Greetings fellow Ulysses Club members I trust you are all coping well in these virus pandemic times. Yes, like you I am missing my riding, my club socialising and my coffee and bacon and egg rolls. Never mind, be strong, we are flattening the curve and it won’t be too long before we are out there again.
The winners of the Jo Dearnley Memorial Award and the Good Joint Award have been established and would normally be announced and presented at the national rally. However, as you would all be aware the Lismore Rally has been cancelled due to the virus. Therefore, the formalities have been delayed until the national AGM proposed for September 26.
In my recent April report to the national committee of the Ulysses Club I expressed my belief that the funding of UCARF will inevitably take a nosedive due to the impact of COVID-19 on our community. This is understandable under the circumstances and is reflected in the declining donations over the last few months.
There were 6 donations during February totalling $5210.00, this was followed by 2 donations in March @ $1,750.00 and 1 donation in April @ $27.00.
Sadly, to different degrees, we are all victims, including our club and including UCARF of this terrible pandemic.
The following donations from Ulysses Club branches and members have been received since the last published list in the Autumn edition of Riding On.
This new list as printed is in no particular order other than when received by UCARF.
Tamar Tourers Branch $500.00, Newcastle Lower Hunter Branch $2,000.00, Shearwaters Branch $1,000.00, Torrens Valley Branch $510.00, Coffs Coast Branch $700.00, North West Coast Branch $500.00, Brisbane Branch $750.00, Orange Branch $1,000.00, Colleen Abberfield $27.00.
I wish to mention this donation because I feel that it’s both clever and novel. Member Colleen Abberfield has been making and selling reusable vegetable bags for grocery shopping and to her generosity has decided that all proceeds should go to UCARF.
As the UCARF Coordinator I wish to express a heartfelt gratitude to all donors on behalf of our great club. Your generosity is unselfish and very commendable.
We have received a letter of appreciation for our support to Monash University from Professor Eric Morand. I have included a copy for your perusal.
The national biennial UCARF raffle would normally be in the planning stages at this time, however there will be a delay on the commencement due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The club has recently received a UCARF sponsorship proposal as requested. I am pleased to report that at the most recent national committee meeting the proposal was approved.
May I leave you with this quote that is not arthritis related but could be considered relevant to our current virus crisis.
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Kim Kennerson
UCARF Coordinator,
#6929 L.M. 14
