Showing Care through Friendship and Service
Membership of voluntary organisations is not an uncommon activity for Salvationists. However, for a single Corps to have two Presidents of Inner Wheel at one and the same time is very unusual.
The Logo
Our own Frankie Kember and Lt. Col. Joy Steadman-Allen are, respectively, Presidents of the Rochester and Gillingham Clubs at the present time.
Joy (left) & Frankie
International Inner Wheel is most probably the largest women’s Voluntary Service Organisation in the world. It holds Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) status with the United Nations and has representatives in its three centres of Geneva, New York and Vienna and is therefore able to play an important role in today’s world.
Since its inception in 1924 Inner Wheel continues to grow as new Clubs form in many countries. Currently it has more than 100,000 members in over 101 countries and geographical locations and members enjoy working together making new friends and having fun whilst experiencing the sense of ‘belonging’ that Club life brings. Visiting members, wherever they are in the world, is a great joy and the start of lifelong friendships.
However that is by no means the sole objective of Inner Wheel as Service to those less fortunate than themselves – the vulnerable, young people and the elderly – both at home and in the developing countries is equally important. It is given in many ways from general long term support to providing goods, funds and practical ‘hands on’ help in emergencies and disaster areas and its members are among the first to respond.
Frankie and Joy have told us of some of the projects being developed at the moment. Frankie’s chosen charities for the Rochester club are ‘Hope and Homes for Children‘ and ‘The Salvation Army Family Tracing Service‘ whilst Joy will be promoting ‘The Samaritans (local Medway, Gravesham & Swale (West) branch)’ within the Gillingham club.
Frankie tells us that ‘Hope and Homes for Children’ is working in 12 countries in Central and Eastern Europe and Africa. Its mission is to give hope to the poorest children in the world, those who are orphaned, abandoned or vulnerable, by enabling them to grow up within the love of a family and the security of a home, thus helping them to fulfill their full potential’. She also has experience within her own family and within Inner Wheel of those who have been re-united through the work of the Family Tracing Service and knows something of the happiness this has brought to those concerned.
Joy’s charity, The Samaritans, is an entirely self-financing charity which specializes in the art of listening. ‘Is every day a struggle? and ‘are you finding it hard to talk about things? are both questioins which engage the response ‘we are here to listen 24 hours a day’! Joy also chose this charity when she was President of the Kettering club a few years ago.
We wish our two ladies every success during their periods in office.
Anyone wishing to know more, or to donate, should click on the above links or contact us.