President’s message

President Olein – President’s Address
My intention is to make this a very inclusive year – we have lots of projects to carry forward this year.   So teamwork is going to be essential.   The idea of having lots of projects is to enable everyone to have a voice.   We have a club full of varied and independent characters – so our projects reflect this.   We have varied projects.    My idea is that you can be involved in as many or as few projects as you wish. 

We have a lot of sharing in the club as well on the roles of the Club Officers.  The role of the Regional Representative is shared between 2 people and has been for many years.  The other shared job we have is for Programme Action Officer.  Now I know what the job is like – both as a Club Officer and also at the Regional and UK level.   Our 2 Club Officers will have to co-ordinate the various projects.  Not by doing them, but by nagging everyone to do them and reporting back to the Club on them.   I’d like to encourage everyone to work hard on the various projects and support the officers in this.

My programme looks a little unusual!   Not too many outside speakers and I’ve done this for various reasons.   We are an organisation the very being of which depends on Action, Awareness and Advocacy.   So the outside speakers I have planned through the year are from TALK and Time for Change who we are raising money for (through two of our projects) – so they will be helping with Awareness of these issues.   Advocacy will be done in several ways – by using the information given by our speakers and I’d like to encourage more lobbying.   We are attempting to have internet connection here for every meeting and where appropriate, we will prepare online lobbying, write letters and research issues – while we’re in this room.   Action – all this is Action but there are fewer meetings planned for the early part of 2012.  We’re planning to work with Guildford Action again on their Soup Kitchen between January and March. 

We are not a supper club – we are a club who exists to help women and girls achieve their individual and collective potential, realise aspirations and create peaceful and strong communities.

So no sitting back this year – I’d like everyone to report on 19 April 2012 at the next AGM that they have enjoyed the year, learnt from it and feel they have made a difference!!