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Ladies Circles Magazine
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Area Bleatings
So here it is girls, our last 3 Cheers
edition! As I it here typing I have
mixed feelings, sad to see the last
edition going to print, but optimistic
that we will continue to share our
stories by other social media and the
National magazine. For anyone out
there who is not a member of the
Area 3 Facebook team please find us
and join. I hope that we can use this
to share our events, stories and
photos, and maybe in the future we
will be in a position to restore 3
Cheers.
This the last edition is jam packed
with stories, memories and lots and
lots of photos for you to remember,
some you may have forgotten all
about, We have thoughts from some
of our past Area Chairs, retelling
the tales and antics they got up to
during their year of office. I hope
you enjoy the read.
So may I take the opportunity to
thank everyone who has contributed
to the magazine over the last “I
don’t know how many years” , we
have all laughed along the way and
shared stories and ideas across the
Area. Also thank you to those this
year who have sent me your details,
I have been privileged to be the
first one to read all your Circle
gossip! I have had the luxury of
email, but to those who brought this
publication to life in earlier years
without the aid of t’internet, I really
do admire you! I appreciate all the
work that goes into the publication
and I must thank all those Circles
who have supplied me with the
articles and photos, without these
there wouldn’t have been a 3 Cheers.
Also to Victoria who has patiently
helped me out with technical issues
on the publishing side of things and
to my family for supporting me when
I have monopolized the computer for
several days at a time and pulled me
back from the brink of chucking it
through the window a couple of
occasions!
So sit back, read and enjoy your 3
Cheers and celebrate the
achievements of our Fabulous
Area 3!
Jo’s Report
Well well well ladies, I cannot
believe this is my last 3 Cheers
report and the very last 3 Cheers
ever!!! As ever we, a Forward
thinking area have to be realistic
to meet the needs of our members
and basically not many individual
circles contribute to the online mag
and each year it becomes a
challenge to recruit individuals to
the area exec (although it doesn't
appear that way this year!!). We
were the only remaining area to
have a magazine and we felt our
energy could be put into sharing
our good times with National in
the circle mag instead. So as
proposed & agreed at the last
meeting this will be our last 3
Cheers, I will give it my Fond
Farewell for the last copy. I do
urge you though to keep Area 3 in
the lime light and send your
articles to the national mag.
I do have some
very exciting news
for you all though,
Hallamshire Ladies Circle is to re
open on the 16th April 2013 and
will be part of Area 3. I have been
in email contact with Meg the new
chair and her team of 5 members
who are enthusiastic and want to
learn all about Area 3. I have a
prior engagement on the 16th so
exec member Judith will be
attending the opening and
celebrations on my behalf. (She
may give us a little update at the
meeting, even better we may meet
some of them at the meeting).
I have continued to have a
Fabulous, Fantastic, Fun time as
your area chair, organising my
main Fundraising event with the
exec has been my main Focus since
we last met. By the time you read
this the event Fizz and Fillies will
have taken place, I will be able to
report back to you at the April
meeting. I can for sure say now we
will have a Fabulous, Fun time
there is no doubt.
So ladies what have I been up to!!!
Well I joined weight watchers and
after a Flying start the recent
weeks of 'full on circling' are
proving to be a challenge!!! Did you
know there are 18.5 points in a
bottle of Fizz? I am only allowed
26 in a day, but my motto is Fat
Free For more Fizz. I also passed
my second assignment on the
course I told you about, only one
more to go now.
I want to thank Jazz and Julie
once again for their Fabulous
auctioneer skills and helping us
raise just over £100 for the YAA,
thanks also go to all of you who
had to change your plans due to
the weather, I really did
appreciate it, thank you. I was
originally on call the night we had
the meeting so arranged for a
colleague to cover me but she could
only do till midnight, so I arrived
back home after our auction
buzzing as usual, only to get into
bed for 45 minutes and was called!!!
That was me up working for the
rest of the night but the Fun we
had had at the meeting kept me
smiling till day break.
I attended Round Table Ladies
Evening with my husband and
plenty of you in February, it was
Fabulous to see so many of past
and present members of Area 3. As
ever we laughed and danced the
night away. February was also
the month of the National Council
meeting, please see my separate
report as we had so much Fun it
deserves it's own write up.
