Page 5 - BPW UK ANNUAL REVIEW 2021-2022 - PART I

OFFICERS’ REPORTS

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

I have been fortunate to be elected as the BPWUK for the past year, and it has been super getting to
know more of you. Unfortunately, the resurgence of the covid 19 virus has made it hard to meet or to trav-
el. But as we know we are nothing, but the great adaptors and we have continued to embrace new technol-
ogies where needed.

Except of course where nothing but meeting in person can replace the day, I met PNP
Stella Rule at her home in Redruth. It was wonderful to hear about what issues had been
part of her Presidency, and how some of these we are still advocating for. Stella has been
a member who has continued that work and contacted her local Member of Parliament
with the letter in March that BPWUK had sent to all members concerning the issues that
refugees had trying to enter the UK from Ukraine. Stella was pleased with the reply she
had, and I have no doubt she will follow this up with him.

The revised FEC structure has worked very well, and I want to extend a very
large THANK YOU to each member of the team. Office Manager and VP for Member-
ship Ann Wiseall continues to give wise words to this new committee, which has
earned her the zoom name Ann Wiseowl. Thank you also to VP Media and Marketing
Jackie Franklin for her patience on all things in her brief. To our Treasurer Sue
Holtom for ensuring the banks and insurance companies are fit for purpose. To our VP
YBPWUK Yasmin Knight who is helping us all understand more about the way the fu-
ture of BPW will be, but with always one eye on our heritage. We have also made his-
tory with our first ever job share on the FEC, VPs International Jacqui Mcloughlin and
Ruth Galwey. Each new member has hit the road running, and we have worked well
together. Our VP Advocacy Liz Jowett has been a part of the FEC for the last three years, and we thank her
for the time spent on our behalf, whilst raising these issues beyond our membership.

Finally, to the PNP Helen Ashworth who has stayed an active part of the FEC and started the green
interest group and continues to be active with the green working group within Europe. Thank you, Helen,
no one predicted the pandemic in our job description, but we got there….

This year has all been about building a strong foundation for the post pandemic future of BPWUK.
We have missed having the last two annual conferences in person, and our zoom account has kept in con-
tact with many of our members. For those of them that did not have access to a more modern laptop or
tablet the FEC worked with the MEF to loan those members a device to be able to still be a part of BPW.

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