8 November 2007
The Rt Revd Dabney Smith
Bishop of Southwest Florida
Diocesan House
7313 Merchant Court
Sarasota, FL 34240
USA

I was delighted to hear from Philip Poole that the Diocese of Southwest Florida had joined the Compass Rose Society and I write to welcome you and the Diocese to membership in the Society. Please accept my apologies for not writing earlier as I have just returned from an extended visit to Australia.

One of the purposes of the Compass Rose Society is to provide important support for the different ministries within the Communion. Equally important, however, the Society also provides a way so members will be able to serve the Communion in various ministries which are of particular interest to them.

An important benefit of belonging to the Compass Rose Society is that members are able to visit different churches within the Anglican Communion, particularly churches which have a unique ministry or are in crisis. Earlier this year we had a successful Mission Visit to Mexico and following the Annual General Meeting in October, we had a Study Visit to the Diocese of Salisbury.

As a Diocesan member, four representatives of the Diocese are welcome to participate on all visits and in the Annual Meetings when we are hosted by the Archbishop of Canterbury and Mrs Williams at Lambeth Palace. The Society really provides a marvellous opportunity for people to become involved in the worldwide church. We do not yet know the date for the Annual Meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury in 2008 and the Board of the Society still has to decide on Mission and Study Visits. As soon as there is information, this will be shared with the members.

Again, I welcome you and the Diocese to membership in the Compass Rose Society.

Yours sincerely,

Kenneth Kearon
Secretary General