Regional Newsletter June · vision of the Paris Agreement on climate change is to curb global...

Regional Newsletter June 2017

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I am preparing this newsletter between 2 soroptimist trips. The first is to Versailles to our link club who are having their 80th anniversary. The second is a trip to Denmark. 4 clubs have joined together to produce a weekend of activities to show off their soroptimist activities. So I will miss the regional meeting.

Welcome to the spring issue of our newsletter. It has been a busy and enjoyable few months. The Jacque Emery competition has been a great success; we had entries from 20 schools, 310 individual essays, a tremendous response. Thank you for your part in that. The winner of winners will be presented with her prize at the Regional meeting on 10 June. Other recent news that has caught my attention is the fact that British girls from low income families in the UK are missing school during their period as they cannot afford sanitary protection. The workshop - 'Growing our Brand' held on 20 May was excellent. I am looking forward to seeing some ideas and plans in place and welcoming new members in due course. Please book onto the next workshop on 2 September. I have enjoyed visiting your clubs and being a part of the fantastic events which you have been arranging. Please

remember to get the events 'out there' in the media at every opportunity, we need a constant feed of good news and fun to raise our profile. I am looking forward to seeing you at your club meetings, regional meetings and on 24 June at the Regional lunch for fun and friendship and fundraising for Meru. Since our last Region Meeting in March,

we have been very proactive across the

Region both in terms of visiting Clubs as

well as Susie attending the Federation

Board Meeting (FMB) held in Cheadle at

the end of April.

For Susie it was her first attendance at

the FMB with her now fully appreciating

the role the FCC Councillors play within

the SIGBI hierarchy. Susie came away

feeling that each and every member

within the Region would be able to carry

out a role on the Board so, yes, no one

should be phased by holding such a

position! The number of FCCs attending

was very low – just six which was very

disappointing. One FCC was from

Ireland, Susie from the SE with the

remaining FCCs being very local to

Cheadle. They are considering whether

they use the facility of SKYPE to ensure a

greater participation.

We attended the AGM of SI Gravesend

on the 24th

April, which passed the

Resolution to close the Club - we do

hope that it will, at some future date, be

resurrected. We would like to take this

opportunity of thanking all their

members, both past and present, for

their tremendous hard work and

dedication to SI Gravesend. We know

that some members will be joining other

Clubs as well as others becoming

Associate Members enabling them to

attend Region, Conference etc.

We also met with members of Thanet

and members of their mother club, SI

Canterbury, which proved to be a very

fruitful meeting. Provisional dates for

the chartering of Thanet were discussed

which is certainly very encouraging.

SI Sevenoaks, SI Croydon and SI

Tunbridge Wells have also been visited –

our thanks go to all your members for

their hospitality and friendship.

We very much look forward to visiting

other Clubs within the Region during the

next few months – we will be writing to

all of you to arrange a date.

In the meantime please accept our

apologies for being unable to attend the

Region Meeting on the 10th

June. Angela

is in the Azores, on holiday and Susie has

been invited to attend the Rehearsal for

the Trooping of the Colour in Whitehall.

We look forward to seeing many of you

at the Region Lunch on the 24th

June in

Tenterden.

1. Elimination of Sexual Violence in

Conflict; At the United Nations’

General Assembly in 2015, all 193

members, unanimously declared 19

June as the International Day for the

Elimination of Sexual Violence in

Conflict. The day is now being

observed annually – and aims to raise

awareness of the need to end

conflict-related sexual violence and

urge the international community to

stand in solidarity with the survivors

of sexual violence around the world.

2. World Environment Day: The

Environment isn't asking us to

conserve her for her, but, for our

future generations. Careful

management of this essential global

resource is a key feature of a

sustainable future.

"Connecting People to Nature", the

theme for World Environment Day

2017 (5 June), implores us to get

outdoors and into nature, to

Report from

President Carol

Report from Angela

and Susie Federation

Councillors

Report from Hilary

Regional Programme

Action Officer

I am also

attending the

European

conference in

Florence in July

with my friend

Dianne. from

Colchester.


