THE WELSH LANGUAGE IS NOT A ONE PARTY ISSUE
Isn’t politics a pain? Here we go, Plaid Cymru has lost and the Labour Party is back in power and people are asking what effect this will have on the Welsh language. So now is the time to remember that the language is not an issue for only one party. The Welsh language belongs to everyone in Wales regardless of their politics. There are Welsh speakers and people who are supportive of the language in every party. The steadily increasing influence of the 1993 Language Act has extended and strengthened the practical framework that ensures that receiving services through the medium of Welsh is now beyond the control of personal whims. I would like to thank the councillors and officers who have supported the Menter over the recent years and to congratulate the new councillors on their success and to invite them to work with the Menter for the benefit of the whole community.

THE USE OF WELSH AND ENGLISH
The Menter tries to ensure more use of the Welsh language. We are pleased when Welsh learners assist us in this. We are pleased when people who speak a little Welsh try to work with us. We are pleased when non-Welsh speakers offer their expertise and assistance in many ways. We try to encourage people and to help to create situations which facilitate the use of the Welsh language. We work to push back linguistic barriers and work with many people who don’t speak Welsh or who may chose not to use Welsh their very often. Sometimes people take advantage of this and it is a situation that we need to keep under constant review and I am fully aware of the need to do this.

ENTHUSIASTIC WORKERS
Enthusiastic workers, paid and voluntary, are a great boon. Many thanks to Lynda Spilsbury who has chaired the learners meetings lately, an example of a service user coming forward to help to provide those services. Welcome also to Helen Davies (another one) of Tonypandy who has begun work as clerical assistant to the Committees First project in the Aberdare office. There are other new workers making a big contribution to the work of CIC under the supervision of Amy Davies. Caroline Cowles does a great deal more than just provide clerical assistance in the office and Sali James is working as Youth Work Co-ordinator for the duration of Vicky Pugh’s maternity leave. And the news about Vicky is – a bouncing baby boy, 8.5 pounds – a new Cymro! Many congratulations to them.

CHILDREN’S’ SERVICES UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP
Another enthusiastic new member of staff is Amy Williams, who has been working in our clubs for years, and now has the chance to organise them whilst working as Children’s’ Services Co-ordinator. She visits each club every week and is currently evaluating the clubs with a view to improving the standard of our clubs even further by the time that they re-open in September. Re-open in September? Every single club? Well, it’s possible that we may do so but it must be remembered that none of our services are financially secure. If people don’t use them, if there are clubs with only 3 or 4 attending, then we have to consider the situation carefully. If you want to ensure the future of any service then think how you could help to promote it – as the Post Office says “Use it or Lose it”.

MOVING THE RHONDDA OFFICE
We will need to move the Rhondda office during the summer – the current building is likely to be sold in order to build new houses on the site. The office staff will work from Aberdare temporarily whilst we look for another suitable office in the Rhondda. If you have an office or building that could house at least two staff members let us know. If the people of the Rhondda want the Menter to succeed there then we need them to work with us to ensure success.

ANNUAL MEETING 2004
You may think that it is rather early to bring this to your attention – the meeting is in October – but we must begin to think about schemes and activities for 2005/06 now. We have to present our applications to the Welsh Language Board by September. We have to elect a new Committee in October. Everyone needs to start thinking now about what kind of Menter they want to have and what kind of contribution they can make towards that aim. If you would like to be a member of one the Menter committees call us on 07976 167086.

SUMMER PLAY SCHEMES OPEN ONCE AGAIN
Yet again there was considerable discussion between the Menter staff and the officers at Rhondda Cynon Taf authority. Partnerships are not easy. Dealing with money is never easy. Succeeding in offering a valuable and costly community service is not easy but there it is – we are still here and the schemes will open on 20/07/04. Yes, that’s a Tuesday. Don’t ask me; it appears that the teachers have a training day or something in the schools on the Monday. The schemes are open between 8.30am and 5.30pm every day during the holidays in Abercynon, Rhydfelen, Llanhari and Bronllwyn. Full details and application forms are available by phoning 01443 226386.

PARTI PONTY 2005 ON THE WAY
Having missed the chance to sing this year Heather Jones has already taken a date for Parti Ponty 2005 and both she and the Menter are greatly looking forward to her appearance. I would like to thank Aled Glynne Davies and the staff of BBC Radio Cymru for their ready co-operation this year – Parti Ponty would be very different without their support – and we are pleased to be working in partnership with them. I thing that the Radio Cymru and S4C Planed Plant summer tour is a great idea that will be welcomed by many communities throughout Wales. The support of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council was central to organising Parti Ponty in many ways, so many thanks to the staff and officers who have helped to stage the event. Thanks also to the Cymro newspaper for providing an excellent supplement for us based on the written work of school children in the area (which received great praise from Rob Jones the editor of the Cymro). Thanks to Dyfrig, Yr Urdd, for his usual support and to Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin and every school which has worked and practised so hard to ensure wonderful performances for us.

CWLWM BUSNES MEETINGS AND THE VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS FORUM
Meetings of these two networks will be held before the summer holidays. I understand that the Cwlwm will be on 13/07/04 and the Forum on 14/07/04. They are like Cardiff buses – they all come along at the same time.

COMMUNITY TRANSLATOR
Mentrau Morgannwg Gwent are looking for a Community Translator to work from the Menter office in Aberdare beginning in September. An advertisement will be appearing in the press shortly. Please do note that translation equipment is currently available to hire, or on loan to small community or voluntary groups. Phone 01685 877183 for further information.

LEARNERS’ COFFEE MORNINGS OPEN OVER THE SUMMER
If you are learning Welsh then you will know that the summer is a very dangerous time. Too often the only choices are to visit the Eisteddfod, a residential course or loosing all contact with the Welsh language. Again this year the Menter coffee mornings will remain open all through the summer to enable learners at all levels to practice their Welsh. Come for a chat. Come for fun. Come to keep your Welsh alive and kicking over the summer – details from the Menter offices on 01443 226386 or 01685 877183.

Steffan Webb
Chief Executive Menter Iaith