After the election of Club Officers 2015/2016, once again, a Trash ‘n Treasure Auction was conducted by Jean Slater on the members’ demand. Her performance as an auctioneer was, once again, fabulous. Few highlights of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) are as follows:  

UPDATE (15/03/2015) The Quiz Night went very well. SIM members appreciated the attendance of SI Durham’s members. The quiz, consisting of a mixed bag of 40 general knowledge questions, was adroitly prepared by the SIM Secretary, Pam Cooper, and was fun to take. The SIM members generously brought some lip-smacking food, including, hot potatoes, choc-dipped strawberries, quiche, apricot-pie, sandwiches, soft drinks, cheese and biscuits, which everyone enjoyed along with the quiz. The Winning Team members won the prizes of Chocolate Chicken. Many Congratulations 🙂  After quiz, a raffle was drawn and the night ended with a happy note. INVITATION (13/02/2015) SIM invites to join us for a Quiz Night in support of Barnardo’s on Saturday the 14th of March, 2015 between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. at Marton Community Centre, Cypress Road, Marton, Middlesbrough, TS7 8PZ The ticket is of £6. Buffet and raffle will be

SI Middlesbrough held a stall at Middlesbrough Town Hall on the 7th of March 2015 to celebrate International Women’s Day. SIM members had a good time meeting prospective club members and inviting people to SIM events.  

Regional President, Magaret Clark is organising a walk on the 4th of April 2015 in order to raise awareness of the elimination of the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWGs). Please, see the following flier for more information: Coast to Coast Poster Sections of the Coast to Coast Walk Stage Start Finish Mile Club 1 St Bees Ennerdale Bridge 14 Whitehaven 2 Ennerdale Bridge Borrowdale 15 Cockermouth 3 Borrowdale Grasmere 9 Penrith 4 Grasmere Patterdale 8.5 Carlisle 5 Patterdale Shap 15.5 Newcastle 6 Shap Sunbiggin Tarn 11 Tynemouth 7 Sunbiggin Tarn Kirby Stephens 9.5 Morpeth 8 Kirby Stephens Keld 13 Tynedale 9 Keld Reeth 11.5 South Shields 10 Reeth Richmond 10.5 Darlington 11 Richmond Ingleby Cross 22.5 Durham 12 Ingleby Cross Blakey Ridge 21 Sunderland 13 Blakey Ridge Grosmont 13.5 Stockton 14 Grosmont Robin Hood Bay 15.5 Middlesbrough   Detailed routes can be provided on

UPDATE (28/02/2015) The Indian Evening was very well-received and everyone present enjoyed themselves. Pam Cooper presented the beautiful imagery of India in the last hour which was absolutely amazing. Following are the pictures of friends, taken on the evening. SIM thanks all the friends for joining in.   ADVERT (24/01/2015) SIM presents an Indian Evening on Thursday, the 19th of February 2015, at the Acklam Green Centre, Stainsby Road, Middlesbrough, TS5 4JS between 7 and 9 p.m. Indian buffet and tea/coffee will be provided. “Images of India” photographic presentation will follow. Ticket is just of £10. See attached flier for more information. SIM Flier Indian evening  

Pauline Reed, who qualified as social worker in 1978, shared with her fellow SIM members at the January meeting, on 15/01/2015, information about her current work with women in prison who have lost children to Adoption. Pauline firstly placed the context of her work within the history of Adoption policy and practice. In England and Wales Adoption did not become a legal entity until 1926 when the first Adoption Act was passed. From the late 1950s to the early 1970s many babies were placed for adoption, the peak being in 1967 when around 26,000 babies were adopted. This was a time of great social change, when more opportunities became open to women but at the same time it remained extremely shameful for an unmarried woman to give birth to a baby. Thus unmarried mothers became greatly stigmatised by their situation, as did their illegitimate babies,

Banki Moon United Nations (UN) General Secretary has supported the elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWGs) since 2008 and has reiterated his support by advocating wearing orange on the 25th Day of each month to create awareness and support to end the violence. The wearing of orange was initiated by Unite youth and the Regional President, Margaret Clark, is inviting clubs to participate in this project. It has also been suggested a ‘blitz of orange’ between 25 November and 10 December 2014 Human Rights Day with windows, shops, streets, etc. decorated in orange. Paint the town orange!  

Left to Right – Margaret Clark Northern England President Elect, Jan Hemlin UKPAC, and Pat Black Federation Past President.  

SIM presents FREE half day conference, “Tackling Violence against Women, the Way Forward” on the 19th of July 2014 between 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at The Trinity Centre, James Street, North Ormesby, Middlesbrough, TS3 6LD. The speakers include Teesside Police and Crime Commissioner, Barry Coppinger. For bookings, please, use the attached booking form. Thank you. VAWG Booking Form

In February 2014, Pam Cooper and Val Lambert, together with Pam’s husband Geoff, visited SI Pune Metro East (SIPME).   They attended Pune’s Charter celebration, where they enjoyed a delicious buffet and met lots of members. The highlight of the trip was, however, the visit the next day to some village projects supported by Pune Soroptimists. We were taken by car to the village of Tulapur where first we visited the school. The grade 8 children were to have routine blood tests that morning to discover their blood group and test for anaemia. The paediatrician overseeing the work told us that anaemia is very common, owing to the poor diet and perhaps to worm infestation. Nonetheless, the children seemed happy, healthy and alert. They were certainly well-disciplined and polite compared with some of their English counterparts. Boys and girls alike were dressed in clean, smart