Soroptimist International Yorkshire Region Newsletter

WINTER 2018 RegionalLead Story Headline Officers 2018-19 Regional Council

• The new team line up for the camera.

Immediate Past President President President Elect Linda Davis Chris Clark Pat Kilbane Rita Leaman Vice President

Secretary Treasurer Development Officer Minute Secretary Margaret Middlemass Ann Hawkes Andrea Trimmer Judith Clark

Communications Joint Officers Programme Action Joint Chairs Emma Bogantseva Liz Lyle Lindsay Green Susie Westwood Inside this issue:

Conference 2

SIYAMS 3

Clubs news 4-6

7 Membership Officer Benevolent Fund Rep Federation Councillor Diary Dates Jane Glendinning Angela Edwards Val Hills Obituaries 7 Page 2 Yorkshire Region Newsletter

Reflections of Conference Rita Leaman shares her conference experience: now married and working in Kenya, spoke about SIGBI Liverpool empowering villagers to enable themselves. More I have been in Liverpool, attending the annual powerful than aid workers doing the enabling. I have conference for Soroptimist International Great Britain Conference 2018 heard similar from relief workers working in disaster and Ireland. ‘Women inspiring action, transforming zones. Teachers spoke afterwards, agreeing that if lives.’ There were inspirational speakers, who have pupils had some part of a project in school, they felt worked their way through the most challenging of some ownership and therefore respected the work circumstances. Reports were presented by some of more. the three hundred and fifty clubs, about the educating, empowering and enabling work Soroptimist volunteers One of the problem with teenagers and their mental have achieved around UK and the world. Projects health, may be that instead of adults empowering which are only a drop in the ocean of Poverty, children to enable themselves, too many adults are Loneliness, Slavery, Abuse, Genital Mutilation, Human doing the enabling themselves, leaving the children Trafficking, Imprisonment, Hunger, Hygiene, Disease entering adulthood, lacking life skills. and Education. Empower and encourage others to enable themselves Returning home I found that the fridge freezer had broken down with resulting problems, my husband’s Pictured Below: SI Dewsbury members. Courtesy of smartphone had broken, the car repair bill was PatThornes . massive and Christmas is just around the corner. My husband became a little ’Dad’s Army’, along the lines of, “We’re all doomed.’ I stopped him and said, “I’ve just spent three days hearing about the appalling misfortune of millions of people worldwide. Please get this into perspective.” Irritating and inconvenient our problems may be, but life threatening or life limiting they are not. Two speakers gave these words of wisdom. The one time hostage, Terry Waite, spoke about appreciating the small, free things in life, when he experienced a moment of colour in his bleak, black and white, five years in captivity. From a momentarily uncovered window, he had managed a glimpse of a bunch of flowers for a few seconds. He also spoke about his mental survival being due to continually exercising and challenging his brain. Terry’s imagination saved him and he maintains that stretching himself mentally every day, keeps his brain from atrophying at seventy-nine. A former UK police officer, Ellie Bird Lenawarungu,

Best Practice Nomination in Violence & Conflict Resolution

After the SIGBI Glasgow BBC Birmingham radio studios psychologically. The storyline Conference in 2015, Linda where The Archers is has moved on, but the work of Gerraghty from SI Halifax and recorded. Linda and Rita met the Soroptimists is still as valid Rita Leaman of SI Scarborough, up with members from today and in the future and had an idea to increase Midlands Arden Region, all articles are still posted on the awareness of Soroptimist PA wearing orange. Facebook page. on Domestic Violence and the Linda and Rita sent a report on Soroptimist International Operation Stella to The organisation. Inspired by Princess Royal and Dame Stella conference speaker, Dame Rimmington. Princess Anne Stella Rimmington, they created replied, congratulating them on Operation Stella, using SIGBI the initiative. She had remarked members as 'Agents of at Conference that if anyone Influence'. could be Agents of Influence, Connecting the initiative to the then it was the Soroptimists. domestic abuse storyline in the SIGBI created the first BBC Radio soap opera, The Soroptimist led petition Archers, they created a social highlighting Domestic Abuse. A media campaign to ‘Help the Facebook page - Operation Ambridge 1’. Using the UN Stella - was set up to highlight ‘Orange the World’ 16 days of the work that Soroptimists do Linda Gerraghty and Rita Leaman Activism against Violence worldwide to support women dressed in Orange ready for the Against Women, on November experiencing domestic abuse, Awards. 25th 2015, they travelled to the both physically and

