November
2020
BEAT THE HOLIDAY SLUMP!
3 WAYS TO FINISH THE YEAR STRONG
E D ITO R S ’ MESSAGE
Clover & Dayton
It’s that time of year again! As we near the end of 2020, we know it’s been a lot. So, this issue features a few tips for finishing strong. Of course it’s also Members’ Month, so there are highlights from several activities for your enjoyment. There’s hospital outreach and a donation at our church service. We also cover the renaming of VM’s iconic Duke Street building, which was named in honour of former GM, Douglas Cover. It’s been a long year, but yes, we’re still buzzing! As usual, if you have any feedback, questions or concerns, let us know at: VMCorporateAffairs@myvmgroup.com
CONTENTS
Pages 5
Page 6
Page 8
Tips for a Strong Year-End Finish
Highlights from VM Members’ Month 2020
VM Strategy Launch
Page 8
Page 10
Page 12
VM Strategy Launch
The Douglas Cover Building
University of the West Indies Hospital Outreach
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“ Scheduling your personal activities like work meetings ensures you’ll have time for them.”
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TIPS FOR A STRONG YEAR-END FINISH The end of the year always has a kind of wind-down feeling to it, even though our schedules might get a little busier. With companies closing their financial year, Christmas-related projects and the inevitable socially distanced office parties, your days might start looking hectic. However, after a year of staying on your game despite the thunderbolts 2020 bowled us, it’s perfectly understandable if you feel like you’re running out of steam. Here’s how we think you can ensure you end this year in good form and hit the ground running in the year ahead. STAY FOCUSED – Tis the season for lots of tight deadlines, many last-minute requests and even more meetings. One way to keep all that activity from getting overwhelming is the use of planning tools. Your smartphone can be your very own personal assistant if used properly. Now might be a good time to familiarize yourself with the calendar, tasks, notes and google assistant apps. Not tech savvy? A planner diary and a handy notebook can do the same job. Organizing your work to-dos in one place makes them more manageable and will help you stay on task. BALANCE YOUR TIME – It’s common to have responsibilities from the family-andfriends side of your life need to be juggled with home-office hours that exceed the standard 9-to-5. Scheduling your personal activities like work meetings ensures
you’ll have time for them. We recommend spreading your personal activities out over the season, so you do a little each day/night instead of going all out in a single night or over a weekend. This way you’ll benefit from healthy work breaks while having enough energy to maintain you edge in the office. PLAN AHEAD – The end of the year is a great time to plan for the upcoming year. If you find yourself with some extra time as 2020 winds down, use it to make a plan for January. If you find more time, plan for the first quarter. Your team will appreciate the foresight, your boss will take note of your initiative and you’ll save time with a practical map to follow. Instead of returning from the holidays trying to figure out your next move, you’ll come back ready to get going. Whatever comes your way this end-of-year, if you want to avoid burnout or boredom, be guided by two things that are a good idea all year round – moderation and planning. They don’t sound very exciting, but these two skills will serve you well in the midst of all the work and play that comes with the season. Use them wisely and you’ll be able to enjoy yourself, while staying on top of your game at work.
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HIGHLIGHTS FROM VM MEMBERS’ MONTH 2020
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VM 2021-2023 STRATEGY LAUNCH Strategic Goals Explained
VM Group entities are cohesive and collaborate in teams to provide high value are products, services, and customer experiences. VM Group entities cohesive and collaborate in teams to The VM high Group upholds best practices enterprise provide value products, services, in and customerrisk experiences. management strong capital base in and seamlessrisk and efficient The VM Groupwith upholds best practices enterprise processes within across its SBUs. management withand strong capital base and seamless and efficient
The VM Group is the preferred place of work and has an engaged team of talented caring members listen The VM Group is and the preferred place ofwho work and and has collaborate an engaged for innovation and superior team of talented and caring customer members service. who listen and collaborate for innovation and superior customer service.
processes within and across its SBUs.
Modern Modern Mutual Mutual
Empowered Empowered Members Members
The VM Group leverages relationships, digital channels and attractive infrastructure keen attention the voiceand of the The VM Group leverageswith relationships, digitaltochannels customer enhanced service delivery. VM to Group is a model attractive for infrastructure with keen attention the voice of the corporate for citizen with a service culturedelivery. of good conduct andisservice to customer enhanced VM Group a model community in Latin America andofthe Caribbean. corporate citizen with a culture good conduct and service to
The VM Group involves members in critical conversations to improve financial literacy about home ownership and financial The VM Group involves members in critical conversations to well-being. Members are rewarded forownership their loyalty. improve financial literacy about home and financial well-being. Members are rewarded for their loyalty.
