SI Europe Congress Register Now!
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Link 1_08-09_p. 01_Cover_E_03.qxd:Layout 1 09.12.2008 14:32 Uhr Seite 1 TheA global voice for women Link1/2008-2009 No 212 SI Europe Congress Friendship Days Water Projects Register Now! “No Tolerance of Intolerance” Inspirational Link_1-08-09_pp. 02-03_E_07.qxd:Layout 1 13.12.2008 12:48 Uhr Seite 2 Note from the Editorial Staff Lapland Magic III (Correction) Soroptimist International There was an (SI) is a worldwide organi- When the Governors voted to set up a error in the invita- Working Group to investigate ways to tion to Finland’s sation for women in man- improve and modernise your magazine at Lapland Magic III programme in The agement and professions, their meeting this summer in Warsaw, we Link No 211. The correct email address of had no idea that we would be entrusted Hilkka Vahervuori, Club Espoo, is: hil- working through service with the production of the December [email protected] – Tel. +35 projects to build a better issue. This presentation is by no means 85055314 80. Lapland Magic III will def- th world for women and chil- the final concept, but it does reflect some initely take place in Pyhätunturi from 6 of the ideas from our first deliberation. – 10th February 2009. Registration closes dren.There are currently Our aim is to offer a magazine that will on 31st December 2008. over 90,000 members in encourage more of you to read The Link, Margot David, Club Bad Nauheim of because at the moment, we are not even Germany (above), clearly enjoyed her dog more than 3,000 clubs in reaching a third of our members! sled ride during the last Lapland Magic 124 countries. But please be patient. This is just a experience. Soroptimist International first step, and there are still many proce- dures and problems to iron out. Should Contents of Europe (SI/E) is one of any of you be interested in working on four federations of Sorop- The Link editorial team, please contact 19th SI Europe Congress 2009 4 SI/E HQ. We are looking for an English timist International. It has and a French editor, as well as regional Reporting to SI/E and SI 8 over 34,000 members in correspondents. Three-Nations Meeting 10 some 1,200 clubs in 57 Your projects and activities are impor- tant so please share them with other European Days in Aarhus 11 countries. Soroptimists. The Link is an excellent Water Projects 12 Soroptimists inspire action tool to show members and the wider pub- lic how Soroptimists truly work to im- Federation News 14 and create opportunities prove the lives of women and children. News from Unions and Clubs 18 to transform the lives of women and girls through a global network of mem- bers and international Cover page Patricia Wenk, partnerships. Please con- Club Rapperswil sult our website at www. and President of p. 10 p. 4 soroptimisteurope.org for the relief organi- sation Taderass more information about (centre), inspects the aims, activities and the well in repair with Touareg tribesman Dakso Hamidan (right), who is supervis- projects that characterise ing the reconstruction of the well in our organisation. Niger, and the well’s owner (left). p. 18 p. 22 1/2008-2009, No. 212. Quarterly magazine of Soroptimist International of Europe, published in English and French President: Mariet Verhoef-Cohen, Klokkengieterlaan 49, NL – 8043 Zwolle, The Netherlands – Phone Private: +31 384 605 123, Business: +31 384 654 962, Fax: +31 384 600 648, Mobile: +31 653 753 018 – Email: [email protected]. Subscription forms are available on the SI/E website www.soroptimisteurope.org or from headquarters [email protected]. A reminder to subscribers (individual or clubs): any change of address should be communicated to SI/E headquarters in Geneva (72, route de Florissant, CH – 1206 Geneva, Fax: +41 22 789 04 43). If undelivered magazines are returned because of an incorrect address, we cannot assume responsibility for re-sending. Subscription rates (four issues per Soroptimist year starting December to September): Club bulk subscription (minimum five) €10.00 per subscription per language. Individual subscription per language €12.50 (for airmail please add €5.50 per subscription). 