I have attended a NERL
committee meeting, the team are
well on their way to organising a
Fantastic do for everyone whilst
making Area 3 proud. Fun Fun
Fun!!!!!
As usual I have remained active
with my own circle, we have had 2
attempts to visit Boundary Mills
and each time the snow stopped
play!!!
I attended Batley AGM on the 23rd
March and witnessed our very
own exec member Kimberly
Thirkill become chairman for
2013/14, followed by a lovely meal
and some great conversation.
I along with Claire Cunnington,
Becky Stansfield from Halifax and
Victoria Porritt our VP attended
the NWIRL Saturday 5th April, we
had an early start at 9am to make
the train journey, the Fizz started
to Flow not long after that and it
continued for the rest of the day. I
will just tell you here before
anyone else does, I did Fail to keep
up the Fizz all day and had to take
coffee on the journey home, but
only because Claire had brought
some shortbread biscuits and they
went well with coffee!!! We also had
nibbles at the station with a Gin
and Tonic whilst waiting For the
train, all in all we had a Fabulous,
Fun day with Friends, Food, Fizz
and Frothy coffee, wearing a
Frock, Fancy shoes and a
Fascinator, that's what it's all
about ladies.
Marj our National President
reminded me in her speech that
stress is for work, Ladies Circle is
for Fun, so if you are Feeling tired
because its the end of your year as
chairman, remember someone else
is very excited as they start theirs,
if you Feeling Fed up because your
circle is loosing members then stop
your worries and put your energy
into the Fun of circle and make the
most of what you have, if we all
concentrate on making our own
Fun, sharing other people's and
supporting each other we will
continue to grow and strive well
into the Future.
By the time you read
this I will have attended
Rothwell, Sitlington,
Penistone and Halifax's
AGM and I am sure I
will have a Fantastic time at them
all. I am definitely not going to be
slimmer of the month am I???
I hope you will continue to support
me till my Final Farewell at the
handover dinner in June, which as
always will be a Fabulous Evening.
May I take this opportunity to
thank all the chairman For their
hardworking during the year and
their Fantastic Fundraising, and
wish all the new chairman For
2013/14 all the very best, enjoy
your year it goes so quickly.
Jo x
Vice Chairs Report
Firstly, with my ex publicity
officer hat on...
So, this is the final 3 Cheers? It
certainly feels like the end of an
era and I’m sure many of you, like
me, can remember reading it as a
black and white photocopied
pamphlet at Circle meetings. How
times have changed! With so many
of us sharing our photos and news
online, a magazine that comes out
just four times a year starts to look
rather quaint. I loved my two
years as publicity officer for Area
3 and I’m proud that our little
magazine was still going after all
the other area newsletters and
magazines had gone. I was the
person who turned 3 cheers digital
to save money and I know some of
you missed being able to read it in
the bath but it meant we could
hang on to it for a little while
longer. Of course, the Circler is still
going if we want to see ourselves in
print and we all have our little
corners of the National website.
Many, if not most, of our Circles
are on Facebook and we are
starting to take to twitter. If we
want to attract young members,
we have to go where they are and
engage with them on their terms so
‘share’, ‘like’ and ‘comment’ ‘follow’,
‘tweet’ and ‘retweet’ to spread the
news about your Circle!
Now, wearing my Membership
hat...
I wasn’t feeling thrilled about
reporting membership figures this
year. As ever, we have gained a
few new members across Area 3
but we have also lost some and
things were looking a bit flat really
but then..... exciting news!
We have a new Circle in Area 3!
Woohoo!!!
Hallamshire Ladies Circle in
Sheffield re-chartered on 16th April
and will be part of Area 3. I’m so
delighted to welcome them to our
happy corner of the Ladies Circle
world.
Finally, in my Vice Chairman’s
hat...
I’ve still got lots to do before Jo
hands that chain to me in June but
it’s really not long until I’m Area
Chairman...eek! Luckily it looks like
I’m going to have a brilliant team
around me so it should be a great
year of fun and friendship for all
of us... and after all, that’s what
Circle’s all about! Victoria
I've had the honour and privilege to be
Chair of Halifax Ladies Circle 3 times so
although the brief was a sentence on
what it meant to be Chair I reckon I get
at least 3 sentences!
