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Can you help the Carnival Committee? - Karen F (14th Oct 2009 - 17:48:33) Dear All This is not another plea for marshals (although we still do need more volunteers here aswell) this is to ask if anyone is willing to help us to deliver some residents notices. We have an obligation to inform all residents on the Carnival route about the road closure next Saturday 24th. However this now involves posting over 1,000 letters which quite honestly is a HUGE task for only a few of us. If you are available to help, even if you could do your road, please give me a call. Karen 723971 Many, many thanks. Karen F

Re: Can you help the Carnival Committee? - Neil (14th Oct 2009 - 20:46:25) Karen might I ask why this years programme is so short on events or things about the carnival. Not sure your aware but my father was a very long standing chairman and the yearly programme had many articles; this year I feel it is all about advertising rather than the carnival. One thing I think is missing is getting people to the carnival walk or other events and also what about last years pictures. I think you have just looked at ways of making money rather than ways to improve the carnival. Question to the committee do you have enough members or are more needed? Thanks Neil

Re: Can you help the Carnival Committee? - Helen (15th Oct 2009 - 08:28:39) Hi Karen I can do the London Road if that helps. Neil - It is very important to raise the money or the Carnival would not happen! Don't forget that we now have a Fun Day each year and if you look back over old talkback posts there are always updates about Carnival Walks, Quiz Nights etc... I think the Carnival is better now than it ever has been (I have been to the last 27!) Keep up the good work Karen & Co!

Re: Can you help the Carnival Committee? - neil (15th Oct 2009 - 11:53:26) Helen, I am not saying the carnival is not good, I like you have been going for a long time some 35 years but people want to read about the carnival. Not sure you have seen this years but when I took a look it was just advertising nothing worth reading, it would not have hurt to put more articles within the programme and not just adverts. I know all to well how hard people work to put the carnival on my mother and father spent many long hours raising money and getting things ready I think it would help if people read about this, a lot of people only associate the carnival with one night.

Re: Can you help the Carnival Committee? - Jane G (15th Oct 2009 - 13:41:03) Hi Karen The kids and I would be happy to do something..not sure whether you need to do The Avenue or parts of Longmoor Road...let me know where and we'll see what we can do. Jane

Re: Can you help the Carnival Committee? - Karen F (15th Oct 2009 - 16:45:08) Well Neil Thank you for your extremely constructive and helpful comments on the Carnival and Programme. I appreciate your father was a long standing Chairperson and that things were done differently when he was in charge, but let me update you on a few things: The Herald offered to design and print the programme otherwise we would not have had one at all. I was not happy with the content and agree we needed more pictures from last year but they had final say as they were paying for it. We received not one penny from the advertising revenue generated from the programme - the Herald had that. Yes it was light on info on other events but as I say, they had editorial control. We are extremely short of committee members, and have been for some time, and if you are a regular reader of talkback or the local press you may have already picked up that point. I am sorry you feel we are failing but let me assure you, that the small committee work bloody hard to put on the Carnival, we are moving with the times and more enforcements are being imposed on us by EHDC with regard to health and safety and next year we will be charged by the police for their time on Carnival night. If more people don't come along and support our Walk, Quiz Nights and Fun Day there will be no Carnival next year. We cannot generate the money needed without support. It is extremely hard to get people to come along and join in at our events, times have changed since Barry was in charge and we do not get the same support from the local community. I knew your Dad, he and your mum were friends with my parents back in their Beacon Hill days and I utterly respect everything that he did for the Carnival. You have hit something of a raw nerve with me here because I have struggled all year to stay on as Chairperson and was considering stepping down next year because I really don't have the time to devote to organising the Carnival and Fun Day. We are all volunteers, we all have children, we all work, we all have other committments so please do not make us feel that we are failing because as far as I can see the only people failing us are the ones who sit back and do nothing but talk about it. Regards Karen

Re: Can you help the Carnival Committee? - odette coates (15th Oct 2009 - 18:38:57) I had the good fortune to live in Liphook for a year, and of course attended the annual Carnival. For all comments posted on this talkback site so far ... I think it is important for everyone to focus on the big picture and appreciate the fact that the beautiful little village of Liphook still manages to host such an amazing event that brings the whole community together for the evening. It's not about detail like the programme and the advertising content ... it's about the willingness of people like Karen and the rest of the committee who are committed to continuing the long standing tradition of the Liphook Carnival ... so that their children and hopefully in future, their children's children can continue this amazing event in this very special village. It is after all a Carnival for the community ... which the likes of Jane and Helen seem to appreciate. Hope the Carnival is a fabulous success this year!

