Photos attached:
1. SI Cannock & Walsall – taking a break!
2. SI Cannock Carole Holdcroft, Pat Elwell, Eileen Cryer
3. SI Walsall, Barbara Housihaux (not sure of spelling) pushing the barrow!

On hearing of the plight of the guides members of S.I. Cannock immediately voted to reimburse the Guides with the £40 they’d had stolen and this week the President of SI Cannock, Janis Lomas, was delighted to attend the guides meeting to give their leaders the cheque.

Photo: President of SI Cannock, Dr. Janis Lomas, presenting the cheque to the Guide leaders and members of the troop.

Members of the Cannock and District Soroptimist Club handed over a petition to Cannock Chase Council today ( Mon 1^st June) calling for an urgent review of their decision to withdraw these tokens. In just 4 weeks the club of 43 local women has gathered almost 2,000 (1,952) petition signatures.

Club President, Sheila Brown OBE, says, “the club members have been moved by hearing the difficulties of local people who are affected by the withdrawal of these tokens. In collecting signatures, members have also heard the anger of local people at this decision. But the clubs mission in running this petition was very clear; we are a non political organisation of women, working for women and their families. We do this through service, funding and campaigning. So we aimed to help those affected by this cut and also help concerned local people to have a voice to the policy makers. We are all hoping for a turn in this decision or that at least, when the decision is reviewed, for a system to be put in that still allows elderly and disabled people the opportunity to use taxi’s.”

In collecting this petition, the club members heard that the use of a local taxi is essential for many, as buses don’t fit everyone’s disability needs. People also reported to club members, significant problems with the dial a ride scheme, in giving a flexible alternative.

Members of the club have collected signatures in many ways and local businesses have also been involved in presenting the Soroptimist petition to their staff and customers. The club would like to thank everyone who took the time to sign this petition.

The club members handed over the petition to an Officer of the Council and then met with Councillor Ray Easton who heard and sympathised with their concerns. He promised to ensure that the decision and current trial system would be reviewed and that all concerns were aired when this review took place.

The SI club which meets at the Barns in Huntington and anyone requiring more information about the club, can call on 07847 789 893

Photo – getting ready for the petition handover on the steps of Cannock Council offices - six members of the SI Cannock and District Club.

The Federation certificates are all signed by the President of the Federation of Great Britain, Carwen Wynne-Howells.

President Lakhwinder presented certificates for 25 years of service to Christine James and to Doreen Smith and a certificate for 30 years of service to June Hardman. June’s mother was a member of SI Cannock & District as is her daughter – so it really runs in the family. Another member, Judith Anderson, has also given 30 years of service to the organisation; unfortunately she was not able to be present; her certificate will be presented on another occasion.

President Lakhwinder thanked these ladies for the commitment they have shown to the organisation over a long period of time, and the way they have always worked as members of a team to fulfil the Soroptimist aim of helping and supporting women and children worldwide in whatever way necessary – “a global voice for women through Awareness, Advocacy and Action”.

Photo attached: l to r: Soroptimist Doreen Smith; Soroptimist Christine James; Lakhwinder Thompson, President, S I Cannock & District; and Soroptimist June Hardman with their long service certificates.

The club has held several events during the year when some of the funds raised were for The Railway Children; but the majority of the monies were raised at the club’s main fund-raising event of the year held when Lesley Smith, curator of Tutbury Castle, was the speaker.

During that evening President Lakhwinder presented a cheque for £1,000 to Ian Watson, a representative of the charity, though following his short talk about the charity and Lesley Smith’s wonderful portrayal of Anne Boleyn many bought more raffle tickets or gave donations, thus resulting in the much higher donation.

The charity began in 1995 when David Maidment (the founder) encountered one small girl – an abused street child - in Mumbai; this experience led him to try to alleviate the plight of the two million plus children who are living on streets all over the world. He was especially concerned with the 87,000 children who arrive each year at railway stations of large cities in India from the rural areas. The charity is now active in more than ten countries including the UK where the charity runs 9 projects and 2 phone lines.

Research has shown that a runaway child arriving on a railway station has between 10 and 20 minutes before being approached by a pimp, paedophile or drug pusher; it is therefore imperative that a charity worker can intervene immediately to persuade the child to go to the charity’s support room where staff work to try and reunite the child with their family or else offer them secure lodging.

The Railway Children, known as The Voice for Street Children Worldwide, has helped tens of thousands of children over the years.

President Lakhwinder adopted The Railway Children as her special charity for the year because of what she had personally witnessed in India and her special link with the country of her birth. She was delighted to be able to present £1,000 to the charity – and overjoyed when she realised that another £500 + could be given to them.

Photo attached: President of SI Cannock & District Lakhwinder Thompson with Ian Watson, representative of the charity The Railway Children

The Objects were read by Soroptimist Eileen Cryer and a roll call of members was taken. President Lakhwinder told Jacquie that she hoped that she would find friendship and a sense of achievement in her membership of SI Cannock & District. Jacquie is the third person to be new member to be inducted into the Cannock club this year.

Following an excellent meal at The Barns, Huntington, Anne Boleyn, alias historian Lesley, entered the room, dressed in black. She spoke as the anointed Queen of England [who still believed that Henry VIII would stop the execution], recounting her life to that point in time, detailing little known historical facts including the rushed divorce granted to Henry on the previous day, so that he would not have to authorise the death of his own wife.

Lesley Smiths’ in-depth knowledge of the character and the period was shown in the detail she was able to bring to the role – she held her audience spell-bound, taking them with her to the Tower of London in May 1536. When she came out of role she told everyone that Anne Boleyn is the role she takes on which is liked best by Historians although she hadn’t initially liked her herself, thinking that she was too calculating. As Lesley discovered more about Anne, her opinion changed. She now respects her, her Protestant faith and her fantastic intellect enormously. Lesley explained that the story of Anne having six fingers was very unlikely – she has carried out extensive research to find any evidence of this. She also said that Anne had been told she would burn at the stake – and was greatly relieved that the Calais swordsman, who was very good at his job, was brought in to carry out the execution. Anne Boleyn died when her daughter Elizabeth was three years old; she had no idea what an important part this young girl would eventually play in the history of England.

In her vote of thanks, Soroptimist Joan Edmunds paid tribute not only to Lesley Smith’s historical knowledge but also to her ability in portraying such roles.

Lesley was pleased to stay on and chat with individuals and groups about the women she portrays as well as about Tutbury Castle.

President Lakhwinder thanked everyone for making the evening such a success and for raising over £700 for her charity for this year, The Railway Children. The evening was an outstanding success!

Photos attached: President of SI Cannock & District Lakhwinder Thompson with Lesley Smith as Anne Boleyn.

In her International Women’s Day message to Soroptimists all over the world International President Margaret Lobo highlighted two of the UN’s special Observances for 2009 - Reconciliation and Human Rights Learning and asked Soroptimists to promote elements of their work which portray this, including to Promote Reconciliation in the family and reduce domestic violence and violence against women.

SI Cannock & District are delighted to support International President Margaret and so continue to help and support some of the women who are victims of violence.