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Soroptimists Against Slavery UK Anti-Slavery Day dawned on 18 October modern slavery around the world. It was a SIYAMS 2018. Representatives from SI Bingley, SI challenge at times to engage with people – many Garforth in Elmet, SI Scarborough, SI York Ebor ignored us, several denied that Slavery exists at and SI Dewsbury gathered to raise awareness of all in 2018, and some were willing to stop but Modern Day Slavery, abusive relationships, and too busy to have a conversation. However we Soroptimism. President Chris Clark, President Elect Pat Kilbane and Vice President Rita Leaman were all supporting this event.

did engage with many people who were very interested, and took leaflets away for their Thanks to the generosity of LNER we set up a families and places of work. We might even have table at York Railway Station in the middle of the recruited a few new Soroptimists during our main entrance, and during the 4 hours we were time there! there we talked to many travellers, gave out Angela Edwards leaflets, booklets and book marks, and raised SIYAMS awareness of the 45.8 million people held in Tunis in November Back in the summer there appeared a tiny link in “Turkish” variety. The club also supports crafts the SIGBI newsletter advertising the 10th pursued by women workers, especially dressmaking anniversary celebrations of SI Tunis Ariana. Having in traditional mode to produce embroidered kaftans followed the link, I learned that these festivities or gilets, highly decorated with shiny stripes or gold would extend over three days in early November. thread. At a fashion show outfits with a modern Guests were invited to book their own travel and twist such as short skirts or narrow trousers were hotel and for a reasonable sum would be catered also revealed for and provided with activities. Being French I learned that currently the French Soroptimists speaking I was keen to participate and was further sponsor regional exhibitions encouraging women’s motivated by the prospect of seeing a longstanding talents “Les talents de la femme”, so some of this friend from University days, who has lived in Tunis enthusiasm must have crossed the Mediterranean! for almost 50 years. The partying on the Saturday night, attended by A correspondence with Clara, the current president some 30 local residents as well as the 40 foreign of SI Tunis ensued. To my delight Soroptimists guests, featured not only the conventional registered not only from Friendship Links in Turkey presentation of gifts but also traditional Tunisian and Belgium, but also from Italy, Germany and many food, music and dancing. parts of France. It would be a multicultural experience. Excursions on other days included an expedition to Dougga, a wonderful site of Roman archaeology, a I was surprised to find that European Soroptimists visit to the Bardo museum, which boasts the best favour the old fashioned gilt badge featuring the collection of Roman mosaics in North Africa and a “Sally” emblem. President Clara, on the festive feast at a fish restaurant on the coast at La evening, wore a string of badges, presumably to Goulette. denote various offices held. Some of the French wore ornate badges and the Italian rep (who turned Security was tight but this was entirely for our out to be English in origin) wore one surrounded benefit. with pearls. Many of the participants continued on the post SI Tunis Ariana has a multiplicity of projects, which party tour to the south of Tunisia, but having they call “actions”- with a French accent! They meet enjoyed my fill of Tunisian culture, I was content to in a Youth Centre in order to maintain contact with return to domestic duties. deprived young people. They finance and foster I was impressed by the energy and real vibrancy of activities such as break dancing for boys, in order to SI Tunis Ariana, who are only 12 in number, and keep youth off the streets and away from drugs and feel that we can learn a lot from the enthusiasm of extremist influences. In several schools in poor such emerging clubs. areas they have improved toilet facilities for girls, Janet Erridge providing seated loos instead of the former SI Doncaster Page 4 Yorkshire Region Newsletter

