The Big Annual Quiz

By Jack Welch

It was that time in the Dorset Youth Association (DYA) calendar to once more come together for our Annual General Meeting (AGM) and to look back on the successes/challenges the organisation has faced over the past 12 months - and to also officially mark our 70th birthday! At WITS, there was much to look forward to - not only had we secured a pot of funding, with thanks  largely due to the Heritage Lottery Fund and other kind supporters including DCC, Dorchester Town Council Heritage Committee, Dorset Older Dorset Older Peoples Partnership Program, Microsoft and Little Waitrose Poundbury, but that also we will be presenting our work in an exciting and lively game-show format in the style of 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire?' to all the important guests including Mrs Jean Lang Deputy Lord-Lieutenant,Catriona Payne – High Sheriff, Cllr Stella Jones – Mayor of Dorchester, Cllr Ray Banham – Mayor of Weymouth and Portland, Cllr Pamela Dixon – Mayoress of Weymouth and Portland, Cllr John Wilson – Chairman of Dorset County Council, Cllr Spencer Flower – Leader of Dorset County Council, Cllr Su Hunt – Chair of North Dorset Council, Cllr Malcolm Birr – Leader of East Dorset Council, Nikki Hislop – NHS North Dorset, David King – UK Youth, Barry Williams – Ambition, Helen Horsley – Homestart West Dorset, Harry Susser – Space Youth Project, Ben Ling – Crossways Youth and Community Centre, Val Widger – Loders Youth Club, Martyn Mullender – Portland Rocks CIC



Jack (dressed for action!) located
at the WITS stand.

Alongside Rosie, Alex and Michael, Jack was also taking a bit of time out from his busy studies in Winchester and came back to celebrate this one off special event. Hosted at DYA HQ, both they and the WITS volunteers created the Twitter hash-tag of 'dyaAGM' in order to commemorate this milestone year by promoting our evening to the widespread number of followers who couldn't come. As the proceedings got underway, it was a great reason to celebrate DYA overcoming the various cutbacks they've faced and both the Chairman and Director announcing we were stronger than ever (not least because of our fantastic grant!)Once the official business of the AGM was over, it was now time to present to our audience the various questions about Walking in Their Shoes to reach £1 million.
With both Jack and Alex dressed in their army tunics, they were certainly dressed for the occasion and Rosie also helped us point to the options the guests had to raise their hands to answer the questions. Although the prizes were gold coins (chocolate ones, that is), some of our guests did need a bit of encouragement to answer! But besides any niggles in the evening, as our live tweeting didn't quite go to plan, it was an evening to remember as we ensured the message of our project reached wider audiences and we felt that's what matters most.