Our May meeting is of course our Annual General Meeting. Our joint presidents, secretary and treasurer cantered through the business part of the meeting with efficient good humour, but the star of the show was definitely Jane Clark who gave a delightful short speech to acknowledge the hard work of the presidents and committee. (So much so we’ve included the full text of the speech below for you to read and enjoy all over again!)
Getting through the business side of the meeting swiftly left plenty of time for a singalong with Richard and Mark from R’Markable Choir. Several of our members sing regularly with this choir and it is a remarkably friendly and welcoming home for those who enjoy a good singalong every week. For this meeting, Richard and Mark led us through a medley from that old time favourite Oklahoma! interspersing the singing with snippets of little known detail about the making of the show. If you had fun singing on the night and would like to join the choir do have a word with Caroline Powell or Kay Hart who can fill you in on the detail.
“Wasn’t it a lovely evening, so friendly and joyful. I really loved the singing with the R’Markables – such fun and so in keeping with the tone of the night. I feel very lucky to have been there. “
Jane’s Toast to our Presidents
I was delighted to be asked to say a few words and propose a vote of thanks for the wonderful joint presidents of our Lee Green WI group.
Because who wouldn’t relish the opportunity to say lots of nice things, formally and in public, about Alison Hooper and Caroline Powell?
Of course, we are very lucky, and rather unusual here in Lee Green, to have not one but TWO Presidents (well, we do like a bargain don’t we… buy 6 get 25% off- that should be written into our constitution, and who doesn’t love a buy one, get one free!) But in our bogof Presidents, we’ve got much more than a bargain; we have two amazing women who do such an incredible amount; who help to make this the thriving, lively, popular group it continues to be.
As this is the AGM, I hope you won’t mind if I quickly list a few of the many things I know they’ve been up to this past year. I’m sure there’s plenty more, and apologies to both of you for everything I’ve no doubt missed out:
- Alongside the other members of our equally remarkable Committee, they’ve provided us with a rich variety of activities and experiences this year. From Bollywood to Brighton beach via a Bart’s Hospital tour and a lecture on Bladder Incontinence! They’ve made lists (and waiting lists), they’ve collected money, counted numbers and wielded clipboards with aplomb! Laid-back Brighton didn’t know what had hit it when Alison and Caroline strode onto the seafront wielding their checklists “of burning gold” and their biros “of desire!”
- They’ve kept us entertained, informed and updated, not just at these meetings but during the intervening weeks as well. I can’t even begin to imagine how many phone calls, emails and WhatsApp messages they’ve been responsible for this past year. They’ve responded, relayed information and reassured us even at 7am in the morning (did everyone else notice that message from Alison at 7 o’ clock one morning last week? Alison, you’re a total legend!)
- As our “figureheads,” they’ve represented Lee Green WI at countless meetings and events, both local and further afield and between them I think they must have attended almost every activity, trip, social gathering and sub-group that this WI has organised throughout the year (and yes, that does include the outdoor swimming as well as the vineyard tour and the wine tasting!)
- As Caroline has already mentioned, they’ve ensured that this WI group has continued to make an active contribution within our local community, through links with the foodbank, with MHGUG and the Festival, the Open Studios, the annual fundraising quiz and lots of other events and campaigns in the Lee Green area
- And perhaps most importantly of all, they’ve helped to set the tone for these incredibly warm, welcoming, friendly and fun monthly meetings. Everyone is greeted with a smile as they come through the doors here, and we are all made to feel a part of things, to feel valued. We’ve learned a lot this year and we’ve laughed a lot too, and this is thanks in large part, to the excellent double act at the helm.
Alison has written somewhere, I think it’s on the website, that she and Caroline are like “the two ends of a pantomime donkey” (and I’m not going to say which ends she thinks is which!) It’s true, though, that they are quite different people, with different styles and strengths. But they complement each other perfectly and work really well as a team. And if they are a pantomime donkey (“oh yes they are!”) then it’s a donkey with boundless energy and enthusiasm, with top notch organisational skills, a wicked sense of fun and a whole stable full of genuine kindness.
I know that everyone here is immensely grateful to both of our Presidents for all that they do and so, as we look forward to the year ahead, I hope that you will all join me in thanking Alison and Caroline with a huge round of applause…and three cheers!