Our speaker in January was Debbie Shaffer, founder of FTWW- Fair Treatment for the Women of Wales. FTWW is a patient-led, voluntary organisation for women and girls living and receiving healthcare in Wales. They help women and girls who have endometriosis, have had recurrent miscarriages, and those going through the menopause. http://www.ftww.co.uk/ At our meeting in February, we collated all the backpacks which members had prepared for Mary’s Meals. There were a total of 50 backpacks which will be collected and taken overseas. https://www.marysmeals.org.uk/ The February Regional meeting was held at The Imperial Hotel in Llandudno. 100 members from the region attended including 24 from SI Llandudno. We raised £97 from a blue and yellow tombola and the funds went towards our Presidents’ three chosen Soroptimist charities. The speaker was Dame Vera Baird, Victims Commissioner. SI Llandudno held a ‘Curry night’ at The Clock House

Madhu held a frugal lunch at her home to remember World Food Day and raise money for Mary’s Meals. Presidents Pat and Stephanie attended the SIGBI Federation Conference in Bournemouth. At our November business meeting we celebrated World Toilet Day with an extra raffle and eating cup cakes themed for the occasion. As usual, several members attended the Remembrance Day memorial service at Holy Trinity Church then walked with the procession and laid a wreath on behalf of the club at the Cenothaph. Our club’s tombola stall at the November Regional Meeting raised £67 for the Diamond Education Grant charity. Our November speaker was Angela Narey, who is the daughter of our member Joanne. Angela is a Barrister with the Welsh Crown Prosecution Service and told us about how she became a Barrister and about her work. Jane hosted a coffee and mince pie morning

Fashion Show- This fundraiser was held at The Imperial Hotel, Llandudno on 17th October. Clothes were from M&Co and there was a jewellery stall from Skylark. Members and partners were our models. The evening raised over £700 for the Presidents’ Soroptimist charities.

Pat Chrimes, from Cheshire Women’s Royal British Legion, came to talk to the club about their work. Pat explained how the organisation has been providing care and support to both the service and ex-service armed forces community. Their support includes specific tailored welfare schemes for those in financial hardship, support for wives, widows and children of men who served in the Great War and supporting families affected by conflict in Northern Ireland, Falkland’s War, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. The Women’s section also supports the Legion’s annual Poppy Appeal in November. Our club sell poppies, knitted by members, to raise funds to donate to this cause. Also in September, we had a talk from Peter Dyer, a local volunteer for Toosl with a Mission (TWAM) who collect unwanted tools, refurbish them, and send them across the world for livelihood creation. They send around 20 containers filled

Club members hosted a picnic party for children visiting from Ukraine with Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline. It was held at West Shore Baptist Church Hall and there were plenty of toys to play with; the children enjoy simple things which are not available at home. They enjoyed the food, especially the cold meats and fruit and found the afternoon relaxing and good fun. We presented the children with knitted hats and scarves which were made by our member, Madhu.               Three members took part in the 10km St David’s Hospice Moonlight Memories Walk on 22nd June 2019. Mary, Janet and Stephanie (above right) raised a total of £200 with sponsorship from club members, family and friends. June’s speaker was James Espley, Waste Manager from Conwy County Council who explained the county’s recycling system. Club members were especially interested to hear

SI Llandudno members Pat and Elaine went to give a Bee Workshop to year 8 pupils at Rydal Penrhos School. The pupils really enjoyed the information and activities, including a demonstration from a bee-keeper.

Our AGM took place on 11th April when Pat Kerfoot (on left in both photos) and Stephanie Edwards (on right in both photos) became joint Presidents. They are seen with outgoing President Celia Blomeley in the photo on the left and with new President Elect Janet Murfin in the photo on the right. All club members wished them a happy and successful year.