President’s message

“Together We Are Strong” says President Heather

I feel privileged to be able to serve as your President and I would like to thank you for all your greetings and good wishes and particularly for the support and kindnesses shown to me. I will do my very best to support you all. There are some major changes taking place at Federation level and I shall work towards moving the Region on in line with those changes.

But my first duty is to pay tribute to the Immediate Past President, Jean Thorpe, who has been a charming President and we have had a thought-provoking, worthwhile and thoroughly enjoyable year with Jean at the helm. We have heard from speakers on such diverse subjects as Life Straws (an utterly simple devise that enables the user to drink water that otherwise would be unfit to drink) and a speaker from Toastmasters, giving some extremely worthwhile tips on the best way to approach public speaking. Jean chose Service, Friendship and Fun as her theme for the year. I think all three aspects have been well achieved.

For my year I am borrowing a former Federation President’s theme. In 2005 in Nottingham, Janet Garnons-Williams chose for her theme: Together We Are Strong. I was taken with that at the time and feel I would like to use it during my year.

The theme may be particularly apt this year as we celebrate this Region’s 40th anniversary with the launch of a poetry competition, which will involve every club working closely with the Girl Guides in this Region.

It’s a rather different year in a couple of ways. At my suggestion, the Region voted to move the AGM from the traditional slot of June to our September meeting, which made more sense as it then came towards the end of the Regional year. In June we celebrate this Region’s 40th anniversary with a Ruby Lunch at Ickworth House.

So, a different and exciting year ahead. I am looking forward to serving as your President over the next twelve months and to working with you all.

Heather Knott

November 2011