This afternoon I attended the AGM at Ripon Sailing Club where Tim and I are members, I won't go into details about the meeting, but I do want to highlight some of the values and priorities that were expressed.
First, RSC is a place where people of all ages and all abilities are welcomed; there are age related events, but the young folk are encouraged to race with the adult fleets, and when this happens the more experienced sailors are usually very helpful to the less experienced. That does not always mean that the older folk help the younger... sometimes it works the other way around! It requires a certain amount of humility for a 49 yr old beginner to receive help from an 8 yr old!
Second, training is madeavailable at all levels, and people are encouraged to get involved, and valued for who they are...
Third, we were asked about our gifts and talents...
And lastly there was a sense of real celebration that the prizes for the year had not gone to the same old winners.
There is a lot the church can learn from groups like this- if we dared to have the humility to do so!
