The Trustees

To comply with our Memorandum and Articles of Association, an election to the Board of Trustees takes place every two years. There have been Trustees of the National Women's Register since 1980, a requirement of being a charity (NHR was granted charitable status in 1980). When NWR (as NHR) became a Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee in 1986, it was also necessary to have at least one director to manage the company, and the Trustees became Directors of NWR the company.

Gaynel Munn: Willerby and Kirk Ella I joined the then National Housewives Register some 35 years ago in Ealing but moved to Anlaby East Riding of Yorkshire in 1973. I was delighted to find the Willerby and Kirk Ella group - still as lively minded today as it was then. I have a good understanding and working knowledge of the responsibilities (including personnel and finance issues) needed to undertake the role of trustee from a variety of experiences which include in the past, 18 years on Humberside Careers Service Senior Management Team and serving as Joint Convenor for Swanland U3A Family History Group. My ongoing experience combines 7 years Chair of Governors for 2 primary schools, 8 years as trustee for 2 educational trusts, 8 years Publicity Secretary for Hull Bach Choir and 2 for Hull Choral Union.
Jo Maidment: Dorchester NWR I joined Bookham NWR in 1999 and was Chair of the Guildford Conference Committee in 2002. I am also Chair of the 2005 Reading Conference Committee. I have four grown up sons between 19 and 27 who have now all left home. Together with my first husband I ran a successful electrical contracting business for 20 years and currently I work as an Network Development Designer for Scottish and Southern Energy. I have experience in organising projects and dealing with health and safety and personnel matters. I am an accredited health and safety representative for Prospect. In 2006 I married Dave and we now live just outside of Dorchester in a lovely village.
June Nash: Knowle NWR I was introduced to NWR by a neighbour who had been in my situation and I have been a member ever since: about 28 years. In 1990 I was the Chairman of the organising committee for the Warwick Conference, a dream come true. A long time ago I promised myself that I would get more involved with NWR at a national level but small children, running a business and then elderly parents always had to take priority. A year ago, with all children having left home and parents deceased I sold my business and took some time to consider what I would do next. This was my chance to take more part in NWR.
Kathleen Tanner: Market Deeping NWR I was brought up in Northern England. I graduated in Maths and worked in the Paper and Steel Industries at the University of Bradford. We had our children (2 sons) in our thirties and I later worked in the Voluntary sector and with Housing Associations. More recently I ran the GP Out-of-Hours Cooperative in Peterborough. I have also been involved in local community activities such as the PTA and Youth Club. I have been a school Governor and am interested in local politics. While I was always aware of NWR (I remember reading the original Guardian article) I only joined in Market Deeping in 1982 when I was at home with small children. I have been ac-tively involved ever since but at the local level. For instance I have never been to the annual National Conference so this year will be a new experience. The Deepings NWR group is very lively and interesting and I have made many close friends as a result of being a member. I feel very honoured to be offered the opportunity to be an NWR Trustee and hope I will live up to it.
Marjorie Briggs: Bracknell I was the classic housebound mum back in 1971 with a 2-year-old and a new baby when a neighbour invited me to her NHR meeting. Now, two more children and three grandchildren later, I still belong to the same Bracknell group. Outside of NWR I teach maths at the local CFE and am involved with my local church and with Guiding at county level. I sampled NWR Conferences when I felt the children were able to fend for themselves for a weekend! Once I did I was hooked and subsequently became part of the organising committees of both Guildford 2002 and Reading 2005.

The Role of the Trustees

The Trustees have a dual role as Directors under the Companies Act and Trustees under the Charities Act. It is their legal and overall responsibility to ensure that NWR is working to achieve its aims and is operating within its charitable remit as a company limited by guarantee, and that the organisation is run on a financially viable basis.

As Directors, the Trustees are collectively agents of the company and must observe the rules governing them. They are responsible to the company, not to the members as individuals or a body, and members of the company cannot instruct the Directors in their duties. Directors also have a legal duty to consider the interests of company employees (the Office Administrator and her Assistant).

The Trustees meet with the two Co-ordinators at least four times a year. One meeting is at the National Conference. All the employees, viz. the Co-ordinators, Bookkeeper and Office Administrator are line managed by a Trustee. Each Co-ordinator has regular meetings with their line manager and keeps in close contact via telephone and email.

The Trustees are available to all members and the employees for advice when consulted. There may be between three and five Trustees, who must stand for re-election every two years.

The Trustees of the National Women's Register wish to give the best possible support to the organisation and may be contacted by any member at any time.