Celebrations have taken place on both sides of the Atlantic To honour the memory of Martha Hughes Cannon. Martha Hughes Cannon was the first female senator anywhere in the USA. Martha Hughes Cannon was born in Llandudno to a mormon family who moved to Utah to escape persecution- there she became a prominent doctor and suffragist. Soroptimist International have been involved with both ceremonies, as an International Organisation whose aim is to educate, empower and enable  women, and the Soroptimist Clubs in both countries have been in touch with each other to communicate details about both ceremonies.   In Washington D.C. A statue of Martha Hughes Cannon was unveiled in the National Statuary Hall. There is already a plaque in the centre of Salt Lake City to commemorate her achievements which says: “In memory of Martha Hughes Cannon. Pioneer Doctor. First Woman State Senator in

Region Meeting – Change of Insignia The next Region meeting is at The Queens Hotel Chester on 11th November 2023. Beginning at 9.30am with tea and coffee and an opportunity to look at club stalls. Region President Susan will open the meeting at 10.30am, and will introduce her speaker DC Andrew Kevan, who will talk to us about cyber crime relating to women and girls and how we can stay safe. There will be reports and presentations and lunch will be served at 12.30 – please click to see a delicious festive menu – Menu for The Queen at Chester Hotel Nov 2023 In the afternoon: Looking back An opportunity to listen to some of the highlights of the year and to give a HUGE thank you to our out-going President Susan Haywood for an excellent year at the helm of our Region Looking Forward

Region Meeting and AGM This is at The Imperial Hotel, Llandudno on Saturday 9th September. The day will begin at 9.15 am to set up tables followed at 10am by coffee – All the posters displayed at Soroptimist International Convention in Dublin will be on view. At 10.45am Region President Susan will hope the meeting and introduce our Speaker Rebecca Morgan-Brennan who will speak about “The Little Princess Trust” and “Look Good Feel Better” There will be reports from SI Nantwich and SI Bebington, and President Elect Janet will speak about the Region visit to the Arboretum. Anne MacDonald (SI Chester) and Sarah Froggatt(SI Runcorn/Frodsham) will give a report on the Dublin Convention Please note – Lunch is not provided Region Business Meeting This will begin at 2.20pm followed by the Annual General meeting at 2.45pm where Regional officers will give their reports. The meeting

The new members’ lunch took place at the Faenol Fawr Hotel, Bodelwyddan on the 26th March 2023 in the beautifully oak paneled Tudor Room. It was well attended by 10 new members and their mentors, along with many Region Officers;  31 attended in total.  We had some ‘games’ and some more informative aspects to the afternoon – such as an explanation of how SI is structured, how PA works at all levels and an example of a charity shop pop-up in Holywell. New members were tasked with creating a club project on Bin Twinning and others created a guidance sheet on mentoring new members which will be distributed to Clubs in due course.  The event was greatly successful with a warm atmosphere and gratitude expressed by attendees.  

Barbara Dixon Programme Award Regional President Susan invites all clubs to participate with an entry for the Barbara Dixon Award 2023. It should be a current club project which will demonstrate  the 3 E’s of Education Empowerment and Enabling for women and their communities. The brief is wide to encourage as many clubs as possible to take part and be able to show off the work they do. We  hope that clubs consider an entry and prepare it in good time. Criteria: 1. The project responds to an identified need, local, national or international. 2, There are clear SMART objectives – specific, measurable,achievable, realistic and time related. 3. It demonstrates partnership with other agencies where possible. 4. It demonstrates links to SDGs and 5 P’s. 5. The display will clearly communicate the steps taken to bring the project to fruition. Closing date for entries  is 20

CHAIR OF UKPAC We are very pleased to announce the new Chair of UKPAC (The United Kingdom Programme Action Committee) is Gillie O’Rourke of SI Bebington.  Gillie was formerly the Regional Programme Action Officer. We are very proud of her, and wish her well in her new role Gillie comments on her election to this prestigious position. “I am extremely honoured to have been elected by my peers to the role of Chair of UKPAC.  The role is challenging and wide-ranging covering, as it does, not only working with Regional Programme Action Reps, but also having regular meetings with national partners/organisations as well as the UN and Europe. We are now a completely new team leading United Kingdom Programme Action (starting with our new Programme Director, Lindsey Green). As a new team we are looking at our strategy and extending the work of the current