SI Cannock & District held its AGM at The Barns on 15th April. A team of six members had worked together throughout the year as President, the AGM was led by Team President Pam McGauley. Pam reported on behalf of them all, thanking club members for their support and reflecting on the club’s achievements over the year.
During the year club members had continued to support Pathway, the refuge for women victims of Domestic Violence by providing toiletries throughout the year and Christmas gifts; St Giles Hospice by providing cakes on a regular basis – these are offered to visitors at the Hospice; the Soup Kitchen in Mill Street when Cannock Soroptimists provide and prepare a Christmas meal, last year for around 50 people and the Food Bank in Cannock. In addition they have held events to raise funds for international projects such as Birthing in the Gambia, known as the BIG project, raising a total of £596.40; for water projects in Africa – £293.00 and Oxfam’s Motherhood Appeal- £250.00. They raised £137.00 for the International President’s Appeal to provide solar power for cooking and lighting in areas of Asia and Africa so that women and girls do not have to spend most of their day collecting firewood and therefore can spend time on their education. The project also provides women with education on renewable sources of energy and solar cookers and lanterns. The club has also been involved with giving talks to groups on the issue of sex trafficking and with collecting information about women in prison for the Prison Reform Trust.
The Team of Presidents – Pam McGauley, Sue Gay, Lakhwinder Thompson, Ronnie Reynolds, Carole Holdcroft and Eileen Cryer – were thanked by members for their work over the last year, for the fun and fellowship they had engendered. Incoming President Janis Lomas presented them all with flowers.
Photo attached: standing, l tor: Team Presidents of SI Cannock & District 2013 – 14 President Pam McGauley; seated new President Dr Janis Lomas