Each time was totally different but
equally brilliant - the first time there
were only 5 of us (including honorarys)
and we helped Round Table host the
Euro Weekend (entertaining 50+
Europeans) and I was so exhausted
from cleaning my house we abandoned
any fundraising. In my second and third
years as Chair we raised money for the
Laura Crane Trust and Girl Guiding to
send "underprivileged" guides to the
World Jamboree in ....Leeds! In terms
of Fun my best memory has to be sat in
T's hot tub in Filey in the rain with Fizz
and our Guide Neckers on at our "Guide
Camp". However for me the best thing
about being Chair of Halifax Ladies
Circle has been the Friendship - always
unstinting and always there in
abundance whatever the task, the job,
the need. Claire
The photograph is of Sarah, Tracy and myself
in Feelay when I gained a vice and a vice vice
in one night!
I felt over the last few years we'd struggled for
a vice let alone a vice vice so I was particularly
delighted that Sarah and Tracy stepped up.
Hands up - I was a reluctant Chair and I
certainly wasn't a vice.
It was a fab moment for me as Chair as it
made me more enthusiastic in trying to recruit
and drive on to raise a good amount for my
year.
I'm really proud of
Halifax Ladies Circle
and what it has given
me during my time as a
member and although I feel I had a really good
year personally as Chair it would not have
been possible without all of Halifax supporting
me in one way or another.
YIF Carol
At the AGM which had me coming in as Chair,
Halifax Ladies became 'Bondettes'. Thankfully, this
didn't involve us throwing ourselves out of any
planes !! Our mission for the year was 'bonding'.
'ing' being eating, chatting, laughing, supporting,
walking, laughing, drinking and oh yes
laughing!! We tried shopping a couple of times but
alas it was 'snowing'.
Mission nearly accomplished. Sarah Chignell
Memories from Halifax Circle
I have loved being part of
ladies circle, where I have
been honoured to be Halifax
chair twice. My favourite
memories include numerous
balls and ladies lunches
where I was introduced to
lovely people,wine and food.
Family camping weekends have
been such fun, as has the
many 'races for life' and I
was deeply moved when
representing circle whilst
laying a wreath at the towns
cenotaph. I am so proud of
circle and the money we
raise, its good to
give 'something back' whilst
having such great
times. Sharron Manning
I was chair of Halifax Ladies Circle
2007-8 the year they were 60!!! that
made it extra special. We
celebrated with afternoon tea,
circlers old and new got together to
chat and remember. It also gave me
the opportuity to look back over the
old minutes and share some of the
activities Halifax LC got up to in the
early days. The whole experience of
being chair was
amazing, we had a
charity ball, a photo shoot, joined
round table in camping and raft
building. by the end of my year my
husband had decided to join table
and my best friend jioned ladies
circle and we have never looked back
since. Jo
When I announced as chair of Halifax
Ladies Circle that I was going to have a
musical theatre themed year, we almost
saw a sudden decline
in membership.
But with the help of a
strong supporting
cast, we managed to
raise enough money
to support a local
youngster who was
struggling to fund his
way through theatre
school in London.
Just like all good
musicals, my year
was full of so many magical moments –
and I didn’t even break a leg!
Helen
February Council Meeting 2013
The council meeting attended by
myself on your behalf, Jane
Walne from Penistone and my
very own fill fax friend Claire
Cunnington, gave us chance to
preview the national conference
hotel in Harrogate. Alex Roberts
our very own LCLC for conference
joined us for an hour at the end
of her National Conference
meeting.
January meeting we felt well
prepped for the event.
MMM or should I say FFFFFF didn't
help that Jane and I arrived just 2
seconds before the starter was
served, Claire already chilled from
her afternoon of shopping and
chillaxing. The meal was lovely and
we moved between courses to meet
new circlers and chat to different
people.
As you can see from the photo's we
entered the true spirit of our Area 3
Post Christmas auction, it should
come as no surprise to you we had
appropriate hat wear for the
occasion, well I was with
Claire who has something for every
occasion however this was not
necessarily my favourite Fascinator.
