MESSAGE FROM REGIONAL PRESIDENT PAM
Good Morning Sister Soroptimists,
I am starting my message for this edition remembering Elisabeth Elder, a committed and long standing Soroptimist. Sadly Elisabeth died on Thursday 7th April 2022, aged 92 years. Although she held various club positions when a member of S.I. Morpeth some of you will remember her as Regional President and Regional Organisation and Development Officer. I became acquainted with Elisabeth when I joined S.I. Morpeth and discovered she had lived opposite my grandmother but we had other common interests as we had both studied at Northern Counties College in Newcastle and been volunteers at the Morpeth Citizen Advice Bureau. Although we do not know the funeral arrangements at the moment, if anyone would like further details please contact Patricia Gatherum (email address patriciagatherum@yahoo.co.uk or phone No: 01670 517699 ).
News headlines – Taliban U-Turn over Afghan Girls’ Education.
When the Taliban took over Afghanistan again there was concern that girls would not be allowed to continue secondary education. However the Taliban seemed to reassure everyone this would not be the case.
At the end of March 2022, girls across Afghanistan arrived for lessons when secondary schools were due to open for them for the first time since the Taliban seized power. Unfortunately, they were told to go home and informed that schools would remain closed indefinitely. It was reported that the young girls were so disappointed and upset by the fact they couldn’t renew their education. The reasons given for this apparent u-turn were confused and contradictory. They suggest that there are deep rias within sectors of the Taliban about the future direction of rule in Afghanistan. As Soroptimists we view education to be essential for empowering and enabling women and girls to play an important role in their communities. Therefore, hopefully the schools will soon be opened to the young girls to allow them to continue with their education.
A couple of days after writing my last Message for this Newsletter, I attended a talk about Dr Mo Mowlem – another ‘Exceptional Woman’. As a member of the Labour Party since 1969 she was respected for her frankness and became MP for Redcar in 1987. In 1994, she helped to organise Tony Blair’s leadership bid and he made her Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Just before the May 1997 general elections she was diagnosed with a benign brain tumour and had to undergo radiotherapy and steroid treatment. Mo was ‘Brave Mo’ as she didn’t let the treatment affect her work and when Labour won the 1997 elections she was appointed Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, a difficult and dangerous position. However she was remembered for her courage, humanity and public popularity when she won because of the way she handled her ministerial post in Northern Ireland. She was instrumental in bringing the political representatives together which led to the Good Friday Agreement for Ireland being secured on 10th April 1998. In 1999, she was replaced by Peter Mandelson and became responsible for several important issues including drugs policy and parliamentary reform.
Mo became increasingly disenchanted with Blair’s Leadership and was a vocal opponent of the war in Iraq. In September 2000 she announced her intention to retire from Parliament and finally stepped down as an MP at the General Election of June 2001.
For nine years before her death in 2005 she denied having a malignant brain tumour – only her husband and doctor knew about it. A few years ago, a drama televised by Channel 4 called “Mo” focussed on her life and her role played by Julie Walters was well worth watching and would still be of interest today if it is still available.
DATE for your Diaries :
Regional President Pam’s Event is on 25th June at the Auctioneer, Carlisle – the first opportunity to meet face to face since the start of lock down in March 2020. There will be plenty of time to chat with ‘old’ friends, hear from ‘Exceptional Women’ who have set up their own businesses and enjoy a buffet lunch. All clubs and members should receive the details shortly.
Take care and look after yourselves
Wishing you all a very Happy Easter and hoping the war in Ukraine is soon resolved.
Regional President PAM
Editor : Thank you President Pam for reminding us of yet another ‘Remarkable Woman’ in Mo Mowlem – long may the Peace Agreements hold in Ireland. I hope that all club members will look out for the details and invitation to the President’s Event in Carlisle on Saturday 25th June – see you all there !
News Letter
We start this Newsletter’s reports with one from S.I. Penrith and District who organised an Open Meeting about the Carlisle Refuge on Monday 21 March 2022. The meeting was held in Penrith Methodist Church and aimed to provide information about how the Refuge works, who benefits and how people gain access to it.
