2026-27
President Denise is continuing as President for our 82nd year.
I am of course now Immediate Past President. However, I have agreed to take on the role of President for another year (2026 – 2027). I would encourage any club member wishing to be a club president in future to consider it. It takes a couple of years to go on the ladder, starting as VP, to build up confidence, if anyone has not done the role before. I am immensely proud to be doing this role for a third full year’s term. Becoming a
Soroptimist in 2009 is one of the best things that I have ever done in my life. I have made many friends for life (including past members). For my charity this year, I would like us to support a couple of dementia charities – Dementia UK (a national charity that trains and provides Admiral Nurses. Admiral Nurses support family carers to carry on their role. A part of their role is supporting carers to understand dementia. Admiral Nurses can make a real difference. The other charity is Alzheimer’s Society. This charity supports people living with all types of dementia, not just Alzheimer type. The charity provides advice and some forms of practical support. Both charities contribute to research about dementia. Supporting dementia charities is very close to my heart. My late mum lived with mixed dementia (Alzheimer’s and Vascular). I have also had wider family members living with this, in both mine, and my husband’s family. As a mental health professional, I have nursed people living with dementia in various settings. As a nurse educator, been involved as an academic in a major European dementia project called Innovate Dementia. Family carers and people living with dementia deserve timely and quality support. There is no cure. But, together we can help to support people living with dementia, in ways, however small. Sadly, our club has been touched by us losing two members who lived with dementia in recent years.
I hope that this year we can have fun and friendship. My first fundraising event will be this week – a coffee morning on Wednesday 29th April at my house. Thank you.