It is fair to say at this point there
was definitely some posh tat at the
national auction, but not to worry I
took a bag of area 3 left over tat
and we soon felt at home. As ever
there was those in the audience
who bought more tat than others.
There was also
In fact ladies Claire and I were
special guests!!!! The word has
got out!!! Area 3's very own tat
auction for charity is famous in
the world of Ladies Circle. We
were invited to do a tat auction
on the Friday evening to raise
money for the miscarriage
association. Unfortunately Jaz
and Julie were unable to attend
so it was left down to Claire and
myself. Having taken notes at
our
tat (well not really tat) that had been stolen from our National Presidents
home and put up for auction, having recognized this the biding became
exciting between LC and RT National Presidents, Jason did pay (notice I
didn't say won) the most but he did bring it to the meeting the next day as a
gift for Marj. We raised over £200 in less than an hour and put area 3 on the
circle map for auctioneers.
It was following the auction in the hotel bar where I found my new love for
Drambuie, introduced to
this marvelous after dinner drink by our very own Jane Walne just one was
not enough, in fact a few hours later with not many hours left till the meeting
started at 9am, I felt this was my new found love. Singing our way to bed,
feeling chillaxed I had no cares in the world. However, I woke shortly after in
a red hot room, feeling over heated, and fainted on the way to the bathroom
(now that's a new F), my room mate and Drambuie partner rushed up to help
and support me making sure I was okay!!! Oh sorry I got that bit slightly
mixed up, I meant to say my roommate Jane slept through the whole
incident, even the huge bang of my head on the wardrobe doors did not
awaken her!!! Anyway I spent the next hour sleeping on the bathroom floor
(a tip I learnt from my best friend aka
Halifax chair Sarah) woke up and climb back into bed.
It all felt like it happened in minutes as before we knew we were up for
breakfast (well I didn't feel like eating, just water!!!!) and a meeting that
started at 9am. However we did better than some, other circle friends from
across the Pennines didn't even make to bed till 6am so I reckon We were
quite well behaved, and if you think different I will just say I did it for Area 3.
The business from the council meeting I will bring to the area meeting
Elland Archery Evening
Every year, Elland Ladies Circle and Elland
Tangent indulge in a little friendly rivalry. We
take it in turns to challenge one another to all
manner of things, from giant Jenga or musical
quizzes to silly games or flower arranging. This
time it was Tangent’s turn to make the
arrangements and nobody knew quite what to
expect. We were simply told to wear
comfortable clothes and flat shoes and meet in
the big function room at Blackley Baptist
Church. Having battled our way past towering
snowdrifts, we were welcomed by the sight of
two archery targets and the smiling face of
Sohail, our instructor. Luckily, he is a very
patient man, and equally luckily, he had
brought a couple of ‘junior’ bows with him as
we struggled with the full size ones! After a
couple of shots to get the feel for what we were
doing, it was competition time. Six arrows each,
shot over two rounds, would decide the
victors. Anita was in charge of scoring and she
worked out the average score for Circle and
Tangent. As you can see from the scoring
sheet, it could hardly have been closer.
Tangent’s score was 26.06 but Circle just
pipped them with an average score of 26.66!
After the serious matter of the competition, we
attempted to burst balloons attached to the
targets. By now some of the girls were shooting
with
deadly
accuracy (not me, I hasten to add!) It was a
really enjoyable evening and all we have to do
now is decide what to challenge Tangent to
next year!.
Past Chairmans Report
Well, the time has come for me to fall of the end of the table. I can’t believe
how quickly my five years on Area Exec have gone!
From the time Sine Kidd asked me if I fancied being Area Secretary to being a
‘Past It’ this year, I have had a fantastic time. As Sine’s secretary, I found out
how Area and National works and also came out of my comfort zone when I was
chained to a friend and was dropped off in the middle of nowhere for her
‘Jailbreak’! As Helen’s secretary I tried to be more organized and followed her
around to various Area and National events. Karen Flatters and I made a pact on
a weekend away and so it was that I took photos, watched carefully and met
Vice Chairman from all over the country, ready for my year as Area Chair. Now
as a ‘Past It’ I’ve really enjoyed slowing down a bit but also supporting Jo and
being part of her Fabulous Flock!