A Sartorial Soroptimist SI Beverley & Liz Hallett, a member of the final of the ‘Most stylish Soroptimist International of racegoer in Yorkshire’, Beverley and District, won the (courtesy of Go racing in District Flemingate Best Dressed Lady Yorkshire). All the ladies who competition on Ladies Day at have won the Best dressed the Beverley Racecourse. Her competition at all the prize was a £2000 'Search for Yorkshire racecourses (9 in the northern lights' holiday to total) will meet and a winner Iceland donated by Superbreaks will be chosen to become the and Humberside airport, and a face of Yorkshire racing for the £200 voucher to spend in the next year. The winner also Flemingate shopping centre, receives £2500 jewellery from Beverley. LoveVintageDiamonds, a £500 Liz now has to travel to voucher for Yasmine of Bawtry Doncaster racecourse at the and a spa break at the Mount end of October to take part in Pleasant hotel Doncaster. Charitable Events SI Dewsbury & SI Dewsbury had a busy Members joined the Mayor of Mayor’s charities. Autumn starting by helping the Kirklees Cllr Gwen Lowe Several Knit and Natter District residents of Tentercroft court (pictured with member Jan) at sessions were held which with a Charity Coffee Morning Tesco in Batley where a Toy produced many colourful raising over £500.00 to share Tombola and raffle raised the knitted poppies to contribute between Admiral Nurses and club’s profile and funds for the to a display in Thornhill church. Macmillan. Presidents Linda and Pat and A Fashion Show in October members attended the local raised over £800.00 for Remembrance parade in Admiral nurses with an extra Mirfield laying a wreath from £96.00 from a second raffle of the club. the deluxe Italian themed hamper! Local Library Project The aim of the club project is to work in Soroptimists Pat Shore and Lesley Berry. SI Harrogate & partnership with other organisations to provide craft materials and educational toys for staff and District volunteers to use during children’s activity sessions. If young children are encouraged to use libraries they become more confident in using books and this gives them a head start in learning to read and provides a massive boost to their educational attainments. Libraries have been through a very difficult time recently and suffered major budget cuts and sadly even asking for a voluntary donation to cover the cost of crayons and glue can be enough to put off some of our most vulnerable families attending. Knaresborough Lions have joined the Soroptimist Campaign to support Knaresborough Library by providing toys, dressing up clothes for story time and huge Pictured: Presidents Hilary Waddington & Elsie quantities of craft materials to use during Johnston, members Sue Williams, Pat Shore & Sandra children’s activity sessions. It has made a huge Jowett. Together with Knaresborough Lions President difference to their current resources and Jaime Bob Godsell and his wife Pamela and library staff Berry, aged 8, could not wait to open the new member Maria Burley and volunteers Ged Williams and toys and crafts. Jaime is the granddaughter of Keith Harmer.

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Rewarding Events Ilkley Soroptimists held an new subgroups to add to the Soroptimists, Sheena Bradley SI Ilkley extremely enjoyable Curry and longstanding weekly Walking was presented with a Quiz night at the Kashmiri Group and the Luncheon Club, Volunteer Award for her Aroma .This raised £450 in aid these being the Climate outstanding service with of this year’s charity, The Change Group and most ‘Contact the Elderly’ Sheena Samaritans. The Bradford recently a Book Group. The has coordinated the work of branch alone has to raise Book Group meets monthly the local branch of this national £40,000 each year. Its aim from 7 until 9pm and is limited charity for 15 years. Elderly being to reduce suicide rates of to ten members. Our venues people, living alone are whom 75 percent are men, are a mixture of members’ chauffeured and able to suicide being the biggest cause houses and local pubs. socialise whilst enjoying an of death in men under 45. Mrs Everyone appreciates not only afternoon tea, once a month, in Joy Lynch the Ilkley Soroptimist broadening the kind of material someone’s home. President particularly thanked we would normally read but the quizmaster David Briggs also the building of differing and prizes donated locally by friendships within the group. The Coop, Tesco, Santander Recent titles have included: A Bank, Allwyn Carr Interior Man Called Ova, Gilead and Designs, Hollins Hall and the Common Ground. We are Kashmiri Aroma. always open to Whilst not part of the formal recommendations if other structure of the club, Ilkley clubs run a similar group? L-R: Mayor of Ilkley Steve Butler members have formed two Nominated by Ilkley and Sheena Bradley Good Companions Northallerton Soroptimists help local MIND SI Northallerton Group Northallerton Soroptimists recently purchased two garden companion set benches, from R&VJ Ellis, Yafforth, for those using the MIND garden at The Link, Northallerton. Pictured are Sheila Stewart (right) and Hilary Dodd (left) from Northallerton Soroptimists with Northallerton MIND enjoying the benches. Congratulations ambassador at RAF Leeming SI Richmond & and helped us with our project - as we have just heard that he has won’ The National STEM Dales Ambassadors Award 2018’. His prize is a visit to the Hadron Collider in Cern, Switzerland. We are confident that he will continue to promote STEM to We were delighted to We organised and ran a girls across Yorkshire in his welcome Chris Clark, conference for 200 Year 9 girls new venture delivering STEM Yorkshire president, to our so they could listen to activities to schools. October meeting. She very inspirational speakers, engage Busy at conference kindly presented the club with with 30 Stem companies and The Mary Hillary Award 2018, take part in numerous STEM As well as helping iron a which we shared jointly with SI activities. Two years of hard multitude of flags for Bingley. Congratulations to work! conference, Richmond & Dales them too! The award was in ladies made contact with We must also offer our Connie Mutunhu, to present recognition for our STEM ‘Jobs congratulations to Kev For The Girls’ project, 2017. her with a donation of dollars Stannard - who was the STEM to take back to SI Harare. Page 6 Yorkshire Region Newsletter

