President Kath’s Report 
I cannot believe that my Presidency is coming to a close, it doesn’t seem like 12 months have passed.
As you will see from the AGM Minutes I faced the year with a mixture of excitement and trepidation but I am sure my sister’s presentation to you helped tremendously as you could understand my difficulties. I have done my very best to represent our Club at all times at the various events held throughout my year and attending Charter Dinners of other clubs in the region – Northampton, Chesterfield, Buxton and Sheffield. I intend to attend other clubs Charter Dinners during the current year.
Our business and supper meetings have all been held at The Rushley which, apart from a few hiccups, has worked well.
The year started off with the Friendship evening at Ravenshead Village Hall when International President, Maureen Macguire, was able to tell us all about her special projects. The event was such a success, the food terrific, that the hall has been booked for an event in Julia’s year.
I am pleased to say that the relationship between the Women’s Refuge and Programme Action team has improved tremendously and we have been able to supply paint and gardening supplies to them, together with gifts at Christmas. This was one of my nominated Charities and the £750 raised, together with monies remaining from Julie’s year, means £1,000 to help improve the lives of women and girls.
Nicky has continued the link with the Homeless shelter, Framework and co-ordinated the rotas for the Forget Me Not cafe in Kirkby and the Mansfield Dementia group which has been added during my year. I appreciate that Soroptimists’ mission is for women and girls but the two groups do support older women either with dementia or as a carer.
I am continuing to make contact with Joe Muir at the Homeless shelter, my other named charity, to arrange a meeting and discuss what project can be carried out with their share of the funding of £750.
We have continued the links with Portland College and Fountaindale School when a group of us attended both venues, with Immediate Past President Julie, to place plaques against the trees planted during Soroptimist Centennial Year. Two young women from Portland College applied for my book awards but neither application met the criteria for environmental studies. However, I recognised that these are disadvantaged young people due to their disabilities and am awarding WH Smith gift
cards for £25 to each of them. I have contacted Angela at Portland to provide some dates when a small group of us can attend to award these to the students.
Two students from West Notts College, Vision, applied and have been successful for the book awards. I am in contact with the College to obtain details of preferred suppliers for the books in order that gift cards can be obtained. Arrangements will be made for a small party to attend to present the awards.
I have tried to attend as many Region meetings as possible during my year, in my role of President and also to support Regional President Kam. I did not attend the conference in Belfast as I did not feel comfortable with travelling and the risk to me of covid. I am attending the International Convention, Dublin, in July of this year.
The events held during my year included:
• afternoon tea at Lynn Dale’s house, Lynn and John had certainly pulled out all the stops to have the place ready after works had been completed at the property. The weather was very kind to us and we had an opportunity to sit out in the garden.
• the 65th Charter Dinner at The Hostess Restaurant when my niece Cora entertained us.
• The winter fete was very enjoyable but I don’t think anyone will mention “books” again as we were inundated.
• At the Christmas coffee morning at Nicky’s we wore orange to highlight violence against women. On the 25th day of each month we wear our badges and this often provokes questions from people, at the Sheffield Charter Dinner, held on 25th March I wore an orange top and both Carol and I wore our badges.
• Quiz, whilst this was a fun event, unfortunately due to escalating costs at the Oakham suite, it was not successful as a fund raiser.
• The Cantonese on International Women’s day where some of us wore odd shoes, boots in my case, highlighting equality and inequalities against women. We were fortunate that the event was not held on Friday as we were all snowed in.
• The last event of the year was the Fashion show all of my guests thoroughly enjoyed it and some who were unable to attend asked if we would be holding another. I have promised to let those interested know of any events during President Julie’s year.
As a club we have continued to support SI worldwide environmental sustainability goals, Fair trade, Emmanuel House, Prostitute outreach project , Purple Community fund, Water aid, toilet twinning,ChildLine, Camfed, Ukraine – the raffle on the night of the Friendship event went for this purpose, supporting SI court observations in victims abuse. Easy funding purchasing ,remembrance Sunday parade acknowledging past and present HM armed forces heroes/heroines.
It was intended to produce an SI Mansfield and District calendar during my year with Kam, however due to her taking over the role solely as Regional President this had to be abandoned early on. In its place Gillian and Kam have produced our History book, part 2, for Mansfield and District, what a fantastic achievement, well done.
Our public presence, in the Journal and social media, have flourished over the past year which highlight who we are and what we do.
Lessons learned? Numerous for me, when I put myself forward again as President, I will but not yet, I will prepare much earlier and try and get a plan B in place.
The highlights – the love and support from every member of this fantastic club. Many members have been faced with new challenges worsening health and/or caring responsibilities but have done their very best to support me by attending and assisting at the various events, a heartfelt thanks goes out to you. As I mentioned in my initial speech to you last year “behind every president is a fantastic supportive membership made up of strong women” that sentiment is certainly true. Thank you to you all.
I now have the pleasure to hand over to Julia, our incoming President, and I am sure that we all offer her support and and assistance during her year.