I had overlooked a wonderful post in late April, written by our President Lillian Tickles, reflecting on the 2014-2015 season. It is well worth reflecting back now, just as our 2015-2016 season launches. It was an amazing season for the Club!
With my apologies, CWLC Webmaster, Janet Halls
When I reflect on year one of my biennium as president, a montage of images tell the story of the unfolding experience. Some of the early scenes in the composition depict Lillian, nervously taking over the role so competently managed by Ruth Hilland. In her words, I had inherited “a book club with a difference.” How to maintain, or indeed enhance this reputation became the challenge.
The next few episodes in the montage represent the rapidly growing realization that this initial stage fright was unwarranted. The first meeting of the executive dispelled any anxieties I had about the president’s role being a solo effort and an onerous task. It is a pleasure to work with so many very capable and creative individuals. They sustain and promote interest in the club’s endeavours in a variety of ways:
- Ruth Hilland, past president, is my mentor. Her advice is invaluable.
- Margaret Sparkes, 1st vice president, is an idea generator and her enthusiasm is contagious.
- Doloris Duval, 2nd vice president and our social convener, she also designed our program and place name tags for our tables today.
- Flora Spackman, secretary, summarizes every meeting so skillfully on her ipad.
- Mavis Martinson and Anita Madill, are the program conveners for this year.
- Anne Tingle, program convener for 2015-16.
- Della Mae Wood, treasurer, keeps our finances in order.
- Janet Halls, web master, responsible for making us electronically visible.
To all of you, a huge round of applause for your ongoing cooperation and tremendous support.
After considerable discussion at the executive level, we decided to shift the second half of our program from February/March to March/April, thus hoping to avoid colder weather and coping more easily with ongoing parking issues.
Especially rewarding this year has been the opportunity to welcome new members. We have 12 additions to our club. We look forward to your participation and encourage you to let us know if you have suggestions for program themes or presenters.
Our program this year has focused on Nobel prize winners. A highlight was to visit the University of Calgary Taylor Family Digital Library to see the Alice Munro (Canadian recipient) archives. Scholarly papers presented by our members captured our interest and appreciation.
On a sad note, we are reminded that one of our members, Joan Cross, passed away in 2014. Joan joined the club in 1997 and presented a number of thoroughly engaging papers before graduating to our honorary member status.
Going forward, we have a committee working on the revision of our constitution. Copies should be available for distribution in October 2015.
To our entire membership, thank you for your efforts toward making the CWLC “a book club with a difference.” You are the ones who make that definition a reality. You have provided a happy ending to the montage of my first year as president.
