West Area Archives:

Western Region Membership Meeting 28/11/02 (Report)

The Western membership met on the the 28/11/02 in The Gaff. Unfortunately
all members were not able to attend the meeting however those who did attend
discussed a number of items:

1. The possibility of sending out a flyer or advertising in the newsletter
the facility of promoting local events on the web site.

2. The possibility of charging non-members in the region for attending
regional events.

3. The possibility of including mebership fee in the event charge to
non-members.

4. Proposal for next regaional event: Screening of "Urbania" drama
production by students at Youthreach & Dochas don Oige Galway City; In
prison children are disowned and de-parented, neither adults in their own
right, nor children under the protection of parents care or childrens
legislation. They are, effectively, corporately orphaned during their stay
in prison.

With violence, bullying, drug abuse and racism endemic in prisons children
come out more damaged, angry and alienated. The lack of money made
available to education programmes behind bars has reduced Rehabilitation to
an empty world. All young offenders learn is how to commit crime more
effectively.

Exclude and victimise someone for long enough and given half-a-chance
they'll strike back - mug you, beat you, rob your house.

Prison does not work!

5. As part of this event to run a workshop on Time Management - before
filling your 2003 diary.

6. Promote membership the benefits of the network and regional events in
sharing expertise, knowledge, information, a useful way of learning and
keeping up to date in the field.

Any members wishing to comment further may do so by contacting Western
Regional Rep's:

First Regional Meeting June 8th, 2000:

The Western region had it's first meeting on June 8th, 2000. 21 interested people turned up to discuss why they might benefit and enjoy becoming members of "another Network". We looked at the purpose and potential of Breaking Through as a new way of coming together without any hidden agendas!

After all the discussion and name taking we participated in a "Community Music" workshop and managed to produce something that resembles a song and laughed alot. The next move was to contact all those who attended the meeting and all those who hadn't and find out:

whether they had joined the Breaking Through Network;
when was the best time to schedule meetings; and
what issues they wanted to focus on in the West.

The replies are still coming in and a lot of people are not yet back after the Summer, so as yet no time has been set for our next meeting, which we hope to have before October. The next event will be planned on the basis of the responses, so you can look forward to hearing from us.