It was 11 years ago that I flew into Leeds Airport and faced the biting cold outside. A bus ride then took me to Harrogate where I was to attend the 80^th annual conference of Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland from 6^th to 8^th November 2014 with a Memorial Grant. It was a momentous occasion for me, and the thrilling experience inspired me to write my first time attendee report in verse. Today, as the 91^st Conference reached the final leg of this year’s meeting on 2^nd November 2025, the excitement felt nearly as exhilarating as before, even though the 1300 attendees have reduced in numbers after the creation of the African Federation. I have completed more than ten years of voluntary service in the organization, worked for my club, at national level and also as Assistant Programme Director at SIGBI Federation.

These memories permeate my mind as I have settled down to write my blog on the Change of Insignia and President’s Address at the Conference, which was held today.

As outgoing President Ruth began her closing remarks for the 91^st Conference, she mentioned that when she started her tenure as President, she had wanted to travel. And at the end of her tenure, she found that she has travelled around 68000 km and visited 3 continents. She has had the privilege of representing SIGBI at several international events and realized that the name Soroptimist is well known at the UN and known to several other global organizations as well. She wished the clubs around the Federation all the best for their projects and advised all members to keep on helping and learning  from each other.

Ruth then welcomed incoming President Gillie O’Rourke and presented her with the Chain and Collar. The new Board of Directors was then welcomed by President Gillie. Details of the new Board of Directors  for 2025-26 are given  below. Also given below are details of leaders of Region/National Association Networks.

President: Gillie O’Rourke

President- Elect: Kate Belenis DL

Director of Programme: Lindsay Green

Director of Finance: Christine Corliss

Director of Governance: Vacant

Director of Membership: Sandra Taylor MBE

Director of PR, Communications and Marketing: Deborah Kingsley

 

	Region/National Association Network	Outgoing President 24-25	Incoming President 25-26
1	Caribbean	Rene M Baptiste	Rene M Baptiste
2	Cheshire North Wales &Wirral	Kathryn Lewis	Kathryn Lewis & Janet Murfin
3	India	Naina Shah	Naina Shah
4	London Anglia	Regional Management Team	Kim Bramham
5	London Chilterns	Kate Belenis DL	Rita Beaumont
6	Midland Arden	Regional Management Team	Regional Management Team
7	Midland Chase	Jennifer McLelland	Jennifer McLelland
8	Midland East	Elaine McDonald & Ruth Dodd	Elaine McDonald & Ruth Dodd
9	North West England and Isle of Man	Val Moss	Val Moss and Therese Gill
10	Northern England	Regional Management Team	Shirley Hallam Gould
11	Republic of Ireland	Anne O’Sullivan	Siobhan Mathews
12	Scotland North	Regional Management Team	Gameeda Barnard
13	Scotland South	Regional Management Team	Regional Management Team
14	South East England	Sue Edgar	Roxanne St. Clair
15	South Lancashire	Sandy Taylor	Sue Underwood
16	South West and Chanel Islands	Daphne Dousing	Regional Management Team
17	Southern England	Regional Management Team	Regional Management Team
18	Trinidad and Tobago	Denise Demming	Ahhalia Ramdass
19	Wales South	Helen Scourfield	Helen Scourfield
20	Yorkshire	Sue Butler & Judith Clark	Judith Clark

In her first speech, President Gillie told everyone that she was standing in front of a roomful of inspiring women. She hoped that everyone was enjoying the warmth and friendship at the conference and had learnt about SIGBI from each other as also from the conference experience.

She stressed that everyone was important, and we cannot do without each other. She requested all members to do their best. We have carried on through the pandemic with confidence, and continue to live our lives successfully. We have also proven that we are relevant, and gender is not a deterrent. Namibia has shown the world that the country can be led by women leaders in three top posts, namely the President, the Vice President, and the Speaker of the National Assembly. Japan has just elected the first woman Prime Minister in the country.

No dream is too big. Let us continue championing women. We have the power to dream, and no dream is too big. If we fall, we stand up and build again. We are strong women and giants. Future generations depend on us.

We need to be kind to one another. We need to respect and listen to each other. We need to go back to our clubs and tell them that we all need to make a difference.

Gillie echoed the words of Director of PR, Deborah that we are all working in a faster and connected world and we should make the most of it.

We need more members as SIGBI is a membership-based organization.

President Gillie concluded that she looked forward to working with all members, and everyone was free to communicate with her.

The next annual SIGBI Conference would be held in Cardiff, Wales in the last week of October 2026. The next Conference Chair  would be Anne Hodgeson.

The programme ended with a Vote of Thanks from outgoing President Ruth.

As the day’s events drew to a close, I was reminded of the last 6 lines of my first time attendee report written in 2014 and  my blog ends with a slight change in name of location from Harrogate to Birmingham.

The Conference ended with the new Board of Directors,

Here’s wishing them the best in their Soroptimist ventures!

The party ended too soon, and it was time to bid adieu

To Birmingham, SIGBI and old friends and new.

We are back to the grindstone with its daily strife

But feel energized , refreshed and ready to TRANSFORM LIVES!