**News Flash** Annie Lennox with Soroptimists on International Women’s Day
“Women on the Bridge” event in London International Women’s Day - Monday 8th March
Soroptimists joined the march and stood in solidarity on the Millennium Bridge in London to mark International Women’s Day. This global event, organised by Women for Women International brought together women from their partner organisations including members of Soroptimist International. Annie Lennox, popstar and campaigner, Sarah Brown, the Prime-Minister’s wife, Cherie Lunghi the actress were there along with other prominent figures. The event honours the resilience of millions of women survivors of war around the world. The 81 events worldwide symbolise building bridges to peace, sending a message that says “No!” to war and “Yes!” to peace and hope.
Pictured here with Annie Lennox are Julie Blackwell (Soroptimist international London Chilterns Regional President) and Johanna Raffan (Soroptimist international London Chilterns Regional President-Elect).
Take a look at the event on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHqOUUzNhh4
On International Women’s Day, 8 March 2010, women around the world joined on bridges to say no to war and yes to peace and women’s development. Please give your support to the women who are building the bridges of hope by signing the petition: www.womenforwomen.org/bridge/sign-the-pledge.php
Conference Reports
SIGBI 2009 Annual Conference in Cardiff
Please click on the link below to view the report:
SIGBI 2008 Annual Conference in Barbados
Please click on the link below to view the report:
Volunteer for 2012 Olympics
www.london2012.com/settings//register.php
Contact Us
If you would like to attend an event, be a speaker, or are considering membership, please complete the form below or send an email to silondonchilterns@hotmail.co.uk
Planned Regional Meetings and Events
Open Council Meeting, Saturday 13th March 2010, Lancaster Hall Hotel, London
Type of meeting: Regional Event
Date: 13 March 2010
Time: 10:00
Venue: Lancaster Hall Hotel, London
Speaker: Lesley Rudd from Infant Trust www.infant-trust.org.uk
To attend please contact us www.soroptimist-gbi.co.uk/london-chilterns/contact-us/
For directions see: www.lancaster-hall-hotel.co.uk
Fair Trade Fashion Show on Thursday 27 May at the University Women’s Club, 2 Audley Square London W1K 1DB www.universitywomensclub.com Timings 3.30-9pm with fashion displays on the hour from 4-8pm. Tickets £10 per person to include glass of wine and refreshments. Tickets on sale from end of March. This event is open to non Soroptimists, as well as members. Proceeds to Project Sierra www.projectsierra.org/
To attend please contact us www.soroptimist-gbi.co.uk/london-chilterns/contact-us/
Regional PAC Workshop - Saturday 8th May 2010
At the Soroptimist Club, 63 Bayswater Rd www.soropclub63.org.uk 10am to 3.30pm More details to follow from Rita Beaumont. We recommend 2 members from each club attend - please contact us http://soroptimist-gbi.co.uk/london-chilterns/contact-us
Open Council Meeting Saturday 12 June 2010, Newbury
Type of meeting: Regional Event
Date: 12 June 2010
Time: 10:00
Venue: Newbury
Event will include a Development workshop led by Yinka Soetan.
To attend contact us http://soroptimist-gbi.co.uk/london-chilterns/contact-us/
UKPAC Study Day - Saturday 10th July 2010 - Reading University – Violence Against Women, Stop It Now
For more information see the UKPAC website: www.soroptimist-ukpac.org
AGM and Open Council Meeting, Saturday 9th October 2010, Lancaster Hall Hotel, London
Guest speaker: SIGBI Federation President Jackie Mosedale
Type of meeting: Regional Event
Date: 9 October 2010
Time: 10:00
Venue: Lancaster Hall Hotel, London
To attend contact us http://soroptimist-gbi.co.uk/london-chilterns/contact-us/
For directions see: www.lancaster-hall-hotel.co.uk
Federation Conference, Thursday 21st October to Saturday 23rd October 2010, Manchester
See SIGBI website for details: www.soroptimist-gbi.co.uk
Clubs in the Region
The clubs in the region are:
Aylesbury & District - www.soroptimist-gbi.co.uk/aylesbury-and-district/
Bedford - www.soroptimist-gbi.co.uk/bedford/
Hertford & District - www.soroptimist-gbi.co.uk/hertford-and-district/
High Wycombe & District - www.soroptimist-gbi.co.uk/high-wycombe-and-district/
Lewisham & South East London - www.soroptimist-gbi.co.uk/lewisham-and-south-east-london/
Central & South West London - www.soroptimist-gbi.co.uk/london-central-and-southwest/
Greater London - www.soroptimist-gbi.co.uk/london-greater/
London Mayfair www.soroptimist-gbi.co.uk/london-mayfair/
Newbury & District www.soroptimist-gbi.co.uk/newbury-and-district/
Oxford & District www.soroptimist-gbi.co.uk/oxford-and-district/
Reading Wokingham & Bracknell - www.sirwb.org.uk
Slough Windsor & Maidenhead - www.soroptimist-gbi.co.uk/slough-windsor-and-maidenhead/
St Albans & District - www.soroptimist-gbi.co.uk/st-albans-and-district/
Thames Valley - www.sitv.org.uk
If a club does not have a website please send a message via the Contact Us” button on the left of your screen.
Useful Soroptimist Links
Useful Soroptimist Links
Soroptimist International - www.soroptimistinternational.org
Soroptimist International is the umbrella organisation for Soroptimists worldwide.
Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland - www.soroptimist-gbi.co.uk
The Federation of Great Britain and Ireland, comprises 365 clubs in 28 countries including the UK
63 Bayswater Rd, Soroptimists Residential Club - www.soropclub63.org.uk
63 Bayswater Rd is the home of the Soroptimist Residential Club. Three of our London clubs hold their regular meetings here. It provides high quality hotel accommodation in a great central London location, good business facilities and there is always someone interesting to talk to!