2 THE LINK 1/2008-2009 • Note from the Editorial Staff • Contents • Imprint Link_1-08-09_pp. 02-03_E_07.qxd:Layout 1 13.12.2008 12:48 Uhr Seite 3 President’s Letter Our website www.soroptimisteurope.org has already changed drastically and more changes are to come. The aim is to make the site more user friendly, interactive, eye- Dear Soroptimists, catching and interesting. Access to the member area is much easier now. Information from SI/E HQ will be The new Soroptimist year is in full swing. With our streamlined so you will be able to download more docu- European Congress, 2009 will be a particularly exciting ments. Along with our newly developed website, Buzz year for our Federation. We hope to see many of you in Media has created several blogs for SI/E: MySPace, Face- Amsterdam from 10th – 12th July 2009. Read more about it book, Vimeo and YouTube. These modern sites will help in this issue or go to www.soroptimistsgoforwater.nl. us attract younger women to our organisation, which, as As many of you already know, Marie Jeanne Bosia has we know from the survey presented at the Governors’ resigned as Editor-in-Chief of The Link after 12 years of Meeting in Warsaw, is one of our top priorities. And loyal service. In honour of Marie Jeanne we uploaded her finally, I would like to draw your attention to the short final Link onto the website. We are grateful for all her English and French video clips on our www.soroptimist hard work and fully appreciate that it has been an enor- europe.org site. Why not send this link to your friends, col- mous and time-consuming task. The production of this leagues, family and Soroptimist friends to let them see for December issue has been a joint effort, but I would espe- themselves who we are, what we do and where we are cially like to thank Christine Cromwell-Ahrens for her tire- going. You can also catch a glimpse of this year’s Gover- less efforts to get this edition of The Link produced on nors’ Meeting in Warsaw with clips that clearly show the time. Christine is also chairing the Working Group set up cultural richness of which SI/E is so proud. And don’t to investigate ways to improve and modernise The Link. miss the selection of short interviews from various SI/E The Group is highly motivated, and members with some personal this issue already reflects a new thoughts on their role as Soropti- approach to informing the Soropti- mists. We believe these additions will mists of the European Federation. attract a younger audience and demonstrate to the outside world that we are truly vibrant and active! So, please help us achieve this goal At the SI meeting in Windsor, and show these videos to as many we discussed the Strategic Plan, and people as possible. in a special letter, I informed the Union Presidents, Single Club Pres- idents and Governors of the out- President Mariet takes a hands-on come. The SI Board announced a approach to a water project in Kenya. Dear Soroptimists, you can feel competition to find a new stylized the buzz in our Federation. This is SI emblem. This led to Recommendation 26, stating that the way forward. We are now showing the outside world in consultation with the SI Executive Officer, the SI PR that we are an organisation firmly based in the 21st cen- Liaison will engage design consultants to develop a cor- tury with a wonderful networking system. Let us share our porate identity for the organisation. The Board will set a thoughts and ideas with others, let us be inspired so we budgetary limit prior to seeking proposals from profes- can inspire others, let us help other women and support sional design specialists. The competing professionals must one another and let us mentor young professional women follow set criteria, and the stylised emblem of the three so we can make a difference in achieving true gender equal- finalists will be put on the internet so that all Soroptimists ity. I would like to make this our New Year’s resolution. can cast their votes. The winning stylised emblem will be My sincere and best wishes to all of you for a peaceful, approved at the 2009 Board Meeting and presented and healthy and happy 2009. implemented during the next SI Convention in Montreal, Canada in August 2011. If someone from our Federation In friendship, would like to join this competition, please contact SI/E headquarters in Geneva. PR and communications are important priorities in all Federations of Soroptimist International. The current Mariet Verhoef-Cohen SI/E Board put PR on the top of its policy plan agenda. SI/E President THE LINK 1/2008-2009 • President’s Letter 3 Link 1_08-09_pp. 04-07_E_07.qxd:Layout 1 13.12.2008 13:26 Uhr Seite 4 19th SI EUROPE Congress 2009 A PROGRAMME OF SUPERLATIVES The project theme of President MarietVerhoef-Cohen,“Soroptimists go forWater” will be the cen- tral focus of the 19th SI Europe Congress, to be held in Amsterdam from 10th – 12th July 2009.The Congress promises to be varied and exciting. Please see what there is to offer because we hope many Soroptimists will join us for this extraordinary and inspiring experience. Clean water is a luxury in many countries of the world, and secur- ing a water source for life’s necessities is often women’s work.