The John Whiffen Golden City Memorial Trust

Registered in accordance with the Trust Property Control Act, 1988, RSA

NPO 47-931
IT 923/05

John Whiffen died tragically on Monday March 8th 2004, at the age of 48 and just five days before he was due to compete in the Cape Argus Cycle Tour for the sixth time. His absence is deeply felt, not just by those of us who loved him as a valued friend, brother and companion, but also by the many individuals and groups with whom John had generously shared his tremendous gift of communication.

John had a passion for life and two of the activities closest to his heart were cycling and the work he did through Toastmasters for people with physical and mental disabilities. At the time of his death, John was the President of Golden City Toastmasters Johannesburg, based at St Giles in Kensington. This club was established to create opportunities for the physically and mentally challenged to achieve personal growth and integrate more fully with society through the medium and support of able-bodied Toastmasters in South Africa. John was a dedicated President and inspired in others a belief that they could make a difference. The members of Golden City Toastmasters rose to the challenge that John had shown them, and continue to develop communication and presentation skills that some thought impossible for them to achieve.

As a tribute to John and a lasting legacy for the people and country that he loved so much, his family has established the John Whiffen Golden City Memorial Trust (JWGCMT). The Trust is committed to promoting and supporting personal growth for physically and mentally challenged individuals and groups in South African society. John's involvement in District 74 Toastmasters makes this a very appropriate channel for a significant amount of the Trust's work.

To this end, the Trust has now provided financial and moral support to the continued growth of the Golden City Club in Johannesburg (now known as Egoli Golden City), the newly created Madiba Bay Golden City Club in Port Elizabeth, and two physically challenged members from Rainbow Nation in Vereeniging. With additional funding there’s so much more the Trust could do to provide alternative communication tools to make it easier for the physically and mentally challenged to communicate and present their ideas with confidence, and integrate more into mainstream society.

The Trust's Status

The John Whiffen Golden City Memorial Trust is registered in accordance with the Trust Property Control Act 1988, RSA.

The Trust was created by John’s family as a lasting legacy of all John stood for. The family wanted to “turn lemons into lemonade”, an expression that was John's credo. Therefore, the Trust has enabled them to take John’s belief and passion and create a positive energy that promotes and supports personal growth for physically and mentally challenged individuals and groups in South Africa. This is done by chanelling the Trust's funds into supporting the amazing work currently being undertaken at three Toastmasters clubs in South Africa, using the established and effective Toastmasters development programme as the vehicle to encourage growth.

The Trust's Vision

To assist physically and/or mentally challenged individuals in achieving personal growth through improved communication and, consequently, self confidence.

The Trust's Mission

The full integration and inclusivity of physically and mentally challenged Toastmasters in all District 74 Toastmasters’ activities, through the provision of appropriate funding, teaching aids and moral support; and for John Whiffen's life and legacy to be clearly visible in the results of all Trust activities. The Trust's decisions and activities will support and promote ideas and aspirations close to John's heart.

The Trust's Values

• Integrity in our conduct as Trustees, our decision-making, and governance processes;
• Respect for each other and for all our Stakeholders;
• Passion and sustained commitment to excellence within all aspects of Trustee activity; and
• Leadership based on courage, collaboration and humility to fulfill our mission and achieve our vision.

Strategic Objectives

• To maintain a robust and financially sound Trust structure and support framework that conforms to all statutory requirements, and is organised to deliver the mission, achieve the vision, and live the values;
• To develop relationships/partnerships with individuals and organisations who have knowledge and expertise that can assist the Trust to deliver its mission and strategic objectives;
• To acquire or develop a set of appropriate tools and materials that will support the learning objectives of all physically and mentally challenged Toastmasters in District 74;
• To support the continued existence and growth of Golden City Toastmasters clubs and, in particular, the recruitment of more mentors;
• To support District 74 Toastmasters with the inclusion of physically and mentally challenged individuals into existing District 74 Toastmaster clubs;
• To develop and arrange delivery of an awareness and education programme for able-bodied Toastmasters to assist in the facilitation of the integration of physically and mentally challenged Toastmasters; and foster an inclusive Toastmasters’ approach, in District 74; and
• To create and exploit fundraising and marketing opportunities for the Trust in order to replenish/grow the Trust's capital.

Beneficiaries

• Members of the Egoli Golden City Toastmasters Club, Johannesburg; and the Madiba Bay Golden City Toastmasters Club, Port Elizabeth;
• Other members of Toastmasters who are mentally and physically challenged, e.g. certain Rainbow Nation members; and
• Other mentally and physically challenged individuals and groups selected for attention by the Trustees.

