Last Year’s meetings 2010 – 2011
February 21st – Trafficking – the Essex picture
Our meeting tonight was really noisy lots of chatter and debate! We had eight or nine guests, an exhibition of our work, locally, nationally and internationally, and a speaker from Essex Police about the incidence of Trafficking in Essex.
At the start of the meeting, LAR Immediate Past President Margaret gave a resume of the work of Soroptimist International, pointing out what the club does locally, what UKPAC does nationally and what SI does internationally. She said that although we are a friendly and socially active club, and run a range of fund-raising activities, Soroptimism isn’t just a dining club!
Angie Garrard, from Essex Police spoke after our meal – she explained the situation in Essex for monitoring and tracking trafficked girls and young men and the support available for the victims of trafficking in our county. She allayed our fears about an increase in trafficked girls due to the Olympic Games sites on our doorstep, whilst recognising that as an outer London area, there’s always a need for the general public to be vigilant. Angie was warmly thanked for her interesting talk.
Several long-standing members were unexpectedly given long service certificates ranging from Janet’s 25 years to Betty’s 45 years of Soroptimism though sadly Betty was not well enough to receive her certificate in person. This added a nice touch on our ‘prospective members’ evening.
We are hoping that this evening will encourage some of our guests to join Southend Soroptimists – they will be made very welcome.
January 17th – Domestic Abuse Reduction in Rochford
Our speaker this evening was Tracey Schnider, who is Domestic Abuse Reduction Officer at Rochford and District Council. Tracey’s role is to raise awareness of domestic abuse, by talking with children of all ages, from primary age to A Level students. She is also with the Police and attends domestic abuse cases.
Domestic abuse crosses the boundaries of age, class and gender in society; the police are now seeing an increased number of forced marriage and honour based violence cases in our area.
Tracey told us about the programme in Rochford involving a case from Devon, which is being used to highlight the iniquities of domestic violence and its impact on children. Tracey described the video in harrowing detail; it resulted in the murder of a mother, in which her children were forced to take park to make it appear that she had committed suicide. Their trauma resulted in silence but fortunately, when they were eventually moved away from their father to stay with their grandmother, they were able to talk about the horrific details, though now, after five years, they still need therapy.
Tracey confirmed what Soroptimists already know – that sadly, domestic violence occurs in every county, every day. Our Violence Against Women – STOP IT NOW! Campaign continues.
Our PAC met on Thursday 6th January to pen our responses to MPs - members are again lobbying, with their views! We are working on a number of important Programme Action issues at the moment – visit our PA page for details.
December 13th – our Christmas meal
Garon’s looked festive for the occasion and our Social Committee had prepared well!
Everyone arrived in good time and in even better spirits. As usual, the conversation flowed and we enjoyed a very good meal together. President Janet had arranged a good table quiz, and most of us didn’t get around to this until we had had our food and a glass or two of wine, so there was a great deal of laughter and some not-very-convincing responses!
As usual at this time of year, we had an after dinner collection and this year, raised £178 for Project SIerra.
Happy Christmas!
November 15th – Ask SAL
Our speaker tonight was Paula Ward from Essex Safeguarding Adults Board.
Paula outlined the Board’s responsibility for safeguarding vulnerable adults from exploitation, across Essex, working with the unitary authorities of Southend and Thurrock. Adult Abuse is a lesser-known problem than child abuse and is less likely to make news. However, there has been a 40% increase in safeguarding referrals since the introduction of the help-line and 4% of over-65s have reported abuse by a family member – a population the size of Leicester!
There is no legislation comparable with the Children Act, to protect vulnerable adults though there are now pockets of legislation in place.
Ask SAL (Safeguarding Adult Life) works with other agencies to give advice, support and information. Their leaflet campaigns advertise ‘phone numbers for abused adults to seek help.
Adult abuse has seven categories: physical, sexual, emotional, financial and institutionalised abuse; neglect and discrimination.
The Ask Sal number 0808 8010 345. Members were urged to keep their eyes open in their neighbourhood and to realise their duty to safeguard others.
A business meeting followed, with Conference feedback and reports on the increasing number of responses from MPs to our lobbying.
We have sought support for compulsary Relationships Education, which supports our VAW-SIN Campaign, and an enforced minimum age for marriage in the Yemen - supporting our motion to Conference last year. We are pleased that, in response to our requests for information, a speaker from Essex Police will come and talk about Trafficking in the Southend area, at our February meeting.
October 18th – Business Meeting
Before the meeting, Jackie introduced Marcia, a new member, who has a wide range of interests and experience to bring to Soroptimism. Marcia was warmly welcomed by President Janet and LAR President Margaret, who was pleased that welcoming a new member to her own club was her last official duty.
In the meeting, we caught up with Programme Action particularly the responses to our lobbying letters and plans for our Hands Banner in Southend, where we shall again distribute Loves Me – Loves Me Not bookmarks.
Heather gave a good report from the Regional Meeting, and generated a good deal of enthusiasm for the Big Event in March! We also discussed the forthcoming SIGBI Conference motions.
September 20th – our new MP visits
Tonight we were very pleased to welcome Rebecca Harris, newly appointed MP for the Castle Point area.
Rebecca had already heard a bit about Soroptimism from our lobbying but she came along to meet us, and we certainly enjoyed her company and her talk.
