A guest blog by past President Denise Lievesley for Members Week
I have recently been writing my Will. This has not been the depressing experience one might envisage but actually provided a time to reflect on what I value. A Will ensures my wishes are carried out when I die and that my friends and family continue to be cared for. But it has also offered the opportunity to support causes that I care about, potentially for generations.
One of these is the Royal Statistical Society. I first attended an RSS meeting when, at the age of 20, I was taken to a lecture by my Professor (Dennis Lindley) because of the relevance to my undergraduate dissertation. It inspired me and I became an RSS junkie! The RSS has provided me with a welcoming space to debate statistical ideas, to learn from others, and to grow lasting friendships with statisticians across so many fields of application. Making the decision to remember the Society in my Will therefore feels like a full circle moment.
It is so important for the future health of our discipline that there is a vibrant relevant professional society, one in which young statisticians are nurtured. If you share this belief, you might like to join me in
leaving a gift to the Society in your Will. Your gift could also help us promote the effective use of statistics in low- and middle-income countries where data-driven insights can transform lives - a cause close to my heart.
Leaving a significant sum to the RSS can make a huge difference (such as the large legacy received to enable the RSS to purchase a property for the first time) but even small amounts can help to secure the Society’s future, especially if lots of us do this. Please think about designating a sum of money for the RSS, perhaps specified as a percentage of your worth. It is so easy to do this.
Find out more here.