Sunshine and Soroptimism

It has been a busy 6 months in Six members attended the SIGBI SI Scarborough Scarborough since our AGM in Conference in Liverpool, and April 2018. Speakers at our enjoyed every minute of it, from monthly meetings have included the inspirational speakers, and Pauline Waslim, who gave a opportunities to meet old and fascinating talk about the delights of make new friends, to the fabulous Burton Agnes Hall; more serious Yorkshire Dinner on Saturday matters were covered by Sophie evening to welcome our new Rice from the Probation Service, President, Pat. talking about women's experiences L-R: Afternoon Tea - Carole Ireland, Chris And finally we held an International in prison; and Drs Alistair and Clark, Yorkshire President, Rita Leaman, Pat Kilbane, President Elect Evening on 12 November, to Margaret Robertson from the celebrate the work of SI, and of Jacob's Well Appeal, based in our region and club. A Ceremony Beverley, talking about their work of lighting candles for all the in several countries around the Federations of Soroptimist world. This includes Ghana, where International and the United one of our members, Helen Nations, went smoothly. The Hyams, visits regularly in a Mayor and Mayoress of voluntary capacity, using her skills Scarborough joined us, and were as a Paediatric Physiotherapist with delighted to have President Pat children with cerebral palsy and Kilbane and guests from SI Beverley their families. Fundraising in the Eight of us joined 5 members of SI and SI York Ebor. We also club supports her work in Ghana as Dewsbury and District on a day welcomed 2 new members in to one of our Programme Action out to Liverpool, to see the the club. An internationally themed projects. amazing Terracotta Warriors buffet finished the evening with Exhibition pictured above. We had delicious food and a chance to talk a wonderful day, culminating in an to each other. open-top bus tour of the city Next it's Christmas!! before dinner. We also supported a day at York Station on Anti-Slavery Day, 18 October, handing out leaflets, talking to as many travellers as L-R: Dr Margaret Robertson, Dr Alistair possible about Robertson, Jacob's Well Appeal, Carole Modern Ireland, Scarborough President Slavery and We have had fun too! We enjoyed hopefully an excellent Afternoon Tea in raising September, attended by guests awareness of L-R: International Evening - Janine Maw, Presi- from several other Yorkshire Clubs the issue. dent Elect, SI Scarborough, Rita Leaman, Pat and Chris Clark, President of SI Kilbane, Yorkshire President, Cllr Joe Plant, Yorkshire. This event raised almost L-R: Members, Susan Chapman, Angela Ed- Mayor of Scarborough, Mrs Margaret Plant, £400 for our charities. wards, Sally Anne Longden, Rita Leaman Mayoress Gifts Well Received In The Ukraine

Members of SI Selby recently visited their Friendship Link club residents and watched by them all. Irene commented on how in Dnipro, Ukraine, and the capital, Kiev. A report was given well the children sang and danced and how happy they looked. SI Selby on the visit at the club's Business Meeting on 7 November, The toothbrushes were given out individually to each child with pictures on a laptop, a display of the items brought back, after the concert and went down surprisingly well. Hilary said including gifts they were given, and a commentary by Lindsay "it was good that every child received a toothbrush, as so Green - pictured below and Hilary Putman, supported by much is shared and held communally. The staff were pleased Olwen Fisher and Irene Brereton. too as often the children just receive sweets and chocolate!". The toys were also very well received, by the children, and the specialist teachers. The children played with them straightaway. Olwen mentioned how they shared them and helped others to play with them. Lindsay has since received thank you e mails from the staff in the orphanage. One wrote “Thank you so much. You have made a very important gift for the children of the orphanage. Games and items will help the children". The report to SI Selby included an outline of the programme for each day of the visit. It was "full on" all day and into the evening. Going to lovely sights, seeing beautiful restored buildings, getting involved in some traditional activities. A surprise, one evening was going to see The Marriage of Figaro, Time spent at the orphanage in Dnipro was of particular performed as a ballet by the Ukrainian National Ballet in the interest. The 65 children in the orphanage all have physical Kiev opera house. And there was a farewell dinner on the last and / or mental disabilities. It is supported by the Soroptimist night for everyone on the visit. club there. After liaison with SI Dnipro, members of SI Selby and friends purchased didactic toys and games, educational Hilary summed the visit up, saying "the visit was so worthwhile items, specialist cups and toothbrushes for the benefit of the - we were able to help the children in the orphanage, support children. our sisters in Dnipro, and enjoy the fun and friendship of Soroptimism". Whilst at the orphanage, a concert was given by some of the Soroptimist International Diary Dates - 2018-19 Yorkshire Region

