Eleven Soroptimists from SI St Albans and District thoroughly enjoyed attending the wonderful Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland Federation Conference “Climate For Change” at the Friends Meeting House in London on 3rd and 4th Nov 2023. There were about 500 Soroptimists there from all over the Federation and it was inspiring to all be together. On reflection all of our Members who attended agreed it had been a great experience. The feeling that we are part of a much bigger organisation with all the Members from around the world is wonderful– particularly when the flags are carried into the auditorium. There were great speakers – including Monty Halls – a marine biologist, feminist, climate activist and father of 2 beautiful young daughters. There was praise for the Membership session with 5 new Clubs. Speakers Louisa Rolfe Assistant Commissioner of the Met Police and Hasina Safi from Afghanistan were particularly memorable and remind us why what we do is so important. The Programme Action Projects that were presented blew us all away! Everyone who was involved with Jane’s Soroptimist guests Mary Muia from Nairobi and Uma Badal from Kathmandu were delighted with the opportunity to meet and talk to Soroptimists with such different lives to our own.
You can read about the two days and see lots of smiling happy faces in photos on the Conference website https://sigbi.org/london2023/friday-3-november-2023-members-blogs/ and https://sigbi.org/london2023/saturday-4-november-2023-members-blogs/
There are also a few of our own photos here to give you a taste of the event.
Uma Badal, President of SI Kathmandu Club in Nepal and Mary Muia, from SI Nairobi Central and the SI Representative at the Unite Nations in Nairobi, were staying with Jane Slatter for the Conference. It was great that so many of our Members were able to get to know them and show them the sights of St Albans. Please see the pics here of their visit.
Next year is SIGBI’s 90th Anniversary! The Conference will be 1-3 November, 2024 in the Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh – so put it in your diaries now!