A farewell statement by National President, Derek Packer
 My time as President of Interact has spanned a 3 year period during which property and construction has seen significant business challenge and change. These economic pressures have, I believe, created greater purpose and direction for Interact. Members’ feedback to me has regularly highlighted that being a connected group of professionals in these difficult times has proved to be a much-valued benefit.
Centre lunches, national events including the House of Commons and HMS Belfast, Chairman’s forums in Leeds and Birmingham, combined Centre 'get togethers' such as Leeds with Sheffield and also our Golf Day, have all helped to maintain focus. These Interact activities continue to be very popular, allowing members to share best practice, maintain and make new contacts; we also enjoy important feedback on these and individual branch events at our AGMs in March each year.
Since my election and with direction gained through the Members’ Survey development of our website has been a particular focus for the National Committee. Good progress on this has introduced improved information networks allowing members to communicate both locally and nationally, whilst promoting themselves through Profiles. Added to this we have successfully launched our newsletters which are now regularly posted through the Interact web. I am very pleased to tell you that members’ feedback is positive and strengthens with each issue.
Our membership has particularly seen both young professional men and women joining regularly with membership overall remaining stable at about 400 – senior people continue to be keen to join. Perhaps therefore not surprisingly the Interact brand has now travelled even as far as Machu Picchu in Peru where, last year, our Liverpool Chairman recruited a prospective member for Leeds – that’s commitment, but I don’t think he went there just to do that!
With a total of 25 thriving centres throughout England and Scotland and more developing I am pleased to be handing over a “well balanced” Interact to your incoming President Nick Archer, who I now look forward to supporting as a continuing member of your National Committee.
I wish Nick every success for his Presidency and am confident that with support from the membership, as I have enjoyed, he will continue to be a strong and reliable asset for Interact. |
