Portsmouth Diocese Mothers’ Union (MU)
Finance and Administration Report, October 2010
The recent Unit Conference proved to me again that all the diocesan units are inter-dependent on one another. The first thing that the speaker, talking on the subject of “Money”, told us was that many of those women who had benefited by our Literacy campaign were not only now literate but were numerate as well and had gained so much confidence that they could run their own small businesses. A far cry from when they were liable to be cheated at markets and just didn’t know how badly their customers were treating them. So our fundraising for the Literacy Campaign has enabled women to earn more money so they are not so dependent on outside help.
80% of MU income at Mary Sumner House is from members, so the work of the M.U. cannot continue unless subscriptions and fund-raising monies keep coming in. There are 92,000 members in the U.K. and they keep Mary Sumner House running, including staff salaries.
The new conference rooms at Mary Sumner House are now being booked and, hopefully, will bring in a steady income.
We were asked to tell you that the deposits in the funds at Mary Sumner House for our worldwide projects alters according to the needs in various parts of the world so it is helpful if some fund-raising monies are sent to Mary Sumner House marked to be put where there is a need.
At another workshop, we were told that even in the present difficult financial climate, there were charitable organisations with funds to donate. Is there anyone you can think of, who does not have to be a member, who would take on the task of writing to donors (lists found on the website, or to local Lions or Rotary clubs) for Portsmouth MU? It is especially important to raise funds for our Away From It All Holidays to enable them to continue. Specimen letters can be provided.
Janet Stemp
October 2010.
Small change …… big difference
This was the theme at the recent Mothers’ Union (MU) All Unit Conference. Since I returned, the idea of doing something seemingly insignificant but making a great contribution, keeps cropping up. In relation to this publication I was thinking about the things you do in your branches. I am assuming that some of you regard your projects and activities as small in the scheme of things because you rarely tell us about them. Other branches often let us know their news, some of which you have been reading about in this issue. Thank you to them.
However, I am sure that in other branches those small things are indeed making a big difference to someone and that there is a story to tell. So please can we hear more about the difference God is making to people’s lives through MU.
It would also be great to hear about changes to the way your branch works….meetings even 15 minutes earlier in the afternoon could make it easier for a parent or grandparent to pick up from school. Meeting in the morning or over lunch could avoid folk falling asleep in that after-lunch period!
Maybe you are trying such things and they work, but the rest of us don’t know about it. A very short story or one sentence suggestion could be a great encouragement to another branch.
I look forward to reading your contributions.
Sandra Goodey
Faith and Policy Unit Coordinator
Diocesan Membership
Report to Diocesan Council, 0ctober 14th 2010
After listening to Liz Gilbert, the previous Diocesan Members Administrator, give her report last October, Jenny Hawkins and I offered to try and continue the good work contributed by Liz over her term of office. I must admit that I was totally unprepared when the cheques and queries started to arrive but with Liz’s help I was able to collect all the subscriptions and present to the Treasurer on time.
Unfortunately several people didn’t renew their membership for 2010 and sadly Mrs Dimmer from Stubbington has died; our membership now is 41.
I’m sure I won’t find the coming years so daunting and hope to send the names of Diocesan members to each Deanery, perhaps there will be some occasions where they can attend local events.
My thanks to Sheila, Valerie and Sue for their support.
Liz Emery
The date of the next Annual General Meeting is Thursday 9th June, 2011 at Usher Hall, Edinburgh. If you would like to go we will have a list on which to put your name at the Diocesan Council at Sandown in October.
If you have never been to a General Meeting it is a wonderful opportunity to meet other Mothers’ Union members who come from all parts of the United Kingdom and overseas.
Norma Gibney, Vice President