South Lancashire’s guest at the winter Programme Action Meeting was Janet Hodgson, Assistant Programme Director for Learning Opportunities.
Janet gave an update on the Belfast Conference resolution on relationships education, now in its second year. The Soroptimists in Southend are leading this project, and offer comprehensive details on further progress. She outlined the Gateshead Conference resolutions, on endometriosis and on modern day slavery, and urged members to take action in support. Members head about Janet’s work as our representative on the working group GAPS (Gender Action for Peace and Security). Finally, Janet explained the implications for SIGBI (Soroptimist International, Great Britain and Ireland) now that our Federation has been granted Category 2 Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
Margaret Molyneux (Regional Programme Action Officer) congratulated SI Leigh and District on being included in Soroptimist International’s Global Impact Report 2012-3. The club’s ‘Just the Job’ project, in which unemployed women are helped to develop the skills and confidence to apply for work, was selected as a Project of Excellence.
Yvonne Gibbon (Project Ambassador) updated members on The BIG (Birthing in the Gambia) Project. Over £77,000 has now been raised for maternal facilities and infant care: our Federation target is £100,000 by next November’s Harrogate Conference.
Carol Cookson (SI Southport) reported on the conference ‘Women: victims, offenders or survivors?’ held by the North West Practitioner Forum. This is the initiative of Greater Manchester Probation Trust and Manchester Metropolitan University to bring together professionals working in criminal justice and related agencies.
In the afternoon Regional President Victoria Smerdon chaired her first Council Meeting. Her theme ‘Mum’s the Word’ has two aspects – our women-centred work and our tendency to keep quiet about Soroptimism. These will feature at the Regional Conference and through the Rose Bowl Challenge. Then there’s another skydive, plus her decision to ‘run the region’ in a Soroptimist t-shirt. Our youngest-ever Regional President (by four months, over Pauline Birkett of SI Bootle, 1971-72) is planning a busy and productive year.
At this pre-Christmas meeting there were several sales opportunities. Hosts SI Bury sold mince pies in aid of The BIG Project. Wendy Ross-Barker (SI Widnes) set up her usual Fairtrade table; bunting and Lancashire roses on SI Crosby’s Baggatelles stall attracted interest. Finally, SI Wigan’s mound of knitted Christmas decorations made a colourful splash.
