Good Morning Soroptimist Sisters
We have enjoyed a much better week of weather than the previous week when storms Ellen and Francis gave us much heavy rain, strong winds and lower temperatures. I do feel though, that mornings are beginning to feel quite Autumnal and Horse Chestnut trees are most certainly changing colour and dropping their conkers [Good for deterring spiders!]
On Tuesday, I drove to Scarborough to pick up Margaret Wall, who had been holidaying there for a week. The Yorkshire Moors were looking magnificent with the purple of the heather just starting to show – in a couple of weeks it will be a spectacular journey.
This week I have received some further information from Elspeth Robinson of SI Darlington about her charity the Kumi Community Foundation in Uganda, which I am happy to share with you.
Elspeth recommends we visit their website for the latest news of their work: www.kumicommunityfoundation.co.uk
She tells me that at present there are twenty children in the nutrition unit or children’s ward.
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Following on from last week when SI Newcastle delivered 100 hand creams to Care homes and Nursing homes for the use of carers, Cris Young has supplied me with two photographs of them being received.
The SIGBI Website has now posted the first 12 inspirational women #WhoIsShe and the very first lady to be featured is one from our own Region – Anne Todd of SI Penrith. I found it fascinating to read about Anne’s life in Soroptimism and what she did in Club, Region [DU] and Federation. I am sure that Penrith members must be so proud!
A visit to the Centenary pages is worthwhile and I will be excited each month to see our own honoured members as they are featured.
Our IPP. Shirley Hallam, SI Tynemouth, Whitley Bay & District, has some exciting news for me to share with you.
Working in partnership with Northumbria University Social Care Department and their students for over 10 years, Shirley had been invited by a Senior Lecturer to contribute to – “The Routledge Handbook of Service User Involvement in Human Services Research and Education” – a 540 page book published by Routledge. This handbook identifies what is happening in regions of the world to provide different countries and client groups with the opportunity to learn from each other. Shirley was proud to be one of 17 case studies.
Her chapter shared the importance of involving older people in social work education. Her motivation to help came from a desire to give something back and to contribute to bringing positive changes within the profession and the hope that it would improve things for others. Also, that it would ‘Educate, Empower and Enable’ the students to be the best of the best and give true Soroptimist service to others.
Shirley has received her complimentary copy of the book as a contributor.
Here is news of a new booklet compiled by our FCC Margaret Clark and the National Board of Catholic Women – ‘Raising Awareness of Domestic Abuse’. As we are all aware, since the beginning of Lockdown, the number of cases of domestic abuse has increased alarmingly. It was already high but the conditions imposed on some by the pandemic exacerbated the situation. The booklet is recommended by the Bishop of Middlesbrough. Please contact Margaret if you would be interested in seeing it. margaretm.clark123@gmail.com
Your Regional Officers met again this week on Go To meeting and covered much business, including discussing our plans for the Regional Council Meeting and AGM on 26 September. Don’t forget to register to attend with your Club Secretary who will inform our Regional Secretary, Joan.
At the meeting, our PA Chair, Karen Alexander, reported the following:
‘This week I was delighted to learn that there have been 275 entries to the Poems in a Pandemic competition. Congratulations to SI Sunderland member, Angela Richardson, the creator of this successful project which has been supported at a national level. Volunteers from across SIGBI Regions are now being invited to help shortlist the poems.
In our Region, my thanks go to Regional ODO, Jane Katsambis, who has volunteered to do this on our behalf. Ten poems will be selected in each of the 10 categories, with one being highlighted as particularly embodying the emotion [be that hope, isolation, bravery, loss etc.] The poems will be published as an anthology and SIGBI’s role will be acknowledged. The money raised from book sales will be used to fund mental health support for care sector staff across the UK’.
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Special Congratulations to Alwyn Kraus of SI Middlesbrough who has received a card from Federation President Isobel, marking her 50 years’ service to Soroptimism! This is indeed a remarkable achievement, especially as Alwyn is still so active in her club, serving as their Treasurer.
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A reminder that registration is open for Belfast Virtual Conference – 30/31 October 2020. Details of how to sign up were in Friday’s SIGBI Briefing. At present, only 8 members from our Region are registered. Hopefully, there will be more!
Very best wishes to Brian Burnie as, next Saturday, he embarks on the final part of his 7000 mile journey around the country for Daft as a Brush, as previously reported here; from Middlesbrough to the Baltic Gateshead; and to any of our members who join him at any point.
Until next week,
Stay safe, Keep well
In Friendship,
Joyce
PRESIDENT
SINE
