This was a lovely evening of friendship and fellowship before breaking up for the summer holidays.

On the 19^th February 2011 members of SI Ballymoney and District manned the checkouts in Tesco Ballymoney to raise funds for Parkinson’s UK – Northern Ireland. All were a bit apprehensive at first but the hour and a half stints flew past as we helped shoppers with their weekly chore. Just under £600 was raised and presented to the Causeway Coast branch of Parkinson’s UK – NI.

As an added bonus many people in the Ballymoney are now much more aware of Soroptimist International and what we do – even if the full objectives don’t trip of the tongue easily.

The pictures show us happy in our endeavours.

There was a marvellous turnout of people who supported the club and the cause.  Quizmasters Tom Wilson and Tom Bratton prepared a varied, interesting and amusing quiz, which tested and informed and had all teams racking their brains.  The supper, proved by club members, was a welcome break at the halfway stage to recharge the batteries and was served to the tables by the social committee members.

The club president Mrs Ann Todd thanked all those for coming and presented the prizes for the winners and runners up together with the draws for the raffle prizes.  Although figures need to be finalised it is, at this early stage, looking as though there will be a final total in excess of £1,500 for the charity.

During the year there were talks from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, a practice nurse on women’s health issues, a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and the custodian of Glenarm Castle. We learned about environmental and health issues as well as international aid work.

At Christmas, as an alternative to gifts for the Women’s Aid refuge, the Club paid for basic equipment and ingredients which were used to teach some basic cooking skills to those passing through the refuge who would benefit.

The Club hosted the local public speaking competition which was well supported by local schools despite a clash of dates with some drama productions.

The Charity Fork Supper raised funds for the neonatal baby unit at Antrim hospital and Action Cancer. Project Sierra also benefitted. During the event awareness of fair trade was promoted by having a raffle of fair trade hampers and having a fair trade stall.

We also made a donation to the palliative care fund of the Robinson Memorial Hospital.

Our Club along with SI Coleraine, responded to a request from the local Rotary Club to support the purchase of tandem cycles. These tandems will allow the Causeway Wheeler Cycling Club to work in association with the local blind centre and provide the opportunity for visually impaired to go out cycling, on the rear tandem seat of course!

John brought out the moral dilemma facing us – do we pour resources into the energy rich developed world to maintain the style we have come to expect or do we leave something to help feed the developing countries?

As well as looking at the global context of the problem he showed the impact of the problem to our local economy. The agriculture based economy, particularly our animal based agriculture, is a significant contributor to green house gases. In addition it is a net user of energy compared with return. John pointed out that the industry needs to find ways to counteract these issues that are suitable to our situation in order for our industry to survive and it is hoped prosper.

It was an evening of enlightenment, not only to the scale of the problem but John also highlighted some success stories from around the world, show how when forced to some areas have been able to make significant changes that suit societies needs but that give hope for the future. One of the key messages was that everyone is going to have to accept some degree of change for the security of future generations.

Joe outlined the key role of teachers in identifying those with special educational needs. He made the point that not all children / young people who are difficult or have difficulties at school have special educational needs. There can be a range of other reasons for the problems.

The Educational Psychology Service does not work in isolation as often those with special educational needs have other problems as well. This takes cooperation with other Board Agencies as well as with Agencies out with the Education and Library Board. Examples of other Board Agencies includes:-

• Challenging behaviour Service;
• Education Welfare;
• Literacy Teaching and Support Service; and
• Behaviour Support Service.

Other non Board agencies and services include:-

• Social Services;
• Child Psychiatry;
• Paediatric Services;
• Speech and Language therapy;
• Physiotherapy; and
• Occupational therapy.

Joe went on to expand on how there are difficulties with diagnosing certain conditions and how this is becoming more difficult due to increasing pressure for labelling. Bizarrely this pressure often comes from parents and appears to be driven by the benefit system since certain conditions attract certain allowances.

Time constraints prevented further exploration of likely background causes to the conditions which result in special educational needs. However club members came away enlightened about the complexities of dealing with these needs in society.

As well as enjoying a glass of mulled wine of fruit punch on arrival, a lovely Christmas dinner was served by the ladies from Iris’s Kitchen. There were plenty of empty plates and very little room for mince pies by the end!

This year members were asked to bring in a present that would be suitable to give to any woman who found herself in the unfortunate position of spending Christmas in a Women’s Aid refuge. The gifts were split between the Coleraine and Ballymena refuges.

All those attending took home a little jar of home made chutney, just the thing with a nice bit of cheese or for those cold cuts on Boxing Day.

After last years disappointing three entrants this year we had nine competitors from four schools – Ballycastle High School, Ballymoney High School, Cross and Passion and Dalriada. Elizabeth McFetridge is our Club public speaking coordinator and did an excellent job in ensuring the evening ran smoothly.

The standard of competition was very high, all of the girls demonstrating high quality research, analysis and composing skills as well as remarkable presentation skills. The girls chose to speak on quite a range of the topics from the available list. These included:

v     respect for life;

v     fantastic plastic;

v     safe environment, safe future;

v     words whisper, actions shout; and

v     political correctness, have we gone too far?

As well as enjoying a range of subjects it was interesting to hear the different treatment given to the same topic by different speakers.

The adjudicators were Frances McCollum (member), Beverly Simpson and Georgina Blair. All agreed they had a difficult task on their hands.

First place went to Jessica Morrison from Dalriada. The Club wishes Jessica every success in the Northern Ireland final to be held February 2009 in Dungannon.