Editor's Endwords

Connect

"CONNECT" is a monthly update aimed at keeping Consumer Groups in touch with developments in the consumer world. Send, phone, fax or E-mail your notices to them (or even ask for a copy) at Consumer Congress, 20 Grosvenor Gardens London SW1W ODH; phone 0171 881 3006; fax 0171 730 0191; e-mail pthompson@ncc.org.uk

Keeping Consumer Groups in Touch

Consumer Congress, aided and abetted by BT; is about to embark on a pilot project with the above title, to study the communications needs of the many small, underfunded consumer organisations which are the grass roots of the consumer movement. One hopes that they remember to study NfCG. If you have access to a PC, whether or not you already have access to the Internet, and would like to take part in this important pilot project, please contact Philippa Thompson as soon as possible - Tel : 0171 881 3001; e-mail pt@ncc.org.uk (yes, it is a different address to the one above).

Consumer Congress Conference 1999

Put the date in your new diaries now - it is Tuesday and Wednesday, 6th and 7th of July and will be held in London.

National Consumer Week

National Consumer Week, which will be held between the 2nd and 7th of November, is a Trading Standards initiative but that does not mean that it should be left to them to do all the work and obtain all the limelight. It seems a perfect occasion for each and every Consumer Group to liaise with its local Trading Standards Department and see if there is an activity with which to be involved. If there is nothing happening, then do something to publicise the week yourselves. I am sure that the Trading Standards Department will help. For example, Plymouth and District Consumer Group is holding an exhibition in the Armada Centre on the 4th, 5th and 6th in conjunction with the Plymouth Trading Standards Department.

Millennium Bug Opinion from EU

The European Union Consumer Committee has adopted an important addition to its views on 2000 related problems. It is this:

It is the Consumer Committee opinion that in no case can consumers bear the consequences of
technical difficulties contracted through professional advice to do with hardware and/or software.

In reporting this Susan Knox, who is the UK member of the Consumer Committee, also adds "we are encouraged to use this as we need it. It will appear on the DGXXIV (Consumer Policy and Consumer Health Protection Directorate) Web Site as the Consumer Committee opinion."

Retiring Chairman

One wonders now what Bob Gale will do with his leisure time. It is only now becoming clear how active he was on behalf of NfCG, because a lot of what he did was not immediately obvious. We wish him well, while knowing that "retiring" fits neither his

personality nor his lifestyle. ft

How to Become an Individual Member

Individuals will always obtain the best benefits from belonging to a local Consumer Group. However, there are areas of the country where they don't yet exist. For such an eventuality NfCG enrols Individual Members.

A minimum subscription of £17 pa gives them a bimonthly copy of Consumer News, voting rights and invitations to visits and Members' meetings. IMs are involved in NfCG Networks and Work Groups. Interested? Then write to NfCG Development Officer, Margaret Williams at 14 Gospelgate, Louth, LN1I 9JX, or phone/fax her on 01507 601055.

New Vice and Deputy Chairmen

At the recent NfCG Executive Committee Roy Bisson, Chairman of the Membership & Development Committee (Guernsey Consumer Group) was elected NfCG Vice-Chairman; and Helena Twist, Chairman of the Legislation & Consumer Affairs Committee (Individual Member) was elected to the new post of Deputy Chairman.

Contributions to the Editor
Please send contributions to: John Brown:
6 Priory Gardens, Dartford, Kent. DA1 2BE
Telephone or fax 01322 280673.
or e-mail to editor@ncf.info

Copyright

The material contained in Consumer News may only be reproduced by federated groups unless otherwise indicated. The articles do not necessarily represent the views of the National Federation of Consumer Groups, its Groups or its members. ©1998 NfCG

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