KENT BRANCH 2008 ANNUAL DINNER AND AGM
What makes a successfull AGM? Not much - its a boring constitutional necessity where you hope that you can attract/invite or coherse sufficient members to reach a quorum.
What is successfull / enjoyable and fun is the Annual Dinner that follows. This year we had an introduction to Young Enterprise - an organisation that helps and supports youngsters to get into work and contribute to society.
We also supported a local charity called HearSay who provide counselling, training, education and research for and with people with impaired hearing.
Our main speaker was Kevin Alderton, an ex-guardsman who was blinded in a vicious attack by a gang whilst trying to protect a woman being attacked. He spoke about his feelings with candour including how he missed the closeness and comfort of hisd army life and career; about how he descended into depression and drinking. But most moving was how he turned himself around and re-motivated himself to return to his favoured sport of skiing.
Who in their right mind wwith only 3% of their sight left get on two 6 foot pieces of wood and go hurtling down a hill covered in snow and ice at over 100mph? Well Kevin did and he facinated the audience with the description of how he went from depression to down hill racer.
Following the Annual Dinner Kevin went of to Holland to attempt the indoor speed skiing record - in what he described as a giant fridge - but alas was unsucessful in his attempt. I wonder how long it will be before he has another attempt?
CIPD Kent Branch Mission
2008 will be a year of change as several members of the branch committee are standing down or changing roles, would you like to take a more active role in advancing the image and direction of the branch - if so stand up and be counted by contacting the committee and volunteering to join us.
The new committee can be found on the "Contact Us" page of the website
The Branch exists to promote and develop best practice in the management and development of people and organisations, to raise the image and profile of the Branch, and to represent the membership, thus influencing Institute policy on local, national and international issues.
The Kent Branch is not the largest in the country but does have a dedicated and proactive group of committee members. It also has 3 regional groups open to all branch and institute members, who will receive a warm welcome.
The Branch also has a number of Self Managed Learning Groups who are either regionally, or interest based and flourish on the CPD principle. By definition these groups maintain a high level of both autonomy and discretion when proposing their meeting contents, times and venues.