“Our Vision for the Future”
Once again, I am honoured to be standing here tonight as your newly elected President.
Before I mention my programme for the year, I must say what a wonderful time we all had at our 80th Charter Year Celebration at the Grand on 23rd March and wish to place on record our thanks and appreciation to our Immediate Past President Megan and her planning team for making it the success that it was.
My theme for this year “Our Vision for the Future” not only embraces some of my chosen speakers, but it also reflects another very important area. Our new members are the future of our club. New members – new ideas to move us forward, and I will certainly be looking to them, a number who have recently joined us, for them to fully participate and to put their stamp on the future of our club.
During the forthcoming year, I wish the club to support me with two charities. The Three Tumours and Daft as a Brush Bluebell Bus Coastal Path Walk. It is also my wish for all monies raised, apart from one fund raising event (which I will explain about later) to be placed in the President’s Charity Fund and be divided equally between the two charities at the end of my year of office.
Speakers during the year will include representatives from both charities. Graydon Downs and his wife Claire will speak to us about the Three Tumours Charity and Brian and Cheryl Burnie. If possible, Brian will interrupt his marathon walk around the British Isles to speak about the charity Daft as a Brush Bluebell Bus Coastal Path Walk.
On separate occasions, there are four ladies included in my programme. All who have achieved so much during their career path, and continue to do so. Irene Lucas MBE, the recently retired Chief Executive of Sunderland City Council, who is now more involved with her husband’s travel business, Hays Travel Agency. Police and Crime Commissioner Dame Vera Baird, who I am sure we all know and have met on several occasions, her now being a member of S.I. Newcastle. Our own member, Dr. Kim Gilligan who wishes to speak to us about Children’s Books and the gender issues and last but not least, a past Mayor of Sunderland City Council who will speak about her year in office as Mayor of the City.
I feel we should have a little entertainment during the year so, on a lighter note, I have included two supper evenings where I have invited guest speakers. One from the Sunderland Antiquarian Society namely Norman Kirtlan and Sharon Vincent who will take us through the Hollywood Musicals.
I would like to draw your attention to my programme for the year and the charity fund raising event to be held sometime during the month of March 2020 and will be held at the salerooms of Anderson Garland Auctioneers, Westerhope, Newcastle. Prior to the Spring Antiques and Country Sale and public viewing dates, they hold a charity fund raising evening at their saleroom 6pm-8pm. They have kindly offered the March 2020 event to Soroptimist International of Sunderland – the President’s Charity – The Daft as a Brush Bluebell Bus Coastal Path Walk. This is an evening event where they invite their regular buyers and friends to a special preview of the sale. They also provide wine and canapes during the course of the evening. All members are invited to this charity fund-raising event where they can enjoy viewing antique furniture, paintings, jewellery and ceramics and of course the hospitality.
A Business Meeting preceded by an Executive Meeting every other month until the end of this year is included in my programme. Following the supper evening on 8th May I have placed in the diary an Executive Committee Meeting on 15th May followed by a Business Meeting on 22nd May when the programme for the year can be discussed, agreed to and I hope be ready to roll.
The mystique surrounding the preparation of Programme Focus Forms seem to be an issue and needs to be sorted by the Programme Action Officer.
So far as service work is concerned, as well as the valued assistance given by Marge Wilkinson to Streetcare, and Joan Down’s support for Cancer Research I wish to encourage our continued support through Pat Howe, to the Sunderland Youth Council, whose project this year is mental health which as you know complements our Federation President’s theme “Think on It”. Our focus on reducing the use of plastics should continue and our continued contribution of sanitary products where necessary. I propose that a box be put in place at each meeting where members can make their donation if they so wish. Partnership with St. Anthony’s School should be pursued and the interest received from the Head of Sunderland University Law School who has indicated that her female students are interested in joining/setting up a Soroptimist Club in the Law School should also be pursued during the forthcoming year.
To commemorate our Club’s 80 years of service and the work of the Shipyard Girls during the Second World War, Sue Brown and Amanda Revell Walton have tirelessly pursued our desire to have a permanent commemoration to be placed on the Keel Line. This should be completed sometime during my year of office. Really looking forward to that momentous event.
A long way off is Christmas, and our continued contribution of Christmas Gifts to “Pauline’s People” should continue. In addition, I would like to ask members to start now and each prepare a shoe box with gifts for a girl, between the ages of 11 years and 14 years who has suffered the effects of domestic violence in the home. You could prepare more than one if you wish. My wish is for these shoe boxes of gifts to be donated to IMPACT.
I hope that we are well represented at our Regional President’s Summer Barbecue to be held at the George Washington Hotel on Thursday, 27th June 2019.
As I mentioned at the March Business Meeting, two Summer outings are being arranged by Marge, one to Historic Chester and Cheshire Oaks on 13th July and another to the BBC Countryfile – Live at Blenheim Palace on 2nd August. Bookings have already been made so please make up your mind if you wish to go to one or both of these outings then please let Marge know ASAP.
Finally, I would like to say thank you to our Immediate Past President Megan, who has included me in all of her arrangements throughout her year of office. The year has had its ups and downs Megan, but we always got there in the end. It has been a very steep learning curve for me. Your cruise ship awaits you Megan. Enjoy a well-earned break.
To conclude with a relevant quote for the year – I took this from one of our Past President’s quotes – I am sure she will recognise it – but it is relevant with what I hope to achieve this year.
“If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you always got”
If we are to change then all members need to fully participate, make suggestions with constructive criticism, but always observing the Objectives and Principles of Soroptimism. Most of all, be always there to help and support each other.
Let us work together and have a good year.
Kathleen Tuddenham
President, SI Sunderland