Inner Wheel               

DISTRICT 329               Think Ahead - Aim High
International Inner Wheel                        IIW THEME
 
 

 

Catherine Refabert

IIW President

2011 - 12

  

MESSAGE OF INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT

 2011 - 2012

Dear Friends,

I was looking for the best words which would describe a year of the Convention and highlight our achievements: Think Ahead-Aim High.

This time should lead our thoughts and decisions while shaping our future and our way forward.

 

The challenges we face to day are our growth,the Istanbul Convention, and in 2015 a new modernized, clarified and simplified constitution.

One essential part of the challenge is to increase our membership, and get back to the magic period of growth we had in the last decades of the past century.

 

Membership is the greatest asset of our organisation. It is obvious that the most important element in IIW is its members. There would be nothing without them. Once we accept as a premiss, the importance of membership development to ensure IIW growth. It will be one of our aims at the Convention.

 

To attract new members, and particularly younger ones, improving our constitution is not enough; we definitely need to provide better information and explain what IIW is, what we do, and how much we achieve.

We do miracles all over the world, and sadly too many people don't really know about it; so the other aspect of our challenge will be to communicate better, and greatly increase awareness of IIW in the public eye. We need to have a real communication strategy, internal and external, starting by a new modernized and updated web site, which will also allow me to address all of you throughout the year.

 

I also would like you to bear in mind, when discussing the Convention Proposals in your club, that the general interest should prevail over the interests of any individual club, and that consequently we need to be adaptable to the very different traditions and cultures of the countries where IIW is present.

 

So this year I ask you to 'Think Ahead and Aim High' with flexibility, tolerance, enthusiasm, and a positive vision of the future.

Dreaming of what the future can hold must of our driving force for change. I always have in mind this exceptional quote of Joel Baker:

 

"Vision without action is a dream

Action without vision is simply passing the time

Action with vision is making a positive difference"

 

I hope this approach will become yours also, as a vision statement is crucial to moving forward in a positive direction. You cannot prepare for the future if you don't know where you want to go. We will definitely discuss this during the incoming IW year, during my visits, on our web site, our meetings, our Convention.

Everything is now in hands.

The Inner Wheel tomorrow is here, very close, in your mind and hearts, it is on its way, and cannot be stopped.

So Think Ahead-Aim High and say Yes, with enthusiasm, to the future.                                                                                                            

 
 
     
     
 

INTRODUCTION OF CATHERINE REFABERT

  
 

INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT

 2011 - 2012

  
 

I am the first generation born in France of a Russian family who escaped the revolution in 1920, coming from Saint Petersburg to Paris where I was born. I did my studies at the Sorbonne University, where I met my husband Jacques.

We have two children Marc and Carole; Marc and his wife Catherine have three children all raised in Tours, so we are extremely happy to live not far one from another. Carole lives in Bamako, Mali, where she started her own humanitarian organisation.

During my childhood, I was lucky to live near my maternal grandfather who became a famous miniature painter. He transmitted to me his talents for drawing, painting and colors. This early artistic education was extremely useful when some years later I became CEO of the COROLLE doll Company set up with Jacques; I was the creator and designer of all these play dolls handcrafted in Langeais on the Loire Vally by almost 500 women, sold in 63 countries and often awarded by American and European juries. In my company, I always gave a special attention to communication, and I wrote a book explaining this fabulous experience, creating for children, trying to imagine what could be the best play doll according to the children's ages.

I joined the International Inner Wheel of Tours District 72, in 1993 just before selling our company to an American International Toy Company.

I became President of my club in 1997 and from this time until 2007, I was successively elected to all District and national french positions.

Painting is of course one of my hobbies but music too, and a special love for opera; I also became President of the most important classical music festival created in the Loire valley region for and by the Russian Paintist Sviatoslav Richter.

Ten years ago, I was rewarded by the French State, and became Chevalier of the Legion of Honour and the last year Commander of the National Merit Order, both of these famous orders are the highest distinction that can be conferred by the French State, and I received them for my business career and my IIW commitment.        

 
     
 
 

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Updated: 27 Jun 2011

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