Joint Regional Conference 2012

SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL 75TH JOINT REGIONAL CONFERENCE

SATURDAY 12TH MAY 2012

LIVERPOOL

“TEAMWORK”

 

This was a trial of a one day conference which began with a friendship dinner on Friday night with a picture quiz to break the ice.

Saturday was a day with very interesting speakers and a chance to mix with the delegates from other clubs with a lovely buffet lunch and a farewell coffee before most of us left.

 

SPEAKERS

 

MAUREEN MAGUIRE – Federation President  Federation President

 

She showed her “Geese” DVD from the 2011 Conference to reinforce how we must all work together. All clubs are made up of four types of bones and these are “wish”, “jaw”, “knuckle” and “back” bones and we all fit into one of these categories and each club has been given a “Pulling Together” DVD.

  1. Putting the team first
  2. Communicate openly
  3. Be part of the solution, not the problem
  4. Respect diversity
  5. Ask and encourage the right question
  6. Use a rational problem solving process
  7. Build trust with integrity and example
  8. Commit to excellence
  9. Promote interdependent thinking
  10. Pull the weeds.

 

Have we raised our £60 per club for the “Diamond” Celebration?

All our read magazines should be put in public places for others to read NOT binned

Be happy now don’t wait until it’s too late.

 

Don’t be afraid life will end be afraid it won’t begin.

 

HILARY RATCLIFFE – International Programme Director 

 

We are all members of clubs, regions and SIGBI but ultimately SI and we must be committed to our Vision and Mission.

The Strategic Plan – we would disappear if we didn’t have it – Rotary is recruiting women that SI should have.

  • We must report our work beginning with our clubs and our club activities.
  • We should read “Programme Action Magazine” and have club partnerships as we are a “sisterhood”
  • How do we achieve this vision – resources: SI Website, Monthly Focus (on SI website), Global Voice – register for it and it will come into your inbox. Soroptivoice Blog (someone sharing something with us). Where we stand – SI statements and reports then there is the Global Impact Report 2010 (this DVD can be given to anyone to tell them about what we do) and it’s in the current magazine
  • Executive summary is the most important thing to read.
  • New focus is on Education and Leadership and the Programme goals and directives and objectives are our “Global Voice”
  • Get Girl Guides to “Stand on Bridges” on March 10th with us.
  • December 10th Advocacy Action 2012 what we “Stand For” – we should do something to show who and what we are.

 

ANNE HOLT – WAGGGS

 

  • There are 66,000 members in North West England, and are the largest youth organisation in the UK and growing – the future is where they are going, but they are rarely seen in the press. There are 55,000 waiting to join guiding so they need leaders.
  • Wagggs are working in Northern Nigeria.
  • Their Promise has changed to “Love my God” and they have reduced the number of laws from 10 to 6.
  • What can we do practically to work with Wagggs – at the moment there is no answer, but the senior section is probably the best area to work with – use your local contacts
  • Guides can help make “Grab” bags for girls in refuges.
  • Thinking Day 2013 – linked to Maternal Health in Gambia.
  • Right Now programme – rights of the child working with UNICEF.

 

BENN MOTT – Registered Mental Health Nurse and Manager

 

Dementia is a cognitive disability (which includes Alzheimer’s and Strokes) and is an end of life illness that can last 8 to 14 years and at present we don’t have the services to cope with this and suffers become excluded from communities.

So how can we make our communities dementia friendly as dementia needs to be embraced as we will all live with dementia at some stage and will suffer from lack of services, understanding and resources.

1 in 3 over 65 will die with dementia – loss of memory, mood changes, communication loss, becoming withdrawn, difficulties in every day tasks and becoming more dependent on others are all symptoms.

We need to find the person behind the dementia, and it was likened to books falling out of the book case leaving gaps behind.

How dementia progresses –

  1. P erception and organisation of Movement
  2. A ttention span
  3. L anguage ability
  4. M emory
  5. E motional control
  6. R easoning and Judgement.

 

FIONA MURPHY – Nurse of the Year 2011 and Clinical Lead in Bereavement and Donation at Bolton Hospital

 

Death is the only certainty in life and hospitals are now been educated to give person centred care – patients, families, staff – porters etc everyone, nobody is denied anything.

Hospitals will have excellent communication, bereavement care bundles, empowerment and above all support. There will be mandatory competency modules, monthly training days with all tiers of management support.

 

This was a very moving talk and touched everyone in the room as did the presentation by Benn

 

DAVE GUEST – Chief Reporter on BBC Look North West Tonight.

 

He finished the day with a light hearted insight into his work for the BBC as a reporter.