International Convention Montreal 2011

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION – MONTREAL – JULY 2011

Report from MARION BOLAM (SI  Douglas) –

REGIONAL VOTING DELEGATE

I did not attend all the 4 days of the Board meeting as an observer, only the final day, but quickly caught up having read all the relevant papers.  My highest praise goes to our UN delegates who each gave such succinct reports from the various UN centres and the committees they attend which help us formulate much of our Programme work.  (Regular up dates are given on SI web site) Plus the Programme Focus reports from the 4 Federations give us the Global focus throughout SI.

The most important paper I heard both at the Board meeting and in Convention was the Global Impact Report. It has now been released on SI web site which I urge all members to read.

I can only give you a taster or the Convention as I saw it!

THE CONVENTION.

The Right Hon.Adrienne
Clarkson;  Key Speaker

A wartime refugee from Hong Kong.  She spoke of a true integration of immigrants into Canada who together will create a society that has meaning to the world. She does not believe people want to remain with their own people in
ghettos but fully integrated into society. (I have since read her book ‘Heart Matters’ follows her leaving Hong Kong and her rise to Governor General, an inspirational book).  A most articulate speaker.

There were 7 guest speakers and I just want to highlight some of the points that have stayed with me:

• Canada absorbed 150,000 boat people into their society
• By 2030 only 30% of the World will have access to clean water.  Water is being purchased by private
  companies, this should not be allowed to happen.  Water is a fundamental human right.  (One idea – take shorter showers!! )
• Caltran – which is used in Cell phones and Computers throughout the world – is a mineral coming out of the Congo.  The ‘riches’ of the Congo are causing the wars, rape and corruption in the Congo. War inCongo worse than WWII.
• The story of ayoung girl gang-raped twice, who had her feet sliced across the soles.  When she had finally received help and
  started education and was shown how to write her name, then said ‘Now I want to learn to write my son’s name’
• Female trafficking is world wide, it is happening every where.  Police often deny its existence.
• Global pollution, we all must take action

There were the various workshops.

• I attended one that discussed how a facility had evolved in Montreal where they were working with men in domestic violence situations.
• The second I attended was run by Riley on how to design and monitor programme objects, which was most constructive.

The social events were excellent.

FINALLY AND MOST IMPORTANT

One comes away from Convention full of new ideas, often gleaned from other Soroptimists. Programmes you know can and have worked!!  Felt revitalised and proud to be one of the world wide 90,000 Soroptimist women.  Maybe it was the vibrant and exciting city of Montreal but really it was the BUZZ!!!

International ConventionMontreal