Association President

Enid Law - Association President 2019-2020

Llangollen District 18

Dear Fellow Members,

I am writing to you all to wish you well as another Inner Wheel ends and a new one begins.

To say that this has been a strange year is indeed an understatement.

As I visited the District Rallies, I spoke about adopting new ideas and adapting them to our needs. Little did I think how much adopting of new ideas we were to be faced with, but we certainly have adapted them to our needs.  I am so proud to be part of this Association whose members have found such strength to face new challenges. We have embraced technology, new to many of us.  We have used Zoom and other online programmes to conduct formal business meetings and to enjoy fun and friendship. We have not been idle in lockdown but we have kept busy   using our skills to help out those working on the frontline in the crisis.

The months ahead could prove to be even more difficult as we adjust to a new way of life which contains the threat of a returning epidemic. We may   have to continue with “virtual “meetings and whilst that is the case, we must make sure that we make arrangements to include those members who do not have access to the internet.  The health and safety of our   members must be of paramount importance so meeting physically may not be possible for some time yet.  I am sure all our Clubs will adhere to the safety guidelines set out by those governing us and only meet physically when it is safe to do so.   This gives us an opportunity to plan ahead and to give ourselves time to consider what   improvements we can make at all levels of the Association.

As an Association Executive we have held regular meetings to find a way forward and we recognise the difficulties we are all going to have to face. We will have to be flexible in these times and not rely on the old ways. Many clubs have successfully experimented with job– sharing and proved it to be workable.  Your club may have other solutions to tide you over this difficult time.   Members of the Executive are here to help you if you have alternative suggestions you wish to put forward.    

I put these ideas before you because I know that you realize, as I do, what a valuable contribution our clubs make to local communities and to those beyond these shores.  Many of these communities are going to need our help more than ever in the near future.  I also know what the friendship of Inner Wheel means to so many of us, never more so than in the present day. Coming from a period of isolation we are going to need the support and friendship our organization provides.

I know that many of you are struggling to keep your clubs going and it seems an uphill task but please see the value of maintaining all that is so good in Inner Wheel.

There is a lot of truth in the old saying “every cloud has a silver lining”. Covid 19 has presented us with many challenges if we can find a way forward our Association can emerge from these difficult times with renewed vigour and enthusiasm.

I wish you all well in your endeavours.

Yours in Inner Wheel Friendship,

Enid

Association President Enid Law 2019-2021     

1st July 2020