South Lancashire’s Soroptimists travelled to Glagow for a double celebration at the 81st Soroptimist International Great Britain & Ireland (SIGBI) Conference. Not only did they ‘wave in’ their new Regional President, Sandy Taylor (SI Crosby) with red roses – but they welcomed Margaret Emsley (SI Ashton under Lyne) as the Federation President with a similar flourish.
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Over 1,200 members and guests from 26 countries across the Federation came together for the ‘Delivering the Difference’ Conference at the Clyde Auditorium (SECC).
Keynote speakers included Dame Stella Rimington (author and former Director General of MI5), Jo Fairley (co-founder of Green & Black’s organic chocolate), Sarah Montague (radio and TV journalist), Andrew Bevan (International Justice Mission UK) and Olivia Giles (founder of the Scottish charity 500 Miles).
A highlight of the conference was the visit of Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal, who spoke about the work of Save the Children.
A full day was devoted to Programme Action, showcasing clubs’ projects that help improve the lives of women and girls locally, nationally and internationally. Delegates also voted on the SIGBI project which will last for three years, starting March 2016. South Lancashire’s SI Manchester was on the shortlist. However, the winner was the Meru Women’s Garden (Kenya) project, proposed by SI Canterbury.
[new_royalslider id=”9″] South Lancashire’s Soroptimists staffed the Federation’s sales stall throughout the conference, dealing with t-shirts, badges and other publicity items. (The slogan ‘Ask Me Why I’m A Soroptimist’ was used by Victoria Smerdon, Past President of SI South Lancashire, when she was ‘running the region’.) “We couldn’t have managed without everyone’s help,” said Margaret Davies, the Region’s Federation Councillor, who co-ordinated the stall.
Finally, Soroptimists from all over the region enjoyed a post-conference party, to celebrate South Lancashire’s ‘double act’. Ann Garvie, Immediate Past International President of Soroptimist International, was a welcome guest.