A message from President Liz…..
Theme for 2024 – “Climate Change and Its Impact on Women”
My year began in November 2022 and the first thing that I did was to join Midland Chase and Midland East Presidents at the National Memorial Arboretum for Remembrance Day and to lay the Regional Wreath and SIGBI Wreaths.
At the Regional Meeting in December, we highlighted the 16 days of Activism with a talk from Emily Johnson the Fundraising and Communications Manager for Anawim, and a talk from the last-minute substitution, Dishi Atwood with her exciting ideas to attract new members.
The meeting ended with a picture of all attendees joining together with their Orange Clothing for “Orange the World” and a lovely Christmas Lunch.
At our March Regional Meeting, to Celebrate International Women’s Day we had Inspirational speakers Shiela Rollinson talking to us about the beginnings of Women’s Football and Aderonke Apata telling us about her lengthy struggles trying to gain Asylum in this country. Again we followed up with a picture of members dressed in Purple and Pearls and a tasty lunch.
In April the Change of Insignia and Afternoon Tea took place with a talk from Rose Hutchins about Kori and the Orchard Project. We then heard about the Inspiration Programme Action work happening in all of our Regional Clubs. This was followed by an illuminating Quiz about Women’s Rights.
We held the Public Speaking Competition in March which was very well attended with excellent speakers from Regional Schools.
The latest event with the Region was the two-night visit to No.63, Bayswater Road. Fourteen members from Clubs all over the Region converged at the London Hotel on August 15th and stayed for two nights talking, eating, celebrating together, and also going their separate ways to visit attractions, friends, family, and many other destinations over the three days. There is a Report in the latest No.63 News Letter and there will also be one in the next News and Views. It was decided that we all wanted to repeat the visit in 2024, more information will be sent out to everyone when dates have been confirmed.
I have joined the Three Regions Meetings and the Three Regions PicNic at the National Memorial Arboretum, sadly in the pouring rain, and I have visited several Clubs either at their meetings or at social events. Please do ask me to join you at your Clubs, I really enjoy coming to visit you.
It has been very exciting to hear of the new Clubs set up in our Region, SI Leamington and SI Shakespeare. Thank you to everyone who has encouraged these Clubs.
During the year I have been privileged to work with the Regional Committee. We have had some challenges at times but someone would always step up to help resolve the situation. I would like to thank Barbara Bennett who stepped into the post of Regional Secretary without even having to be asked, and without her help to keep me on the procedural straight and narrow, I would have been quite lost. Barbara Meeson will now be taking on the role of Regional Secretary. And Barbara Bennett has more recently taken on the position of Federation Councillor temporarily.
Thank you to Jane Davies who was co-opted temporarily back into the position of Benevolent Officer, we are still looking for a permanent replacement.
Thank you to Linda Cocksedge who again stepped into the position of Regional Treasurer temporarily as soon as she was asked, again we are still looking for a permanent replacement. I thank Andrea Kingston for her work as treasurer and for supporting me through my first two Regional Meetings, I don’t know how I would have remembered everything I was supposed to do without her help. Andrea’s help is now needed by her family so we wish them all the very best until things settle down for them all.
We are in need of a Regional Communications Officer and last but most importantly a President Elect to take over from November 2024. This position could be shared by several members, each one organising one of the Regional Meetings in the year or the other events that take place.
Please step forward to volunteer for these jobs, without these positions filled the Region will not be able to run efficiently for you.
I am looking forward to my year as your President again for 2023-24, my theme will be “Climate Change and the Impact on Women”
Best wishes to you all for the coming year.
President Liz
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