Chairman's Message

Yn ôl ym mis Medi 2003, ar nos Lun, cerddais i mewn i Ganolfan Gymunedol Berriew yn barod i fwynhau Noson Aelodau Newydd CFfI Berriew. Ychydig a wyddwn i mai dyma ddechrau taith ryfeddol a bythgofiadwy. Pe buasech yn dweud wrthyf yn ystod y noson honno, y byddai gennyf yr anrhydedd o fod yn Gadeirydd CFfI Maldwyn 2020-2021, ni fyddwn wedi eich credu. Ni allaf hyd yn oed ddechrau disgrifio i chi pa fraint a hyfrydwch yw bod yn y sefyllfa hon.

Fy atgof cyntaf o CFfI oedd mynd i Lanfyllin ar gyfer Diwrnod Gwaith Maes y Sir i gystadlu yn fy nghystadleuaeth gyntaf. Nes i gyfarfod a chyd-aelod, Helen Roberts (Nawr, Williams), yn Berriew a gyrrodd fi i Lanfyllin. Wrth inni agosáu at Bwlch-y-Cibau, gofynnodd Helen ‘Oes gennych chi eich Cerdyn Aelodaeth?’. Fe wnes edrych arni yn ddryslyd, ‘Na Helen, ydw i’w angen?’ Gallaf ddweud wrthych chi nawr, wnes i erioed anghofio fy ngherdyn eto. Am y blynyddoedd i ddod, gwyliais Helen yn dod yn Gadeirydd CFfI Maldwyn, ac yn Gadeirydd FfCCFfI. Felly mae dilyn ôl troed ei Chadeirydd Sir, a Chadeiryddion Sirol eraill CFfI Maldwyn, yn rhywbeth na fyddaf byth yn ei anghofio.

Pe byddech wedi gofyn imi, ‘Sut bydd eich blwyddyn fel Cadeirydd y Sir?’ Pan gefais fy ethol yn Is-gadeirydd CFfI Maldwyn, nid wyf yn credu y byddwn erioed wedi dyfalu realiti’r naw mis diwethaf. Gallaf gadarnhau yn sicr na ddychmygais i fod fel hyn! Fodd bynnag, bûm yn ffodus i wylio ein haelodau yn addasu i’r byd CFfI ar-lein hwn a pha waith anhygoel y maent i gyd wedi’i wneud. Rwyf mor falch o bob un o’n haelodau, arweinwyr a swyddogion.

Mae fy mlwyddyn wedi bod yn un wahanol iawn ond rydw i wedi caru pob eiliad. Ydw, rydw i wedi colli allan ar fod yn rhan annatod o seremoni cadeirio’r Eisteddfod, wnes i ddim mynychu Cinio’r Sir fel Cadeirydd, sgipio allan ar allu trosglwyddo’r tlws buddugol yn Rali’r Sir, a llawer mwy. Ond rwyf wedi cael y profiad cadeirio digwyddiad Hustings ar-lein, gan eilio’r cynnig i gynyddu’r oedran i 28 yng Nghyfarfod Cyffredinol Blynyddol FfCCFfI, gwylio CFfI Maldwyn yn ennill Eisteddfod CFfI Rhith Cymru, gweld CFfI Maldwyn yn symud i mewn i gartref newydd yn Mart y Trallwm, ymhlith llawer o bethau eraill. Felly ydi, mae wedi bod yn unigryw o gymharu â blynyddoedd eraill y Gadeiryddiaeth ond rwy’n ddiolchgar iawn am bopeth rydw i wedi gallu ei brofi ac rydw i wedi mwynhau fy amser yn aruthrol.

I orffen fy neges blwyddlyfr, hoffwn ddweud diolch enfawr i’m tîm anhygoel: Aled, Lynfa, Gemma, Elin L, Sion, Jamie, Nia, Charlotte, Elin O, Sioned a Briony. Mae eleni wedi bod yn unigryw i chi i gyd ond does neb wedi gadael iddo raddoli. Diolch am eich holl help, cefnogaeth a chyfeillgarwch! Aled – Byddwch yn gwneud gwaith mor wych gan ddod â’r Sir hon yn ôl i ffordd fwy ‘normal’. Rwy’n dymuno’r gorau i ti am dy flwyddyn fel Cadeirydd a gwyddoch nad wyf yn bell i ffwrdd.

Diolch i Arlywydd Madam, Sarah Lewis, a’r Is-lywyddion, Carol, Alun, Melvin ac Anwen, sydd wedi bod yn gefnogaeth barhaus trwy gydol fy nghyfnod fel Cadeirydd y Sir. Rwy’n gwerthfawrogi’ch profiadau a’ch gwybodaeth am y ffederasiwn yn fawr iawn ac mae’n wych troi atoch chi i gyd am gyngor.

Diolch i aelodau staff, Caryl a Sandra, am eich cymorth. Rwy’n gwybod bod COVID-19 wedi golygu nad ydym wedi’ch gweld chi mor aml ond rydyn ni bob amser yn gwybod eich bod chi yno i roi help llaw ac rydw i wedi galw arnoch chi lawer gwaith.

