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| Dave (right) pictured at his President's Lunch, along with Paul Sanderson, President of the International Property Taxation Institute |
It’s been a
very busy last few months since my last update, beginning with my acceptance of
a lunch engagement with the Chartered Institute of Taxation in London on the 8th January followed the week after with attendance at the IRRV Council at
Northumberland House on 14th January. It’s a very strange
feeling to be in central London and seeing snow falling outside the windows. Several Council Members were delaying in arriving due to problems with the
weather and the trains. However, a very productive Council Budget setting
meeting was achieved.
On the 23rd and 24th January, I attended the annual Civica Conference in
Manchester (a little closer to home for me), where the Institute took an
exhibition stand and several Institute members including the Chief Executive
delivered papers on the Welfare Reform changes yet to come.
I then
attended a series of Association Executive Meetings, with the aim of improving
communication, cascading Institute information, promoting benefits of
membership and encouraging take-up of our new membership categories.
I was
welcomed by Lancashire and Cheshire on 28th January, London
and Home Counties on 6th February, East Midlands on 8th February, West Midlands on 20th February, East Anglia on 8th March, and Yorkshire and District on 12th March. All meetings were really positive and it is encouraging to know that there are
so many committed Institute members delivering real benefits to local members.
I also
attended the London and Home Counties Association Dinner at
the Innholders' Hall on 1st February, the Association of Accounting
Technicians' Lunch on the 14th March, followed by my hosting an
informal lunch in London on the 15th for other kindred organisations.
At the time
of writing, I am preparing my speech for the Lancashire and Cheshire Association Dinner in Lancaster
My
presidential fund raising plans are now all coming together, with a Golf
endurance challenge taking place from Friday 21st June with a
President's team versus an Equita team. We plan to compete in 6 matches over 3
days, starting at Evesham GC, moving to Helidon Lakes GC, then to Delamere
Forest GC, Sandiway GC, followed by Whalley GC and finally Rossendale GC. Playing 36 holes a day, attracting sponsorship, donations and a raising money by
a charity raffle at the Institute's National Golf event at Forest Pines on
Monday 24th June.
Many thanks
to both Equita and Rossendales for generously offering to co-sponsor this
event, raising money for my charity, Rossendale Hospice and Equita’s charity
the Alzheimer's Society. We would gladly welcome any sponsorship for this
endurance event, and the ever present golfers will be Paul Sharpe, Bob Trahern
and myself, along with 5 guest golfers each day. I sincerely hope it doesn’t
rain all 4 days!