A Word from the Editor JANUARY 2019 Saturday 12 Officers’ meeting Holiday Inn Ossett, 9.30 to 4.00 A successful conference in Liverpool Saturday 19 Presidential Team meeting gives SI Yorkshire a new President, MARCH Best wishes to President Pat and Saturday 16 RCM - Garforth Academy Congratulations to IPP Chris on a APRIL successful year. Monday 29 Regional Officers Meeting - evening meeting 6.30pm Merry Christmas JUNE Saturday 22 RCM - Askham Grange Prison & Happy New Year Saturday 29 Yorkshire Conference – Elvington Air Museum Liz Hayes JULY

Newsletter Submission Guidelines Monday1 Regional Officers Meeting - evening meeting 6.30pm Saturday 7 UKPAC Study Day in Belfast News Reports: maximum of 400 words in SEPTEMBER a Word document or email Saturday 28 RCM/AGM - St Francis Xavier School, Richmond Obituaries: maximum 150 words OCTOBER Photos: Unmanipulated original images of Saturday 5 Regional Officers Meeting - morning meeting 9.30 high resolution sent as an attachment Thurs 24 - Sat 26 SIGBI conference Bournemouth not embedded in a text document. No

collage/montages. NEXT NEWSLETTER DEADLINE - March 3rd 2019

Obituaries Valerie Mullins S.I. Yorkshire. In 2000 Val was Marjory Cockburn Deirdre Clark elected as Yorkshire 1938-2018 SI Richmond & Dales Representative on the SI Hallamshire SI Doncaster Benevolent Fund, which she Deirdre died peacefully on served until 2010, having been Long-standing member, October 15th, aged 80, having Chairman of the Fund during Marjory Cockburn, died been a loyal and long serving the last 4 years. peacefully in her sleep on 22nd member of our club. She was September 2018. interested in all our activities, During the years that I knew but her special interest was her, she never missed a A State Registered Nurse, Val joined S.I. Doncaster in the Garden of Fragrance Federation Conference and Marjory spent the early part of 1986. She was still working, which she looked after for attended at least 4 her career working as a which in those days, one had many years. She was often International ones. missionary in Africa. On to be to become a member. returning to England, she later seen with tools, plants and Her job was that of Chief She was part of numerous took up the post, of Matron at water which she carried from Inspector of Taxes in committees- each of which St. Luke’s Hospice, Sheffield, the car, doing her best to make the garden attractive. In Doncaster. was in the business of helping where she served for many someone less fortunate than earlier days, Deirdre and her During her working life she years, being awarded the MBE herself. She was a major husband, David, worked had been in posts away from for services to nursing and the figure in her church, which tirelessly for the Marie Curie her family, but finally came Hospice Movement. received so much support fund. Following the sad loss of back to Yorkshire. from her. Strange that during In retirement Marjory David, for whom she had In1992/1993 Val became her working life she was good maintained her active support devotedly cared, Deirdre was President of S.I. Doncaster and at taking money from people, of a number of local charities. determined to help us celebrate the club’s 60th again in 2011/2012. but after she retired, she made A long-serving and past president of the Club she anniversary, and was with us She also served time as both it a point of giving to those retained her interest in for the celebration lunch. We Secretary and Treasurer in S.I. who needed it most. Soroptimism to the end. shall miss her lovely smile and Doncaster. In 1997/98 Val was She is sadly missed warm personality, reflected in proud to become President of She is very sadly missed. Eve Dickenson her colourful clothing. Rest in Peace dear sister and friend.