Minutes for the January Meeting of NE1 Dizzy
Saturday 24th January 2009
10.00am to 12.00pm
Education Centre the Freeman Hospital Newcastle upon Tyne

Guest Speaker: Trish
Subject:  Exercises for dizzy people
Staff Present: Trish, Claire, Graeme, Irene, Val
Others: 21 members

21 members and four members of staff met to listen to our guest speaker, Trish, talk about exercise for dizzy people.  This took the form of a practical session with Trish guiding us through a series of gently Yoga exercises designed to help improve the balance. They were a great success and almost everyone was able to take part.  Trish was warmly thanked and a request was made to Trish to return and take another session sometime. 

It was requested that Val write up the exercises and produce a Yoga Sheet.
Action: Val

Yoga Class List
Claire agreed to research and put together a list of local Yoga classes.  Val agreed to compile it.
Action: Claire and Val

Website
Graham Booth has agreed to construct an NE1 Dizzy website for the group.  This idea was enthusiastically received by those present.
Action: Graeme

Posters and advertising
It was suggested that a number of posters should be photocopied and given out to members so that they could have them put up in local libraries; GP surgeries; Community Centres etc.
Action: Val

Intranet
The Senior Chief Audiologist, Tom Davison, volunteered to see if information about the Balance Group could be placed on the Freeman Hospital Intranet.
Action: Tom

Local Radio
It was agreed that contact should be made with our local radio station.
Action: Emma

Speakers

• Mr Johnson has kindly agreed to give one talk a year.  It was felt that this was very kind of him.  There are many scientific subjects that we would like Mr Johnson to speak about including operations for balance problems. 

• Val has agreed to take a relaxation session.  

• Group members have requested speakers on the following subjects:  CBT, T’ai Chi, Indian Head Massage, Relaxation, Physiotherapy, Aromatherapy, Goal achieving, Beauty and Pampering and personal experiences.

Action: Claire, Val and Graeme

Funding for the group

• The group agreed to give a voluntary donation of around £2.00 each to cover Trish’s expenses.  The sum of £40.00 was put aside for this purpose.

• The Freeman Hospital has agreed to go on providing a room in the Education Centre for free.
• Mr Johnson has agreed to fund the refreshments from ENT finances. 

• One group member said that he would ask his parish church for funding.

• Emma is exploring other sources of funding.

Action: Emma

The date of the next meeting is: Saturday March 28th 2009 in the Education Centre at the Freeman Hospital at 10.00am

The meeting closed at 12.00pm with many thanks to Trish.