Recent Area Meeting, Got to meet all of the
other managers in East Anglia and The Area Manager was there, also the
Area Manager's Mangaer! So lots of big people!
Ifound this Meeting, Well more of a whole day thing, I found it usefull
and interesting. Learnt alot, We focused on Theft and Fraud in the
shop, both from Customers and Staff and Volunteers. Was shocking some of
the stories I heard! And got some usefull information on shop security
and how to deal with fraud and thefts from staff, which makes me angry
at the thought!
Other than the big meeting, I have been very busy with my new campaign
work! This is slightly more exciting, I have started the first Oxfam
Campaign group in Suffolk, Starting in Stowmarket and surrounding
villages, Hopefully my aim is to branch out to Ipswich and Bury St
Edmunds! Exciting stuff! I am currently brushing up on everyhting Oxfam
does, all my facts and figures and Everything I need to Know about
campaigning. Being the organised little bee that I am, it is all
highlighted, all the bits I really need to know and filed in a fetching
orange file!
To start monthly newsletters for my e-mail list I am gathering through
Staff and Customers, And hopefully soon I will be organising a meeting, I
would like to get everyone who supports Oxfam's work together and talk
and learn together, and as the group grows, organise events and
fundraisers. Then I can start to allocate roles as it grows bigger and
bigger! I have one year...Lets see how it goes!
Along with this I am still, yes still, writing my shop guide, it has
literally been months! But it is nearly finished, so close now! I'd say
way before the end of Novenmber! Everyday I seem to find more to add (or
those horrific spelling mistakes) as well as the organisation of pages
and titles...the boring bit!
To round off the week, as you probably saw my photos, I had my own
market stall, Was a very cold day, but made a healthy amount for Oxfam!
It was fun (not having to get up early) doing it and organising it! I
half took it upon myself to price everything and get it ready, took
about 2 days before to be fully ready, and the other half was a
challenge set upon me by my manager, she let me do my own thing but when
I needed guidance she was able to help me, things like, I needed some
contacts for the local council for a gazebo and a pitch!
The day was long and cold, like I said, But we had some wonderful items
on the stall, and some lush shoes! Unfortunatley we didn't sell
everything, but what did not sell has gone back onto the shop floor so
people who did see something on the stall can have a chance to buy it
for the next 2 weeks, unless it sells! It also was a great chance to
promote the shop, we didn't go all out on balloons and posters and lots
of green, we kept it simple. I say this is by choice, but the fact of
the matter was I ran out of time, However this worked in my favor,
People who wouldn't normaly come into the shop were looking at the
stall, and it was interesting to see people reaction when I explained
who we were, some people were chuffed and didn't mind, but some people
you could tell they were thinking, run, run away!
So a huge mountain sized thank you to everyone, all the volunteers who stood in the cold with me that Saturday, everyone who covered in the shop, all our supporters and every volunteer and customer too!
