Guest speaker at SI South Lancashire’s autumn Council meeting was Di Hill, a Director without Portfolio for Soroptimist International, Great Britain & Ireland (SIGBI).
Di outlined SIGBI’s ‘Vision 2021’ and the accompanying growth plan leading up to the organisation’s centenary. Long-term, the goal of Soroptimist International is ‘to be the leading organisation for today’s women’.
Strong marketing and communications, focussed far-reaching project work, effective external partnership working, and efficient internal management, are the means by which SIGBI hopes to achieve its goal. Active members – existing and potential – are central to all the changes in prospect.
Di’s presentation provoked a number of questions and contributions – a healthy response to a comprehensive overview.
At the morning’s Programme Action (PA) meeting, three clubs reported on recent projects: SI Crosby (STEM events for local girls), SI Stockport (refurbished police video unit interview room) and SI Wigan (annual young achievers’ award).
Yvonne Gibbon (Regional PA Officer) announced the result of the Region’s annual PA trophy for service work.
SI Stockport’s project, in partnership with the local police and encompassing the theme of ‘violence against women’, was the winner. Liz McConnell accepted the crystal globe on behalf of her club.
Another presentation marked the close of a marathon! Dorothy Lee-Ogden (SI Southport) has been Secretary to a succession of Regional PA Officers for 17 years. Yvonne Gibbon marked the occasion with flowers, and expressed grateful thanks on behalf of everyone.
The photos taken at the autumn meetings have, as the backdrop, the new regional banner. Margaret Molyneux (Region President) announced that the banner is available for loan to South Lancashire’s clubs, to add impact to their events.