The AGM is an occasion to reflect on the year past and plan for the forthcoming year.  An interesting part of the 2019 AGM were the reports from Club officers which revealed the wide range of activities the Club undertook during the past 12 months: support for the Anti- Slavery Campaign, Christmas gift boxes, support for International Women’s Day, lunch at the Clink, trip to see the Book of Mormon – to name but a few! Members also noted the revised and improved social media coverage for our club! However, the highlight of the evening was the Change of Insignia when President Nancy passed the Presidential ‘reins’ to incoming President Helen for the 2019/2020 year.   Helen addressed the meeting: “First of all I would like to thank Nancy for a very good year. the AGM reports were great and showed how much we’d achieved

At the first dinner meeting of her Presidential year Helen welcomed 5 prospective new members who joined us for the evening. Following the usual tasty dinner we heard from Helen Green and Ceri Garrett from Dementia UK. Mental Health is the core theme of Presidents Helen’s year in office and our speakers focussed on the care they provide for people suffering from a range of dementia related illnesses. Admiral Nurses provide the specialist dementia support that families need. When things get challenging or difficult, the nurses work alongside people with dementia, and their families: giving them one-to-one support, expert guidance and practical solutions. The unique dementia expertise and experience an Admiral Nurse brings is a lifeline–it helps families to live more positively with dementia in the present, and to face the challenges of tomorrow with more confidence and less fear. Most Admiral Nurses work in the community

International Women’s Day public lecture – 7 March 2019  Staffordshire University #Balance for Better – Walking the Tightrope   by Dr Laura Walton-Williams. A report from SI Nantwich members who went along to the lecture: Following on from her #ItsNotOK public lecture in 2018 the lecture aimed to ‘challenge bias and promote gender equality’ ‘Awareness of sexual abuse and sexual violence has increased significantly over the past few year but a report published in Dec 2018 indicates that public perceptions of the victims and perpetrators of these type of offences continue to be skewed by bias and gender stereotyping’ The lecture explored ‘how misconceptions relating to gender impact on the reporting and prosecution of sexual offences’ It was a very thought provoking talk covering a range of issues including how the use of language impacts on gender equality. Laura also managed to get the audience engaged through

Once again our meeting started with a delicious dinner for members and guests at the Hunters Lodge Hotel. It was followed by a fascinating and inspiring talk from Kay Carson from the Nantwich Job Club. She talked engagingly about how the Club works with those struggling with life, debts and getting into work.  She explained how her faith and strong sense of social injustice had led her to work with the group ‘Christians against Poverty’ who support and sponsor the Job Clubs. She encouraged listeners to think strategically: what ideas could they contribute to help organisations and businesses aid those who struggle to engage with society in the ‘usual’ way? Thanks to Kay for a most thought- provoking presentation.

Members braved a cold and snowy January evening to enjoy dinner followed by a most interesting talk from Tracey and Judith from the YMCA in Crewe about their parenting programmes. SI Nantwich made a donation to the Parenting Groups at Christmas which enabled the organisers to provide a number of jolly seasonal parties for their groups. SI Nantwich also donated some attractive hardback notebooks to help parents struggling to cope and organise their lives. Tracey told us about one mum who had found the notebook so useful it went everywhere with her! Members also examined the book that the YMCA use as the basis of their help sessions. Those of us with children might have found this useful ourselves!

January 2019 saw a very successful Bridge Drive held in aid of President Nancy’s 2 charities: Water Aid and the Food Bank (Trussell Trust). Held at Crewe Alex’s hospitality suite, the competitors enjoyed an afternoon of Bridge and a tea, served by members of the Club. Over £800 was raised for the Charities from entry fees and a raffle.    

“WE ARE WOMEN AGAINST PIT CLOSURES AND WE’RE OCCUPYING THIS PIT” So starts the description from the production of this play we saw at The New Vic on Wednesday. Fun and friendship is one of our themes for this year, and this evening was a real opportunity to bring this to life. Originally a radio dramatization, it is based on the true story of four extraordinary ordinary women who protested against pit closures in the ‘90s. Here is what else the New Vic says: “Anne, Elaine, Dot and Lesley. Four ordinary women, facing the closure of their community. It’s 1993 and the Parkside Colliery pit may be winding down, but they’re not giving up. Their bras stuffed with contraband, they take a tour of the pit and refuse to come up. Settling into the depths of the mine, making tissue roses and walking imaginary dogs,

Nine members from Soroptimist International Nantwich & District UK travelled to Szeged in Hungary to visit their Friendship link club Soroptimist International Szeged for their Jubilee event and celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Szeged club. They had a wonderful time, not only meeting up with Szeged members but with Soroptimists from around the world, in particular with members from our other European friendship link club – Bern Arcadia, Switzerland   Wonderful entertainment had been arranged and our members were treated to a Concert on the Friday night with young musicians sponsored by the Szeged club. The evening finished with a delicious and very authentic Hungarian meal at Szeged member Krisztina Boda’s home. On Saturday they attended the Jubilee Event and enjoyed a fabulous Gala dinner, with entertainment by a troupe of award-winning Hungarian Folk Dancers. The event took place in the beautiful Szeged Town