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appreciate its beauty and its

importance, and to take forward the

call to protect the Earth that we

share. This year’s theme invites us to

think about how we are part of nature

and how intimately we depend on it.

It challenges us to find fun and

exciting ways to experience and

cherish this vital relationship. The

vision of the Paris Agreement on

climate change is to curb global

warming. This cannot be achieved by

national governments alone, but

requires a “climate action agenda”,

bringing in local governments,

NGOs, businesses and individuals.

Education is the most powerful tool

we have for solving environmental

problems. We must empower

children with information, I am

hoping to see some environmental

projects on the database.

3.Information sent to Club PA

Officers recently includes::

a/ Writing letters to BMA and Health

Care Professionals to use the Nordic

Model- decriminalising prostitution

(but not clients or pimps). NOTE:

BMA Junior Doctors Conference

voted for a motion (J1126 64) calling

on the BMA to adopt a policy

position favouring the full

decriminalisation of the sex trade,

including pimps and brothel keepers,

in line with the law in New Zealand.

b/Prison Reform Trust and Howard

League are recommending a 5 point

prison reform plan which includes

more Womens' Centres to avoid

unecessary imprisonment.

c/ The increasing global use of

suicide bombing and its causes

d/UNA - questions for election

candidates on keeping Britain safe.

e/banning cluster bomb use –

International Network on Explosive

Weapons

f/Handicap International – A

Summer Walk and video on helping

amputees

g/Human Rights Check Project

h/Modern Slavery – abolition

I hope all members have been able to

discuss these following their Club

PA Officer input.

4. Information: New appointments at

UKPAC, Possible hosting UKPAC

Study Day 2018, being involved in

an Anti-Trafficking survey (Maureen

McGuire SI Northern Ireland)

Tricia Stewart, Miss October, endeared

herself to her audience at Beckenham

Club with her highly personal

recollections of the sad events which

brought the Calendar Girls together, the

resourcefulness with which they realised

their ideas and the endless laughter

which must have left them all exhausted.

And the work continues, raising money

for vital research and also changing the

perception of middle aged women –

daring them to take a risk, be proud and

have a laugh.

Tricia was speaker at a lunch at West

Kent Golf Club which raised over £800

for RUSH project in Kenya, with the aim

of building a toilet block with running

water from rainwater harvesting, to

encourage teenage girls to stay at school

and to achieve their potential.

Beckenham came in blue in March when we celebrated World Water Day, raising funds for flushing loos for RUSH project

Club President, Yvonne, presented a

cheque for £500 to Vicky Adley,

Fundraising and Development Officer of

East Kent Hospitals Charity at our March

meeting.

The cheque was in aid of their Dementia

Appeal which will support patients with

dementia when they are admitted to

hospital.

The appeal aims to raise £500,000 to

spend across the five hospitals of East

Kent. It aims to fund multiple projects to

make the time spent in hospital by

patients with dementia more successful

and a much more enjoyable experience.

SI Canterbury raised the funds at a very

successful Well-Being Day held at Kent

and Canterbury hospital in March and

members were delighted to support such

a worthwhile appeal.

Beckenham Club

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SI Canterbury new member, Mary

Adams, was welcomed to the Club by

President Carol Townsend and Secretary

Carol Reed.

Michelle Owens, Women's Right's

Leader, Amnesty International,

Canterbury was the guest speaker at our

May Club meeting. SI Canterbury and

Amnesty Canterbury have formed a

partnership to help protect the rights of

women and girls.

Michelle explained that the Canterbury

group are part of the organisation

Amnesty International UK, standing up

for human rights across the world –

wherever justice, freedom, fairness and

truth are denied.

This year the local group is focusing on

the Philippines and what they are doing

to help protect and defend Human

Rights.

They also sponsor a perpetual candle for

Amnesty International at Canterbury

Cathedral.

Baskets for Women's Refuge:

SI Canterbury Club members enjoyed

lovely weather on the day they

worked at the Women's Refuge

planting up hanging baskets. They

were joined by mothers and their

children. The garden table and

benches were smartened up, too.

