President introduction for 2009/10

Dear friend,
Welcome to the Ladies’ Circle International webpage!

First of all I would like to thank all my fellow circlers for the trust they have shown in me with electing me as the president of our organisation for 2009/2010. Being president for more than 12.000 members worldwide is nothing but great! It is great because wherever I go I am surrounded by wonderful ladies who are dedicated to make a difference to other people, whether they’re family, friends or people not as fortunate as we are.

Ladies’ Circle’s motto is friendship and service. Our organisation started in Great Britain more than 70 years ago. At that time the purpose of LC was different but the motto was the same. We have adjusted over the years and expanded and changed to keep up with the times hand in hand with the women who are members. Being able to adapt to the needs and interests of our members is our force. Every woman is able to be a part in forming her circle and we find that circles are different in different countries though our aims are the same: to extend knowledge about other people’s way of life! And we live by our guiding principle: friendship and service.

Our international organisation celebrated its golden 50th anniversary in 2009 where our “golden” president Seetha Venkatesh from LC India guided us so wonderfully through the year.

Now our 12.000 members are looking ahead and making a statement:

Who are we? Where do we go?

Well, we are vital, vibrant ladies, not more than 45 years old. If we get older we have to leave the circle. The reason for this is that Ladies’ Circle also in the future shall continue to be vital and young, to make room for new ladies who want to join us in circling. We have different arenas to continue our friendships but in a less formal way. Are we to formal? No, I would say because we have our rules and guidelines to lead our way, not to be a burden.

We are proud of every single member as she contributes to our organisation in her very special way. The difference between us makes our organisation exiting! We are proud of our service projects. If you browse through our website you will find lots of information about our last service project SARIS. Two years ago we aimed for building 100 toilet blocks at rural Indian schools - we managed 120! This will make thousands of young girls in India continue to go to school after they get into puberty. For the next two years we all will contribute in different ways to raise money for ECPAT, an international organisation who works to end children’s pornography, prostitution and trafficking. This is the world’s third largest illegal industry after drugs and weapons! Besides this the different countries within LCI have their own national service projects. The easiest way to support our international project is to buy my pin for the year - the snow crystal - for just 5 euros you can also make a difference to someone else.

We all experience that working with service projects is fun and having fun is important. Important it is because we are all hard working ladies in our different areas, whether at home with children or in different business, life is too short to miss out a good laughter!!

We are all unique, that’s why the snow crystal is the logo for this year and it also is a symbol that will remind circlers of my home country, the land of snow and northern lights! No snow crystal looks the same, no circler does either. And we sparkle and shine like one and together we get strong.  

If you are a circler you already know, if you are not, let me tell you
With Ladies’ Circle you will find that
Ain’t no mountain too high! No valley too low! As you’ll never walk alone!

Yours in friendship
Kjersti P Irgens
President Ladies’ Circle International 2009/2010