Re: Can you help the Carnival Committee? - Alison (15th Oct 2009 - 20:33:22) Yes, I can help by delivering letters either this weekend or on Monday - let me know which road! Karen, you and your VERY small team are not failing in the slightest. I am aware how incredibly hard you have worked to ensure that the carnival can take place this year considering all the red tape, lack of funds and lack of help. Just as I am aware how much hard work it took to put on the Fun day in the summer - a great new idea of yours to help raise funds for the carnival. Similarly the quiz was great fun (despite us not winning !) Thank you

Re: Can you help the Carnival Committee? - Neil (15th Oct 2009 - 20:41:10) Karen, thank you for getting back to me I did not know about the herald and I guess on there part a shame. I would hate to see all the good work of the committee go to waist and I dont think you should step down as Helen said the carnival it self gets better each year and I apologies if I upset anyone if I guess I should have got the facts about the programme. I guess maybe I should be one of the people to get up off the sofa and see where I can help instead of criticise. If possible (without being shot :-) ) maybe I could come to the next meeting and possible look to join the committee. Feel free to contact me neil@nptechnology.co.uk

Re: Can you help the Carnival Committee? - helen m (15th Oct 2009 - 21:08:05) Karen... and neil... What a fab reply Karen. My jaw was on the floor as i read neils email. Of course one has a right to comment on this site - thats what talkback is all about but to write such a useless email - givign his opinion from on high and offering no support in return except to say how hard his mum and dad used to work on the carnival is nothing short of rude and incredibly demoralising!! I for one (and i know that there are lots of people who will agree with me) know that you work tremendously hard and you do pull off miracles with the carnival!! so thank you thank you thank you!!! and neil - if you think its short of articles - get off your soap box and write one! or offer to help karen with it instead of sitting back and critising!!! yours helen (throughly miffed of liphook)

Re: Can you help the Carnival Committee? - Jane G (15th Oct 2009 - 22:01:29) Karen I think Neil is a lone voice talking here. I'm sure all of us in Liphook hugely appreciate all the work you and your small committee do to give us such a fantastic carnival. I know that bringing up a family and running a home are a full time job in themselves, so to do all the work you do on top of this for the carnival (and I know this isn't all you do in your 'spare' time) is just brilliant...and I'm sure the same can be said for the other members of your committee. I bet by the time carnival night is over you'll be ready for a lie down in a dark room with a large glass of wine! This is not a time for criticism, but for us all to get out and enjoy and support a long standing Liphook tradition.

Re: Can you help the Carnival Committee? - neil (16th Oct 2009 - 09:04:24) Helen maybe before jumping on your soap box you should read peoples replies. [editor - Neil, the replies where only posted to the site a few minutes ago - so they could not have seen your reply BEFORE they posted theirs]

Re: Can you help the Carnival Committee? - Jill Howie (16th Oct 2009 - 09:16:06) O.K. Neil - put your money where your mouth is and come and join Carnival Committe and help.

Re: Can you help the Carnival Committee? - Neil (16th Oct 2009 - 10:00:25) For you Jill anything

Re: Can you help the Carnival Committee? - Karen F (18th Oct 2009 - 10:31:57) Thanks for the messages of support! Just want to point out that although my name may be at the bottom of the letters, the committee all do more than their fair share of the work! Today for instance: one person is cleaning cups, one is out delivering residents notices, one person is moving the carnival float, one person has spent last three weekends renovating carnival float, two people are putting up signs, two people are sorting out the admin for judging, two very kind volunteers are also out delivering leaflets etc etc... it is a team effort and they are a superb team! Might as well stick the kettle on, nothing left for me to do!! See you all next weekend! Karen

Re: Can you help the Carnival Committee? - Jan J (19th Oct 2009 - 15:49:40) I would just like to say that i will be travelling up from Somerset, to see the Liphook Carnival, as i have done over the last 11 years, i have always enjoyed the carnival, along with my family, who still live in the Liphook area, along with my parents, (who have both now passed away), and i hope to continue to do so for many years to come. Keep up the good work. Jan J

Re: Can you help the Carnival Committee? - dave (24th Oct 2009 - 09:41:35) Hi Just to wish you all good luck with the carnival today, I know how hard you all work. Good luck to all of those that are taking part and I just know that it will stop raining. Come and say hello to the boys and girls??? on the Liphook Social Club float. Heres to another fantastic carnival Dave

Re: Can you help the Carnival Committee? - Claire (24th Oct 2009 - 18:14:50) I used to love the Carnival but now there are too many drunks rolling around the streets and I detest playing 'dodge the puke' the next morning. I admire the the dedication of all who invest their time in the carnival but have to confess i no longer attend due to a horrible incident a couple of years ago with a drunk. Hope all who attend have fun!!

Re: Can you help the Carnival Committee? - neil (26th Oct 2009 - 16:38:23) Karen, I would still like to help out I also might have a friend that might want to join. Please let me know when the next meeting is and I will pop along. great work at the weekend. Neil

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