Thought this needed a new thread
As lizzy stone mentioned in another thread

"No Change there then! In fairness since the new council ( The Independents) has been the majority we've seen so much happen for the good in the town Cycle race book festival stone food and drink festival music festival farmers market gold in stone in bloom.Italian day etc etc
Lizzy,"

Just need to correct you on a couple of things.
The Food and Drink Festival is not a council run event. It is a separate Company registered at companies house number 05959413 . The food and drink festival had significant funding from outside parties.
The people involved worked hard to find funding and it is certainly not a council run event. Just an enterprising group doing something for Stone. May their success continue :)

As far as Italian Day is concerned this was organised by Stone Twinning Committee another independant organisation reciveing no funding from the council. The day was organised by the committee in order to promote stone twin town of Bangacavalo (think thats how its spelt) I went to this event and thought is was great especially as there was no entry charge, made a refeshing change. Food was good too!!

Just thought that the indivuals and groups who did these events needed recognition as they are not council run or funded by the council. Both organisations as far as Im aware are self funding.

Well done guys keep it up.

Call me cynical, if you like, but I see the political posturing has started. Is there any event in the near future that anyone needs to remind me of? ;-)

I'm not involved in any of these groups, but I'm well aware that they are non-profit ventures, which means that people still get paid (as are charities, trade-groups etc etc).

However, I still believe they contribute to Stone, just as the baker, the butcher and the travel agent.

And the butcher, the baker and the travel agent can still be political, whether as MPs, or Councillors, but I'll only respect them if I'm sure that what benefits them benefits me. It would help, for example, if they lived and/or worked in Stone.

The butcher , the baker ...and the travel agent ????????

Did you not know? They were re-trained in the last recession. Hence the lack of candles, and the abundance of holidays. Makes sense, non?

"It would help, for example, if they lived and/or worked in Stone"

David, I also am not involved in any of these committees but I think you will find that most, if not all, of the members do live and work in Stone. There will always be an element who do gat paid for their work with "voluntary" organisations because they need to be rewarded for their expertise. I know from organising fund raising events that an awful lot of work goes in to these things for no personal gain. The main thing is that that people who attend enjoy themselves. That is the reward.

Silver Trout, I entirely agree with you - I think my wording must be wrong!

When I talk about those who don't live in Stone, I don't mean those who organise the committees, rather those who might have a political agenda *against* the committees.

Let me assure you all that no-one receives one penny to organise the Food and Drink Festival - it is run entirely by volunteers.

Insider, ok, fine. But personally I don't think it is an issue if they did.

To re-iterate my previous point: a good butcher (for example) benefits the town while running a business, and hopefully a profit. The Food and Drink Festival in my eyes is essentially the same thing - we are better off with it than without it.

Sometimes my posts don't come across as I intend - I hope this is clear enough!

I say fair play to all those volounteers that spend their time and effort doing stuff for others. The only thing I volounteer for nothing is my opinion...and most of the time its not wanted and not worth having !