JustBe Launched on 21st March 2009!
On the evening of Saturday 21st March 2009, despite major traffic snarl ups, 75 ladies attended the launch of JustBe along with a bunch of wonderful young helpers and supportive brothers. We are grateful for all those that took time out to come and be a part of our launch event.
We are grateful to our helpers that worked tirelessly to prepare for this event and those that were on hand to serve on the evening and help clean up after the event. To everyone that offered a helping hand you have our heartfelt appreciation. A special mention to the young ones that were so well behaved and followed instructions in being little helpers as they added their own special sparkle to the evening.
A big "thank you" to our very generous sponsors who donated various raffle prizes and their time:
- Errol Leushing donated £30 M&S Vouchers and £20 Odeon Cinema Tickets
- Galleria, a new hair salon recently opened in Bromley North, donated a hair voucher. Galleria specialises in African-Caribbean, Mixed Ethnicity & Caucasian Hair. They are situated at 2 Sherman Road, Bromley, BR1 3JN.
Tel 020 8466 9523/0777 9796316.
- Carol Johnson donated two beautiful works of art. Check out this link to see some of Carole's pieces online http://www.just-be.co.uk/programmes/justartdentity.html or you can contact her direct on 07949 632740.
- Marcia Brown donated a beautiful and equally delectable cake which boasted the JustBe logo. Visit her website to view her other creations www.designerartcakes.co.uk/
- Sylvia Parkes wrote and read a beautiful poem entitled "Just Because…." (click on this link to view poem) Sylvia was also the caterer for the event and as ever outdid herself delivering beautifully presented and delicious platters of food. Contact Sylvia for all your catering needs on: 07956 880564 or email: sylviapepperpotkitchen@hotmail.com.
- Video production was by Liz Obire of Obitech Creative Media. Liz is a woman who has been blessed with numerous gifts and talents, apart from video production/editing, her hobbies are interior designing, cooking, but her main passion is video production. She graduated from the London Metropolitan University in 2006 and got an hons degree in BSc Multimedia. It has always been her dream to start her own media company.
- AMIDAS Photography was on hand to capture the event on camera. AMIDAS Photography has a unique Style with AMIDAS touch. Andre Roberts specialises in social and commercial event and performing arts photography. Her contact details are: info@amidasphotography.com or visit www.amidasphotography.com
- JustBe donated two Vanity Cases from Boots and Debenhams and also a bottle of Moet Champagne.
Special thanks to Marcia Dixon who graciously accepted to pick out the raffle prize winners on the evening. Marcia Dixon has an infomail which features various events and activities, her contact details are marciatdixon@aol.com (Please write infomail listing in the email subject heading.)
Review...
In a swathe of purple and white, on Saturday 21 March 2009, our stomachs full with so many nibbles we soon had to decline offers of more, a vision of two years' gestation and prayer was birthed.
Women ranging from teen to septuagenarian gathered at Josef's House in Grove Park, south east London, mingled and murmured in anticipation. It was the launch of JustBe.
The vision of JustBe is to provide a series of programmes bringing women together to relax and enjoy each other's company and to just be ourselves; to just be - away from draining daily pressures and responsibilities. No surprise, really. After all, of those attending only a few would not have known that Yvette McDonald, whose vision, launch and purpose this was, has a big heart for offering women the space and time to rest, relax and refocus. And that's exactly what JustBe aims to provide.
Presentations started around 8pm with introductions to each JustBe programme by its leader, who told us their reason and purpose for leading theirs. The suite includes Arts by Carole Johnson, who promised not to speak to us like children as she teaches them in her day job; Film Club directed by Janet Ngoroi; Gather and Grow by Angela Roye; Personal development led by Beverley Ejimofo; JustBeKidz by Alison Peat and Rest, Relax and Refocus Breaks by Yvette McDonald.
As a raffle rounded off the evening, definitely there was an excitement gathering and growing in the marquee, set in the sizeable Josef's House garden. Wendy, Yvonne and Brenda liked the sound of the weekend breaks. "Gather & Grow and the Development programme," stated Brenda. "All of it," enthused Lorraine, sitting with her friends Wendy and Sonya. "I'm going to have a taste of everything," laughed Sonya. Diane found the launch "informative and inspiring." She added, "I felt it was fantastic and want my friends to know about it. I think it's really good because people need to - just be!"
Kike Biye 
