Membership and Development Committee


The Membership and Development Committee celebrated its third year as foremost promoter of all things Inner Wheel. Past Association President Zena Coles thanked her District Membership Officers for keeping her on her toes with information and ideas. As a result, she was proud to announce that another 600 members had been added to our clubs.


Communication between the District Officers and the Committees had been established and appeared to be working well. Some members have been delivering talks about Inner Wheel and many clubs continue to have editorial published in local newspapers.


Following on from the Treasurer’s report of decreased funds as a result of reduced membership, it was clear that this was going to be a hot topic of discussion. Zena highlighted that the priority was keeping clubs open and giving direct support to those clubs in most need. Naturally every member will come to a point where a physical contribution becomes more challenging. As a result, many clubs were struggling owing to the age of their members and their physical ability to run the clubs.


As we strive to recruit new members, we must not discount the valued contribution our existing members continue to make. Zena stressed it is vitally important that our existing members support new members and “encourage them to understand the philosophy and the principles of Inner Wheel”. Zena acknowledged of the two Committee meetings held in the last year, the first one held in October was too late. This first meeting of the 2018-2019 Committee will be held in July, setting the Committee off to a flying start.


Association Editor’s Report


In her first report to Conference, Association Editor Dorothy Cree commented that this was a role for people who were interested in new ideas, enjoyed reading about what others were doing and frankly being amazed at the scope of activities done in the name of Inner Wheel. Clubs were at the very centre of this wheel and she was privileged to read so many Club newsletters and bulletins from simple one-page offerings, to some very complex and well-presented newsletters.


Our 29 Districts were well served by their Editors who helped to ensure that the whole district could share in the successes of the individual clubs. This year there had been much discussion about rising costs, ways of presenting these magazines, format and content. The use of email certainly allowed for quick and useful exchange of ideas. Good quality photographs enhanced the reader’s experience and it was Dorothy’s hope that these magazines were being enjoyed not just by members but by friends and family as well as by the wider community.


From the Home Service Reports for the year to December 2017, Dorothy commented on the diversity of projects from Clubs to Districts to Zones; as always in Inner Wheel every conceivable type of culinary experience had been on offer.


Some rather unusual ways have also been found to help others. Members had abseiled, done wing walks and several had gone sky-diving. One club even provided a chaperone for children visiting Santa! Dorothy loved the idea of Wearable Art (felt making for those not in the know) and the notion of a Twilight Torchlight Treasure Hunt. But she gave a special mention to one of her favorites, the Knicker Party.


She hoped members were aware of a number of things the committee had achieved. Things like updating the Wikipedia page, designing a new car sticker, developing the membership packs, and of course a promotional poster designed by Macclesfield Castle D5.


Zena thanked everyone on the Committee, past and present for their enthusiasm, wisdom and ideas. She especially thanked her committee of Bobby Child D14, Wendy Fowles D10 and Angela Cozier D14. Concluding her report, she said, “Inner Wheel is a friendship organisation where members can use their talents to make a difference to other people’s lives,” and we couldn’t agree more.


Ruth Riches www.innerwheel.co.uk


Way out in front of the charities supported had been help for Young People, followed by support given to Hospices both for adults and children. What came through loud and clear was that we had all tried – so hard. We had made our mark, we had spread the name of Inner Wheel and had fellowship and fun doing so.


This year the clubs in GB and I together had raised £919,787.15 for GB and I charities. Dorothy gave a huge thank you to everyone in every club for every penny of this amazing total. Thanks were also recorded to the Publications Committee of Fiona Marwick, Ann Fox and Ruth Riches for invaluable help.


Ann Fox


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