International President’s report, July 2020
It has been a very busy year, but I will be brief since I have also written a more detailed 3 years’ report (see below)
This last year my main focus has been:
- Working with Karin and Nicole on how to enhance our media presence.
- Writing regular updates for the website’s blogroll and post on WIMA World Facebook page.
- Networking with the WRWR, including taking part in the event in London.
- Working with prospective founders for new WIMA divisions and conducting e-mail votes on final proposals (Morocco, Pakistan and Nepal). (In addition, we have a final proposal for Ukraine which will be voted on after the NPs meeting in August)
- Supporting new divisions, including a planned but cancelled participation at WIMA Morocco’s event Moto March Madness.
- Giving interviews and talks.
- Keeping National Presidents up to date with WIMA matters through e-mail and Facebook messenger.
- Providing possibilities to meet digitally via Zoom for discussions.
- Keeping in touch and following the progress of the preparations for the international rallies.
It was an honour to lead the parade to Chatsworth House with Val on the pillion seat.
Thanks to Sono for arranging this cool photo of us.
Yours,
Åsa Öhqvist
Departing Message from, Åsa Öhqvist – October 2020
Dear WIMA members, National Presidents and women riders worldwide!
I want to thank everyone for their collaboration during these last years, WIMA Officers, National Presidents and WIMA members. The success of WIMA is thanks to all of us working together!
Serving as International President has been a great experience for me, challenging at times of course, but it has brought many new experiences and I have made many new friends. I summarised what I acheived during my three years in my previous post, so instead I want to point out some things that I am especially proud of: WIMA is now finally established in Latin America, thank you WIMA Mexico for being the first to come on board, for sure others will follow, there are a couple of contacts in the pipeline to be handed over to Zara and Mihaela. And in Africa, where we had no division for many years, we are now back with Morocco and women riders in other countries are in touch. We’re now established in the Middle-East, with WIMA UAE. WIMA has established a stronger presence in Asia and Eastern Europe, and our mother division, USA, is on its way up again, yay! In short, we are a larger and more international organisation now than a few years ago. WIMA is old, 70 years old this year, but we are as vibrant and active as ever before – this is indeed something I feel very proud of!When WIMA started in the 1950’s in the United States, women riders faced challenges at a level that doesn’t exist now in many of our member nations – but challenges still exist, and for some of our divisions the situation is very similar or even harder than it was 70 years ago. For me, this is why WIMA is as important as ever.
It is time for me to say goodbye to the official side of WIMA and concentrate on other things in my life. I am very fortunate to be able to hand over to such highly skilled and dedicated women as Zara and Mihaela. In addition, we have two new PR Officers on board, Liv and Lea – would it be greedy to say that this is a team I wish I could have worked with alongside my already great team? At the same time, I’m so happy to step down, step back and enjoy being a member and go riding more–I’ll see you at the next WIMA Rally!
Åsa
Calafell, October 2020