This was our first region meeting at our new venue YMCA Newark and Sherwood Community and Activity Village. Thank you to the team from SI Nottingham who were our hosts for the day.
The first action at the meeting was to sign the official paperwork for a prospective new club in Northampton.
As we currently do not have a President Elect, a team of 4 will take on the presidential role for 2023-24 from November. This team is Kam Britland, Elaine McDonald, Sue Warriner and Ruth Dodd.
Stephanie McHugh our treasurer is taking on the role of Representative for 63.
At the Region meeting officers answered questions about their reports.
Our first speaker was Lindsay Green, SIGBI Programme Director, who spoke about the SIGBI Strategic plan for 2023-2025 and about Programme Reports on the Hub. She emphasised the importance of reporting our service projects to maintain our consultative status with the United Nations.
Kam then recognised Jasmit Kaur Phull who was Midland East Region President 2019-2020. Jasmit will complete her three-year term of office as National President of British Federation of Women Graduates in July 2023. Jasmit has also just finished her year as Sheriff of Lincoln.
As we were in the midst of Covid restrictions when Jasmit finished her Soroptimist International Midland East presidential year Kam thanked Jasmit for her work during a very difficult time.
We then had a break for lunch.
Our first speaker of the afternoon was Pat Black, SI Advocacy Advisor, speaking about Soroptimist work with the United Nations, specifically the Commission on the Status of Women.
Pat was on vacation and this was our first “hybrid” Zoom meeting facilitated by the “owl” system provided by the YMCA.
Our final speaker was Kathy Warwick, SIGBI Friendship Link Co-ordinator. Kathy spoke about working on Programme Action projects with Link Clubs and providing support.
To conclude the meeting small gifts were given to the speakers.