NI Presbyterian mutual society, Short of funds for withdrawal?

no_more_f.w.o

I am not aware of any PMS Lobby Group NI.
I am not aware of any meeting to elect representatives to speak on our behalf.
I am not aware of any officially recognised lobby group.

Whilst I agree we should coordinate our efforts and not be divided in our approach or tactics.


I rather resent the peremptory instructions from an unelected self appointed group about the way ahead.


Some more explanation, communication and most important contact details from this group, for all the savers here would be appreciated please.

crazymess

From the beginning of this sorry saga - there have been many people working in the background - in the public and on this site - doing their best for all of the Savers in the PMS.

We have a wide geographical spread and there seems to be lobby groups all over the six counties and beyond.

Each group are doing their best for a resolution for all.

Some lobby groups only use this forum when they choose - and some are selective in who they send emails and communications to.

We share one thing in common - the loss of our life's savings in the PMS.

Surely it is now time - for all key people to come together - work together and share ideas for the benefit of all.

Ballygal

WE DO NEED A GROUP TO SPEAK ON OUR BEHALF!! I am sure we all agree on that.
But the protest outside the General assembly showed there are a number of different groupings which have emerged usually locality based. This PMS Lobby Group mentioned here seems not to be one of these but as far as i am aware has concentrated on lobbying and encouraging others to lobby government and is not internet based in interacting with other PMSers.
BUT NO ONE GROUP can say it is the official group to represent us or say what action or not we should take until such time as we get together an appoint a committee or representatives to express our views.
We will need to make sure that the people we choose have a breadth of skills, both financial knowledge and the communication skills.
I think this lobby group mentioned was self appointed and in the absence of any other groups a few months ago felt itself to be the lobby group.
But until we have official PMS representatives appointed as a result of a meeting of shareholders and creditors i will do what i consider appropriate for my situation and don't feel anyone can dictate to me what i should and shouldn't do! E.g. I do intend writing to say thank you to some government people!!

Dr._Who_2

Drawing us all together and providing a central channell through which efforts could be directed is something PCI should have done long ago - there has been a vacuum at the centre of all this for far too long. Perhaps PCI at Church House level may feel that involvement could be construed as an admission of liability. This would not necessarily be so - co-ordination would be a helpful thing. If anyone in the "heirarchy" is reading this please, please hear this plea for guidance and do something about it!!
Let's keep praying, also, that August/September will bring some better news on the situation - it seems that all we can do is what we've been doing since last Nov i.e. wait. Noticed somewhere that the First Minister suggested that PCI could do something to help people in the interim period.

Nomad25

Why has no one from this 'official' lobby group made him/herself known on this forum?

A centralised contact would surely be most helpful. This could bring savers from all areas into one big [ger] pressure group, if not geographical practical, at least by phone and internet.

I would grab on to any group that has the wherewithawal to set up and hopefully pull everyone together and worry about 'peeing in corners' later and inevitable bickering.

Sorry Dr Who, but I fear any potential faith in PCI is ill-founded and will not bear fruit. I don't think anyone should sit back and pin their hopes on it.

sickasaparrot

As the direct result of conversations in March 2009 with very worried savers, Ian McGimpsey and Mrs Whyte (both savers) were concerned that not enough was being done regarding the plight of PMS savers. To this end, Ian McGimpsey made several telephone calls throughout the province and the Republic of Ireland to ascertain whether a united lobby could be established to lobby central government. A network was quickly set up aimed at lobbying the British Government in London to seek government intervention.

This lobby was organised, systematic and sustained and had the full support of local politicians and PCI with lobbying information being distributed throughout the Presbyteries. It became very powerful as evidenced by the thousands of hardship letters forwarded to Parliamentarians and Peers in London in addition to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and others.

This lobby is known in London as the PMS Savers Lobby Group NI and was well advertised throughout all Presbyteries and in the press. The strength of the lobby lies with the thousands of savers throughout NI and in ROI. HMG have given an undertaking to assist PMS savers and Churches.

Following the meeting with the PM on Wednesday when HMG gave an undertaking to assist, it is the politicians who are using the terms Phase 1 completed and the very crucial meetings etc which are due to take place are being referred to as phase 2. In this regard it is considered that lobbying for now is complete in that a commitment for assistance from HMG has been achieved. The situation is being monitored by politicians on our behalf to ensure that progress is being made, to have this issue resolved and dealt with by September. There is no hidden agenda - just looking out for our interests!! We are told if we lobby now, this could destabilise this stage of the process which is obviously going to be very critical. For this reason Mr McGimpsey and Co. will not be lobbying. If we need to lobby further we will be told when. What other individuals do is of course a matter for themselves.

Ian McGimpsey is in personal contact with a number of persons including members of the Government in London.

