Carol Williams Margarette Golding Award


Carol has been a “Samaritan” since 1982, having been persuaded by a friend that it could possibly be something that she, Carol, would like and be able to do. She took up the challenge! She went on the Bath Samaritan rota and became ‘a good listener’ (my Dad’s favourite phrase) as the only connection with the distressed was, and still is, over the telephone. Although still working as a Samaritan, she was made a director of the Bath branch in 2010; she now trains new Samaritans and, since 2011, has become involved with Samaritan work at Leyhill Open Prison, near Bristol.


Samaritans offer a ‘round the clock’ telephone helpline service for people in desperate circumstances, often suicidal, which could be at any time of day or night. Callers can talk to a Samaritan for as long as they like, as many times as they like. They are not rushed, interrupted or pushed away and lead the conversation at their own pace; this makes Samaritans the only place where some can turn to without fear of judgement and where issues are not skirted around, as Samaritans are not afraid to go into deep and difficult areas. There are no waiting lists and no assessments.


Nowadays Samaritans do one three-hour shift each week. All calls now go to a central number, which as Carol says, has been found to provide both advantages and disadvantages.


We, in the Bath Club, felt that this quiet, unsung help and support to those in desperate need for over 30 years, is no mean achievement; something certainly worthy of recognition with a Margarette Golding Award. We submitted an application and just imagine our delight when it was accepted!


The presentation to Carol was made by Member of Council, Linda Quinn, in April, at a Quiz and Quiche charity event when Linda and her husband were able to come to share in our celebrations. Carol is pictured with the ladies who had initially proposed her for the award.


Well done Carol. We are very proud of you. Jenny Jones - President, 2017-18


From International Inner Wheel


President Christine Kirby The completion of another Inner Wheel year is an ideal opportunity to reflect on our contribution towards the protection and promotion of those important Objects of our great organisation.


For our new Inner Wheel year, my wish for every individual member, where we now look to Empower and Evolve, is that we:


*Educate ourselves about Inner Wheel’s past, honouring our rich history and, using this knowledge and experience, make our mark and forge Inner Wheel’s future.


*Participate fully in the life of our Clubs.


*Remember the excitement and honour we individually felt to have been extended that invitation to join Inner Wheel - and pass the experience of that invitation forward to invite someone new into the Inner Wheel family.


*Explore IW beyond our individual Clubs. It is there that we can experience much more of Inner Wheel in its complete diversity, its unambiguous warmth and all its potential.


*Continue to vigorously promote and represent Inner Wheel. As wonderful and worthwhile as we know our organisation to be, the reality is that, sadly, it remains the world’s best kept secret. A positive and motivated member is the best advertisement.


*Work proudly beside all other service Clubs, showing that members of Inner Wheel are working cooperatively for the benefit of communities across the world.


And when we work together as members of IW, friendships and other benefits come.


May the many blessings of Inner Wheel remain with us all. Chris Kirby


Association Historian


Katharine Dobson (D 18) has taken over as Inner Wheel Historian for GB and I. She has given a short resumė of what she would like to deal with first of all.


One of the projects I would like to be able to complete as Association Historian would be to write a monograph on the life of our founder, Margarette Golding, building on the research I have already started on her birth and early years. If any Clubs or Districts have anecdotes that would help to bring her story alive, I would be very grateful to receive them. I would also be interested in hearing of other pioneers who would have known and worked with Margarette.


I promise to read everything I am sent but can make no promise as to how much I will include!


My email address is iwhistorian@gmail.com


Page. 4


Innerwheel


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16