Region 3: Tayforth

Rena Smith – Chairperson

I have been Secretary/Treasurer of my local Tenants & Residents Group for fifteen years and I am now Chairperson of Dundee Federation Management Group, I produce a Community Newsletter, I am Vice Chair of Community Centre, and a former Dundee Citizen of the Year. I have been involved with Social Inclusion Partnerships, Community Regeneration Forums, and at present am a member of the Fairer Scotland Fund. I am a member of the Local Community Planning Partnership and a Director of TIS (Tenants Information Service). My interests are Tenants Rights, Environment, and Community Involvement.

Rita Smart – Vice Chairperson

I am 63 years old and have a vast experience through my involvement within the union to get members rights. This I feel gave me the background to become involved in the tenant’s movement, through my local RTO and being their representative on the DFTA, who nominated me for Tayforth Regional Network Committee. My personal interests are in the following fields, Community involvement, the right for the elderly in community care, health care, housing issues, and getting value for money. I would like the opportunity to be involved in these issues at national level.

Janice Manzur – Secretary

I became interested in tenants rights when I moved into a “hard to let” area that seemed to be forgotten by its Council in 2005. I then joined the local TRA, Gallatown East Tenants & Residents Assoc. Through this I joined Fife Federation of Tenants & Residents Assoc. (FFOTRA) and then joined the Tayforth Regional Network. I am interested in Housing issues, Regeneration issues and Environmental issues. Currently, I participate in the local Tenant Forums in Fife and I look forward to the opportunity to participate at the National level within the Regional Networks.

Tom Allan

I joined Ore Valley Housing Association Management Board in September 1996. I am still on this at the present time. After being on the Committee for approximately 5 years, I was then selected to go on the executive board. This involved issues such as Health and Safety, Audit, and Sub Group Committees. I am also Vice-chairperson of the Management Board. Now I have been selected through Cardenden tenants and resident committee this gave me the chance to be a representative on the Tayforth Regional Network Committee, allowing me to engage with Scottish ministers in relation to national policy.

Vince Heneghan

I am involved with the Kennoway Area Tenants Residents Assoc since 1989 and my position is secretary. I am also very committed to achieving the best for my community and am involved with the Kennoway Community Council nd the Sandybrae Management Committee. I am involved with the Fife Federation of Tenants & Residents Assoc. and have sat on the Executive Committee since 1993 and my position is Vice Convener. I have been on various sub committees meeting with Fife Council Housing Service and Fife Housing Assoc. Lastly I am involved with Digital Fife Project since 2002 to learn to use the PC and develop the association website and I received a Community Award in May 2008.

Maureen Smith

I have been on Tayforth Regional Committee right from day one and from the start of the initiative over 3 years ago. I represent Perth & Kinross Tenants & Residents Federation on the Tayforth Committee, which includes Dundee and Fife. My interests have been watching the Tayforth Committee developing from the start. Since we were fully formed our main objective is for our area of Scotland. I am interested to see, if through Tayforth, we will have more power than we have had in the past. If we find any problems, I hope we can turn to the Scottish Government for help.

David Chalmers

I became actively involved with my local tenants association when I retired in 2000. Shortly after, I was elected chairperson and have remained so ever since. I served on the local Perth and Kinross Tenants and Residents Federation executive for a term. I have continuously served tenants and the Federation on numerous groups and at conferences and still do. I am a member of the Tayforth Regional Network team and through them represent tenants at a national level. I am 74 years old and have been a council tenant for more than 32 years which must give me some experience and knowledge to speak on behalf of tenants.

Michael Twaddle

I have been a chef and hotelier who has worked in several countries including Switzerland,Africa, British Virgin Isles and Scotland but now am retired. I speak French reasonably well and some German and I am interested in local politics and have in the past been a political activist. I stood twice for councillor for Labour party in local elections the last time being narrowly beaten by the Liberal party candidate. I left labour Party in 2004. I have been Secretary of Milnathort Tenants and Residents Association for eight years and Chairman for two years and now I am Vice Chairman of the newly formed Kinross Residents Association. For hobbies I am a keen artist and I fly fish and I swim regularly, once doing a swimathon to raise money for the charity C.H.A.S. i am an Outward Bound School graduate.

Cathy McKenzie