Mr Keith Scott, together with his wife Jeanette ( who are members of this Church ) have coordinated Refuge contributions for many years. Keith talked about the volunteer work they have been engaged in over the years, collecting donations of goods and money from church members and many other people and then making regular deliveries of items to the Refuge. He told the audience how they have found the work involved very rewarding as they can see how much it is appreciated by those staying at the Refuge. Keith said ‘The Refuge also takes in people referred to them from the Eden District who are homeless, including a number of Domestic Abuse victims.’ The next delivery of donations to the Refuge will be collected between 9.0am and 10.0am on Wednesday 20th April at Penrith Methodist Church. Special items being collected on that day are washing up bowls, liquids, tea towels, mugs, bowls and plates, cutlery, pots, pans and tin openers. Each person moving out of the Refuge into their own accommodation is given these items to start them off. Mr Peter Rhodes, Homeless Accommodation Manager at the Refuge told us that Cumbria County Council provided the two buildings, one for women and children and one for men, but all the council are obliged to fund is a room and a bed which means they are dependant on the generosity of the public to be able to provide everything else that is needed, including bedding, towels, food and clothing. Everyone who has a room also has access to the communal kitchen to cook their own food. The majority of the residents are referred to the Refuge by the Council, Social Services with the Police referring most of the victims of Domestic Abuse. Peter told us “if someone turns up without a referral they would not be turned away as long as the staff were satisfied that their need was genuine.”
Ms Sharon Sanders, the Manager at the Women’s Refuge, gave us lots of information about the type of donations they receive, what items they need and the practical help that is given to residents which assists when they move on into more permanent accommodation. She said “we feel that the practical help in relation to budgeting is particularly helpful as the lack of these skills has often contributed a lot of the residents being homeless in the first place”. Penrith Soroptimist Club has been supporting the Refuge for some time with donations of toiletries, clothing, bedding and other items and recently donated £100.00 which was spent on new towels so residents could have a lovey new fluffy towel of their own.
Pat Newsham, secretary of SI Penrith and District, thanked the speakers for giving these talks and presented a cheque for £200.00 to Peter and Sharon for use as required. ( see photograph above ) Recently a Fashion Show was held by Penrith Club ( see previous report with photos in a recent Newsletter ) and raised funds for charities supporting Domestic Abuse and the Refuge is one of the charities chosen. Pat also thanked everyone for attending, and the Church for their hospitality. The Soroptimists then served tea or coffee with home-made tray bakes and the audience made generous donations which led to a further £146.00 being collected for the Refuge.
Cris Young has sent me a photograph of the “Thank You” certificate which she has received for the donation of £200 which was sent to Alzheimer’s Research UK. This sum was raised by the donations which were sent to her for copies of the booklet “Poems that got us through the Lockdown”. Cris has asked me to thank all SINE members who supported this project.
S.I. Tynemouth, Whitley Bay and District is the first club to send in a report of their Club AGM and change of Club President.
“Our club is celebrating a wonderful year of support for women and girls and a highly successful range of work with our community partners. Our AGM this week was so uplifting as we reflected together on those causes and people who had needed and received our help. Thanks to the imagination, ingenuity and skills of individual members, we have risen to many challenges and demonstrated that the Soroptimist woman is undaunted, resilient and resourceful and better still, produces that team effort so essential to achieve our objectives. Our 75th Anniversary gathering this year was a very happy occasion.
We are grateful to retiring Presidents Anne Gunning and Sue McSharry for their joint leadership and some very happy memories – the challenges overcome, the tireless focus on Soroptimist values and the determination to succeed. Well done ladies ! Well done club members whose skills, fortitude and goodwill has grown our reach as a club and brought about some wonderful results.
Our new Club President, Margaret Parsons ( centre of the photograph below ) is well prepared for her new role and has the experience, skills and tenacity to inspire our members in the year ahead. We look forward to your year of office Margaret – Many Congratulations ! “
Editor :
This photograph above is a wonderful image of vibrant and friendly Soroptimist sisters ! Thank you so much for sending this for the Newsletter. More Annual reports and changes of Club Officers are very welcome for the next Newsletter.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY :
Sunday 1st May – for the next edition of the Regional Newsletter.
Saturday 7th May : Virtual Regional COFFEE GATHERING from 10.30am to about 11.30am on Zoom. Every member is welcome to join in the chat. Please ask Margaret Ayton for the link to be sent to you : magaretayton40@gmail.com
– and of course President Pam’s Regional Event on Saturday 25th June 2022 at the Auc&oneer in Carlisle. Details and the booking form have been circulated to clubs.
This wonderful warm and pleasant weather for the Bank Holiday weekend is very welcome but puts the pressure on the gardeners amongst us ! The greenhouse is bursting with seedlings and the first vegetable plants are out in their newly dug over beds. The pleasure of having pick-your-own food will be much appreciated as we move through the summer and autumn. Being in the peace and quiet of your garden is good therapy for the worries of the world that are all around us – Ukraine – the refugees – and the plight of our own citizens who are facing difficult economic times. Any stories from clubs about Ukraine would be very interesting to share in tis Newsletter and I was very interested in the stories related in the recent S.I. Durham monthly ‘Connect’ club newsletter.
Enjoy the rest of this weekend – and the joy of the Easter celebrations – with or without all those chocolate eggs !
In friendship, your JIPP and Editor
Christine
email: christinemlumsdon@gmail.com