Strategic Key Results - 2023
community in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Strategic Key Results - 2023 KEY TARGETS 2020
AL ASSETS (On and Off B/S) VM TOTAL ASSETS (On up
Group
UP SURPLUS
COST:INCOME NPS HREI
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KEY TARGETS 2020
KEY TARGETS 2023
$262B and Off B/S) VM
$378.16B
$1.86B
$4B
GROUP SURPLUS
T:INCOME
I
Employer Employer of Choice of Choice
Strong Integrated Strong Integrated Financial Group Financial Group
$262B
$1.86B 77.18%
73.58%
50
60
77
77
77.18%
KEY TARGETS 2023
$378.16B $4B 73.58%
50
60
77
77
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THE DOUGLAS COVER BUILDING In celebration of VM Members’ Month and VM’s 142nd Anniversary, we have renamed the iconic VM Chief Office building on Duke Street ‘The Douglas Cover Building’, during an official naming ceremony on November 12, 2020. The building was renamed in honour of former VMBS, General Manager, Douglas Cover, who served the organisation for over nineteen years. Check out these photo highlights.
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Courtney Campbell (right), President and CEO, Victoria Mutual Group escorts Douglas Cover, former General Manager, Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS), during the official naming ceremony of the Victoria Mutual Chief Office and Duke Street Building as the ‘The Douglas Cover Building’. Cover was recognised for his exemplary commitment to the VM Group and for being an outstanding champion for financial inclusion on November 12, 2020, at the VMBS Duke location in Downtown, Kingston.
Peter Reid (right), CEO, VMBS, presents Douglas Cover (left) with a framed token during the official naming ceremony of the VM Chief Office and Duke Street Building, as the ‘The Douglas Cover Building’. Also sharing the moment is Minister of Housing, Urban Renewal, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (second-right) and Mr Cover’s wife, Judith Cover (second-left). Cover was recognised for his exemplary commitment to the VM Group and for being an outstanding champion for financial inclusion on November 12, 2020, at the Duke Street location in downtown Kingston.
(From l-r) Courtney Campbell, President and CEO VM Group, Michael McMorris, Chairman, VM Board, observes as former General Manager, Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS), Douglas Cover (centre) and his wife Judith (second right) cut the cake to celebrate Mr Cover’s 90th birthday, after the naming of the official renaming of Victoria Mutual Chief Office and Duke Street Building as the ‘The Douglas Cover Building’ in his honour. Also sharing in the celebration was Minister of Housing, Urban Renewal, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (right).
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VM TIDBITS
UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES HOSPITAL OUTREACH As part of our Members' Month activities, VM Group today made a significant contribution to the fight against COVID-19 and in support of healthcare delivery in Jamaica generally, with a donation of US$19,529 for the purchase of a Phillips V60 Plus (BiPap Machine + HFNO) which is much-needed equipment for the Intensive Care Unit at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI). The outreach to the UHWI was done in partnership with The Guardian Group. Check out this photo highlights below:
(From l-r), Dr Hyacinth Harding-Goldson, consultant anaesthetist, UHWI; Courtney Campbell, President & CEO, Victoria Mutual Group; Dr Carl Bruce, Medical Chief of Staff, UHWI; Judith ForthBlake, VM Group Chief Customer & Brand Officer; Kevin Allen, CEO, UHWI; and Helena Thomson, Senior Director Nursing Admin, UHWI
Sharing the lens at the official cheque presentation from the VM Group towards the UHWI COVID-19 Fund. The donation of US $19,529 to the UHWI was part of VM’s Members' Month activities, on Wednesday, November 11, 2020, in St Andrew.
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WE GIVE THANKS! Here is a highlight from our Members' Month and 142nd Anniversary Church Service held on Sunday, November 8 at the Escarpment Road New Testament Church of God. We were pleased to hand over tablets to four students and donate $100,000 to assist the Church's COVID-19 relief efforts. An elated Jaheem Wilson (second left) accepts a tablet that will assist with his online learning and preparation for Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate exams, from VM Chairman Michael McMorris (second right) at a thanksgiving service celebrating VMBS's 142nd anniversary and the start of Members' Month activities at Escarpment Road New Testament Church of God in Kingston. Also featured are the church's senior pastor, Bishop Leslie Pinnock (left) and Courtney Campbell, VM president and CEO. The VM Group also donated three other tablets to students in need.
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