{"id":5887,"date":"2023-08-28T14:57:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-28T13:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/london-chilterns\/?p=5887"},"modified":"2023-08-28T15:16:47","modified_gmt":"2023-08-28T14:16:47","slug":"new-members","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/london-chilterns\/2023\/08\/28\/new-members\/","title":{"rendered":"New Members Meet Up on Zoom 24 Aug"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>On Thu 24 August SI London Chilterns Region held its first “New Members” meet up on Zoom. There were 18 people on the call – including 6 of the Region’s Officers. Helen Byrne, the Region’s Membership Officer led the meeting. Many more people would have liked to attend so t<\/strong>he session was recorded \u2013 please click here to watch: <\/strong><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=HcxWB-JooQw<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n

Please click on the links below to download the PDF versions of the Power Point presentations – if you would like the Power Point versions please click here to contact us<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The first part of the meeting included a presentation by Helen Byrne SILC Membership Officer and a past-President, and Kate Belinis SILC President-Elect.<\/p>\n

SILC PPT New Members Aug 2023 – Welcome & Region<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The second part of the meeting included a presentation by Rita Beaumont SILC Secretary and Pam Robertson SILC Programme Action Officer – both of them are also past-Presidents of the Region.<\/p>\n

SILC PPT New Members Aug 2023 – SI ,SIGBI , PA ,Getting Involved<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Please scroll down further to view the agenda for the meeting.<\/p>\n

The aim of the “Meet Up” was for new Members of Clubs in the Region to get to know one other and learn more about how to can get more involved as a Soroptimist. The presentations from Helen Byrne, Kate Belinis, Rita Beaumont and Pam Robertson explained how the different layers of Soroptimist International work together to transform the lives of women and girls locally, nationally and internationally and how a new member can help to make more of a difference within their Club and beyond. The importance of SI\u2019s Consultative Status with the United Nation\u2019s Commission on the Status of Women was highlighted, how Clubs and individual Members contribute to maintaining that status and why it makes Soroptimist International different from other women\u2019s organisations. There was an explanation of how Region works and a chance to meet with Members of the Regional Exec as well as the new Members in other Clubs in the London Chilterns Region. On the call were Members from SI Greater London, SI St Albans & District, SI Slough Windsor and Maidenhead and SI Thames Valley. The Exec Officers Helen Byrne, SILC Membership Officer and Jane Slatter, Communications Officer, are Members of SI St Albans & District, Rita Beaumont SILC Secretary is from SI Bedford, Pam Robertson SILC Programme Action Officer and Kate Belinis SILC President-Elect are Members of SI Hertford & District, Jen Simpson, Regional Councillor is a Member of SI High Wycombe & District.<\/p>\n

When everyone was asked why they are Soroptimists the responses were inspiring, so we are sharing some of them here:<\/p>\n

\u201cTo ensure women are empowered.\u201d \u201cHuman Rights.\u201d \u201cI want to marry Soroptimists with my work\u201d. \u201cBecause the climate crisis has a disproportional impact on the lives of women.\u201d \u201cThe alignment of Soroptimist projects with my beliefs and values.\u201d \u201cI am passionate about supporting women and girls.\u201d \u201cI want to be hands on.\u201d \u201cI like that the projects are local, national and international.\u201d \u201cI now have friends around the world.\u201d \u201cThe network is really supportive.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Most people were introduced to Soroptimist International by someone who had inspired them – friends, relatives and colleagues. One Member had stumbled across it on social media and some had searched online for a local women\u2019s group and one had seen the letter about Soroptimists in the Good Housekeeping magazine.<\/p>\n

Everyone said they enjoyed the friendship as well as the opportunity to make a difference. Some realised that although their efforts may be small, collectively all the efforts of Soroptimists together around the world can have a massive impact.<\/p>\n

AGENDA<\/strong><\/p>\n

WELCOME & AIMS Of SESSION \u2013 Helen Byrne, Regional Membership Officer<\/strong><\/p>\n

BEING A SOROPTIMIST, AIMS & VALUES – Helen \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

OUR REGION – SI LONDON CHILTERNS \u2013 Kate Belinis, President Elect<\/strong><\/p>\n

GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER\u00a0 <\/strong>(1 min each) \u2013 facilitated by Helen<\/strong><\/p>\n