We heard about the long road to becoming an MP – her work in the Houses of Parliament, the selection process that wasn’t always woman-friendly and her eventual decision to stand in the Castle Point constituency.
Then she told us about her first weeks in the House and the excitement of being selected to put forward a Private Members Bill, and then how she made her choice to support lengthening the daylight hours by changing the clocks.
She won us over! Her bill would, if it became law, give greater confidence to the elderly, many of whom are women and it seems, would not unduly impact on accident figures, so we await its second reading in December.
Rebecca is a bright and articulate woman of today – she listened to us and joined in our discussions with ease – so much so, we’re hoping she might think about being an honorary member.
It was fortunate that our business meeting focussed on our new areas for lobbying – we discussed the need for compulsary Relationships Education and the removal of compulsary PHSE from the Education Bill; trafficking, in light of the forthcoming Olympic Games and forced marriage – and … Rebecca good-naturedly took her letters home to save us the postage!
July 19th – Friendship and Social Evening
Unfortunately our speaker for tonight’s meeting had to cancel at the last minute, but it did not deter us! It gave the club an opportunity for sharing news and reminiscing. So, even though some members were missing because of holidays, everyone enjoyed themselves.
Tonight we welcomed a new member, which always makes for a pleasant meeting. Yupping, who is a solicitor, joined the club – her sister is also a Soroptimist so she knows a lot about our work. The club is delighted to welcome Yupping – she’s already rolled up her sleeves and helped out – we have been very busy lately!
Wow! What a collection for Dignity!Period ! £150 donated from club charity fund, £136 at the club meeting in June and then a further collection this evening. This really was an appeal that needed an instant response, since every woman can empathise with the problem – and instantly, the club DID respond! Thank you members.
Although we don’t have a Business Meeting in August, we are having a Programme Action morning at Lynne’s on Thursday 19th August to prepare for the Hands Banner event in Basildon on Saturday 4th September. Members – please try to come along!
June 21st – Programme Action Activity!
This month we moved our venue and had a frugal meal at the SAVs Centre in Southend. Not really VERY frugal, actually, but still, not as costly as our usual venue, so we’ve raised some money for Malawi.
After the meal we held our business meeting and then, a working session for our forthcoming Programme Action events.
Our PAO, Lynne rallied the club to action. We are increasing our support for the local refuges by asking other groups to help us collect for the Welcome Bags. We continue our monthly donations to both Basildon and Southend.
At the meeting, Lynne also told us about Action for Southern Africa – Dignity – Period! campaign. The charity had sent an email about the non-availability of sanitary products in Zimbabwe. They can provide sanitary protection for one woman for one year for £12. A bag was sent round for a collection and we raised £136.
It was a busy evening, preparing for our forthcoming PA activities – hands and bookmarks for our Hands Banner supporting VAW-SIN in the Eastgate Centre, Basildon in September; peace scrolls for the LAR Peace Vigil on 25th September and compiling lobbying letters to send out to our new MPs and others. This last task was not easy – in the end we chose two subjects – trafficking and the removal of Personal, Social and Health Education for the compulsory curriculum.
Cutting, sticking, writing, chatting - NOT a playgroup – a Southend Soroptimist Programme Activity evening!
May 17th – President’s Project Speaker
We were delighted to welcome back Stephanie Stamp to speak to us about the Balmoral Centre in Westcliff. Stephanie had visited last year, and had so inspired President Janet with the work they are doing at the Centre, that she asked the club to support the project as her President’s Project through the coming year.
The Balmoral Centre serves an area of Southend where many ethnic groups live together. There are inevitably tensions if new arrivals bring the arguments from their homelands with them to their new homes, and the Centre is helping to provide a community facility that all can enjoy as residents of Westcliff.
The building, formerly owned by the council, has been bought and renovated and is now fit for purpose as a welcoming centre for all.
During the year we shall raise funds to support Stephanie and her team, so that their work can continue and expand.
April 19th – Annual General Meeting
Tonight, we held our Annual General Meeting. Our meal and the formal meeting were preceded by the hand-over of our President’s Project cheque for 2009 – 2010.
President Jackie was pleased to welcome back Imelda from Southend Sunflower Trust, who received a cheque for £1 222.50 raised during the year from our social activities.
Imelda was delighted that the club had chosen the Sunflower Trust, which helps the mothers of children with special needs to cope better with the demands in their lives, by providing additional equipment and support their family.
The Annual General Meeting is always a very positive and friendly meeting and this year was no exception.
The club warmly thanked President Jackie for a very successful year. This year, Irene, our Programme Action Officer hands over to Lynne and again, the club was warm in its congratulations for Irene’s leadership of our work in this key area. Soroptimism has Programme Action at its heart and we are looking forward to another action-packed year under Lynne’s guidance.
We are fortunate in having all our officers and executive members in place and we know that in our new President, Janet, we have a strong and committed member, so we are all looking forward to the coming year.
Incoming President Janet awarded outgoing President Jackie with her Past President’s badge and asked for our support for her President’s Project charity, the Balmoral Centre.
The club rounded off the evening by hearing Sue’s report of our work for the refuges at both Southend and Basildon, where we hope to give each woman a welcome bag during the coming year.