President's address Archives | SI Bangor and District

2 days ago in

President Diane Davies 2024/25 2020/21 2024/25 It is an honour to serve a second term as club president and I hope that members will enjoy a variety of activities planned so we will have the opportunity to HAVE FUN, LISTEN to some interestingly different speakers and subjects ENJOY the company of fellow Soroptimists, PARTICIPATE in different activities, LAUGH OUT LOUD at social gatherings or DINE in great company, TURN unwanted items into useful assets, ENTERTAIN other members of our community and IMPROVE our environment on local ‘gentle’ walks SIP MOCKTAILS and COCKTAILS and go on a HAWAIIAIN adventure! Whilst also hopefully raising funds at tombolas, plant stalls, craft sales, auctions, lunches, tea parties, and of course our wonderful raffles! I have nominated the President’s main charity as Breast Cancer Care at Ysbyty Gwynedd with the main focus on a Grand Prize Draw Raffle to be

President Marianne Jackson’s address

10 months ago in

Ceri Edwards, who was the first President to wear the “new” chain of office, presented the chain to Marianne and wished her well for her presidential year. Marianne then took the chair and set out her thoughts for the coming year. She thanked Ceri and said she felt the responsibility and honour of becoming President. She said it was now twenty years since she had received a telephone call from member Joan Thomas, asking her to join Soroptimists. She hoped that she would be able to make future meetings more inclusive. She gave a big ‘thank you’ to Lin and a bigger one to Vikki for agreeing to take on the role of secretary. She said that Gudrun and Olga were now stepping down from the Executive and she welcomed Andy and Susan. She also thanked Eirwen for co-ordinating the evening’s refreshments and said how

2022/2023 AGM

2 years ago in

Our annual AGM was held in Parc Menai with some members joining by Zoom. Reports from Programme Action (Sian), Treasurer (Joan) and Secretary (Lin) followed. Several nominations were made for charities to support in 22/23 and we will do our best:- Carer’s Outreach, Gorwel, North Wales Wildlife Trust, St David’s Hospice, Ty Gobaith, North Wales Society for the Blind and Blind Veterans. Marianne had the pleasure of introducing one of our new members, Rhian, to our club. In the absence of Gudrun, Joan W gave us an Ode to 2021/22. Ode to 2021/22 So what can I say for the year that went by? When none of our meetings were held eye to eye. But were we despondent, all set for defeat? ‘Spite square eyes from zooming, we managed a treat. Good speakers were chosen for our sheer delight. Whilst others gave insight and thought

2021/22 President Gudrun Reick

3 years ago in

It is a huge honour to be appointed as President of SI Bangor and District for 2021/22 in this 100th Anniversary of Soroptimist International. I was born in Germany and studied medicine at the Karl-Ruprecht University Heidelberg. I specialised in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and now work as a Consultant at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor. I am excited about the coming year and have found it “mind blowing” to know what everyone does as part of the Club and I am looking forward to another fantastic year despite the challenges that the pandemic has brought. In my year I would like to continue with the Recycle, Repurpose, Reuse project. I would also like to support our local North Wales Wildlife trust who is one of 46 Wildlife Trusts working across the UK. With the invaluable support of volunteers and members they manage 36 nature reserves in North

2019/20 President Eirwen Jones

5 years ago in

President Eirwen Jones SI Bangor & District 2019/2020 It is an honour and privilege to be President of SI Bangor & District for 2019/2020. I was born in Powys but moved to Anglesey in 1965. I have been in the catering industry all my working life, but retired from being Catering Manager for the National Trust 4 years ago, and I am now busier than ever on the farm and looking after two grand daughters. I have a son who is a farmer and a daughter who is a pharmacist. My two main Charities for the coming year are, Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU )Ysbyty Gwynedd, who require funding for new incubators and the Lung Cancer Unit, Ysbyty Gwynedd. This second charity is close to my heart, as this year is the 10th anniversary of the death of my husband from lung cancer. I know

2018/19 President Andy Hawkins

6 years ago in

Thank you to club members for asking me to be your President in our 70th Anniversary Year. SI Bangor and District has an amazing past and there is a rich range of experience and talent within our club today. Team work truly is dream work as we look forward to a year of fun, friendship, service and celebration in making a difference to the lives of women and girls. In keeping with our shared 70th anniversary with the NHS, my charities this year are Dementia Care in Ysbyty Gwynedd to help people with dementia, their helpers and carers, and the Umeed Partnership in Pakistan that helps victims of domestic violence and disease, and runs primary schools for children who would otherwise not receive an education. We will carry on supporting – financially and practically – the charities and causes close to our heart and in

2017/18 President Gwen Ellis Jones

7 years ago in

PRESIDENT GWEN ELLIS JONES 2017/18 Incoming President Gwen Ellis Jones (left) and Immediate Past President Olga EvisonBefore retiring at the end of 2015 I worked as a peripatetic Teacher of Deaf children in Gwynedd and Anglesey. Now, retired, I am enjoying life and have never been so busy. I still make time for my interests, which include reading, walking (with my dog) and going to the theatre. Since joining Bangor Soroptimists I have been involved with Project/Programme Action work and have come to appreciate how much our organisation is able to help not only girls and women but whole communities both locally and worldwide. Last year was a most successful year for us at Bangor, with money raised for local charities, various and varied guest speakers, delicious lunches and general friendship and goodwill. One of the highlights was being awarded the Certificate of Excellence for

2016/17 President Olga Evison

8 years ago in

I was brought up in Aberdyfi, Meirionnydd and moved to Caernarfon in 1974 following Local Government re-organisation. My work background is Office Administration and I worked for the North Wales Magistrates Courts Committee for many years before joining Bangor University 16 years ago. My charities this year are the North Wales Society for the Blind and the Ogwen Mountain Rescue. Hopefully we can fund raise a substantial amount together raising money for other worthwhile charities. I envisage a very busy year ahead continuing all the hard work with plenty of fun and of course, the friendship we all enjoy so much. I am married to Peter, a retired Quantity Surveyor and have a son working as a builder in South Wales and a daughter working at a Children’s Hospital as a Physiotherapist in Adelaide, Australia. I have been a Soroptimist since 2009.

2015/16 President Anne Griffiths

9 years ago in

I’m Anne Griffith, and I am married with 3 grown-up children living in Spain, New York and London. I’ve been a Soroptimist since 2006 and NEVER imagined I would be Club President, but somehow here I am. I’ve recently started Zumba and Pilates in order to keep my strength up for the year ahead! My background is in teaching, specifically in Dyslexia tuition and English as an Additional Language but now I’m enjoying the busy and very varied life of a Soroptimist. My theme for the year is “Let’s use our skills to bring dignity to others”,and I hope S.I. Bangor will do this through our support for Mary’s Meals, Young Carers, Teams4U and Freedom From Fistula. I’d like to balance fundraising with practical action and have deliberately chosen my charities to fit in with Programme Focus areas so we’ll be lobbying, marching, re-cycling, knitting

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