XV AMASC World Congress 6-9 November 2014
Pamela Snyder, AMASC President 2010-2014
President Report
Good morning!
As President of AMASC 2010-14, I greet you. I will now present the president’s report. Truly my report reflects the work of the administrative officers, Barb Wendy and Maureen and myself. Yes, we have each had our particular tasks; however, we have worked as a team.
Presidents’ letters: I wrote at least two of them each year to report on our work. Some of the letters were very long… the reason they were long was to keep you informed. Many of you national presidents share my letters with all your members. I thank you, for this really helps us stay informed. Presidents’ letters, like your country reports for the newsletters, go on our website.
Relationship with the Society: AMASC has an increasingly strong relationship with the Society. After considerable consultation, the Society now permits Alumnae associations to support Solidarity Projects of the Society. A list of projects approved for the year is published annually in May or June. These charitable projects, entitled the Solidarity Fund are first researched and then approved by the Society. The projects are on every continent. Alumnae/I Associations may either pick a project or they may make a donation to the general fund for the projects. I sincerely hope that the next mandate continues AMASC’s relationship with the Society’s Solidarity Projects.
President’s travels: Yes travel is expensive. Yes, president’s travel takes a big portion of our budget. However, without hesitation I say to you that President’s travel is necessary for the growth of AMASC. I have used skype extensively but it is nothing compared to a visit in person. (At this point I asked Wendy to hand me the Uganda Constitution and showed it to the assembly and then asked our newest member association to stand. Those assembled applauded with enthusiasm.) At a personal meeting one is better able to listen to the hopes and problems of a particular association. Wherever possible I limited my travel to regional meetings… for example at ELASC in Guadalajara Mexico I met most of the Latin American Presidents.
In order to increase our communication we researched and added a translation button to our website…. You are all familiar with that. In response I received a lovely note, from Italian emerita member, and former President of AMASC, Maria Franca Calvi, saying how happy she was to read our website in Italian. What I wish to announce now is that at our request there is a password protected section of the AMASC website waiting to be used. Our webmaster, Anne de Broglio, has organized this with our hosting company. Now, more details which we would not like to share with the public at large may be put on our website. It is our gift to the next mandate to put on the first information.
All but one of our board members has given you a report: I wish to close by asking the following to please stand: Jacqueline de Montjoye, liaison to the Belgian authorities, Rosana Barbosa, Lynette Saldanha, Charly Masevo, June Russell Donovan, Paola del Prette and Anne de Broglio regional co-ordinators, Fedy Germani Ross, archivist, Claudia Nicolaije, young AMASC. They with the four AMASC officers, Maureen, Barb, Wendy and I have been the administrative team. We have served AMASC for four years because we believe that this organization is truly an expression of the dream of St. M. Sophie.
Pamela Snyder
7 November 2014.
President of AMASC 2010-14 (with post speech comment)