CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 2020/21

BRITISH COMMONWEALTH SOCIETY - CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 2020

As we continue our struggle with the Covid 19 Pandemic, and the severe restrictions this has generated, THE BRITISHCOMMONWEALTH SOCIETY sincerely wishes that all Members, Friends and the Community in general, stay safe and well. With vaccines now available and vaccination programmes in place, we may well be seeing an end to this difficult period and a return to more normal times.

As with every other organisation, the BCS was impacted by Covid 19, and the 2020 annual review very much reflects this. The Pandemic, and the resulting restrictions, saw the BCS change its focus and the way it operated in the community in 2020. The Board moved its meeting mode to the online Zoom platform and quickly incorporated support to Community members impacted by Covid 19 and the restrictions arising from it. Logistic support was set up in cases where quarantine affected the access of some members to essential supplies, and financial support was raised in places where Covid restrictions were impacting the ability to generate income to a dramatic degree. In one case, we were able to partner with CHILESPOUSES and later with the INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHILE, in raising funds in a particularly dramatic case. All this, while we continued our usual help offered to elderly members in need, throughout 2020. It comes as no surprise that in 2020 the BCS was unable to carry out any fund-raising activities.

These were halted in October 2019, at time of the civil unrest, and were not resumed throughout 2020 due to the pandemic restrictions and the imposition of social distancing limiting members from gathering. This affected not only the BCS, but other Community Organizations, whose activities, such as the Caledonian Ball and ROYAL BRITISH LEGION’s, Garden Party at the Embassy Residence amongst others, were cancelled. This situation will likely extend into 2021, and it may well not be until next year that Community activities are resumed. However, one event we wish to highlight immediately, is THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH SOCIETY’s Centenary, which will take place in 2022.

If there is a single thing, I would like to highlight about 2020, it is the significant support we received from the Community. As never before, and probably because of the difficult circumstances, the BCS saw appeal responses grow rather than shrink. This was fundamental in allowing us to widen the scope and extent of support to Community members in need. On behalf of the BCS Board, I would like to thank all those who so kindly contributed, and I hope we will continue to enjoy this support going forward. As you well know, we depend heavily on the Community to carry out our support efforts.

A second achievement I would like to share is the winding up of an agreement set up by BCS in 2005, by which the Society leased-back a property to provide a steady income for a Community member in need. This was managed through its various stages and has now concluded. The BCS was able to sell the property, recover its commitment, and return the remainder to the family (the grandchildren). I highlight this case, as it reflects creativity in responding to a situation, perseverance in running it for some 15 years, and closure with the best possible outcome. As I mentioned before, the BCS will increasingly move to widen its scope of support and the case mentioned is an example of what can be done.

Despite restrictions and lockdowns, 2020 saw BCS continue to cover other areas of its commitment, such as maintaining its contact with THE CONCEPCIÓN COUNTRY CLUB where, as holders of founder shares in the Club’s holding institution, we have been encouraging a plan of development for the Club, which would allow it to continue to provide the local community with the objectives set out at its foundation.

The Pandemic interrupted efforts made in 2019 but we will continue working once restrictions are lifted.

A similar situation exists with the PRINCE OF WALES COUNTY CLUB, where the BCS has a majority holding of founder shares in the governing institution. Support was given in facing the difficult scenario imposed by the lockdown, which significantly affected the normal running of the Club.

The BCS also continues to manage the cemetery plots entrusted to us, and a special thanks goes to our Board Member and Vice President, Joanna Mackenzie, who has covered this with faithful effectiveness for several years.

In closing I would like to thank my fellow Board members and our administration support Pamela Yorston, for their enthusiastic support throughout the year, and most especially, for their ability to adapt and respond to working in the Covid restricted environment. Mechanisms had to be created to keep support flowing, and thanks goes to Gordon Yorston who was instrumental in achieving this. I would particularly like to thank Peter MacAuliffe, who took on an active role in logistic support, helping a Community member whose delicate health situation required strict quarantine. Peter personally took on the responsibility of seeing she was constantly supplied with groceries and medicine.

In 2021 we will be bidding farewell to a long serving Board member, Jonathan Callund, who, with his wife María Esther, will be moving to Spain, where Jonathan will be pursuing business opportunities. Jonathan has always been an enthusiastic and active member of the Society, and apart from his many years with BCS, he has participated in other community organisations, such as the now wound-up ANGLO-CHILEAN SOCIETY, and until next month, THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING UNION, which he has chaired for the last 6 years. Thank you, Jonathan for your many years of dedication to the BCS and the Community. We will miss your always active and creative support and we wish you all the best in your future endeavours.

Finally, to all out members, we hope you will be safe and well as we ride out what could be the end of these difficult times. BCS will continue to see through its legacy commitments, trusting we can count on your support going forward.