Mr McGimpsey has asked me to say that this was never a two person lobby. It is the savers and those who have lobbied that have made it a powerful one. It is not two people speaking for 10,000 savers but two savers who have simply done their best for all savers working 7 days a week sometimes up to 12 hours for 11 weeks along with many others including some of those on the forum to achieve a satisfactory resolution.

BelfastGran

Thank you sickasaparrot for explaining Mr McGimpsey and Mrs Whyte's role so well.

They have worked tirelessly to help fellow savers caught up in this situation and we should be very grateful to them.

Nomad25

Sickasaparrot: Thank you for clarifying this matter. Although it would appear this information is not generally known .

Am I correct in understanding that the recommended course of action for savers now is to 'sit on your thumbs' until September?

joylikes2shop

I spend every free minute I have (and probably time that I can ill afford to as well ) on PMS related investigations/conversations/emails/phone calls/web searches, and radio interviews(2 !! )

Because this forum has been my single and most valuable source of information/hope and support since November, I know how difficult it is to trust and make contact with other members of the forum.

However,I now have contact details (email addresses/mobile phone numbers and landline numbers) for about 30 people, most of them because of the PM facility from this forum.I have met some of these people,I am in REGULAR contact with most (by either email/text or phone) and I know the personal stories of many.....it may not seem like I've much to show after 7 months, but believe me it has NOT easy trying to make contact with and exchange information with other PMS savers.....and I totally understand the reluctance to exchange information because I too am suspicious of any 'newbies' who appear on the forum....Who are they ? Are they 'genuine'? Where have they been till now ? What are they hoping to achieve by their comments ????

For every one 'group email or text' I send to my 30 contacts, it usually generates about 20 responses...most of which- time permitting -I try to reply to BUT, this takes time....I'm not complaining....I like getting the feed back and I'm really happy to reply, but I can sometimes be up until 1am replying to texts and emails...

When a letter from Ian McGimpsey - the one that was sent out through the Presbyteries (with the approval of the then Moderator) was brought to my attention ( a few weeks after it had been sent out through the church network) I was delighted to find out that AT LAST a (lobby) group had been set up for PMS SAVERS. I immediately contacted Ian to see if I could be part of the lobby group.

During my chat with Ian I realised that since his letter had been circulated through the church, he and Isobel had been FLOODED with phone calls from anxious savers... who were delighted AT LAST to have SOMEONE to contact.....In reality, Ian and Isobel are 'just' two savers who started up a (lobby) group, by actively contacting a handful of people (savers/ministers/politicians ??) and then things just started to snowball....

Ian told me that he'd received over 2000 phone calls, he told me how much his land line and mobile phone bills had been over the previous month (SCARY !!!) and he explained his own personal circumstances ......At the end of the phone call I decided that whilst Ian and Isobel had started a long awaited group for PMS savers, in reality...IN MY OPINION.. they did not have the time/money/facilities to cope with (potentially) 9500+ savers getting in touch.....and I can understand this since I struggle single handedly keeping my 30 virtual friends up to date....

I just want to explain how I view the work of the lobby group to date.....Two decent people with savings in the PMS, prepared to (IN MY OPINION) devote their every waking hour to the PMS,spending money on extortionate phone bills,formulating and writing numerous time consuming emails and prepared to be interviewed on TV and radio....how many of you reading this have been on TV,radio or were prepared to attended the 'public awareness campaign' on the Monday at Church house at the start of the General Assembly ??? ....it's not easy...how many have though of the costs involved for individuals who are regularly making phone calls,regularly traveling to various parts of the province to attend meetings ???

Personally I don't do everything the lobby group suggests, I think there are many ways in which they could possibly extend their group, but I respect their values and the fact that Ian has publicly made available his contact details. I applaud all that Ian and Isobel have achieved so far......AND I ALSO believe that there is room for, and know that there are, many smaller groups also doing all that they can on behalf of all PMS savers.

Its easy to criticize...I do it myself, but remember,we're all in the same boat...we just want and need our (...my mum's...)savings back...ASAP!
If ANYONE has a better way of us all working together please please PLEASE suggest it...we cant afford to be squabbling amongst ourselves about who's got the biggest or best group or approach to this all.... Surely we've enough to deal with the TROLLS come on to the forum without falling out amongst ourselves !!

crazymess

There have been others too that have been on this site from shortly after the news broke and deeply passionate about a return of ALL of our savings for EVERYONE. Many are working day and night, night and day - each and everyone allowed their views - and we should be able to allow that. There are many speakers on Radio and Television working on our behalf that don't view this site.

There is no doubt that Ian, Isobel and Sickasaparrot have done a tremendous job to date on promoting lobbying Government - looking at it and standing back I can see that perhaps the information we received on Friday night - was put on in good faith, it was what another little group received - really didn't see the big deal - but there is no doubt it could be interrupting the Lobby Group's strategy. The problem is - if you are not privvy to that strategy then you are not aware of the issue.

So think it is now time for all the groups to get to know each other and work together for the final hurdle.