Throughout the last five years there has been tons of laughter and I’ll miss
being part of another team outside of Rothwell-but I’ll also enjoy coming along
to support Victoria and the exciting things she has planned too.
I have to say, from travelling around and meeting other Area Chairman, Area 3
is special. We are close knit, have lots of fun, support each other in fundraising
and always have a good time no matter where we are! Believe me, there is no
Area quite like us and I’ve been proud to have been on Area 3 and most specially
as your Area Chairman!
So, if you are thinking about coming along and being
part of an Area team or even thinking about coming
to Area events then my advice is to do it! It’s just
like being in a wider Circle where you meet new
friends who soon become lifelong ones and you take
part in things you may never do in your own Circle!
Au Revoir
Jo x
Penistone Pie Night
As a Circle we always look to support
local businesses in the area where
possible. So when one of our
members found out a local business
was doing demonstration evenings to
showcase her renowned Pork Pies
how could we refuse!
Penistone Pies and Puddings is based
in the small Hamlet of Millhouse
Green just on the outskirts of
Penistone and is run from the family
home. So of we went, and arrived at
the house after maneuvering down
the off road rally course which was
called the drive! A warm welcome
greeted us with homemade biscuits
and warm drinks, (no wine I hear you
cry!, that bit comes later!) We
chatted for half an hour whilst
supping and munching away, and then
the demonstration began with the
pork pie machine “Little Champion” a
piece of equipment which had been in
the family for over 70years!
We all took turns to either measure
out the pastry or use the pie maker
and we chatted with Anne about her
pies and funny stories too. At the
end of the evening we all got our
pork pie to take home and with other
homemade items on sale we all took
the opportunity to fill our freezers
too.
However the night was still young
and little to early to be returning
home, so Jane kindly offered to
supply some liquid refreshments and
nibbles at hers, which was only 5
minutes away! We therefore retired
back to Jane’s to divvy up the pies
and other goodies and have a
further natter for a couple more
hours.
A great evening was had by all and
we all agreed that the pork pies
were the best we had tasted, and we
could definitely recommend it for
anyone interested.
The Old Cliche
‘It wasn’t like that in my day’
As always technology moves in and has its
effect on your Circle Life, maybe making 3
Cheers more cost effective, but the
responsibility for accessibility lies with the
member.
Gone are the days when you could not wait to
get home from an Area Meeting and read ‘3
Cheers’, before going to bed, and then being
able to leave the publication at work, or in a
waiting room at the Doctors or Dentists for
others to read. YOU have to sit at your
computer, tablet or Ipad and download it to
read.
Technology – Good, or maybe in this case, for
‘3 Cheers’ - Bad.
You now read all the Executive Officers
reports in the publication – So why even go to
an Area Meeting to find out what is
happening or even what has taken place?
Attending my first Area meeting, I took the
role of Sales Officer for the year 1996/1997.
‘3 Cheers’ was then also a successful
magazine, put together by photocopying the
articles sent in and the photographs,
published all in black and white,
Moving to Area Secretary in 1997 – 1998
Area Vice in 1998 -1999
Area Chairman in 1999 – 2000 – A great
honour to represent Area 3 in the millennium.
Where we ’Circle for Fun’.3 Cheers as ever
successful with computer produced articles
appearing in
‘3 Cheers’.
Enjoying Circle Life and the friendships made
2000 – 2001 saw me in the role of National
Sales Officer doing what all girls do best and
‘Shop’. Attending trade fairs and bringing
samples of merchandise to the National
Executive Meetings!
A break in 2001- 02 when my plight for
National Vice President did not come to
fruition, but not giving up I joined the then
Membership Team, working with local areas
on membership enquiries and helping to
encourage Areas to continue to flourish.
2002 - 2003 saw me elected to the role of
National Vice President of NALC and President
in 2003 – 2004 which was ‘Where the
Heart Is’.
My first involvement in Area came from the
attendance at an International Ladies Circle
Conference in Goteborg in September 1995.
After returning and taking time to think
about all the lovely women all over the
world doing exactly what we do, extending
the
hand of friendship, no matter what language
they spoke.
