Sometimes you get the strangest jobs as a VP, especially the new VP on the board!
Not long after I had started, I was told that monies had been put aside to refurbish the section UK bedroom, at Castle Gimborn, the IPA International training centre in Germany.
This took quite a bit of planning, as not only did the furniture need replacing, the room needed redecoration, including new furniture, curtains and appropriate memorabilia.
I had a vision for this room, which was then cold and unloved, to become warm and welcoming and to reflect well on section UK, to friends and colleagues from around the world, who would stay there whilst attending seminars at Gimborn.
At this point, it would be appropriate to thank a few people. Firstly my wife Helen, who made the curtains for the bedroom and covered a lampshade from IPA tartan provided by Region 1.
Also of course to Region 1, for their generous donation.
Region 4 provided helmet plates, crests and a small red Dragon, which now sits on the newly installed console table.
Region 2 provided crests, as did many other regions and branches, so thank you all.
Two days of long hours, hard work and a trip to the biggest furniture store I have ever been in, to select the new sofa beds, meant there was not a minute to spare to get the job finished.
Whilst not quite the 60 minute makeover you see on TV, it was something close!
There is still some further work to finish the job. The sofa beds have to be delivered and installed. The staff at Gimborn have kindly agreed to paint the rest of the two rooms, and hopefully, early in the New Year, two beds will be purchased, as the ones currently in use are at best past it.
Remember funding of £200, every other year, is available and that further bursaries may be available from your region or branch to help with travel.
And do of course remember to ask specifically to be put in the section UK room!
Clive Wood, Vice President
Responsible for the Professional Portfolio
