare in mind that the office was closed over xmas/new year and there is a massive backlog for them to work thru.

[froglet961]

Hi im Alison new to the forum

I emailed admin@hypermobility.org on the 10th December 2011.

Asking about spaces on the residential or how to book a day pass and stay elsewhere.

I am very dismayed as I am receiving absolutely no response back.

Please can someone respond.

Thanks

Alison

[trekster]

Welcome Alison and i hope someone gets back to you soon, seems like they're trawling through the xmas/new year blacklog at the moment.

[barkingmad]

I have to say that I am a tad depressed and frustrated at the comments made.

First of All
No-one who sent an email or letter or left a message regarding the Residential Weekend over the last few weeks has been contacted. This is because there is only one member of staff dealing with the RW and all the other HMSA admin.

Alison/ froglet on the 6th January 2012 I explained there was a back log. This was in response to your email on the 28th December (when incidentally the office was closed).

Secondly
Also as we are near capacity it will take a couple of hours for me to check as it means re-organising the rooms plans again which has been done several times already! In fact I was up to 10pm the other night sorting out a room with 2 sofabeds, instead of 1, as another child wanted to accompany their parents and sibling. So as you can see it takes up many hours to look and see where we can squeeze additional people in if at all........... we planned to make sure it was done fairly based on dates of contact from the person who wants to attend. And if I can fit you in I will and then we will contact you. I dont plan to look at it until this weekend.

Thirdly
I should also remind people that if their membership wasn't in date then they can't book and wouldnt have received the newsletter with the booking form,...and in more than one case someone has complained because they didnt get the booking form when their membership was out of date by several months! This isnt our fault and we do our best to help sort this out.

Fourth
As I have explained to those people who paid directly into PayPal or into the HMSA bank account before....I haven't yet done the accounts and therefore cant see when certain people paid or not. Having said that..all those people I ALREADY responded to saying that as they 'told' me they had made a payment I secured their booking, Tabi was one of these people who I confirmed a booking with. I havent sent the receipt as I havent done the accounts...yet!

Fifth
Please remember we are still dealing with a back log of enquiries since the Xmas and New Year, some of them from forum users and members, who were told that the office was closed during this period.

Six
Please also remember that I have EDS/ fibro too and technically only work 16 hrs a week. Although I have a few volunteers on the helpline they dont do admin and neither does Abi as she manages the groups and only works a few hours a week...........I do not have the luxury of a secretary to do basic admin work or do the accounts for me.We are also busy scheduling the weekend with the advisors and speakers again in a limited amount of hours as well as catching up with Xmas/ New Year and doing advocacy and teaching.

If by the end of next week you haven't heard from myself via letter or telephone call then you can assume you dont have a place at the weekend.

Perhaps we should have done that when we started taking bookings? we will bear this in mind next time.. and yes we will try to locate bigger premises.


At the moment there is a waiting list of more than 15 people. All people who contact me and who are members and I couldnt or still cant fit them in for one reason or another have been added to the cancellation list which will be based on first come first served. Obviously it is helpful if you tell me of any mobility issues so that I can make sure you can access the room.

I hope that this clarifies the situation.

[Tabi]

Sorry Donna, I never got that email - just one saying you'd see if you could fit me in!

I apologise profusely, I was panicking! xx

[loon]

Hi Donna, First of all how can i check if my membership is up to date? Also are there any spaces left to just attend the day time without staying over, and if so how much is it? (i didn't receive a news letter about it so maybe that means my memberships not up to date)
If there are spaces for the day time, there are a few hotels local to the venue with spaces if anyone needs accomodation. I appreciate you're busy so no rush......unless there's only a few spaces of course lol! Thanks, nikki xxxxxxxxxxx

[barkingmad]

Hi Nikki, i will look over the weekend. I will ask Jeff to check your membership. The re is a list of peoplein front of you who have applied but i am sure there will be cancellations as we took bookings so early.
Which reminds me the next installment will be due soon folks.

I do understand why people are worried as to whether they have a space but please bear with us.

LB i will email you later x

[barkingmad]

HI Nikki

have PM'd you! x

[barkingmad]

Alison I have emailed you today.

[Purplesheep]

What's the best way to pay the instalments for the RW? I'd prefer not to pay by cheque, if possible. I know Paypal means extra costs for you, so could I transfer directly the money into the HMSA account? I've got the bank details that are on the standing order form. Also, what reference should I use to make sure you know what the payment is for?

Sorry for asking so many questions, I don't need an immediate answer, I know you are already very busy!

[barkingmad]

Hi Purplesheep,
Yes PAyPal means more cost to us. By all means use direct bank transfers or go along and pay it in. Just make sure you use your name for reference and email me the date you made the payment. I wont send out a receipt though until I get the bank statment (which is monthly) so dont panic if you dont hear anything, Unfortnately I cant check online.

TC Donna x

[Purplesheep]

Thank you for the quick reply Donna, I will transfer the money directly and email you my details!