Soroptimists from all over Lancashire – and beyond – recently converged on Blackpool for their 74th Joint Regional Conference. Delegates came from the two neighbouring regions – South Lancashire and North West England & the Isle of Man.
The conference took as its theme “Equality – are we there yet?” – an examination of SI’s ‘grass-roots’ principle. Speakers looked at equality from a variety of angles, challenging delegates to abandon preconceptions and think again about what exactly “equality” means to them.
Professor Pat Thane, Emeritus Professor of the University of London gave the keynote address. Other distinguished speakers included Marie Staunton, Chief Executive of the charity Plan UK, solicitor Ellie Foster, and university lecturers Dr Steven Dempster (Lancaster) and Jo Grady (Leicester). Susan Biggs (Chair, UKPAC) outlined plans for the forthcoming long-term project on education and leadership, and involved delegates in workshops. Federation President, Liz Morgan-Lewis, was principal guest. Jo Darbyshire, a member of SI Blackpool & District, and a former Federation President, chaired the two-day conference.
An innovation was a short set of simple exercises. Causing much amusement, these ensured that delegates were ready and alert for the post-lunch conference session. Even delegates staffing clubs’ sales’ stalls entered into the spirit of the session!
On Friday, an entertaining after-dinner session from Sarah Rhodes of “Get Ahead Hats” gave everyone – including the Federation President – the chance to indulge in elegant (and expensive) millinery. On Saturday, the Mayor and Mayoress of Blackpool, Councillor Don Clapham and Mrs Gill Clapham, attended the conference’s black-and-white-themed gala dinner, and enjoyed a performance by Blackpool’s all-women close-harmony singing group “Soundwaves”.