March has been a busy month! It was very appropriate that my first Charter Event should be my own Club’s 90th Celebration. At the Inaugural Dinner in 1934 members from Bradford, Halifax, Harrogate, Leeds and Sheffield had been present. It was fitting that these Clubs were in attendance again at the recent celebrations in addition to several other clubs from around the Region. SIGBI President Ruth Healey was also able to be there.
On the evening of International Women’s Day, I had the privilege of attending Harrogate and District’s Young Woman and Woman in the Community Awards. The nominees were truly inspirational. Presentations from Ruth Healey and Ruth Smith (High Sheriff in Nomination North Yorkshire) were followed by a stirring performance from the Stray Notes Choir. During the daytime I had joined SI Dewsbury and District walking from Dewsbury Railway station to the Town Hall for a photoshoot.
I am pleased that so many of you were able to attend the Regional Council Meeting in Barnsley. It was uplifting to hear about the amazing events that Clubs participated in or organised for International Women’s Day. The Programme Action Presentations from Ilkley, Keighley and Leeds highlighted the breadth and depth of the Programme work undertaken by Soroptimists in Yorkshire. Our Speaker Linda Harris OBE is the Chief Executive and CMO at Spectrum Community Health CIC which provides quality healthcare for people in vulnerable circumstances. Linda talked eloquently about the women who have inspired her throughout her career in addition to providing an insight into her daily professional life.
The following Monday I had a lovely evening with SI Garforth Elmet at their quiz evening and handbag sale. There were also lots of tasty cakes to eat. I wasn’t on the winning team but we didn’t disgrace ourselves! I came home with a couple of preloved bags, one of which I have used several times already.
Proceeds from the evening went to the charity ‘Parents Against Child Exploitation’ PACE.
It was a privilege to be one of the three judges for SI Ilkley and Ilkley Fairtrade Group’s ‘Inspiring Woman’ Award event. This year they were celebrating 80 years of the Club and 30 years of the Fairtrade Mark. It was humbling to read about the volunteering undertaken by the young women.
My busy month continued with SI Sheffield’s Charter Lunch which was also attended by the Lord Mayor and Mayoress and the Master and Mistress Cutler. A delightful time was had by all and the top table compared their respective ‘bling’.
Pat Kilbane kindly accompanied me to Northallerton to have a meeting with five of their club members. I can now sadly inform the Region that following a vote at their AGM, SI Northallerton and District has closed. Myself, the Regional Officers and SIGBI have been aware of this impending closure for several months but I am only now able to share the information with the Region after the closure has been officially confirmed.
I would like to thank our Regional Safeguarding Officer Chris Clark and Pat Kilbane for facilitating a Zoom Safeguarding training session. It was informative and interesting. Many clubs were represented at the meeting and so I am sure that attendees will have fed the content back you but if you have not received the information, you can access it on The Hub. (Use your personal log in to The Hub – Library -Governance -Safeguarding -lots of useful documents!)
Our Regional Membership Officers Avis Ball and Judith Parsons have received feedback form some clubs following their excellent membership session at the last RCM. If you have not yet discussed things within your own club, please make time at your next meeting to complete the questionnaire and return it to myself or the membership officers.
We look forward to President Ruth’s visit in April. Her itinerary will be emailed out soon for all the Region to see. If she is not directly visiting your club, you would be welcome to attend one of the other events.
I would like to wish you all a happy and peaceful Easter and look forward to seeing many of you during the next month
In Friendship
President Susie
susiewestwoodsorops@outlook.com