Many thanks to everyone who

donated plants.

Croydon Soroptimists raise £1800 for

Women's Environmental Network

The Croydon and District club of

Soroptimist International – one of the

oldest clubs in the worldwide

movement – has presented a cheque

for £1,800 to the Women’s

Environmental Network. The money

will help to support WEN’s goals to

inspire women locally to make

environmentally informed choices.

SI Croydon and District President

Grace Onions handed over the

cheque to Co-Directors Kate Metcalf

and Julia Minnear and Community

Outreach Officer Glenda Trew at the

club’s business meeting on May 11.

Thanking the club for its donation,

Kate Metcalf said they were “bowled

over” to receive the cheque which

was more than they had expected.

“You don’t know how much this

means to us at a time when it is a

very difficult for charities to raise

funds,” she said, promising to put the

money towards the charity’s aim of

empowering women to become

agents of change in their families,

networks and society, and to

participate equally in an

environmentally sustainable future.

Before presenting the cheque, Grace

Onions commented that the

Soroptimists’ shared the ethos of the

Women’s Environmental Network,

particularly its work on improving the

environment and highlighting the

presence of toxins in make-up and

other products used predominantly by

women in large quantities.

“We are delighted to present this

cheque as the Women’s

Environmental Network does not

receive any Government funding,”

she said, adding that the Soroptimists

had also had great fun raising the

money.

During the same week, the Croydon

and District Club also raised £200 at

a cake morning to help pay for a day

out for minors, who look after other

family members. The outing for young

carers and their families is organized

by Croydon Soroptimist Hazel

Foulger.

In April, the club achieved its 90th

anniversary, a milestone that will be

marked with a series of celebratory

events in September. During this

historic year, its chosen local charity

for 2017-18 will be Croydon Churches

Floating Shelters, a charity which

brings together churches in Croydon

to provide a bed and hot meal for

homeless people in the borough.

Croydon Club


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x 3 lynne

The Eastbourne club have made links with

Eastbourne Food Bank. This link started when

members went on a walk round the Bluebell

Trail and the Food Bank were serving

afternoon tea. The club have become a

friend and they will continue to support

through the year with service and fundraising.

Members of SI Eastbourne and

District recently visited the Houses of

Parliament and enjoyed a very

interesting guided tour around the

House of Commons and House of

Lords.

Members in Christchurch Gardens, Westminster admiring the bronze Suffragette Memorial commemorating those who fought for women's suffrage in the United Kingdom. The memorial features the badges of the Women's Social and Political

Union and the Women's Freedom League and is in the shape of a scroll with the following inscription: "This tribute is erected by the Suffragette Fellowship to commemorate the courage and perseverance of all those men and women who in the long struggle for votes for women selflessly braved derision, opposition and ostracism, many enduring physical violence and

suffering."

SI Folkestone was on one of the clubs

that participated in the SIGBI Growth

Plan pilot and using ideas and

suggestions from this, enabled us to

grow the club by 4 new members in the

last year. To continue with this theme,

as well as members being tasked with

talking about Soroptimists at every

opportunity, we decided to run a series

of events for Membership Month. Two

of our newer members also spoke about

Soroptimists to give a fresh view at the

“Older Women Rock” opening night,

which we have been involved in.

This took the form of two Open Events

for potential new members to come

along and find out with Soroptimists,

with no obligation to join at The Clifton

Hotel which is our current meeting place.

These were drop-in events where ladies

could drop in for an informal coffee and

chat to find out more about us, as well as

to increase the town’s awareness of the

club. We ran one event on a Saturday

morning and one on a weekday evening

which we hope gave people a wider

opportunity to attend

To increase the informality of the event,

and to try attract people’s attention, we

also advertised the opportunity to come

along and make/sign a blanket square

for the Stop the Traffik Global Blanket

project that we are currently working on.

This worked well as it meant that club

members were working on this as people

came in and helped engage them in to

the club and its ethos.