As Past National President at the National
AGM in 2005 I was awarded the
‘Nordic Hat Trophy’ for my lime green
creation
Rule 1 - To wear at every Ladies Circle Event
for 1 year, social or
business!
Attending my 13th
International
Conference in
Alkmaar with Area 3 Chairman Janine Kaye,
saw the resignation of the International Vice
President, and YES I stood from the floor and
was successfully elected as International
President with an inherited theme of
‘You’re Special’.
Quote –‘3 Cheers ‘October 2006
edition
‘I went as a virgin, slept with the
International President, became a mole,
almost had my head knocked off by a
bridge, seriously damaged my livers and
all because I wanted to accompany Janine
in her special year. If I go again what
could happen next…..!’ Jill Dyson –
Hebden Bridge LC Chairman
Travelling the world spreading the word of
Ladies Circle, extending the hand of friendship
and having fun whilst raising funds for
charitable causes, locally, nationally and
internationally.
It will be sad
to see the
loss of a
great
magazine and
publication.
How will
stories be
shared?
A tool used for communication and
networking, and not forgetting a successful
National Trophy winning publication.
(‘3 Cheers’ publication June 2001)
Area 3 have always been a great team of
ladies, so let’s not let what we have and have
achieved over the years go.
SUPPORT AREA!!!!!!
Raise your glass and say ‘3 Cheers ‘
As we: Circle for Fun
Knowing: Where the Heart Is
Because: You’re Special
T x Tracey Wilkinson
Past Everything!!!!!!!!!!!
Past Area Chairs Fondest Foughts!
Gill Milner 2004/05
I was Area Chairman in 2004-
2005 and had a thoroughly
enjoyable year. What an
honour to represent Area 3 both
Nationally and Internationally.
I never thought when joined
Penistone Ladies Circle in 1990
that I would ever be Area
Chairman. My visit to Romania
to International Conference will
stay with me forever. What a
wonderful experience to meet
Circlers from all corners of the
world, in a country with so much
history. I can't pick a particular
highlight to the year as it was
all so special. I attended
several Charters. AGM's as well as
business meetings, including
Osset and Horbury's 500th
meeting. Thank you Area 3 for
allowing me to be your Area
Chairman.
Claire Cunnington 2007/08
I had the privilege to be Area
Chair in 2007/2008 sandwiched
between the equally wonderful
Jaz "Carry on Circling" and Sine
"Never Forget". I can certainly
say my year was a real Carry On
and one I'll Never Forget. My
Theme was Survive, Thrive &
Celebrate.
I could tell you about the
Fundraising:
*Nearly £10,000 raised for the
Laura Crane Trust
*6 tables at their Ball and a
raffle for free tickets ( on the
promise of seeing Catherine
Tate!!!!) - we were bovered!
*46 friends joining me on the
Yorkshire 3 Peaks,
*Unwanted Christmas Present
Auction (1st one!!)
*Selling programmes at Leeds
Rhino match
*£1500 raised throughout the
Area for SARIS
*£70 for Cancer Research UK
through the Think Pink Guess the
Baby competition
I could tell you about the Fun
*My Radio Leeds Debut,
*Finding out about the eclectic
mix of Chairs & Vice Chairs
*The Charters & AGMs (maybe
not Penistone's who told me I
wasn't speaking then introduced
me as the 1st
Speaker on the night!!!!)
*My trip to Tallinn with some
very "Special" (in all senses of the
word) people !
*Rally 2008 -
aaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!! (Pirate
theme! with moving pirate ship
such was the standard of the
decor!)
*The National President's Ball -
Viva Las Vegas and Elvis was
there (several of them!!)
*The 3 Peaks - it was fun!! Despite
the snow, hail, wind rain and 27
miles (to avoid the bogs), the cut
feet, the damaged, knees......the
13 hours of walking.
I could tell you about the
Friendship:
My wonderful Exec -organising
Golf, Bowling, Survival Quiz,
Musical Chairs, Cheerleading,
the wonderful Friendship Night
at Vanilla in Lindley where
Helen Paterson actually saved a
life (someone choking!)
