Dingwall Rotary Feil Maree (Street Fair) is held annually on the first Saturday in September and as we have done for many years we took a stall where we had a raffle and sale of pre-read books and raised £158.30 for our charity of the year which is the Elsie Normington Foundation.

The SIGBI Conference in Harrogate 2014 was a huge success.  With a jam-packed programme and 1400 delegates including 7 from S I Easter Ross. We all arrived (eventually) on Thursday evening, just in time for the Opening Ceremony and Parade of flags.  How wonderful to see so many Soroptimists in one place, with many of our sisters in their National Dress – very colourful. On Friday morning we had a very inspiring talk from our Keynote Speaker Sahar Hashemi. Sahar was one of the founders of Coffee Republic. Saturday started with Key-Note Speaker Professor Susan Vinnicombe CBE,  Director for the International Centre for Women Leaders, followed by Ann Garvie, SI President.  The rest of the Saturday sessions were dedicated to Programme Action, with a very moving talk from Alice Odingo, who told us about her family members who had died in the Ebola epidemic.  A ‘bucket’

SLAVERY – IT’S CLOSER THAN YOU THINK! Anti Slavery Day fell on 18 October and many Soroptimists in the UK and throughout the World chose to highlight this problem.  SI Easter Ross took the opportunity to raise this issue by having a stand in Alness High Street. We may not think that modern day slavery is happening here in the Highlands, but be assured it is.  Many people in Alness visited our stand and took away leaflets and we feel that if just one person has been able to pick up the phone and speak to someone about a possible abuse, then we have helped.  What is Modern ay Slavery? Slavery is not an issue confined to history or an issue that only exists in certain countries – it is something that is still happening today. It is a global problem and the UK is no

Easter Ross Soroptimists held a coffee morning and book sale at President June’s home last Saturday to raise awareness and funds for Book Aid International. In excess of £200 was raised.  In 2013 this inspiring charity sent over 40,000 books to children in places in Africa where books are scarce and Book Aid are hoping that they will be able to increase this number in 2014. (see www.bookaid.org).  We were particularly delighted that one of our founder members, Mrs Iris Fleming, was able to come to the event.  Iris hails from Saltburn near Invergordon and is approaching her 90th birthday later this month – happy birthday Iris, and thank you from all the club for your wise counsel and unstinting support over all these years.  For more information about our club get in touch withdiane.priday@btinternet.com

Easter Ross Soroptimist’s meet Criminal Justice!   Easter Ross Soroptimist’s met for their speaker meeting last Wednesday at the National Hotel in Dingwall after a summer break. Our speaker for the evening was Alison Foggo a local Criminal Defence Solicitor.  Alison gave a fascinating account of her career.  Born in Edinburgh Alison read Law at  Glasgow University.  Her first post was as a trainee lawyer with Middleton Ross and Arnot in Dingwall some 20 plus years ago.  Seven years later Alison was invited to become the first female partner the firm had ever engaged.  In 2001 Alison set up her own practise, Foggo Macinnes, which was the very first all female practise in the North of Scotland at that time.  Alison is an advocate for women being treated fairly, and emphasised that this doesn’t necessarily mean being treated the same.  Sentiments that are certainly part

This summer June Munro visited Soroptimist friend Solveig Lawson in Moss, Norway.  The friendship began some 12 years ago when Solveig was visiting Scotland and developed over the years.  This led to S.I. Easter Ross forming a friendship link with S.I. Oslo-Norstead and a visit by the Oslo club in 2004 to help celebrate the 30th birthday of the Easter Ross club.  During her July visit June met numerous Norwegian Soroptimists including old friends Sheila and Mincke as well as Elinor and Solveig, former Regional Presidents and Solveig’s cousin, also Solveig who had been European Federation Programme Action Advisor.  On the way home an evening spent at the 70th Birthday Dinner of S.I. Ashton-under-Lyne, June’s old club again re-enforced the friendship link there between Ashton-under-Lyne and S.I. Easter Ross.

We are proud to announce that one of our members, Stella Reynolds, was installed as the new Regional President of Scotland North Region at the recent 78th SIGBI Federation Conference in Belfast. A number of members from the Easter Ross Club joined Stella in Belfast for the conference and a good time was had by all. We wish Stella every success.