President’s message
President Angela`s Message 2009-2010
A fresh start is an opportunity to embrace new challenges. Working alone may achieve some, working as a cohesive team will achieve far more. Actively listening to others in a spirit of co-operation and willingness to share expertise can achieve more ambitious goals.
The Harrogate conference I attended, two years ago utilised the slogan “words whisper, actions SHOUT!” I was inspired and motivated by that. We can all contribute to making a difference. We may all do things a little differently, but as I am fond of saying to my students…”different is not necessarily wrong”. We all have something to offer to the greater good.
The historic SI Kingston upon Hull branch was facing closure at this year`s AGM. It is a positive reflection on the spirit of Soroptimism that in such a short space of time we have put the “optimism” back into Soroptimism. We have made a positive start with the last meeting achieving its highest attendance for a long time. Our drive is to attract more new members who can help us achieve our goals. I have extended an invitation to Baroness Virginia Bottomley to our “Welcome Evening” on Fri 17th July.
We have all the dates for our monthly talks set in our diary. The theme is “working together”. My professional background is as a health professional and senior academic. In both of those environments more is achieved if it is done collaboratively. Our charity for the year is Alzheimer’s.
The inspiring monthly talks are complemented by a varied social programme which will have something for everyone: a charity fashion event and President`s “at home” are confirmed in the diary. More ambitious events are at the planning stage…an event in conjunction with The New Hull Truck Theatre, a visit to a Priory with a meal out, a Christmas Opera soiree at a stately home, a London theatre trip with an overnight stay at Soroptimist house and ending the year with a Ball at The Deep. We have some achievable ideas for programme action to make a difference to our local community and also to contribute to Project Sierra. All these will contribute to raising the profile of soroptimism.
Yours in friendship
President Angela
P.S. It is never DULL in HULL!!!