Good Morning Soroptimist Sisters,
Thursday was World Book Day and as an avid reader and former librarian, I was interested and saddened to read the reasons why World Book Day is so important:
- Only 25.8% of children read for pleasure daily and the numbers are in decline
- 383,755 children in the UK don’t own a book of their own
- In 2020 World Book Day gifted a million £1 Book Tokens in the UK and Ireland
- One in seven children said that the book they chose with their World Book Day tokens was the first book they had owned
- 59% of children said during Lockdown that reading made them feel better.
I believe that if children develop the reading habit early, it stays with them all of their lives.
#WhoIsShe? The Region of Northern England is honoured that two of the 12 inspirational Soroptimists featured in March #WhoIsShe? were nominated by SINE Clubs. They are Dr Connie Clarke of SI Stockton-on-Tees Dr. Connie Clarke and Mary Howitt FRGS of SI Sunderland Mary Howitt FRGS
Geneticist Connie Clarke became a Soroptimist in 1980 and remains an Honorary Member of the Stockton Club where she is most fondly remembered by all those with whom she came into contact. When in conversation with a fellow Soroptimist and Connie is mentioned, it is with a feeling of pleasure at the great times we spent with her, in Club, in Committee planning her Conferences, travelling with her to Clubs across the Region or on long
train journeys to Federation Conferences, it was a joy to be in her company. [at Bournemouth Conference 1991]
Jane Leak said: ‘Connie taught me about x and y chromosomes well before DNA had become commonplace and the conference she held on the subject was superb.’ Others remember her laughter and sense of fun and the enjoyment to be had when invited to her home.
She was an amazing hostess. How many of you still have one of Connie’s golden or silver eggs?
In spite of her vast scientific knowledge, she never made one feel inferior, always ready to patiently explain in a way we could understand. Connie was mentor to Professor Sir John Burn, professor of clinical genetics at Newcastle University and he was her guest speaker when she was President of the Club. Many Regional members may remember that he also spoke at a Soroptimist event at the Centre for Life more recently and It was such a joy to see the Professor and Connie reunited.
On Tuesday next at SI Stockton’s Club Meeting, Connie’s son, David, will join the Zoom session to virtually accept the certificate which he intends to have framed to hang in Connie’s room at the Nursing Home. Connie is a remarkable lady and Stockton members are so proud of her and miss her very much.
Mary Howitt was a founder member of SI Sunderland and President in 1944. Her life was dedicated to Education and Social Work. She subsequently founded Soroptimist Clubs in Australia – Manly, Randwick and Bowral. This was a lady who was a Soroptimist in two hemispheres but she was also a Great Aunty to Kath Tuddenham, Past President of SI Sunderland. I asked Kath to provide me with some personal details and these are her words:
My Great Aunt Mary was one of 14 children born to James and Mary Ann Howitt. She and her siblings experienced a very happy childhood and her father [my Great Grandfather] made sure they all received the best education available to them at that time. I had the pleasure of meeting Mary on three occasions, once in 1949 just before she retired as Head Mistress of Grange Park Senior School for Girls in Sunderland, and twice in my teenage years in the 1950’s when she returned from her home in Australia to holiday with family and Soroptimist friends in the UK. She was a kind caring lady and always had education at the forefront of the few conversations I had with her. It was a fascinating journey when I researched her life which took me around the world, via the internet and discovered lots about what she did in her lifetime. Overall there were two main objectives in Mary’s life. One, her great interest in social work and the education of children and secondly her work and dedication to Soroptimism.
Of course, it was because of her Great Aunt Mary that Kath became a Soroptimist, following in her ancestors illustrious footsteps by being Sunderland President in 2018.
Two ladies to be proud of and to celebrate!
Tomorrow, as you will need no reminder, is International Women’s Day and I attach a photograph of Alwyn Kraus of SI Middlesbrough 
who is one of the oldest members of SINE. Alwyn adopts the Choose to Challenge pose for her photograph. Alwyn is in hospital presently and all of our good wishes go to her for her recovery.
S I Cockermouth members at their meeting on Thursday, raised their hands to show that they Choose to Challenge and call out gender bias and also choose to seek out and celebrate women’s achievements.
Finally – I found this somewhere on social media with no attribution –
Welcome to March?
We’ve had a stern word with last March who has assured us this March will be much less – how shall we say it – horrific? So keep the masks on, keep diving into hedges to avoid people, you know the drill and let’s trundle our way towards a lovely summer!
Until next week, Stay Safe and Keep Well
In Friendship,
Joyce
JOINT REGIONAL PRESIDENT
SINE