Readers of Lib Dem Party President Ros Scott’s Because Baronesses are people too blog will have already had the chance to enjoy her New Year message. Ros has kindly agreed to let LDV share it with our readers, too…
Firstly, I would like to wish all of you a Happy New Year, and hope that you enjoyed the Christmas break in the company of family, friends and loved ones.
For me, the year starts with a new job, a key one in building a stronger, more vibrant, more successful Party, and I’m really looking forward to the next two years as your President. I’ve spent the past two months planning and organising, meeting with key Party officials and leadership figures, and talking to some of my distinguished predecessors to gain an insight as to their perspective on the job.
I intend to hit the ground running, dividing my time between the two key elements of the job, internal party management, mostly based in London, and meeting and enthusing activists and members across the country.
The year starts with a key meeting of the Federal Executive, and I’d like to welcome all those who will be serving, especially those who are new to our work. Their fresh thinking will hopefully complement the experience of those returning for another term.
I’ll be attending Party events this month in:
* Brentwood and Ongar
* Bury St Edmunds
* Canterbury
* Thanet North
* Yeovil
I’ll also be campaigning in Wales and will start February by attending the joint conference of Devon & Cornwall and Western Counties in Taunton.
The diary is already filling up as far ahead as the Autumn, but if you want me to visit your Local, State or Regional Party for an event, to campaign or to help a recruitment drive, let me know. My aim will be to combine a number of events in the same weekend, so that I can make the most effective use of my time, and hope to work with Regional and State Parties to make this possible.
We have key elections this year, although I can’t remember a year when they were anything else.