RECRUITMENT

YOUR UCM NEEDS YOU!

Nominations are urgently required for the following vacancies:

Assistant to National Treasurer
Minute Secretary
National Council of Women - Committee Member, Science & Technology

If you would like further information on any of the above posts please contact me as soon as possible.

Please consider saying "YES"

Thank you
National Secretary: Angela Batey

The Decline and Recovery of The Union of Catholic Mothers

The UCM members went to meetings when it was fine.
But it started raining, then there was nine.
Nine UCM members fell out with Kate,
She would not come again, then there was eight.
Eight UCM members on the road to heaven,
One went to weight watvhers, then there was seven.
Seven UCM members had the urge to mix,
But one kept to herself, then there were six.
Six UCM members kept the foundation alive
'til one bought a vido, then there were five.
Five UCM members loyal to the core.
The president upset one, then there were four.
Four UCM members argued heatedly
Over the constitution, then there were three.
Three UCM members heard capitation fees were due,
One refused to pay them, then there were two.
Two UCM members disputed who should run
The next social Evening, then there was one.

One FAITHFUL member knowing what to do,
Got a friend to come along with her, then there were two.
Two SINCERE members each brought in one more,
So their members were doubled, then there was four.
Four CARING members simply could not wait
To go and find four others, then there were eight.
Eight EAGER members praying and working for others,
By their good example, swelled the ranks of mothers.
More and More at every meeting, joining in all we do,
God give them grace and zeal to keep them ever true.
True to The Union of Catholic Mothers whose lives are forever - devoted to others

Onward Christian Soldiers

This is a rallying call - if members don't respond - like old soldiers we will not die but just fade away!!

When I joined The UCM nearly three decades ago, nationally we had around 20.000 members. Can we get back to that? - I thinl not. What a pity when women still have so much to offer to the world.

Since 1913 members, directed and led by the National Committee, worked hard to biuld up The UCM and rely on us now to carry on the legacy they left us; the fight to have the voice of women heard; to be included in debates and discussions affecting women and the family; to uphold family values in our society that are being eroded on a daily basis.

How seious it all sounds, yes that part is, but UCM life was also to include socialising and having fun, we were to support each other, to pray together, to nuture our faith, we were to be ready to help, in a practical way, any who were in distress.

In the words of Mother Teresa "we can do no great things, only little things with great love. You can do what I can't do.

I can do what you can't do. together we can do something beautiful for God".

God calls us to do His work whist we are here on earth and what better way than to do it with the support, love and friendship found in The Union of Catholic Mothers.

If each member made an effort to encourage one person to come to a meeting and join the Foundation our numbers would double in the next 12 months. those outside The UCM don't know what they are missing. It is therefore up to us, inside The UCM, to take the responsibility of making it known to them. So how do we start?

Our National President has asked us to make this a year of Recruitment, looking for new members to rewinvigorate that we set our store by. With this in mind I reached for the dictionary and found an archaic meaning of the verb to recruit - to recover in health or strength; to recover one's own health and strength. Do we need to recover some of our enthusiasm? Have we become complacent in our self-contentment? Do we take for granted that others know of the great things that we do, how we nurture our faith and foster friendships that bind us so lovingly together?

Our National Officers are busy keeping us informed of events in the wider world - do we act on them? We need to make our feelings known on issues that cause us distress. Are we as Catholic women not appalled by the ease of access to abortion, or of the dangers of the Mental Incapacity Act? We must all know the vulnerability of many frail and elderly people in care homes and hospitals. Will we actively support"Home is a holy Place?"

Do we know our MP's and inform them of our concerns? It has been women's role through time to empower others, to make grow. to make clean and to make new again. If we can say 'Aye' to these questions then make haste NOW to contact parish priests and offer the wonderful news of our work and ethos. Then those members should soon be flocking to us. Please let your voice be the one that tells them.

Margaret McNicholas and Sheilagh Preston

Past National Presidents



For further information or to join, please contact:

National Secretary: Angela Batey

angela.batey@btinternet.com

Tel Number 0151 4895144