*My wonderful Halifax Circle
supporting all the events and me
*Conference Leeds team and all
the Circlers who rallied to help
at the AGM when I found myself
LCLC at the last minute when
Kathy Roche decided to have a
baby!
*The people I met across Area,
National and International
*The Past Area Chairs who gave
me their support and advice
which has continued
Particular Highlights for me
were:
*the opportunity to go to LCI in a
very Special Year with Tracey as
International President
*the honour of having all the
International Board and most
of the GB&I Board at my
handover dinner
*Seeing Karen Flatters coming
into the Pub at the end of the 3
Peaks - last and in the dark but
she did it!!
*The most hilarious 3 City, 2
Centre,1 Luncheon, No Nudity,
Top Weekend with my lovely Exec
(and our BFF DAME Tanni Grey
Thompson!!!)
And my legacy............SARI
(although there is a rumour
she's been lost!!!!!) and 2 of my
Exec virgins going on to show
Friendship Makes the difference
(Karen) and be Fabulous (Jo)
Area Chairs !!
Claire Cunnington
Sine Kidd 2008-2009 Never
Forget
Being Area 3 Chair is a fantastic
experience , I had an amazing
year that I will certainly “Never
Forget”
During my year we raised funds
for The West Yorkshire Forget Me
Not Trust, and I’m sure many of
you will not forget my main
fundraiser- The Jailbreak!
We were taken in a blacked out
coach and “dumped” in the
middle of nowhere somewhere
north of York - chained to our
partner with the mission to get
back to Horbury with no money
and no transport - it was quite
an experience .
During my year I was also Chair
of Area 3 NERL committee, and
I’ll Never Forget , Tess our
Labrador guide puppy that we
were puppy walking at the time,
eating the gifts that I had
carefully chosen and wrapped
for my NERL committee 2 days
before the event!
Representing Area 3 at LCI was a
great honour, of all the places in
the world where LCI is held, in
my year I went back home to
Scotland . We had a great
weekend in Aberdeen , and for
once the weather up north was
amazing , which wasn’t so good
considering that instead of
Tshirts we thought we’d be better
off with fleeces.
Over the years I have loved
reading 3 Cheers, I used to really
enjoy coming home from The
Area meeting and settling down
for a good read and catch up
with all the other Circles news,
It’s sad that it’s going but I
suppose we have to move with the
times.
A big thank you to all the girls
over the years who have put so
much time and effort into
making 3 cheers the award
winning magazine that it is .
Sine x
Helen Paterson
2009/10
When asked for copy
about my year as Area 3 Chair, I
went straight to my photo album
– and spent a happy hour
wallowing in memories. The
most important theme running
through the year was the warm
welcome from Circlers
throughout Area 3.
It is almost impossible to choose
just one or two moments from a
whirlwind year packed with
special memories. Highlights
include NERL, Friendship
Evening (where a bra themed
talk made me discover that I was
wearing the wrong size bra!)
and my Charity Ceilidh. I won
flights to Prague at Batley’s
Masquerade Ball – the first time
in my life that I have won a
major prize! I also enjoyed my
first ventures into National
events, meeting Circlers from all
over the country and feeling
proud to represent Area 3.
I think the low point must be
losing the ‘dangly bit’ of the
Area 3 regalia at National
Conference (although the new
one is much shinier and doesn’t
need to be held together with
blutack!).
The whole year was exhausting,
exhilarating, full of fun and
friendship. Ladies Circle has
given me so many opportunities
to do things that I would never
had done had I not been a
member, not to mention so many
friends.
Helen x
Karen Flatters 2012/11
What can I say about Area 3 and
the fantastic Girls which were
members of my exec during my
year as Area 3 Chair.
You could say I naturally fell
into this role as I have the
personality and passion for
Ladies Circle, which originally I
hated because like everyone else
I thought of the Jam brigade
and how wrong could I be as the
friends I have made along my
circle journey have made a
different to me.
This was how my theme of
Friendship Makes a Difference
came to be and really is what
Ladies Circle stands for and I
truly believe if you need a friend
then Area 3 is the place to start.
