Spotlight On Area Presidents
is a large geographical area made up of Magherafelt, Bellaghy, Kilrea, Granaghan, Maghera, Cookstown, Draperstown, Greenlough and Lavey Conferences. Having been President of St Patrick’s Conference Magherafelt for a number of years I have gotten to know the SVP office bearers throughout our area and we have worked well together. As the pandemic subsides, I hope to be able to call Area meetings, inviting delegates from each of the above Conferences to attend and if this is not possible then we will meet via Zoom. Through these group meetings and meetings with individuals, where appropriate, I will inform, support and advise on matters relevant to SVP in our area. If any problems arise, I will do my best to help resolve them. What do you think the future holds for SVP?
Gerardine Kielt, Mid Ulster When did you join SVP? 2004 How did you become Area President? During the course of 2021, Teresa Darragh, the outgoing Mid Ulster Area President, invited nominations for the role of Area President. I was proposed and seconded at an Area meeting held in Magherafelt on 13 October 2021. Tell us a little about your Area and your role I am just starting out in my role as Area President and I see my role primarily as a co-ordinator. Mid Ulster Area
I feel there are a great number of challenges for SVP into the future. The principal source of regular income in our area has traditionally been church gate collections. These have been curtailed because of the pandemic. Even when the pandemic comes to an end it is unlikely that church collections will return to pre-Covid levels, as more and more people avail of online church services. However the deficit from church collections has been offset by an increasing number of donations by Blue Envelopes etc. Although the ever-increasing cost of living will also put pressure on family budgets so it’s likely that they will have less to spend on voluntary donations. All the indications are that poverty is on the increase, so there will be greater need in the community for SVP. Therefore we will have to develop other ways of generating income for our work. In my previous role as President of Magherafelt SVP I worked very closely with Mid Ulster Council to access funding from various Council programmes. I see this approach becoming more important as time goes on.
17
