Welcome to SI Salisbury
Our second AGM was held on Zoom on Monday 26 April. It was a great opportunity to celebrate all that we have achieved as a Club despite being in lockdown for virtually the whole year. Outgoing President Teresa was delighted to ‘virtually’ induct Carrie Walsh prior to the start of our meeting. Our membership now stands at 26, having welcomed 4 new members since the last AGM and having said farewell to a few, too. 19 of our members were able to attend to hear reports from our Outgoing and Incoming President and officers.
Outgoing President Teresa said: “It’s been a really difficult year for all of us. But it’s been a year of such kindness and concern, innovation, compassion and achievement. I hope it’s that that we will remember when we look back on 2020 as being such an incredibly difficult year. As a Club we’ve achieved so much in that time.”
“My message to you last April was very simple – it was to ‘stay connected’ with the confidence that we would emerge from the pandemic stronger. Unsurprisingly, you did exactly that, but you went above and beyond. “
“At an individual level you looked out for each other. Within days of the first lockdown you were reaching out to each other, offering support and assistance at both a practical and emotional level and you have continued to do this ever since. WhatsApp, Zoom etc have provided an opportunity for us to stay connected but I recognise that this does not suit everyone – I am particularly grateful to those of you that have gone out of their way to call or visit members who would otherwise not be able to engage in club activities.”
Incoming President 
Eleanor thanked the Club for the honour and privilege of serving as President and promised to do the best job she could. She started by thanking outgoing President Teresa for “her calmness and wisdom in guiding us through this strangest of years has been amazing.”
She said: “You’ve been so effective helping us to adapt to meeting remotely and staying connected. Despite the fact that we’ve hardly met together face to face, the thought and care you’ve shown to individual members has been especially appreciated.”
“Despite the challenges we’ve shown that we can keep going regardless. Most members are busy ‘doing’. More of a challenge has been finding opportunities to get to know each other, perhaps outside of a project and to build friendship. My theme for the coming year is ‘Friendship’, recognising that we all have different needs and different circumstances and we can’t all be each other’s best friends.”
“I want us to be a Club which makes new members and prospective members really welcome, where members look out for each other and where we enjoy each others’ company. I want us to really focus on that even more this year.”
“To me making friends involves talking to each other, sharing experiences, building trust and respect, giving practical and emotional support and just enjoying spending time together.”
“So I’m hoping that by focusing on friendship, it will be good for us individually as well as making a stronger Club. Making our Club as friendly as possible is only going to happen if we all do our bit. I am asking you all to support. I would ask you to think about what you can do to help build friendships in the Club. It could be just the excuse you ned to ask someone to go for a coffee and cake, to go for a walk or to go to a show together or even to share a G&T.”
“There’s lots for us to look forward to in the year ahead, lots of exciting projects to deliver but hopefully by focusing on friendships too we can enjoy what we achieve together all the more. I look forward to working with you all in the next year. Thank you.”
We were pleased to welcome Bernie Presley to the Executive as Treasurer. Our officers for the coming year are: President Eleanor Evans, Immediate Past President Teresa Wells, Regional Representative Lisa Scandling, Projects Officer Eleanor Evans, Acting Secretary Teresa Wells, Membership Officer Jane Ebel and Communications Officer Liz Batten. Retiring members of Executive Carole Banton and Penny Joyce were both thanked warmly for their work over previous years.
Thanks to Hilary Maidment, our meetings in July and August will be held at The Old House Guest House – 161 Wilton Rd, Salisbury SP2 7JQ. If driving, please park in the ATS car park next door. There is also a bus stop very close to the venue. Please feel free to arrive from 6.45 – the meeting will start at 7.
Please contact us at sarumsoropts@gmail.com if you would like to join the meeting.
We are working on several projects and activities but we are keen to develop new ones, so there is no better time to come along, meet us and see if you would like to be part of the newest women’s club in Salisbury!
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