Soroptimists in South Lancashire were delighted to welcome a special guest to their autumn meetings.
Sriya Kulupana (Region Programme Action Officer) introduced Lindsay Green, the Programme Director for our Federation (Soroptimist International Great Britain & Ireland – SIGBI). Her role is to guide and pull together all the practical project service work that our members undertake.
At the Programme Action meeting Lindsay reminded members about the critical need to ‘spread the word’ about what we do, by reporting our projects. Soroptimists’ work feeds into the body of evidence that maintains SIGBI’s consultative status at the United Nations. It also supports the prominence at the UN of our ‘parent’ organisation, Soroptimist International.
To put it bluntly: no reports = no support = no UN presence!
It’s essential that Soroptimists report their service projects – large and small, long-term and one-offs. SIGBI’s ‘Hub’ is the reporting platform and the showcase for all our work. And it’s easy to use.
SI Southport’s bra bank (in aid of Against Breast Cancer) is a case in point – reported on The Hub for all to read. Other clubs in the Region now also support the initiative and the bra bank was filled to overflowing at this meeting.
At the afternoon Council meeting Lindsay was equally blunt as she outlined the rationale for the proposed changes within our Federation. The draft is now out for members’ consultation – “true consultation”, Lindsay assured her audience.
With her fellow directors Lindsay is looking forward to working through all the comments, suggestions and criticisms that members send in, as SIGBI plans for the future.