Lancaster Hall Hotel - www.lancaster-hall-hotel.co.uk
Only a short walk around the corner from 63 Bayswater Rd, the Lancaster Hall Hotel is the venue for large Regional meetings in London.
Soroptimist International UK Programme Action Committee - www.soroptimist-ukpac.org
“Women Working Together to Make a Difference”
The United Kingdom Programme Action Committee (UKPAC) provides help and guidance to Soroptimist International (SI) clubs in the UK in devising, planning and carrying out their Programme Action work. The committee is also responsible for co-ordinating national projects and partnerships, and lobbying the UK government on Programme Focus issues.
Project SIerra Quadrennial Project 2007-11 - www.projectsierra.org
Project Sierra - “A Family and a Future”
Soroptimist International Quadrennial Project for 2007-11 is a partnersip with Hope and Homes for Chidren in Sierra Leone which aims to raise over £1 million to transform the lives of some of the most deprived women and chidren in the world.
Breast Cancer Campaign - www.breastcancercampaign.org This is the web site for the Breast Cancer Campaign. .
About the Region
About Soroptimist Clubs in the Region:
For those readers who are not Soroptimists I hope your browsing raises your awareness of Soroptimism and may tempt you to join this wonderful organisation. For fellow Soroptimists I hope your browsing provides you with the information you are looking for.
Soroptimist International of London Chilterns covers a wide area in and around London. The Region is currently made up of 14 clubs: Aylesbury & District, Bedford, Hertford & District, High Wycombe & District, Lewisham, Central & South West London, Greater London, London Mayfair, Newbury & District, Oxford & District, Reading Wokingham & Bracknell, Slough Windsor & Maidenhead, St Albans & District, and Thames Valley. Many of the clubs have their own web sites under “Clubs in the Region”, but if not please send a message via the ”Contact Us” button on the left of your screen. Pictured here are a group of us preparing for a “friendship walk” in Hyde Park in support of Breast Cancer Campaign.
Regional Meetings:
The clubs meet together four times a year, in December, March, June and October. These meetings are open to any Soroptimist and we are happy to welcome visitors from Soroptimist clubs outside the Region.
Regional Workshops:
The Region also organises workshops during the year to bring club officers together in planning work on key issues. Workshops are planned on Programme Action, Membership and Club Development, with a special one for Soroptimists who will become Club Presidents during the next year.
Information about all our meetings, events and workshops are available by clicking on the “Planned Regional Meetings and Events” on the left of your screen, or clicking on this link here http://soroptimist-gbi.co.uk/london-chilterns/planned-regional-meetings/
President’s message
Welcome to the website for Soroptimist International London Chilterns Region.
This message is from Julie Blackwell (pictured below), President Soroptimist International London Chilterns Region 2009/10
The theme for my year as President is “Finest” - I have borrowed Tesco’s premium brand to promote our own premium brand of Soroptimism. I am asking members to think about the following as they go about their daily lives as Soroptimists:
F- Friendship we go beyond our friendship links and assist, help and support other clubs
I – International our programme reaches across country frontiers and geographical boundaries. No country is too far that we cannot reach. In particular remember our SI Disaster Fund, helping those in need as with the recent earthquake and tsunami
N –Networking as part of the bigger picture we meet and exchange and promote the best of our ideas at club, regional and Federation levels – inside and outside of Soroptimism
E – Education an extension of our own fortunate lives, we can share our knowledge and ensure others can benefit
S – Sisters an invisible bond which unites and supports each other, remember our Benevolent Fund as well as our day to day contacts
T – Together we can make a difference
As Soroptimists focused on improving the lives of women and girls, we are also concerned with the environment and climate change. With this in mind, there will be a focus on recycling and environmental support within the context of our support for women and girls. I would like clubs to take up the challenge from Federation President Jackie Mosedale in raising £75 (or multiples of) for 75 water projects in celebration of the Federation 75th year. World Water Day is 22 March 2010 and clubs can either arrange a fundraising event around that day or offer a progress report of what they are doing for the year.
As Soroptimists we work together and unite our strengths, support our local communities and through friendship links and partnerships, we reach out across borders to the Federation beyond. We continue to influence Governments about matters needed to change the life of women – trafficking, domestic violence and abuse, health and recognition of cultural differences which need to be amended.
As a tribute to the Region’s past, present and future work I think the words from poet Christina Rossetti are superbly apt. This extract is the final verse from the ‘Goblin Market’ – itself a story of the survival of two sisters:
For there is no friend like a sister
In calm or stormy weather;
To cheer one on the tedious way,
To fetch one if one goes astray.
To lift one if one totters down,
To strengthen while one stands.
If you are interested in meeting us please click on the “Contact Us” button (on the left of your screen) - after all, there are no strangers, only friends we haven’t met….
Yours in friendship,
Julie Blackwell
President Soroptimist International London Chilterns Region 2009/10
Region Officers
The officers of London Chilterns Region are:
- Regional President - Julie Blackwell
- Immediate Past President - Laura Redhead
- President Elect- Johanna Raffan
- Vice President - Yinka Soetan
- Treasurer - Lynda Smith
- Secretary - Angela Elkholy
- Programme Action Officer - Rita Beaumont
- Quadrennial Project SIerra Liaison - Laura Redhead
- Extension & Membership - Erica Myers-Davies
- Development Officer - Yinka Soetan
- Public Relations Officer - Jane Slatter (pro-tem)
- Website Administrator - Jane Slatter
- Federation Executive Councillor - Jane Slatter
- Benevolent Fund Representative - Irene Stiller
- ‘63′ Liaison - Jenny Vince