The Branch Officers’ Annual Meeting

The Branch Officers met for their annual business meeting at the Christian Conference Centre in Swanwick, Derbyshire, over the weekend 19th  – 21st  February. Business was a plenty and with so much to do Mrs Doreen Pooley, National President, welcomed everyone, especially our guest from MediaWatch UK and those Branch Officers at the OAM for the first time.
The National President led everyone in prayers for the people of Haiti.
The announcement of the new National President of the League (for the period 2010 -2013) was made and the meeting very warmly congratulated Mrs Margaret Richards who will take up the position of National President Elect with immediate effect. Mrs Gill Moodie, who had also stood in the election for the Presidency, was also warmly greeted by the meeting.

National Officers with the National President Elect, Mrs Margaret Richards

Friday evening saw Branch Treasurers meeting with the National Treasurer and all other Officers meeting with the National President and National Secretary to cover and revise day-to-day running of the League; the main business Meeting got under way on Saturday morning and after the various National Reports the meeting welcomed our guest, Mrs Vivienne Pattison, Director Mediawatch UK, who gave a robust and passionate Interview on the role we can all play in our relationship with every aspect of media. It is important, she reminded us, not only to speak out against the sometimes unsuitable way in which the media report on issues but also to take the time to praise when their coverage reflects a high moral stance, too.
An important aspect of the weekend was to hear about the work of the League’s two special Teams – Social Awareness and Promotions. Reports were given on International Issues, Health and Social Issues, Parliamentary matters pertinent to the work of the League and CWL’s work with Refugees and Asylum Seekers. As a member of the Social Awareness Team,
 Mrs Barbara Stitt was introduced as the League’s candidate for the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations’ Board Elections. With the approval of the Executives of the National Board of Catholic Women and the Union of Catholic Mothers, Barbara will take up office at the World Assembly in Jerusalem, October 2010.
The members of the Promotions Team reported on arrangements for the 2010 AGM, CWL NEWS (the League’s newspaper), the website and the shop. Elizabeth Upsher, the Promotions and publicity Officer, presented the new Promotions Pack of the Catholic Women’s League.

After all the discussion a few minutes’ exercise is most welcome.

The National Secretary informed the Meeting of Mary Newman’s academic progress since she last spoke to the League at the Centenary AGM in 2006:  ‘I received confirmation at the week-end that the final version of my thesis has been accepted.  All that remains to be done is to present the university with the regulation copies of the thesis and then they will pass me.  I hope to do that on the 3rd March.  I also have a meeting with my tutor on 3rd March to discuss my future.  I intend to send you my ideas within a couple of days of that meeting’ Mary forwarded a copy of the Preface:  ‘The research which forms the basis of this thesis has been possible because of the generosity of the Catholic Women’s League who opened their archives to me.  In particular I am aware of my debt to Breda Ford and Margaret Richardson of the CWL who allowed me to keep archival material in my home…’
Mary will present the archive with a copy of her thesis.                

Mrs Christine Pugh also reported on ‘Catholic Women of the Year’ nomination procedures, the closing date of which is 31st March.

The Officers came together in prayer on a number of occasions over the weekend – for Evening and Morning Prayer, for the celebration of Holy Mass and for the  Sorrowful Mysteries which included meditation and prayer – both sung and spoken. Our thanks to Teresa Burns for over-seeing  all of this.
Jill Sims, Branch Treasurer Arundel & Brighton, prepared another evening of wonderful quizzical entertainment on Saturday which was well appreciated by all. Thank you, Jill.

A winter wonderland presented itself to the members as they woke on Sunday morning!

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