To mark International Women’s Day, we walked along Llandudno Promenade from the Pier to Venue Cymru, carrying our banners and showing our support for women around the world less fortunate than ourselves. We collected signatures for the Purple Teardrop petition and handed out leaflets and information about our anti-modern day slavery campaign. Members of SI Llandudno were delighted to be joined by members of SI Anglesey, Conwy Councillor Sue Shotter, Welsh Labour candidate for the forthcoming Assembly election Mike Priestley, and the Conservative AM for Aberconwy Janet Finch-Saunders.

President Stephanie was pleased to welcome about 100 fellow Soroptimists and Guests to the Annual Charter Lunch on Sunday 28th February, 2016. The Guests included Councillor Frank Bradfield, Mayor of Llandudno and Mrs Jean Pentecost, Regional President of Soroptimist International Cheshire, North Wales and Wirral. The Guest Speaker was Dr Sonia Khoury, winner of Women on the Move Award 2015, and qualified medical doctor from Syria , now living and working in Llandudno.

At our February Business meeting we had a busy time filling Backpacks for Mary’s Meals. In addition to fundraising for Mary’s Meals , we also support their Backpack Project which helps children in countries like Malawi and Liberia get the best out of school. Very often the children don’t have even basic things like pens and notebooks. We help by filling backpacks with some everyday educational items and clothes. We filled 38 backpacks for children aged between four and 12 years, and we had a large box of leftovers which Mary’s Meals will use to fill more backpacks. Here we are having fun filling the backpacks:  

Miss Eirian Evans will be 100 years old on 13th March. She was a Founder Member of SI Colwyn Bay in 1951. Eirian was Regional President in 1974/75 and a loyal member until SI Colwyn Bay closed in 2012. Eirian was also the first female President of the Cheshire and North Wales Law Society. She is now in a Nursing Home in South Wales, near her remaining family. The photo was taken when she celebrated 50 years as a Soroptimist.

Peter spoke about his work with Handicap International in areas of the world devastated by earthquakes, typhoons and wars. He is a physiotherapist and he has worked with medical teams in many countries including Syria, Iran, Afghanistan, Gaza and Haiti. Peter gave an interesting talk with moving video clips illustrating the help that is given to individual victims. President Stephanie was pleased to be able to present a cheque to Peter with money raised by the club during her presidential year for Handicap International.    

President Stephanie was pleased to welcome Katie Dutta to our first meeting in 2016. Kaue told us about her very inspiring and interesting visit to Latvia. She met Girl Guides in all parts of the country and was able to join in with their activities and make friends. We were able to help Katie raise money for her trip, and we were delighted that she had such a rewarding experience.  

Llandudno Soroptimists invite you to Soroptimists and Supper A brief introduction to Soroptimism  with an opportunity to ask questions,  followed by a buffet supper (Supper optional, cost £14, payable in advance) Thursday 4th February 2016 6.30pm At The Imperial Hotel, Llandudno An informal, social event open to everyone to explain a little about Soroptimists supporting women locally, nationally and internationally. EDUCATE* EMPOWER* ENABLE Please email Sue, our Invitations Secretary  by Thursday January 21st to book. susan585jones@btinternet.com This was a great success. See the photos of our members and visitors enjoying the evening. We look forward to welcoming new members to the  Club.

                              Many organisations, schools and businesses in Llandudno have decorated trees for  display in Holy Trinity Church in the centre of town this Christmas. They all look lovely but particularly the one decorated by our members to raise awareness of Soroptimist International. .Those of us who went to admire the trees were impressed by the variety of colours and decorations.   The blue and gold of the Soroptimist tree really stood out.

One of the speakers at the regional meeting was Jim Coy, Anti-Slavery Co-ordinator for North Wales, who spoke about what’s been achieved with the North Wales Anti-Trafficking Project, which has been supported by the Soroptimists. Here are some of our members taking part in the protest. The banners say “Stop the Trafficking – Refuse Abuse – Say No to Violence!. Helen, Sandra, Jing and Janet helped to raise funds for the Bee Project by running a Blue and Yellow Tombola stall. We were delighted that new SI Llandudno members, Emma and Jing, were attending their first Regional meeting. In the afternoon session, the new Regional officers 2015-2016 were installed, and we are very pleased that SI Llandudno member Barbara is the new Regional Development officer. We wish her well in her new role.