We were pleased to welcome our guests to our inaugural event to launch Shepway’s Inspirational Woman of the Year 2018 on International Women’s Day (8th March).
The event was kindly hosted at Holiday Extras in Newingreen where Soroptimist Nicola Boston works, and she welcomed all to the event. President Jan then gave an overview of our organisation Soroptimist International and our mission, vision and aims as well as talking about the work that we have do in the local area, as well as some of our international projects. This gave the gathered audience a good overview of what we are about.
Jan then introduced the criteria for the Shepway’s Inspirational Woman of the Year 2018, and details of the form that needed to be completed for nominations. You can find all of the details here. Entries must be submitted by Sunday 8th April 2018.
Jan then introduced Alison Chambers, who at the end of March takes over as the Chief Executive Officer of the Rainbow Centre in Folkestone. Alison spoke about her varied career,as well as some of her experiences along the way, from working on BBC World Service through several different and often difficult foreign office postings to running the 2016/2017 Winter Shelter in Folkestone. Ali’s talk was interspersed with a series of different photographs highlighting some of the events that had happened during her travels. Ali also spoke about two women that had inspired her, as well as discussing women’s
attitudes in general to taking on different and challenging roles. Men will apply for a job role, if they believe they reach 60% of the criteria whereas women only apply if they can achieve 100%. Ali’s experiences definitely demonstrate that women should have confidence in ourselves, to put ourselves outside of our comfort zone, and do our upmost to achieve and #Press for Progress.
The event then finished with networking and canapes and drinks, and our guest leaving clutching their nomination forms which we hope to receive back soon