To advertise our events, we produced an

eye-catching poster which we distributed

to around 40 local venues that we had

previously displayed posters. We ran a

Facebook and Twitter campaign

simultaneously which reached an

audience of 5k women in Folkestone and

the surrounding areas, using the same-

themed poster image, photos of

members explaining “#WhySoroptimist”,

as well as photos of blanket squares. We

also used Facebook to contact a number

of other pages, for example the

Folkestone Women’s Forum, Folkestone

Events, and some of the local pages. We

found the Global Blanket on Facebook

and engaged people. We also used the

local paper, and have engaged with the

local radio station to have a feature in

June. Some of the early reponders were

invited to our AGM which was a social

event as well as the Change of Insignia

from which we had a positive response.

From the first event we have 3 potential

new members who are due to attend our

June meeting, the next event is

scheduled for the end of the month so

we will watch this space. We need to

focus on Membership every month and

Folkestone Club

Eastbourne Club


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not just in May, as well as retention and

development and growth of all members

old and new. It is only by working in this

way that clubs will stay live and current,

and we will continue to grow as an

organisation.

Soroptimists raise £1,400 from ‘A Night

at the opera' On Thursday 27th April

2017 guests of Lewes & District

Soroptimists were treated to a magical

evening of beautiful arias during ‘A Night

at the Opera’. Rosalind Lloyd-Bostock,

Olivia Sjöberg, Fabian Langgfuth and

Mirjam Mesak, all graduates of the

Guildhall School of Music, offered their

wonderful voices free to help raise

money for Bloom School in Nepal and

local projects supported by the

Soroptimists.

The singers were accompanied by the

brilliant pianist Michael Sikich. A

selection of pieces from favourite operas

including Bizet’s Carmen, Humperdinck’s

Hansel and Gretel, Puccini’s Le Villi,

Dvořak’s Liebeslieder and Mozart’s Don

Giovanni were sung in the atmospheric

surroundings and perfect acoustics of St

Michael’s Church, Lewes. An auction

held in the interval, which included

tickets kindly donated by Glyndebourne

for the final rehearsal of La Traviata,

brought the overall total raised to a

magnificent £1,400.

Vera Gajic, the Soroptimist’s Immediate

Past President, said “The money raised

will make a big difference to the charities

that the Soroptimists support. We were

stunned by the generosity of the

audience and we would like to say a big

‘thank you’ to the performers who made

it all possible.

Anne Hudson's visit to Buckingham

Palace

Although still recovering from a

major operation, Anne Hudson was

able to attend the Buckingham

Palace Garden Party on May 16th

with much help from local

Soroptimists. Angela Edwards went

to Piltdown and did Anne and

Andrew’s hair, Denise Staplehurst

delivered a wheelchair from St

John’s Ambulance, Sue Nichols

provided enormous support during

Anne’s spell in hospital and also

loaned a handbag, large enough for

medical accessories, for the big

occasion. Anne and Andrew had

been invited to the Garden Party

because of their support, over many

years, for the Pestalozzi

International Village Trust.

Andrew wishes to thank all

Soroptimists for their help, cards,

and good wishes, particularly those

who have visited Anne in the

Nuffield Hospital and later the

Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards

Heath, where Anne was admitted on

22 May.

The SE Region ran the first ever Jacque

Emery writing competition. It has been

run this year in honour of Past Regional

President Jacque Emery. Jacque sadly

died in 2015 at the age of 65 of cancer.

Jacque was a Senior Examiner at LAMDA

(London Academy of Music and Dramatic

Art) and was passionate about effective

communication. The writing competition

was open to year 6 girls and boys. They

were asked to answer the question 'Are

men and women equal'. Carol Infanti,

current President of the South East

Region and one of the judges said ' I have

enjoyed reading the essays. It has been a

pleasure and privilege running this

competition'.

This competition will be run every 2

years to encourage and inspire young

people to take an interest in writing and

communication. Clubs ran their own

heats, followed by a winner of winners

event.

Regional President Carol writes: As this

was the first year of running the

competition I was delighted that 8 clubs

were able to encourage schools in

their area to get involved; in total that

was 20 schools and 310 individual

essays, a tremendous response.

