Meet the Officers 2011- 2012
President: Jean Priestley 
Immediate Past President: Judith Grocott
Judith became a Soroptimist in 1995 joining SI Bolton in South Lancashire, where she was President in 2000/01. In 2003 she took early retirement to study for the RHS Diploma in Horticulture and around this time the family moved to Garstang. She was President of SI Garstang in 2007/8, now having slightly more time, when she was approached to put her name forward for Regional Vice President the opportunity seemed too good to miss. She has thoroughly enjoyed the last year as Regional President but looks forward to a slightly quieter year supporting the new incumbent.
President Elect: Susan Parke-Hatton
Secretary: Edna Haselden 
Treasurer: Shirley Wilson 
Shirley was asked by a very good friend of hers way back in the early 1990’s if she was interested in joining the Soroptimists and this she did in 1994. Shirley has spent 40 years in the Accountancy profession with a short break working at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary. She was Club President in 2000/2001 and again in 2011/2012. Her background tends to lead her to the role of Treasurer and she has been Club Treasurer and now she is delighted to be Regional Treasurer for the second time. Shirley is also Treasurer to two other organisations and Co-ordinator for the Lancaster Stage Dance Festival. She is a member of the North Lancashire Support Group for Life Education. She considers it a privilege and a pleasure belonging to this organisation and whilst trying to “make a difference”, she is also benefitting in so many ways. It is a delight taking part in all the activities either fundraising or social with all the friends she has made over the years by being a Soroptimist. Shirley has a Daughter and Son and two Grandchildren, who keep her on her toes.
Programme Action Officer: Sue Smith 
Sue was born and brought up in Stockport, in total ignorance of Soroptimist International, despite passing the office on many occasions! She moved to Blackpool after she met her now husband, and joined S.I. The Fylde in 2003. Sue has served on the Executive Committee and been the lobbyist for the Club, as well as Programme Action Officer and President. Sue trained in and have spent forty years working in various branches of law, including teaching at Stockport College. In 2000 she began what turned out to be a new career in complementary therapies, and is trained in aromatherapy, reflexology, massage and reiki healing. Sue now works as a mobile therapist, but most of her time is taken up as a volunteer running the service at the charity, ICHER, which offers complementary therapies to anyone with a long-term illness. She still maintains her legal connections and works for one day a week at a firm of solicitors.
Sue has one daughter and, currently, two grandchildren.”
Regional Extension and Membership: Pat Fergusson 
Pat became a Soroptimist in 1997, hoping to widen her horizons beyond a career and family. Meeting lots of women from all walks of life and all professions is something that was difficult when working full-time and, now retired, she finds Soroptimism a great leveller; a diverse group of women working for a common cause. It really doesn’t matter what the background is, working together locally, regionally, nationally and internationally brings a great sense of unity and belonging. It is terrific to walk into a Soroptimist event anywhere in the world and find it packed with friends, even if you haven’t met them yet!
Pat is hugely interested in people and their motivations and have a strong belief in honesty, integrity, equality, fairness and humour in order to get the job done. Taking up the position of Extension & Membership Officer is certainly not a case of simply waving a magic wand to bring new members to a harmonious club. Every club is different, each with its own personality, strengths and challenges. Nevertheless, it is the challenge which is interesting and in spite of the trend for service organisations to struggle with recruitment, Pat cannot envisage a day when there will not be the need for us to work together to make a difference.
Federation Councillor: Linda Beddows 
Linda has been a Soroptimist in the Fylde since 1993. She has recently retired from her recruitment business in St Annes and over the past 25 years has been involved with the local Hospice as Trustee, the local independent secondary school as Governor, the local hospital as Chair of League of Friends and she also walks dogs twice a day for the Charity for the Elderly, the Cinnamon Trust. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Fellow of the Institute of Recruitment Professionals. Linda has held many roles at Club level for SI The Fylde and is currently President-Elect. She has been Regional Secretary and Regional President and is currently Federation Councillor for the Region. She is on the Federation Communications Committee and her Soroptimism has taken her to many places, not least Barbados and Canada. She was delighted to recently be awarded the MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours and will be attending the investiture on 26 October 2011.
Development Officer: Tricia Coll 
Tricia joined Blackburn Club in 1989 and although she moved to live in Preston in 1990 she has remained a Blackburn member.
Tricia’s background in finance was quickly utilised as Club Treasurer. This has led on to doing many other roles including Regional President and Federation Councillor. When she was approached about standing for Regional Development Officer she had been looking forward to taking a back seat, but as the first post holder of the role for Region it was as privilege to be asked. As this is a new role for the Region it gives scope for looking at things differently and hopefully strengthen our profile.