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Below left: Mary Alexander entertained the audience with her 1920s-themed lectureWhatÕs #myNADFAS?Wentworth Associates, has been appointed to help with the rebranding process (see page 8 for more details).“We need to celebrate our diversity under a banner that includes everyone,” said Florian. “We need to make a decision about our name – either commit to NADFAS or choose a new one, a decision that will be completed early next year. It will make everyone feel more connected. Not everyone will be pleased, but our identity should refl ect a range of voices.”President Loyd Grossman used his speech to echo Florian’s comments about the future of NADFAS as it approaches its 50th anniversary. “You’ve got to make a decision. What do you want this organisation to be like? And if you’re going to make that decision, make it now, make it next year, don’t put it off any longer because now is the time to strike. Now is the time to wave the fl ag, to make a The journey starts here,” said NADFAS Chief Executive Florian Schweizer at the 2016 AGM, referring to a process of exploration that has been launched to review the NADFAS brand, from lectures to logos. Societies are very important in their local communities, but nationally the Association is rarely recognised – something Florian believes has to change.“We told ourselves local was better and it was not appropriate to have a public voice, but why?” Florian asked. “What we do matters. People are proud to be in the organisation. The problem is communication.”He went on to identify the barriers, which include the name ‘NADFAS’, the way Societies may have a different look, feel and logo to that of the national Association, and lack of a shared tone/language. A specialist agency, Jane statement, and to make a contribution.”Everyone is encouraged to participate in the discussion and highlight what they currently like best, using the #myNADFAS hashtag on Twitter, or by emailing ideas to nadfas@janewentworth.com.Before that, the audience had been transported to a very different time when NADFAS-accredited Lecturer Mary Alexander took to the stage in a glittering dress alongside two iconic items: an Eileen Gray tubular metal side table and a cocktail. The cocktail symbolised the heady mix of characters and historical events that had together created the very special creative atmosphere of Paris in the 1920s and 1930s. Mary’s collection of photographs, artworks and postcards from the period helped bring the era to life, an evocation made all the more vivid by the Hot Club of London led by Alex Bishop, guitar maker at Cockpit Arts and a former NADFAS grant recipient. Next came the presentation of the Marsh Awards for Volunteering with NADFAS by Charles Micklewright of the Marsh Christian Trust, who commended the winners for their “exceptional work and impact”. If you know of anyone who works tirelessly for NADFAS in any of the volunteering sectors, please do see the feature on page 42 and get in touch.National Chairman June Robinson refl ected on her fi rst year in offi ce, touching on many of the successes NADFAS has had during that time. Over the year, Societies opened in Malta, Lincoln, and Otago, New Zealand, while Jersey and Taunton Evening will be opening in September. What does NADFAS mean to you? This was the question that resounded during the 2016 AGM as work gets under way to establish the key aspects of NADFAS’s future identity ahead of its golden anniversary24 NADFAS REVIEW / AUTUMN 2016 www.nadfas.org.ukNATIONAL AGM