All clubs completed their own

judging and submitted their winners

to me by 24 April.

The judging panel for the Winner of

Winners comprised myself and the

Regional Competition

Lewes Club


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following people; Lily Faulkner, a 6th

form student at Oakwood Park

Grammar school, Maidstone. Olivia

Roe a new member from SI

Folkestone and trainer of teachers

Jan Dolye, Chair of Governors of a

Primary school. Jane Webb,

President Elect.

We all read and individually scored

the essays before meeting together on

8 May to discuss and agree the final

scores.

I really enjoyed reading the entries,

they were very stimulating and

encouraging. Some of the essays

were based on personal experience

while others had done some research.

I do hope that some of these girls and

boys do go on to become leaders of

the future.

The winner is Agnes from SI

Sevenoaks. She will received a £50

WH Smith voucher and the school

will receive £150. Second place goes

to Loui from SI Lewes. He will

receive a £40 WH Smith voucher.

The judging panel also wanted to

recognise and commend 2 other

essays as they were also of a high

standard. Commended goes to Maisie

from SI Canterbury and to Jake from

SI Folkestone. They will each receive

a voucher for £20.

The Winner of Winners, Agnes and a

parent have been invited to the

Regional meeting on 10 June where

we will present the prize.

I will also be writing to the Principal

of LAMDA where Jacque was a

Senior Examiner. I am sure Jackie

would have enjoyed reading the

essays. It has been a pleasure and

privilege running this competition.

SI Canterbury club member, Jane Webb,

with tomato plants sold to members and

friends raised £70 for the Meru funds.

New Zealand is an exceptional country offering beautiful scenery, hospitable people and of course extra special Soroptimists! All the families we met went that extra mile to make us welcome and to share their pride in their nation and their towns. The Christchurch and Kaikoura earthquakes seemed to us to have left scars on the land and the people. Christchurch is a beautiful city despite the earthquake damage....and it was good to see the renovation in progress. At the start of our visit we were hosted in North Canterbury close to the "Garden City" of Christchurch. The club organised a BBQ meal as our first meeting, a visit to the amazing Antartic Experience (patting husky dogs, watching penguins and a storm room with temperatures at -30). Then members took us to a re-wilding project at a new environmental reserve, a visit to an estuary to see the birds (Spoonbills, Ibis, cormorants and many others). After we were guided round the established Travis Wetland Reserve, which had been reclaimed as a native habitat. It quickly became apparent to us that environmental matters are New Zealand passions. In the two hundred years of settlement sheep farming, increasing dairy and deer production have brought extensive land clearances. It was good to see Soroptimists were actively supporting the restoration of the native species and habitats..SI members were always quick to point out that they have the earliest international equality legislation recognising Maori food and land rights.

We also visited the Botanical Gardens and the flower themed "Wearable Art collection". We flew to Invercargill , at the other end of South Island on the way looking down on the highest summit of Mount Cook surrounded by other snow called rugged peaks. We visited Bluff - the most southerly point of South Island. We travelled through green farmland, past clear blue lakes with a background of high cloud topped mountains. Staying in Gore SI members took us to see a jurassic fossil tree fern forest uncovered by the sea. We travelled to Queenstown, a popular town on the shores of Lake Wakatipue. After a walk around the attractive shoreline park we collected our hire car and drove to Arrowtown , a historic gold mining settlement. Its local history was admirably displayed in the local museum. Then we started towards the rain forests of the west coast; climbing up to the Haast pass on a well maintained but narrow road with precipitous drops to the ravine floor as it twisted and turned through magnificent scenery. Finally reaching Hokatika famous for greenstone jewellery. More commonly known as Jade it is a gift Maoris believe cements friendship and should never be given away. After another delightful club pot-luck meal we were ready for our drive up the rest of the spectacular coast towards Nelson. One fascinating stop took us to the pancake rocks - limestone layers formed millions of years ago and now washed by another sea into blow holes and gulleys. The drive is certainly a world class excursion with the breaking waves of the Southern Ocean, blue skies, and forest covered mountains pushing the road to the sea's edge In Nelson we were greeted by a very active SI Waimea club pot luck get together, these meals are certainly a great New Zealand way of meeting guests! We were then invited for a drive around the hills above. On a narrow track scarcely wider than our

