Good Morning Sister Soroptimists
It is hard to believe that this is my 10th weekly message to you all and that tomorrow will be June when so many events had been planned and are now cancelled.
I hope that you are all keeping safe and well, and with Lockdown lifting ever so slightly in the coming days – some of you may be able to have socially distanced contact with your families. That will no doubt be a rare treat – I think that ‘hungry for hugs’ is being suffered by many. I am aware that this easing does not apply to our members who are ‘shielded’ and who will need to stay isolated for a while longer. It must be endlessly frustrating for you and you are in my thoughts.
To any of our teacher colleagues or if you have teachers in your family and they will be returning to the classroom next week, I hope they will be safe.
I asked you last week what you are missing most during Lockdown and here is a short list from your replies.
Holidays; Family; Friends; Freedom; Mass on Sunday morning; Yoga; Coffee, cake and food with friends; and if you live alone, somebody from the male of the species to do jobs that you are unable to do!
This week I am happy to bring you a message from our Regional Website Administrator, Bethan, who is doing a remarkable job of developing SINE’s Website. Please read the message attached SINE Website Development and also have a look at the website and see the new features which she has added. Bethan is offering to share her expertise with Clubs and her message explains how she would be able to help if you so wish. She also encourages you to share your stories and photographs on the site.
If you have looked at the SINE website, you may have noticed the new graphic depicting the Region devised by Bethan and based on the Insignia on the Regional Presidential chain. I hope you like it as much as I do?
CLUB NEWS
SI MIDDLESBROUGH’s
youngest member – Jodie Foster – has completed her final year at Sunderland University where she has been studying Youth and Community Studies. Some of you may remember Jodie from the 2017 Federation Conference in Cardiff, when she was part of a panel discussion representing Barnardo’s.
We wish Jodie well for the future.
Kathy Warrick, also of SI MIDDLESBROUGH, reminded me about FAIR TRADE, whom they have supported for many years, and who, in common with many other charities, are experiencing hard times at present. They have given me a link to their website, which contains an order form for Fair Trade products. I am sure that you are aware of how excellent their products are, especially their chocolate! We all deserve a treat these days!
In Support of Fairtrade during COVID-19 | News | Blog | Events | SI Middlesbrough
SI COCKERMOUTH supports Calderwood House for the Homeless during Lockdown by writing to the 10 residents, all of whom are struggling, and the 3 staff who are working long hours away from their families. Members were asked if hard copies could be avoided so an electronic newsletter is completed from messages, photos, snippets and words which are contributed by members see link: .Calderwood Letter – SI Cockermouth May 2020
SI STOCKTON-ON-TEES continue their support for Little Sprouts Health and Well Being who distribute food parcels to deprived areas of the town. A donation of £200 from members enabled fresh ingredients to be bought to make meals for those in Hostel accommodation and families in need. A thank you was posted on Facebook from Little Sprouts ‘We are thrilled for your amazing support. This will go a long way in helping those in need at this time of crisis in the Stockton Borough area’.
Please keep sending me news of your activities; it is always good to hear from you.
This week I am recommending an excellent poem which probably reflects our mood.
It is called.
WHEN THIS IS OVER’ by Laura Kelly Fanucci.
“When this is over,
may we never again
take for granted
A handshake with a stranger
Full shelves at the store
Conversations with neighbors
A crowded theater
Friday night out
The taste of communion
A routine checkup
The school rush each morning
Coffee with a friend
The stadium roaring
Each deep breath
A boring Tuesday
Life itself.
When this ends
may we find
that we have become
more like the people
we wanted to be
we were called to be
we hoped to be
and may we stay
that way — better
for each other
because of the worst.”
And my quote for the week comes from Tolkien’s Fellowship of the Ring:
‘I wish it need not have happened in my time’ said Frodo.
‘So do I’ said Gandalf, ‘and so do all who lived to see such times. But that is not for them to decide.
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us’
Until next week, Stay Safe, keep well
In Friendship,
Joyce
PRESIDENT
SINE