Marie Jennings is the new Chairman of
the National Federation of Consumer Groups.

Here she spells out her aspirations for the next twelve months.

A time of opportunity

I believe that this is a unique time of opportunity for NfCG. We are the only true grass roots consumer watchdog organisation in the country. We have strong networks available to us - through our groups, through our Associates, through our many Corporate Associates and, last, but certainly not least, through the quality of all our people. All this at a time when it is increasingly important for the individual's voice to be heard, because of the dominance of systems today.

NfCG has the capacity to get the consumers' voice heard by central Government, and by regional and local Government, also national and international organisations of all kinds. We have a track record of nearly forty years of active experience and involvement in consumer issues. This valuable resource of experience, expertise and goodwill we can, and frequently do, draw on. With this solid background all those active in NfCG Committees and Networks are determined to make the most of the many opportunities we have and to ensure that our voice is heard and our message gets across.

Put quite simply - we aim to make a difference and to make things happen.

The year ahead - countdown to the millennium

Already much work has been done to prepare NfCG to take up its rightful place in the countdown to the millennium, building, of course, on the excellent work by those who have gone before. You will see the results of this work growing as the year progresses. Already you can see it in the emergence of our new corporate identity, also in the new 'face' of NfCG as presented in Consumer News. You will become increasingly aware of the many measures being put in place to keep you informed and to encourage you to enjoy participating in the many projects under development.

A silken skein

Think of NfCG as a skein of silk. Each thread is of good quality but a single thread is fragile, it can easily break or be destroyed. If however, that thread is joined to others and wound together to form a silken skein, there is strength and flexibility there when needed and necessary, to form common cause and ensure that the important issue is dealt with quickly, efficiently and effectively. This is how I see the hidden strengths of NfCG being used to achieve our important and common objectives.

Getting the message across

Those of you who know me will also know that I am very fond of using two phrases. These are:

"perception is rarely reality", and

"if it isn't visible it doesn't exist".

I have been told over the years that the perception of NfCG is that it is an old-fashioned and moribund organisation. Nothing, as you know, could be further from the truth. Yes, we were founded in 1963, but this means that we have years of experience and good will to draw on. Our members, as individuals, are as highly motivated as ever and have many achievements to their credit.

So we aim to scotch this old perception, once and for all. As far as the visibility of NfCG achievements is concerned, I have to confess that, all too often, we are not given visible credit for what we have achieved and, sometimes, others are given the credit for work we initiated. This is an issue we can do something about and we will. Getting our message across is one of the key priorities for the coming year.

Closer relationships

To achieve our objectives we need to build closer relationships with our Groups, our Networks and all those co-operating with us at many levels. We will be doing our bit to achieve this, but we need help too. I urge all of you to remember that the sum total of one plus one can be much more than two. Please give us your help, we need to demonstrate that we have your support, so, as a very distinguished politician said, many years ago:

"Give us the tools and we will finish the job."

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