THE MU GERNERAL MEETING 2003

Twenty one members from the Portsmouth Diocese attending the MU General meeting, including John and Margaret Symonds and Pam and Eric Dinneen from St George's.

Two pipers greeted guests as they entered the Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow on Saturday 13th September. In the foyer, stalls were selling MU goods and special souvenirs, with displays by all seven of the Scottish dioceses.

Worldwide president, Trish Heywood, welcomed the 1500 or so delegates and then the Primus of Scotland, The Most Rev. Bruce Cameron led the congregation in prayer.

In her address Trish told some amazing stories about her year and the many people she had met including a member who had had to cross 30 rivers, sometimes waist high in water, as well as climb mountains to greet her.

Next came the Unit Co-ordinators' Presentation. Reg Bailey, the Chief Executive, popped up with a huge tube of M&M's and, along with Parnal Rothwell, (Finance and Central Services), Jennie Jones (P&S), Carolyn Willet (Marketing) and Rosemary Kempsell (A&O), used the tubes and their contents to illustrate the work of the MU.

Three Overseas Trustees then spoke about the MU in their countries - Elizabeth Appleby explained how Mary Sumner's friends had gone to the colonies and through their friendship the first MU branch opened in Tasmania, Australia in 1892. There are now 10,000 members in 23 dioceses in Australia.

Josephine Rwaje then spoke about life in Rwanda and Abigail Tukulu told the congregation about the MU in South Africa.

Later in the afternoon, Trish introduced Maxie Richards, an MU member who works with drug addicts in Glasgow. She was first asked to help in 1986 and she later gave up her job as a headteacher to care for drug addicts full time.

In 1997 she received an award for her pioneering work and she also helps the parents of the addicts and has set up a Drug Crisis Intervention Centre to help them. She said that MU members are like yeast - working quietly - but added "don't forget the salt and speak up!"

The day ended with an act of worship and the table on the platform was transformed into an altar covered with a length of MU material with seven candles placed on top, representing each of the seven dioceses in Scotland.