Crosby club puts focus on violence

Soroptimists from seven South Refugee Communities, talked about clubs supported SI recent developments in the Crosby’s “It’s a Matter of Survival” organisation’s work. focus event on violence against Dorothy Zack-Williams (SI women. ) spoke as a voice for the Speakers covered several hidden victims of female genital aspects. mutilation. Kaya, a young ‘survivor’ (as she Victoria Smerdon (attending her calls herself) of forced marriage last official engagement as South gave a powerful and emotional Lancashire’s President) and account of her circumstances. Regional President Elect Margaret Representatives of two women’s Baker complimented Crosby’s aid organisations, plus an officer members on presenting such a from Police, outlined the comprehensive and challenging range of community-based support programme. Supporting the event, clockwise from front left, available. They were both delighted that the outgoing Regional President Victoria Smerdon, Afrah Qassim, from Savera event attracted support from across Regional Programme Action chair Margaret Liverpool, an organisation dedicated the region – as well as a delegation Molyneux, Regional Membership officer Pat to tackling domestic abuse within from SI Crosby’s friendship link in Williams and incoming president Margaret

Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and Yorkshire, SI Keighley. Baker.

All change at Harrogate conference The SIGBI Conference in Harrogate was a represents SI at the UN Environmental huge success, with a full programme and 1400 Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi, and broadcaster delegates. Jenni Murray. Jenny Vince became Federation President, International President Ann Garvie spoke of replacing Margaret Oldroyd. the need for all four Federations to work The change of insignia ceremony saw not just together. She urged Soroptimists to be brave, to the presentation of the regional chain of office to use evidence-based information and to raise our new South Lancashire president Margaret profile and maintain our international reputation. Baker, but the installation of SI Ashton-under- The final report from the BIG Project revealed Lyne’s Margaret Emsley (right) as the President that more than £140,000 had been raised to Elect of the Federation. help women in the Gambia. Speakers ranged from entrepreneur Sahar A large contingent of South Lancashire Hashemi, founder of Coffee Republic, to Fleur members attended—see the pictures on the Anderson of WaterAid, Alice Odingo, who back page for a flavour of the conference. LIVERPOOL A coachload of children got a day out at the beach after SI Liverpool donated £520 to help provide days out during the summer holidays. The club gave the money to Centre 56, a Liverpool women and children’s aid centre, to help finance trips during the summer holidays for the children and their mothers. The big trip was to Southport Pleasure Beach. They were accompanied by Diane Hill and Pat Roberts. Radio City Cash for Kids Nine prospective members were arranged to serve porridge to the provided lunch for the under-fives invited to SI Southport’s Friendshp whole school on the day. and SI Liverpool contributed Night event (above). The school used assemblies and towards the cost of the mums’ Afternoon tea was served, raffle class work to explain to the lunches. tickets sold and candles lit for the children about Mary’s Meals. The At Southport they attended a club’s Friendship Links. This was children paid 50 pence each for a free Radio City Show and the followed by a talk from a member bowl of porridge with toppings of children got passes giving them who had recently been to Nepal syrup, sugar or fruit, raising £150 five rides each. Despite chilly with the VSO building an extension for Mary’s Meals. weather they were determined to to a school. enjoy themselves. The event resulted in a surplus of During the summer the children £312, which is being put towards also got to New Brighton, Albert the International President’s Dock, museums and enjoyed December 10 Appeal. several visits to Otterspool Prom. Southport members got to school The children thanked the club early on World Porridge Day, with cards and drawings. October 10. Last year they took up the Regional challenge to work with Mary’s Meals and provided backpacks. This year, Mary’s Meals asked supporters to celebrate the importance of porridge. Southport Club made contact with a local primary school and

Future visitors to The Dream full page in Lancashire Life in St Helens will have a visual highlighting the South Lanca- reminder of the Fallen of the shire Region. First World War. SI St Helens sowed poppy seeds on the land around the 66ft artwork (right). Club mem- bers worked with the Forestry Commission and St Helens Guests at the party to mark the end of Rangers to create what they Victoria Smerdon’s year as Regional hope will become a lasting, President included Nisha Ghosh living memorial. (Federation friendship links co-ordinator), Members are also celebrating from SI Pune, India, new regional raising £3600 for Macmillan president, Margaret Baker, Margaret Cancer Support with a coffee Emsley (Federation President Elect) and morning at Knowsley Hall. A Naina Shah, from Chennai, India, total of 260 ladies turned out to programme action officer for India. enjoy coffee and cake, look Victoria was presented with a quilted wall round the venue and show sup- hanging featuring pictures from her year port for Macmillan. in office. Those attending wore red to The event was covered with a mark November 11.

One of our Presidents is hear Tim Olsen, a coffee missing! shop manager, who devotes Stella Kay, left, President much of his spare time to of SI Manchester, is almost raising funds for and aware- lost behind the pile of back- ness of the Mary’s Meals packs created by members charity. for the Mary’s Meals project. He spoke about the feed- Items had been gathered ing stations at schools in over the past few months developing countries and and it took less than two his own experiences on hours for a team of mem- visits to Malawi and India. bers (and an enthusiastic Having seen first-hand the potential member) to make backpacks being distributed, up the backpacks so each he told members how much child will receive the station- joy and delight the children ery, clothing and washing express when they receive items they need for school. a backpack filled with items At the July club meeting their families could not members were enthralled to afford to obtain. WIDNES

Widnes added value with an Antiques Roadshow in September at the Widnes Masonic Hall. The event had been advertised to the public as well as to club members. People were invited to bring items to be valued by experts at a charge of £2 per item. Three valuers attended from The Auction Cen- tre, Runcorn. Just as with the television pro- gramme, they valued the items brought along and most people were happy with what the valuers said about their items There was also a raffle. The prizes in- cluded donations from a number of business- es, such as vouchers to be spent on their prem- ises. Proceeds from the evening were for Presi- dent Linda Redhead's charity for the year, Mary's Meals. Good food and good causes went together for Warrington members as Georgina Walker once again hosted a hotpot supper. More than £170 was raised by members and guests as they ate, drank and bought raffle tickets. Pictured are: Top, Georgina (centre) with guests Alison Reid and Margaret Emsley; Above, Chris Wood and Jane Griffiths; Below—not everything was hotpot.

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[email protected] A valuer assesses items. Harrogate Out and About at Conference 2014

All pictures by Val Moss