3 minute read
In Touch Up North
“Did you become an accountant because of your birthday?” – The question was asked of me.
“No, it’s just a horrible coincidence! I replied as my birthday, the 31st March, also known as the financial year end or the day before the panic starts as the new membership/financial year begins.
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So happy new membership and financial year everybody, hasn’t it been a good one? Well actually rather than drawing on the horribleness of all the Coronavirus affected events and just how tough it’s been, if you’re reading this, then you’ve made it so far.
It has been hard, traumatic, stressful, utterly exhausting and nothing prepared us for the length or breadth of it, but please congratulate yourself, you are still going in some shape.
Commiserations if that shape is slightly rounder then 12 months ago, we all can’t just blame the Easter eggs this time!
The 2020 – 2021 year was a massive upheaval for ICCM and how we operate and function. Things have changed that will never quite go back the same way, but a lot of very good changes were forced to occur that will make things more positive in the future.
To some degree we have all learnt how to video conference, we have probably also shown more people our pets on calls.
As an example, here’s Flo helping me just this week - yes, the office could be tidier, but as it wasn’t meant to be an office until last year at really short notice, I might get it right before 2022.
With ICCM’s webinars we have probably spent more time on member engagement on papers and topics then we would have done if we’d had a convention. We are going to have a convention again, but until then, there are hours of topics to digest online which before would not have been the case.
Environmentally, well I’m going to have to get used to processing travel claims sometime soon from the officers – but like everyone else, we’ve spent less time in cars and more time walking, I think. To compensate for not getting to you, you have come to us in your hundreds for the online training courses. As I manage the feedback, I can also thank each of you that have replied to say what we could do better as well as thanking you all for the nice words of how you have enjoyed them and what you have learnt. So, things are different, however, we have still been able to provide a service that you need.
It’s a service that we’ve reviewed and while we want to get back on the road to you as well, the online courses will remain an option, some people find it easier to attend – so out of madness comes improvement.
ICCM managed to survive and will record a profit this year, despite our COTS programme being temporarily suspended, the education seminar and convention being cancelled and us all spending a long time wondering what on earth was going on.
My son’s secondary school does WWW tasks for their homework – What went well and also what could you improve (it seems to be a case of not saying you did it wrong or failed, but hey ho).
WWW for ICCM
Better member engagement with more newsletters, social media posts, telephone calls and webinars.
An online AGM that was better attended and more engaging than during the last decade.
Online courses reaching over 400 people.
Online CTTS assessments, assessing more people then ever before in a year – thank you Mat.
Being there for members to let off steam, rant and trying to explain VASTLY changing Government guidance – if they let us write it, it would have been better.
We donated over £1million to charities through the recycling of metal scheme and we are doing it all again right now.
What could we do better –
Well, this is down to you, if you have any advice or ideas please let us know.
Oh and if you're moving house, changing jobs or email addresses, then PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, let us know so we can send you information and your Journals correctly - it’s a little thing on your long list of changes to make but it helps.
Contact – Trevor.robson@iccm-uk.com
Take care, look after yourselves and hopefully enjoy the fresh air and not another lockdown!
