Cumbria Branch Chairman’s Report 2003

This year has been difficult and disappointing for me as Branch Chairman, probably for our dedicated and hardworking Branch Secretary and Treasurer and, I expect, for Branch members.

Despite our best endeavours to meet the needs expressed in the members’ survey in 2002 we had very limited success in providing a full events programme or improved communication to satisfy those needs.

However, the year drew towards a close on a high note with an excellent multimedia and multi-sensory event, for which I would like to thank committee member Malcolm Knight, and an anticipated entertaining and informative talk by Ron Lyon following the AGM.

Planning is well underway for next year’s programme, a draft of which will be presented at the AGM, and Cumbria Branch activities should soon be reflected in Quality Professional again, after several months of silence. We hope to make further progress with the branch website over the next few months too.

The Cumbria Branch of the Chartered Management Institute is seeking closer links with us and I anticipate a reciprocal arrangement whereby events will be open to members of either institute. This should help create a wider network of contacts for members and give access to broader learning opportunities.

Looking at the wider ‘quality’ community, although three of the Branch Committee are members of the NRAC, this committee too has had difficulties during the year, though now has re-established regular meetings. Mike Pearson, Branch Vice Chairman, continues as National Ordinary Member of Council and Geoff Edmondson, Branch Secretary, is Chairman of the Regional Representatives Panel and member of the Qualifications Board. The wind of change is blowing through the IQA and we await its impact.

Several Branch members took advantage of the IQA acting as host to Q2002 World Quality Congress in Harrogate last October and I for one benefited greatly from the experience, not least in renewed enthusiasm for the subject.

One module of the new IQA Diploma has been delivered in-county and it is hoped that further modules may be available here by distance or blended learning, if not by traditional classroom methods. We have renewed links with two Cumbrian Colleges this year and I would like to see this extended to the other Colleges and to the Universities with a presence in the county.

The best part of the Branch Chairman’s role is that it enables me to meet members from all over the county. It has been a pleasure talking to you this year and meeting new members. I look forward to meeting many more of you, and continuing enlivening conversations with ‘regulars’ during 2003 - 4, whether as current or retired Chairman. Let’s make 2003 – 4 our Branch Renaissance!