Saturday 2nd July 2016 (Closing date for applications 15th June) Venue:  The Hilton Hotel, Manchester Airport This event was originally held last October in Nottingham. Due to its success we have arranged for it to be held here in the North West. Please come along and meet, share and learn from each other. The cost is £35 which includes a hot and cold buffet lunch. Car parking is £5 at the hotel. Please see the link for the flyer and registration form below. Development Day Flyer Manchester 2 July 2016: sigbi.org/members/files/Development-Flyer-for-Manchester-July-2016.pdf Development Day Agenda Manchester 2 July 2016: sigbi.org/members/files/DEVELOPMENT-DAY-Agenda-Manchester-2nd-July-2016.pdf Development Day Registration Form PDF Manchester 2 July 2016: sigbi.org/members/files/Leadership-and-Club-Development-Day-Manchester-2-July-2016-Regisration-Form.pdf Development Day online Registration Form Manchester 2 July 2016: https://sigbi.wufoo.eu/forms/leadership-and-club-development-day-manchester/  Judith Grocott (Federation Counsellor)

Radisson Blu Hotel – Liverpool – Saturday 14th May 2016 Attended by 107 delegates including 21 from the North West Region, the theme of the conference was ‘Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much’. [new_royalslider id=”7″] On the evening prior to conference delegates met for a meal in the hotel which afforded opportunities to network and catch up with old friends. Start of Conference on Saturday was opened by President Sandy Taylor who received best wishes from Ann Garvie (Immediate Past President, Soroptimist International) and Margaret Elmsley (Federation President). The first speaker was Mr Nick Beeching from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. His advice on being cautious when travelling with regard to preventative health problems was second to none. His statement of ’Travel broadens the mind and loosens the bowel’ was a warning to us all. Our second speaker

A small but select group of members of the 2011-12 Chain Gang met at The Crofters Hotel in Garstang for their bi-annual get together, their numbers being somewhat diminished due to a clash of events. For as long as anyone can remember, each year’s Club and Region Presidents have formed a gang, continuing to meet after their year of office to renew acquaintances and catch up on news. Each year’s ‘Chain Gang’, the chain bit representing their chain of office from when they were President, is very different, reflecting the personalities of the members. Some chains meet once a year, some twice, and some not at all just when someone thinks to arrange one!  Some meet with partners, some meet for lunch, others for dinner, whatever suits that particular group of people. However they meet, the events are an enjoyable reminder of the fun and

Pendleside Friendship Evening – Monday 14 March 2016 Soroptimists from many local clubs were keen to learn from Jackie Iddon, a well-known local gardener and flower arranger, how best to arrange flowers.  We all agreed she made it look so simple and she even talked about herself and her family whilst she did it.  But as much as we all promised to try, I can’t see many of us attaining her standard. We saw arrangements in pots, arrangements in jugs, all done with a few spring flowers and foliage from her garden. They were delightful and I am sure many of us will try our hand at some of the arrangements. The potato pie followed by the delicious strawberry pavlova kept everyone quiet for a while, but the main excitement of the evening was the raffle for all the arrangements Jackie had made that evening. 

Morecambe and Heysham Friendship Evening – Thursday 28 January 2016 We’re going to make an origami crane said Bonnie, ninety minutes later we had all just managed it!  Regional President Margaret had planned to teach her grandchildren how to make one the day after; somehow I don’t think that will have happened.  That well known phrase ‘easier said than done’ comes to mind and we were definitely ready for the delicious supper provided by Morecambe club members, whilst we all compared our attempts at origami. The money raised from the raffle was donated to WaterAid. An excellent evening with delicious food and excellent company. Judith Grocott  (SI Garstang) [new_royalslider id=”4″]