At this time of year it is usual for football league clubs to find some difficulty keeping their websites alive. The summer usually begins with a couple of nostalgic weeks to look back over the past season, followed by interviews collected over time from individuals who for various reasons do not usually have a very public profile. Then you come to the transfer season with all the usual dilemmas of how much gossip to divulge when fans are desperate for just about any news.This is not a time to be misled because among football clubs and local interfaith groups a considerable amount of activity could well be taking place behind the scenes.
Pre-season training is supposed to be the hardest time of the year for professional football players. So much of this depends on motivation. Those regular readers of my blog will recall times of burn out which are a risk for any organisation run by volunteers. Sometimes we get distracted by other concerns, although over the years I think Reading Interfaith Group has kept going through its job list and the importance of what we are trying to achieve.
At times I look round a meeting to see deeply committed individuals who have already done a day's work, negotiated the Reading evening rush hour and missed a proper evening meal among members of their family in the rush to be there on time. These initial sacrifices do not stop them volunteering to do all the tasks associated with planning and promoting our events. It would be impossible not to feel very grateful for the support, enthusiasm and so many different talents of our committee.
Anyway, just because those football players not involved in the world cup are having some rest, this has not been an excuse for Reading Interfaith Group to relax and join in!
Our logo has just been rebranded. This is already being used on our correspondence and very soon to be on the web site. It was the product of considerable discussion on a choice between a hand shake or a bridge. Both ideas were popular, although we got a little distracted at one point with grandiose ideas involving an authentic Reading bridge. There are seven rivers flowing through Reading and with these a considerable number of interesting shaped bridges to choose from. Practically however there was some difficulty not making any bridge look like a dark and rather gloomy tunnel. This was not the impression we wished to convey about our group so the handshake emerged as a better much more realistic option!
Recently I have attended several meetings on behalf of the group. In particular I would like to thank Churches Together in Berkshire and Reading Faith Forum for giving me opportunities to talk about the Friendship Walk. This generosity is of considerable importance right now as we have just begun putting out publicity for this event. In this we have been greatly helped by the PR and marketing department of Reading Borough Council who have offered to distribute leaflets to libraries and other council owned buildings. It has been wonderful to see how quickly our initial print run of 2000 leaflets has disappeared thanks to those who have become friends already by their willingness to help out.
Collective efforts of a Rabbi and a Pagan on our committee have just put us on Facebook. At present I am hearing suggestions about how this opportunity can be developed to advertise our events, even with a promised link to this page. This is all quite technical to me. Each time I log in to Facebook it is lovely to read the comments of supporters who have already promised to join in the Friendship Walk. This is proving to be an incentive for me to add contributions to the website more often.
Even though our logo may not have a bridge, "Team Interfaith" in Reading seems to be building one anyway. In the next few weeks we will be sending out another newsletter to our membership for which our secretary has arranged for me to have my photograph taken rather than cowardly opt out by sending a picture of a chair. Pre season training can be a little strict on me sometimes!
