Cannock Soroptimists have been lucky to be led by their President Trish Smith for two years. She took office at the AGM in April 2019 – but by April 2020 the pandemic had altered everything for us all. President Trish set up the first Zoom meeting for the club, it happened to be the AGM and, as the situation was so unsure, all Officers agreed to stay in post for a further year. In her address in April 2020, President Trish said: “Let’s hope that it won’t be long before we are able to resume our work and meetings.” Little did we know that 12 months later we would still be finding it necessary to hold our meetings by zoom – though outdoor meetings in small groups are now possible.
In her report at the 2021 AGM, President Trish was able to remind members of the many successes of the year: the successful zoom business and speaker meetings when we have often been joined by Soroptimists from our Friendship Link Clubs in Australia, USA, Wales and India as well as having the opportunity to ‘attend’ some of their meetings; the fabulous work we have been able to do in the community, collecting, making and donating items to hospitals, care homes, families in need, the local Food bank, schools: in fact, the club has probably been more active than in a ‘normal’ year! In addition, despite her worry that we may not be able to keep our club healthy throughout such a long period of restrictions, the club has in fact gained two new members with one other preparing to join. Trish said that she was proud of every member as “we have all done what we can and supported each other when help was needed”.
At a socially distanced meeting in her garden, keeping to the rule of six, President Trish Smith was presented with flowers from Cannock Soroptimists as a small thank you from all club members for her leadership, her enthusiasm and the many ways in which she worked to keep members in touch with each other and active within the local community.
Photos attached: 1.Trish Smith, President of SI Cannock & District with flowers from club members