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

 Soroptimists from South Lancashire Region and Cheshire, North Wales & Wirral Region are working in partnership with the International Slavery Museum (ISM), in Liverpool. This collaboration links Soroptimist International’s “Project SIerra: a family and a future” with the museum’s “42: Women of Sierra Leone”, a photographic exhibition by Lee Karen Stow. To mark the 50th anniversary of independence in Sierra Leone, the two regions organised a special day at the ISM. South Lancashire’s President, Jenny Stanistreet, chaired the day’s proceedings. Many Soroptimists from both regions acted as stewards, assisted in directing members of the public to the venue, and generally were available to talk about aspects of Soroptimism. The first speaker was Dr Fred Nye, Secretary of the Waterloo Partnership. He outlined the achievements of this local charity – a collaboration between people in Waterloo and Crosby (near Liverpool) and their namesake community near Freetown.  This

Helen Owen, Assistant Programme Director, was the guest speaker at the South Lancashire Region’s Spring Programme Action meeting. With responsibility for the Education portfolio, she deals with a theme that is central to Soroptimist International’s work. Introduced by Eileen Griffiths, the region’s Programme Action Officer, Helen covered many facets of education in her presentation. Access to education is denied to millions of women and girls through their lack of literacy. Clubs’ help at the local level – listening to children read, for example – can do much to reinforce teaching and ensure a good grounding for later life. In the wider world, Soroptimists’ support for charities such as Plan UK’s “Because I’m a Girl” campaign and Book Aid International contributes towards the aim of ensuring that women and girls enjoy equality and have access to education. Helen also explored the link between food and education. Organisations such

Ken Johnson, Regional Chair of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, spoke at South Lancashire’s winter Programme Action meeting. Opening with a quick-fire quiz he checked members’ basic understanding of MS, and was impressed with the result. He then outlined the condition itself, dispelled a few of the myths that surround it and highlighted some of the ongoing research that the Society funds. He also explained how the MS Society works both locally and nationally. In conclusion he demonstrated – very accurately and to everyone’s great amusement – some of the ‘encounters’ he has had when wielding a collecting tin outside shops. Several members took the opportunity to ask questions generated by their own contact with people who have MS. On behalf of the Region, Eileen Griffiths (Programme Action Chair) then thanked Ken for braving the atrocious weather and addressing the meeting. Multiple Sclerosis affects more women than

Over 1400 women from around the world to the Manchester Central Convention Centre – for the 76th Conference of Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland. Federation President Jackie Mosedale hosted the event: her theme was “Accept the Challenge – Secure the Future”. The two-day Conference attracted several high-profile speakers. Lesley Abdela, the political journalist, gave a call to all women to strive for equality in global decision making, based on the UN Resolution 1325; and Satish Kumar re-energised delegates on the quest for global peace. Other highlights included broadcaster Bill Turnbull on the Bees for Development Trust, which promotes sustainable beekeeping in developing countries and Dr Ian Oliver, a UN consultant on narcotics, who spoke about the global issue of “drug affliction”. Allan Beswick of BBC Radio Manchester interviewed Incoming Federation President Liz Morgan-Lewis on his morning show prior just to Conference. This in

President Sharon Greenhow from North West England and Isle of Man, hosted this year’s Joint Reginal Conference together with our own President Dr Sriya Kulupana and Federation President Jackie Mosedale was a very welcome VIP. The Theme of the Conference which was held at The Daresbury Park Hotel was “Victory over Adversity” and the Conference opened with a Sri Lankan lamp lighting ceremony on the Saturday morning, which was followed by an inspiriational address by Federation President Jackie Mosedale. During the day Judge Bernstein told of her childhood in Vienna prior to 1939 and her subsequent escape to Britain from the Nazi regime. Anushya Kulupana, President Sriya’s daughter, spoke of her work with TARA (Trafficking Awareness Raising Alliance) in Glasgow, follwed by Eleanor Maddocks who went from being a victim of domestic abuse to running a women’s refuge. The final speaker of the day bein Carolyn