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Have you seen a Soroptimist Orange Cafe?

Have you seen a Soroptimist Orange Cafe?

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  The UNiTE campaign has proclaimed the 25th of each month as “Orange Day”, a day to raise awareness and take action to end violence against women and girls. As a bright and optimistic colour, orange represents a future free from violence against women and girls. Orange Day calls upon activists, to mobilize people and highlight issues relevant to preventing and ending violence against women and girls, not only once a year on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, but every month.  We asked members to wear Orange when they are out and about on the 25th.   And they did!   Have you seen them in a cafe near you? To find out more click on the link here.   

President Susie goes to SIGBI conference, her November newsletter

President Susie goes to SIGBI conference, her November newsletter

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  PRESIDENT’S NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2023 I feel very humbled and privileged to represent S I Yorkshire as President. Thank you to all who attended Conference, even though the logistics of a London Conference were difficult. I really appreciate all your kind words and support and I will endeavour to live up to your expectations. I would like to thank my Planning Team who have been so supportive and I know will help me going forward. I also appreciate the offers of help from previous Regional Presidents which I will definitely take up! The last few days in London have been so memorable. The presentations have been outstanding. Initial feelings of disappointment at the last-minute change of the keynote speaker were dispelled by an inspiring informal chat given by Monty Halls. Stepping into the breach, he gave a humorous, knowledgeable and inspiring talk. Due to his

Welcome from President Susie

Welcome from President Susie

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Thank you for taking the time to view our website. As you are looking, I am sure that you are interested in making a difference. Soroptimist International is a Worldwide Women’s Service Organisation with 66,000 global members who aim to improve the lives of women and girls through giving service locally, nationally and internationally to educate, enable and empower. Soroptimist means “the best of sisters” and to be a Yorkshire Soroptimist also means to be part of an amazing group of passionate, motivated and proactive women who have an important identity. We also have a lot of fun. In July 2023 over 40 members travelled together by coach to the International Convention in Dublin where 1500 Soroptimists gathered from all over the world to be inspired by the presentations and talks and to chat with like minded people from some of the 120 countries with

Could you clean a beach?

Could you clean a beach?

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To mark the the Soroptimist Day of Action for the Environment Yorkshire Soroptimists partnered with World Wildlife Fund volunteers to clean the beach at South Bay, Scarborough. It is estimated that 20,000 tonnes of waste is dumped in the North Sea annually, which is the equivalent weight of 130 blue whales. To find your nearest beach clean and do your bit, see https://ywt.org.uk/our-events/beach-cleans. @UKPACc@YorkshireSIY @YorksWildlife @ana_cowie #SDG14LifeBelowWater Fuelling for action: The things you find on a beach Disappointed Ilkley Soroptimists stuck at Leeds station due to train cancellation (aiming for environmentally friendly travel, ironically)

From Asia to the UN

From Asia to the UN

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SIGBI Director of Programme Action and Yorkshire Soroptimist Lindsay Green chats to Terry King, President of SI Leeds about her travels earlier in the year. Lindsay visited clubs in Asia and traveled on to the UN in New York. Of course you knew what CSW stood for – not all your communications group colleagues did! To find out more  click here

Grandparents: do you worry about drugs? the internet? SIYAMS launch an information leaflet to help

Grandparents: do you worry about drugs? the internet? SIYAMS launch an information leaflet to help

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Grandparents’ Pamphlet SIYAMS have been aware that since lockdown, an increasing number of adolescents have been coerced into inappropriate activities, particularly online, such as sharing unacceptable images, sexting and even County Lines. They are therefore at risk of grooming and exploitation.  Many young people are looked after by grandparents or older carers; after school, in the holidays or perhaps full time. One of our group had been made aware of concern amongst her U3A group, that they felt out of touch with technology, the internet and social media, leaving them powerless to support/protect their younger family members. We realised that a pamphlet, designed specifically for grandparents and carers, could help them to recognise potentially worrying behaviour, give guidance on who to contact with their concerns, and importantly, how to initiate a conversation to help the young people they cared for. The pamphlets SIYAMS have produced

President Jane’s September Newsletter

President Jane’s September Newsletter

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As you might expect, as a Soroptimist August was quiet. Although I did succeed in meeting with staff from The Bridge Hotel to look at the detail of the September RCM.  Linda Davis and I met to shortlist for the Regional Programme Action Awards. Please remember that everyone attending the RCM on Saturday 23rd September will be able to vote for the overall winning project. The flyer and Booking Forms have gone out to clubs. I also met with Susie Westwood to finalise the planning for the New Members’ Event taking place on the afternoon of Saturday 7th October. An invitation has gone out to clubs. Please ensure that any member who joined our region after April 2022 receives a copy asap. When I wrote my last Newsletter, discussion was around the Convention in Dublin and the announcement about the cruise in Alaska for the

President Jane’s July newsletter

President Jane’s July newsletter

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Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results.     I have adopted this quote from the American songwriter Wille Nelson because it seems to me to be a good way to approach each new day I’m given. It also applies aptly to the position we find ourselves in as Soroptimists and theneed we have to both retain and attract members. Let’s give it a go and be positive. We have nothing to loose. June was certainly a positive month for me as your President. Work continues in producing 2 documents to be given to new recruits from Region. Plus another leaflet to be used at events such as the many Orange Cafes that are growing in popularity across Yorkshire. These should be with you all very shortly. Then I joined in the beach clean in Scarborough. Giggles, the gathering of

SI Yorkshire wins photo of the month

SI Yorkshire wins photo of the month

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Were you at our March RCM? wearing odd shoes to highlight persistent gender inequality? If so you, at least your feet!, may appear in Pat Thornes’ lovely collage of photos taken that day which is SIGBI’s photo of the month for May. It was posted on the hub yesterday so should arrive in everyone’s mailbox any day now. Congratulations SI Yorkshire and especially photostar Pat Thornes. Scroll down the front page of our website to find more photos of the odd shoes worn at the RCM.

President Jane’s August newsletter

President Jane’s August newsletter

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  Because I wasn’t in this country for 11 days in July, my report will be somewhat short. I did start on the 1st with an Officers Meeting where I was delighted to include Sam Lawson for the first time since her accident and subsequent surgery. The 6th was my Planning Meeting where it became abundantly clear that my year as Yorkshire President is rapidly coming to its twilight. How is that possible? The Soroptimist International Convention in Dublin then followed a family holiday.   The above shows most of the Yorkshire members arriving at the Gala Dinner. Having now been home almost 24 hours, I have yet to sit quietly and really reflect on the content of the presentations. What I can say is that I was rightfully proud of the two posters designed and displayed by our Region. Both generated interest and many