Meru Garden Project

Report from Hilary for

Grant of Friendship visit

to New Zealand


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four wheel drive truck, with precipitous slopes on either side, our host mentioned she was a New Zealand champion 4X4 driver and a champion triathlete! The all New Zealand SI conference began that evening with registration and a friendly get together. It was a lovely occasion to catch up with our wonderful hosts and the SI friends we had met on our "Gift of Friendship" odyssey round South Island. Next day I was privileged to be asked to carry the Union Jack in the opening flag ceremony - interestingly each club attending had their own banners too, impressing me with the connectedness of all the clubs at the conference. The speakers were inspiring, especially the International President Yvonne Simpson and SW Pacific President , Theresa Lyford .

The last morning of the conference covered business matters. One of the most passionate issues being the adoption of Maori names for their regions. Finally the last speaker represented the White Ribbon motorcyclists who campaign against domestic violence - the major cause of murders in New Zealand. The closing flag ceremony left just enough time for last au revoirs. Back on the road we were driven up to the airport by a Christchurch club member. We passed through even more spectacular mountainous scenery and gorges with braided rivers winding below -views which will remain with us; pausing only to marvel at a brand new waterfall created by the earthquake we arrived at the airport for our flight away. Our memories of New Zealand are of great friendship and kindness. Our SI hosts and guides made this "Gift of Friendship" so special. Almost too many to name but we will keep in touch! I presented the East Grinstead UK club background and present programme action to each of our hosting clubs. The discussions seemed most useful as ways forward

in raising flexible arrangements of running clubs to attract new, younger, members plus the concept of campus clubs and partnerships with schools and Girl Guide groups. We also covered ideas of petitioning directly at club meetings. In return I learned new ideas - especially how to make one of the "Million Stars" . The One Million Stars to End Violence project was started in 2012 as a response to the rape and murder of a young woman in an indigenous community. It has become part of the vision of the Commonwealth Games Federation to build peaceful and sustainable communities globally, providing opportunities for communities to participate in the Games even if they can’t make it along to the sporting event. One Million Stars is the perfect way to be part of this event by weaving and submitting stars to be featured in the installation - which will be amazing. There were many other exciting projects making up Programme Action in the SW Pacific Federation. Another one which stood out was support of the “White Ribbon “ campaign for Bikers. The White Ribbon Ride is one of the most exciting initiatives tackling this country’s crippling domestic violence record. Violence destroys families, sets children on a destructive journey and affects one in three women. This week-long motorcycle tour happens every November – White Ribbon Month, and is a powerful and inspirational voyage for all involved. We also witnessed the threats to braided rivers and indigenous habitats and most importantly how to really gift friendship. Our new friends have asked us to return to visit all the places in New Zealand we couldn't get to. We most certainly shall. All Soroptimists reading this must make sure to use these wonderful Grants of Friendship! Regional Meeting Dates: 7th Oct (AGM)

9th Dec.17th march. 9th June. 6th Oct -

AGM.

On 24th June there will also be a

Regional Lunch to support Meru. at the

London Beach Spar Hotel & Golf Club

Tenterdon. .

I hope you have enjoyed reading this

newsletter. I would like articles by

for the next newsletter by 22nd Sept.

thank you. - but please don’t wait for the

deadline - send me your articles as soon

as you can.! Denise Newsletter Editor.

4 members from SI Eastbourne travelled to Versailles for their 80th anniversary celebrations.

Above is the President with our joint link club of Nara in Japan.

I also visited Aarhus in Denmark.

They advertised a friendship link

weekend as the European City of

Culture. I took my friend Beverley

with me and she was so impressed

with Soroptimism she is going to

become an Associate Member.

My Travels to Versailles

and Denmark

Regional Newsletter June · vision of the Paris Agreement on climate change is to curb global...

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