Chairman’s Letter : January 2009
Dear Member,
My first duty as new Chairman is to wish you all a Happy New Year.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the out-going Chairman, Ann Hollis, for the commitment and dedication that she has given to the office over the past three years and to wish her success as she takes over as Chairman of the Area Committee in May. I would also like to welcome on to the committee, Mrs Elizabeth Tabraham-Palmer who has taken over as membership secretary from Marion Wiles and Dr. Christopher Lund who has agreed to organise study days.
Please find enclosed your NADFAS Membership Card and your WGDFAS Programme Card (don’t forget to sign them!), for the coming year. On it you will find details of the monthly lectures, planned outings and study days. The Programme Card lists committee members, the office that they hold and contact telephone numbers. Please note that the October lecture is on the 14th, the second Wednesday in the month.
The society web-site is clearly displayed on the front of the card and committee members can be contacted by logging onto the web-site and clicking Committee. The web-site can be used to access additional information on monthly lectures, outings, study days and other points of interest to the society. Mrs Jean Hockings has set up this site for us so please do make use of it!
Once again you are reminded to register your presence at a lecture. Less than three recorded attendances may result in a member being put on the suspended list.
Also included in this package of information is a leaflet explaining the valuable work of Church Recorders.
We have endeavoured over recent years to establish a link between at least one lecture and an outing. This year we have a lecture in February on St Pancras followed by a visit to the station at the end of March.
In April we have Helen McCabe talking on “Chateaux and Gardens of Normandy” and this has provided the stimulus for a four day tour of Normandy from 12th to 15th June. Initial response to this venture has been very encouraging and we are quite excited at the prospect of such a Society outing. At the time of writing there are still places available so please pick up a brochure if you are interested.
After the success of last year’s Young Arts Project when young carers in Herts spent a day with author and artist, James Mayhew we decided to repeat the idea. On Saturday, 25th October a small group of young carers spent a day with Hilda Offen, the author of “Rita the Rescuer” at The Artshed in Hertford. The children were younger than the previous group and responded enthusiastically to the occasion. We are indebted to the considerable efforts of Norah Irvin who established the links that made this day possible. We are seeking a new idea for a Young Arts Project and would welcome any suggestions from society members.
I do hope that you will find the forthcoming lectures and outings varied and interesting. The committee are already researching and planning the programme for 2010-2011. A number of suggestions have been put forward by members but please keep the ideas coming in!
Thank you for your continued support, making us a fully subscribed and thriving Society. Best wishes,
Dianne Howes