Funds Allocation

• Establishing of resource libraries for Egoli Golden City and Madiba Bay Golden City Toastmasters Clubs, including learning manuals in Braille and audio tapes;
• Funding attendance at Toastmasters conferences for selected members;
• Establishing of a third, experimental lunchtime club, Kadimah, in 2007;
• Support of mentors who support our club members;
• Payment twice yearly of Toastmasters' membership fees for our club members; and
• Purchase of a hand cycle suitable for racing in the Cape Argus Cycle Tours for one of our physically disabled club members.

Registered Trustees

• Geoff Carter: Chair of the Trustees and representative of the Donors
• Mike Alman: Deputy Chair and Trust Secretary
• Keith Bowen: Treasurer and District 74 liaison
• Jann Jevons: Marketing, fundraising, administrative support, sister of the late John Whiffen, and family representative
• Beth Thomas: Legal advisor, District 74 Toastmasters, and Toastmasters International liaison

	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it - Chair of the Trustees Geoff is the husband of Jann Jevons and the brother-in-law of the late John Whiffen. Geoff has been visiting South Africa since 1995 in both a social and professional capacity. He is a keen sportsman and over the years has played squash, badminton and football. Much to John's disappointment, Geoff didn’t support Everton F.C., but John came to accept this and was relieved that at least Geoff didn’t support Liverpool. Geoff has become an enthusiastic cyclist since participating in his first Cape Argus Cycle Tour in 2005. He is Managing Director of PACEPerformance Ltd., an Isle of Man based management consultancy with a pan European client base.
	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it - Sister of the late John Whiffen Jann has been visiting South Africa since 1995 in both a social and professional capacity. During this time she has become used to friends of John who, on first meeting her, comment on how alike they are, both in looks and mannerisms. A lifetime keep-fit enthusiast, Jann has started to appreciate the joys of cycling since participating in her first Cape Argus Cycle Tour in 2005, and has ambitions to cycle one big ride in each continent. Much to her brother's disappointment, she chose to support the red half of Liverpool rather than the blue. She is the Operations Director of PACEPerformance Ltd., an Isle of Man based management consultancy with a pan European client base. Please send all Trust enquiries to Jann.
	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it - Treasurer Keith Bowen has been a Toastmaster since 1995, having served as the District Treasurer for Toastmasters District 74 (Southern Africa) from 2002 to 2004. In his time at Toastmasters Keith had many interactions with John, including his second speech which John evaluated as a visiting Toastmaster to Eskom Toastmasters Club. Keith is an economist, now working at Eskom, and cycles regularly (at a leisurely pace), but has thus far managed to avoid the Cape Argus Cycle Tour.
	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it - Legal Advisor Beth, married to Cobus and an Attorney by profession, has no claim to fame in either cycling or swimming (although she did encourage her husband to try the Argus once). Despite this, she is a great rugby supporter and won a humorous speech contest when she claimed to be the first SA woman Springbok team player - the Hooker. She is also very involved in sport for street children, in particular soccer, athletics and dance programmes. One of Beth's favourite quotations is: "If a man does not work passionately (even furiously) at being the best in the world at what he does, he fails his talent, his destiny and his God," (George Lois). Of course, she believes it applies to women also! Beth considers it an honour to be part of an organisation where John played such an active part in serving others who were physically challenged and disadvantaged.
	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it - Deputy Chair and Trust Secretary Mike and John became close friends after first working together in Cape Town in 1982. Not only was Mike born in Liverpool, but also (fortunately) born into the red side. John demonstrated his unique sense of humour by converting Mike’s daughter into a blue! Mike started riding the Cape Argus Cycle Challenge in 1983, completing 11 to date, and likes to take the credit for introducing John to the sport. Based in Johannesburg, Mike has an MBA from UCT. He is currently a partner in a property development company, in addition to consulting in the banking industry.

Fundraising and Marketing Officer

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it - Fundraising and marketing Yvonne was a good friend and Toastmasters colleague of John's. She has lived in South Africa since 1971, having emigrated from Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). Yvonne is a team player and a keen swimmer, having swum the annual Redhouse River Mile in her home town of Port Elizabeth on a number of occasions. Yvonne is retired, having worked for the Standard Bank of South Africa since leaving school in 1966. She is a past Chairman of the Cerebral Palsy Association Eastern Cape, and one of the Directors of the Summerstrand Independent Living Centre, which caters for the physically challenged.

Donors

Jacqueline Swain and Shirley Muat, sisters of the late John Whiffen.

Professional Support

• Beth Thomas: Attorney
• Cobus Thomas: CA
• Absa: Bank
• Craig Strachan: Website support and maintenance
• Deleen Wilson: Copywriter