Regional Membership Offices Report February 2021
At the beginning of December, Jenny and I sent Christmas Greetings to all the club membership officers in our region and also asked if they would like to share any special seasonal activities that members were involved in.
The feedback from the clubs that responded is a great testimony to the way that members have been able to stay positive and active in spite of the huge challenges posed by COVID -19. Here is a brief summary of some of the many ways that club members have kept in touch with each other, while at the same time promoting Soroptimist International and donating gifts and money in the run up to Christmas. Using technology, old and new and being involved in project work have been keys to members feeling connected to each other even though they have not been able to meet physically as clubs. Clubs including SI Chester use Zoom and held their annual Frugal Lunch virtually and a member from SI Heswall is providing online Yoga sessions for members. Stella McKay Moffat from SI Wallasey has composed and circulated club newsletters by email and snail mail to ensure that everyone is kept up to date with club donations and Regional and Federation information.
The range of activities is really impressive. Several clubs have donated money that members would have spent on socializing to organizations including MyCWA, the Salvation Army and Food Banks. SI Nantwich put their anti-slavery poster in their local link Xmas edition in the hope that people will think when buying presents. SI Bebington supported RASA ( a charity that is involved with the victims of Rape and Sexual Abuse) particularly in December by donating gifts for the Christmas Treat Box and SI Northwich donated over 60 items of toiletries and chocolates to Cotswold House, a local charity that provides accommodation and training for homeless women. SI Heswall donated ‘goody bags’ to Wirral Young Carers as did SI Rhyl to some of the nursing staff at Glan Clwyd Hospital . Members from SI Heswall and SI Northwich used reverse advent calenders to donate several parcels of food to local food banks
SI South Caernarfonshire had planned to participate in the 25k London Bridges Walk in September. When this was cancelled, four members walked from Botwnog to Criccieth over two days, a distance of 27.5k with 20 bridges raising £1759 for the British Heart Foundation.
Members have used imagination and a great ‘can do’ spirit to work together , to support each other and achieve some great outcomes in term of money and gifts donated to a range of organizations.
Jenny and I wish you all the very best for 2021.
Penny Clarke/Jenny Wilson
Regional Membership Officers
| Club | Number of members |
| Anglesey | 30 |
| Bangor and District | 32 |
| Bebington | 17 |
| Birkenhead | 19 |
| Chester | 15 |
| Denbigh, Ruthin, and District | 11 |
| Ellesmere Port and District | 17 |
| Heswall and District | 36 |
| Llandudno and District | 35 |
| Nantwich and District | 28 |
| Northwich % District | 31 |
| Rhyl and District | 24 |
| Runcorn, Frodsham and District | 20 |
| South Caernarvonshire | 31 |
| Wallasey | 13 |
| Associated Members | 0 |
| 365 |