Region Development Officer Kathryn
Report to Region Meeting February 2019
Over the past few months, since taking on this role, we have been looking to the future and what development tools we can use that will aid clubs in retaining the enthusiasm of members and ways to increase membership. This follows from ‘Growing our brand’.
As you are all aware, our focus is programme, and lots of members state this as the reason for joining in the first instance; then the friendship and fun that endures in being involved in developing our programmes and ourselves.
We need to keep the enthusiasm that first brought us to Soroptimism and ensure that new members don’t lose that enthusiasm too.
There will be some new training tools, that are currently being developed by Federation, released in the summer. We also need to look to what types of training tools would be good for ourselves in the Region, and President Pam is keen to have some online, accessible tools we can develop ourselves. I am aware that not every member is keen on using media or information technology, so we will ensure that there are tools available in all formats.
I also need to learn how to make short videos and upload them. I will be asking our membership and development officers for their input into what we feel we need at our workshops.
One of the training areas we will be looking at rolling out is the ‘Safeguarding’ that Federation need us to carry out.
I have been to two meetings of the proposed new Flintshire Club. They have been meeting for almost 2 years now and are a small enthusiastic group of ladies. They will need to decide over the next few months how to progress or how we can support them in other forms of membership.
Any club that would like me to attend please ask. With plenty of notice I can attend. I work in Manchester and usually until 6pm, so need to plan to leave earlier to attend meetings.
I look forward to working with you all
Kathryn Lewis
Region Development Officer