In my year, I celebrated my own
Circles 60th
Year as well as Area 3
60th
Year so you could say it was
six’s all round. I was delighted
to meet so many past members of
Area 3 at our Afternoon Tea
celebrations and the feeling of
belong to a wonderful
organisation of so many
likeminded ladies who were
enjoying themselves and having
fun stood out for me.
We have a fantastic bunch of
girls in Area 3 and special
memories will be cherished as
with all organisations you only
get out what you put in.
At times, it’s hard to attract new
members and tell them exactly
what circle is all about and
people think automatically WI.
As Circle groups, we need to
embrace change and make sure
we not becoming stale in our
approach to circle which we all
need to keep evolving so Ladies
Circle will be their for future
generations to enjoy just like we
all do.
In the name of Circle, I have
danced, drank countless pints
and laughed, gained new
friends & of course, eaten lots of
meals but do you know what
girls I would not of had it any
other way but best of all I’m a
member of Area 3 who hopes my
friendship has made a difference
to you all during my year as
Jo Tinker 2011/12
What a way to celebrate my 40th
year! Yep being your Area
Chairman with the brilliant
Team Tinker on side, certainly
was the icing on the cake on a
year of fun, friendship and
fundraising!
‘Area 3 Needs You’ was my theme,
along with a good dose of Keep
Calm and Carry On! I managed
to keep quite calm in a very busy
year and had a brilliant time
doing something different,
meeting Circlers from our Area
and all over the world and of
course raising lots of money for
my designated charity- Help For
Heroes!
So what were the highlights? Too
many to mention, but here are a
few:
At the Chair/Vice night when we
found out shocking things that
Circlers had never done,
your Area
Chairman.
Karen x
including my admission that I
had never seen Dirty Dancing
which made Louise from
Penistone spill her wine!
At Ladies Circle International in
Hamburg where I swapped pin
badges, had fizz for breakfast,
found out what an ‘amuse in
Hamburg’ was, met tons of lovely
people and played ‘Celebrity
Lookie-Like’ with Past Area
Chairman, Sine, Claire and
Helen.
At the National Presidents ball
where we tried to steal the
National Presidents candle and
my memory book went around
the tables and ended up with a
story to rival 50 Shades of Grey
written in it.
At National Council meetings
where the new National logo
and website was unveiled and we
found out how good Jo Machon
was at Twister!
At lots of Circle events, meetings
and AGM’s oh and not forgetting
slowly skating on ice with
Baildon and winning the Anne
Summers prize at Colne Valley’s
pamper evening.
By balancing cups ‘Crackerjack’
style or throwing a javelin at the
Summer Olympics. Where Elland
won the Rosebowl by playing
Pictionary and I just couldn’t
keep a penguin on a block of ice
for the Winter Olympics!
By sending 68 shoeboxes full of
Christmas goodies for our brave
soldiers.
By Making Do & Mend or
auctioning unwanted Xmas
presents-where did some of them
come from?
At the Sing-a-longa Dirty
Dancing night where I finally
found out the significance of the
water melon and why Baby
wouldn’t be put in a corner!
At the family fun day where
Team Tinker slaved away
making tons of cream teas and
Karen Flatters enjoyed
playing...or being in charge of
hook a duck and Penny made
crowns full of glitter and
sequins!
At Charter lunches in Rothwell
(discussing how to turn a breech
baby), Brighouse (finding out
what soldiers do need in their
shoebox presents), Sitlington
(fabulous memory books),
Penistone (inducted 5 new
members and also nearly walked
away with some very interesting
Ancient Greek cards showing
different... ahem... positions)
With those Naked Waiters, at the
Friendship evening full of
memories and memorabilia,
and whilst dancing at Elland’s
Ceilidh.
On the Team Tinker weekend
away in Harrogate with various
80’s drunken icons, including
Michael Jackson, oh and the
latest in enterntainment...the
kara-rope-ey at the Guilty
Pleasures Lounge!
At The Handover Dinner, one of
the best nights of the year and
where at the end of the evening
Halifax Table welcomed Jo
Machon in as Area Chair in
brilliant style and I could take
off my chain but also take away
tons of happy memories!
Thank you Area 3. I did have the
Time of My Life...and I owe it all
to you..ho.ho (see I still
remember!)
Jo x
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