SI Richmond & Dales held it’s November monthly meeting via Zoom.
Orange for Activism: Members wore orange for a virtual photo opportunity. This was to highlight the SIGBI 16 Days of Activism against Gender based Violence taking place between 25 November and 10 December. The theme for 2020 is “Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!”. We have copies of a poster which will be going up in libraries around the area, and in the Town Hall to raise awareness.
Tree Planting: The trees which we ordered for the SI Centenary tree-planting project have arrived. More than 200 small saplings have been planted out at the Just the Job site. They will being grown on for planting in the new woodland being created in Richmond in 2021 for “Richmond 950”. The club is combining the SI Centenary celebration with the town’s celebrations of 950 years since the founding of the Castle and Town by the Normans. We are also planting fruit trees at the Jonas Centre site in their Memory Garden, and donating a bench with a plaque commemorating our link with them.
Hilary Ibbotson: We have donated £35 to the British Heart Foundation, in memory of our recently deceased member, Hilary Ibbotson. The donation reflects Hilary’s 35 years of service to SI Richmond & Dales. The joint presidents and a few other members were able to attend Hilary’s funeral. As numbers were strictly limited by Covid, other members formed a line outside the church.
Remembrance Day: President Faye laid a wreath on our behalf at the War Memorial for Remembrance Day. Sadly, due to the crisis, there was no commemorative service, march past and wreath laying ceremony this year.
SIGBI Conference: Five members took part in the SIGBI Virtual Belfast Conference this month. Despite some initial technical problems, this went well, with keynote speakers Jane Garvie and Lady Hale particularly impressive. Well done SI Belfast! Our PA lead, Sharon Hanson-Cooper, recommended that we continue the online presence alongside the face-to-face conference in future years. This would enable more members to participate, those who may not be able to travel, or to afford the full conference. A “blended” conference, perhaps?
Club Review: This month our annual Club Review was held, discussing positives and negatives of the last year. Happily, there were more positives than negatives! We concluded that we were doing the best we could in the current circumstances. Menwhile, President Elect Sharon is planning her programme on the basis of a “mixed” environment next year.
Christmas Shoeboxes: We have been invited to donate Christmas Shoeboxes filled with non-perishable “goodies”. This is an Age UK initiative to provide presents for those in need of a treat for the restricted festive season. Donations are being collected by the local Greengrocer “Neeps & Tatties”.