Conference - Day One

This morning started with the Area Meetings - ours was chaired by the European Area Chairman and had just 16 people attending - 4 from England! We were welcomed and signed in with the words we are a small but powerful group and its quality not quantity that counts! It was announced that the conference programme will be changed around to allow for those people from Europe and the UK who may make it.

There were no papers for the meeting only the Chairman's rough copies as all the paperwork is stuck in Helsinki. As it was a small group everyone introduced themselves - the Irish contingent were keen to tell us about the next European Conference in Dublin which will be April 2011 - 4th to 8th at the Beaulie Hotel in Dublin - they have a web site at http://www.ica.ie/ but as this year is their Centenary they are very busy with that at present. The Theme will be the 'European Year of the Volunteer'

We then discussed the European resolutions making sure each had speaker to present them. The European total for Pennies for Friendship is 93K! There are 240 member associations in the European Area. The Area President than gave her report, a copy being given to everyone and she said how much she had enjoyed her time as President and had learnt a great deal.

We then adjourned for tea.

Next was the Council Meeting - the World President gave apologies from those not there explaining that some key figures will not make it especially from the UK.

We had one Minutes Silence for those members who had left us since the last Triennial Conference - these members were named.

Committee reports are in the Green Book - at an Airport somewhere - when they arrive delegates will be given one.

New member Societies across the world were named and welcomed into the ACWW Family.

We then had an emergency resolution to allow the election of officers to be conducted by electronic means during the time of the conference - this will be facilitated by the London Office and voting will now be on Sunday rather than Friday. Some grumbling about this but it was carried unanimously.

By-Law amendments came next - then it was lunch!

The stalls in the foyer were very interesting and provided lots of information on many projects and organisations

Treasurers Report

The Treasurer presented and excellent if difficult report thanking members of the Finance Committee for their work. The finance department was thanked and their photo's included in the presentation. However the focus at the end of the presentation was on the need for change with a number of proposals being suggested especially regarding 'restricted funds'. The UK gives 49% of all donations and we were thanked for this by delegates.

A copy of the Accounts is available and this can be shared with everyone on return.

The World President then made a 'good news announcement' - the boxes of papers had arrived

as these contain all the information and the Flags everyone was delighted. The meeting closed early before we return for the opening ceremony.

(On a personal note we were interviewed by two American TV Networks when we were in Little Rock about our feelings about being stranded in America by the Volcano - a Canadian delegate came up to me to say she had seen me on TV - we had not seen it at all - I hope everyone in America is now worried about my Tomarto plants and our dog!)