SIGBI President’s February 2019 Blog
Think on It!
Last month the Federation Management Board met for its first two day meeting of the new Federation Year. The work on the new Board structure of SIGBI as a charity continued. After considerable discussion it was agreed that the Board would be slimmed down even further than was reported in President Sue’s blog in January.
The result was that there would be a President only, who would serve for two years to provide continuity. There would not be a separate Chair person. The president would continue to chair board meetings, as currently happens. The remainder of the Board would consist of the President Elect, a Finance/Governance Director, Programme Director, Membership Director and one other, possibly a PR and Marketing Director.
As previously mentioned there will be Standing Committees covering Finance/Governance, Programme, Membership/Stakeholder Engagement and Communications. Working Groups have been set up and met for the first time at the end of January. A new Communications Strategic Plan is currently being developed so that members can be kept up to date with all the proposed changes.
A resolution proposing the new Board structure will be put to the GM at the Bournemouth Conference in October 2019.
The Board sought clarification as to whether SIGBI needed to register for charitable status separately in Scotland and has been advised that it does not. It is now exploring whether there is a need to do so in Northern Ireland. By Conference, guidance will have been produced for all Clubs in the UK who are interested in charitable status for themselves.
Information has gone out to members about the ideas so far for Soroptimist International’s centennial celebrations in 2021. The working Group, led by Ann Hodgson, would love to hear from members about any ideas you have and what you may be doing in your Clubs, Regions and National Associations.
President Elect, Isobel Smith, has organised a Development Day to take place on 1st June 2019. The day will feature the launch of Stage 3 of the Growth Plan and will also cover training for members on SIGBI’s new procedures in relation to a Complaints Policy, Whistle Blowers Policy and Mediation Process. Each region will be offered a free place for a member to attend. Registration will be open from 15 February 2019.
Wearing my other hat as Chair of SIGBI Trading Ltd, I’m delighted to report that 73 clubs have now signed up to Easyfundraising and are raising money for their Club projects. Congratulations to SI St Albans who won the prize draw in December for the £100 Amazon voucher which they used to buy 115 pairs of knickers for the ‘SmallsforAll’ project. Easyfundraising have generously offered a £100 donation to the club that raises the most money between January and March. Now that winter has well and truly arrived and thoughts are turning to warmer climes, why not book your holidays through Easyfundraising and see if you can win the £100!
I hope members are regularly checking the Reward Portal on the SIGBI website, where new offers are being listed every two weeks. Thoughtmix are managing this affiliate scheme for us and have engaged really popular retailers, the latest being John Lewis. Every time a member clicks on one of the offers, SIGBI earns commission, so please do keep clicking!
In friendship
Cathy Cottridge
Director Without Portfolio
Read previous blogs from President Sue Williams and the FMB:
- January 2019 – President Sue
- December 2018 – Ruth Healey, Director of Finance
- November 2018 – President Sue