Rhaid imi ddweud diolch arbennig i Ffion. Nid wyf yn siŵr lle byddwn wedi bod heboch chi eleni a byddaf bob amser yn ddiolchgar iawn o’ch cyfeillgarwch, eich gwaith caled a’ch anogaeth yn ystod fy nghyfnod fel Cadeirydd. Diolch!

Diolch i bawb a bleidleisiodd drosof ac a gredai y gallwn arwain y sir eithriadol hon. Byddaf bob amser yn ddiolchgar iawn! Yn olaf ond nid lleiaf, diolch yn fawr i’m dyweddi, Alwyn, fy nheulu a ffrindiau am eu cefnogaeth a’u dealltwriaeth yn ystod fy nghyfnod yn y swydd. Byddai’r swydd hon yn un anodd iawn heb gefnogaeth yr holl bobl a grybwyllwyd uchod, ein teulu CFfI.

Ymlaen ac i fyny nawr i CFfI Maldwyn wrth i ni brofi’r byd ar ôl-COVID-19. Os yw’r pandemig wedi dysgu unrhyw beth inni, mae i gymryd pob cyfle y gallwn a pheidio â chymryd unrhyw beth yn ganiataol.

Mwynhewch bob eiliad Tîm Maldwyn a gobeithiaf eich gweld chi i gyd (yn bersonol!) yn fuan.

Back in September 2003, on a Monday evening, I walked into Berriew Community Centre ready to enjoy Berriew YFC’s New Member’s Evening. Little did I know that this was the start of an extraordinary and unforgettable journey. If you said to me during that evening, that I would have the honour of being the 2020-2021 Montgomery YFC Chairman, I wouldn’t have believed you. I cannot even begin to describe to you what a privilege and delight it is to be in this position.

My first memory of YFC was going to Llanfyllin for the County Field Day to compete in my first competition. Fellow member, Helen Roberts (Now, Williams), met me in Berriew and drove me to Llanfyllin. As we were approaching Bwlch-y-Cibau, Helen asked ‘Have you got your Membership Card?’. A confused me looked back at her, ‘No Helen, do I need it?’ I can tell you now, I never forgot my card again. For the forthcoming years, I watched Helen become Chairman of Montgomery YFC, and the Chairman of NFYFC. So to follow in her County Chairman footsteps, and the other County Chairmen of Montgomery YFC, is something I will never forget.

If you had asked me, ‘What will your year as County Chairman be like?’ when I was elected as the Vice-Chairman of Montgomery YFC, I don’t think I would have ever guessed the reality of the last nine months. I can certainly confirm that I did not imagine it to be this way! However, I have been fortunate to watch our members adapt into this ‘YFC online’ world and what an incredible job they have all done. I am so proud of each and every one of our members, leaders and officials.

My year has been a very different one but I have still loved every second. Yes I have missed out on being an integral part of the Eisteddfod chairing ceremony, didn’t get to attend a County Dinner as Chairman, skipped out on being able to hand over the winning trophy at the County Rally, plus many more. But I have been able to experience chairing an online Hustings event, seconding the motion to increase the age to 28 at the NFYFC AGM, watching Montgomery YFC win the Virtual Wales YFC Eisteddfod, see Montgomery YFC move in to a new home at Welshpool Livestock Sales, amongst lots of other things. So yes, it’s been unique compared to other Chairmanship years but I am very grateful for everything I have been able to experience and I have enjoyed my time immensely.

To finish my yearbook message, I would like to say a huge thank you to my amazing team: Aled, Lynfa, Gemma, Elin L, Sion, Jamie, Nia, Charlotte, Elin O, Sioned and Briony. This year has been unique for you all to but nobody has let it phase you. Thank you for all of your help, support and friendship! Aled – You will do such a great job bringing this County back to a more ‘normal’ way. I wish you all the very best for your year as Chair and please know that I am not far away.

Thank you to Madam President, Sarah Lewis, and Vice-Presidents, Carol, Alun, Melvin and Anwen, who have been a continual support throughout my time as County Chairman. I really value your experiences and knowledge of the federation and it’s great to turn to you all for advice.

Thank you to staff members, Caryl and Sandra, for your assistance. I know COVID-19 has meant that we haven’t seen you as often but we always know that you are there to lend a helping hand and I’ve called upon you many times.

I have to say a special thank you to Ffion. I’m not sure where I would have been without you this year and I will always be very appreciative of your friendship, hard work and encouragement during my time as Chairman. Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who voted for me and believed that I could lead this exceptional county. I will always be very grateful! Last but not least, a big thank you to my fiancé, Alwyn, my family and friends for their support and understanding during my time in office. This job would be a very difficult one without the support of all the people mentioned above, our YFC family.

It’s onwards and upwards now for Montgomery YFC as we experience this post COVID-19 world. If the global pandemic has taught us anything, it’s to take every opportunity we can and not take anything for granted.

Enjoy every moment Team Montgomery and I hope to see you all (in person!) soon.