FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Joint Regional Conference
Friday 14-Sunday 16 May 2010 Daresbury Hotel, Warrington. ‘Victory over Adversity’
Club Officers Meeting Thursday 3 June 2010
Regional Lunch. Crofters. Sunday 20 June 2010
Summer Cabaret Night. Friday 2 July 2010
Regional Walk Saturday 3 July 2010
UKPAC Study Day. Reading University Saturday 10 July 2010
Regional Fashion Show Thursday 7 October 2010
Federation Conference Thursday 21 - Saturday 23 Ocober 2010. Manchester
Joint Regional Conference 2011. Friday 13 - Sunday 15 May. De Vere Herons Reach, Blackpool. ’Equality - is it working?’
PRESIDENT SHARON:the first four months
REGIONAL PRESIDENTS DIARY
November, December, January, February
Since I took office in Cardiff in October 2009 I have had a wonderful start to my year, from my first Charter event, Champagne Tea with S I Fylde, to my latest S. I. Barrow in Furness’ Charter Dinner.
I am already a third of the way through my year in office and I can’t believe how fast it’s going. From the regional meeting in November, when I travelled through the night to get back from a family party in Stonehaven Scotland to get to Lancaster University, I just knew my year was going to be non stop.
I attended a debate at the Fylde club on gender specific clubs one night and the next night I was attending a fashion show hosted by the Carnforth club. From flower demonstrations to Christmas parties the run up to the end of 2009 was hectic. I attended a South Lancashire Regional meeting; it was interesting to see how another region hosts their meeting.
But the highlight of my year up till then was the International Church Service that was held at Dalton in Furness. As this was the first event I had to organise of course I was a little worried that everything would run smoothly. I’m glad to say that apart from forgetting to pick up my parents (something I will probably never be forgiven for) it was a lovely day with over a hundred attending the church.
The only sad note for 2009 was attending the funeral at Lancaster Priory of Mary Slinger, a very long standing member of S I Lancaster.
2010 arrived and I thought it might be a little quieter in January but no chance. We had the Soroptimist trip to London to see ‘Oliver’ and ‘Sister Act’ and a wonderful escorted tour of the Houses of Parliament.
I attended my first friendship evening at S I Morecambe & Heysham where I was made very welcome and had a very enjoyable time .I also managed to fit in a new Grandson who was born on the 24th of January.
February arrived and the Charter lunches and dinners started in earnest. S I Preston’s was first, closely followed by S I Leyland and S I Garstang and I can assure you I enjoyed all of them; the company, the food and the ambience were excellent. I also attended S I Garstang’s friendship evening ” A Mad Hatters Tea Party.” I hope there are no photos flying around.
In amongst all this fun I also had JRC meetings, Regional executive and Press & Publicity meetings and the incoming president’s get together at Crofter’s, which I feel went very well. It’s nice to meet the ladies taking office.
To finish February off I had my 2nd Regional meeting, I feel I’m getting into the swing of things now, and to finish that day I had my own club Charter dinner, S I Barrow in Furness. It was a lovely relaxed event and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
So that’s my first 4 months in office. I wonder what the next 4 will bring? Watch this space.
Sharon Greenhow
Regional President
North West England & IOM
JOINT REGIONAL CONFERENCE 2010
South Lancashire and North West England & The Isle of Man
14th – 16th May 2010 at the The Daresbury Park Hotel, Daresbury, Warrington
Theme: Victory over Adversity
MEETING TIMES FOR CLUBS
Club, Meeting Venue, Day, Time
Barrow-in-Furness, Michaelson House Hotel, Fairfield Lane, Barrow, 2nd & 4th Tuesday, 7.30pm
Blackburn, Wilpshire Golf Club, 72 Whalley Road, Wilpshire, Blackburn BB1 9LF, 1st & 3rd Mondays. 7.30pm Except July/August
Blackpool, Solaris Centre, Blackpool & Soroptimist House, Fleetwood, 2nd & 4th Thursdays
7.30pm. Except August
Burnley, Belvedere & Caldervale Social Club, 2nd & 4th Tuesdays, 7.30pm
Carnforth & District, Yealand Village Hall, Yealand Conyers, Nr Carnforth, 1st & 3rd Wednesdays
Except August, 7.30pm
Douglas, Hilton Hotel, Douglas, Isle of Man, 2nd Wednesday, 8.00pm
The Fylde, Soroptimist House, Rear 7.8 St George’s Square, St Annes, 1st & 3rd Tuesdays, 7.30pm
Garstang, Garstang Country Hotel & Golf Club, 2nd & 4th Wednesday, 7.30pm
Grange-over-Sands, United Reformed Church Hall, Kents Bank Road, Grange-over-Sands, 1st Tuesday Except August, 7.30pm
Lancaster, Conference Room, Central Lancaster High School, 2nd & 4th Thursdays
Except August, 7.30pm
Leyland, CVS Centre,78 Towngate, Leyland, Preston PR25 2LR, 1st & 3rd Mondays, 8.00pm
Morecambe & Heysham, Bare Village Club, Morecambe, 2nd & 4th Thursdays, 7.30pm
Pendleside, Burnley & Pendle Faith Centre, Burnley Campus, Barden Lane, Burnley BB10 1JD, 1st & 3rd Mondays, 7.30pm
Preston, County Hall, Fishergate, Preston PR1 9JX, 1st & 3rd Wednesdays
Except August, 7.30pm
Rishton & Great Harwood, Rishton Golf Club, Eachill Links, Hawthorn Drive, Rishton, BB1 4HG, 2nd & 4th Tuesdays, 7.30pm
Rossendale, Sykeside Country House Hotel, Rawtenstall, 1st & 3rd Tuesdays, 7.45pm
Windermere & District, Hydro Hotel, Bowness-on-Windermere, 2nd Thursday
Except August & December, 7.15pm
PRESIDENT’S WELCOME
Welcome to the North West of England and the Isle of Man section of the website. I hope you all find it interesting and informative.
My chosen theme for the year is the ‘3Rs’ Refresh, Renew and Revitalize.
I want us to refresh peoples’ views of Soroptimism, to renew our efforts to recruit new members, to revitalize our clubs by encouraging more members to attend regional meetings and friendship evenings and attending conferences. I feel members would get a much better idea of the bigger picture of Soroptimist International, and the wonderful work that is done world wide if they did.
I am sure like all the presidents throughout the federation I am not alone in being concerned about members not taking executive positions both at club and regional level but I hope in 2010 to see everyone take a good look at why they have not attempted to try at least one executive job since becoming a member. I know soroptimists like to recycle but some officers are due a break.
For my year in office I have chosen “ Derian House” the children’s hospice as my charity. I have quite a few grandchildren, thankfully all in good health at present, but you should never take a child’s health for granted. No one ever knows what is in the future and this is the only childrens’ hospice in our region so I feel sure we will all support this worthy charity.
I am looking forward to my year in office and to seeing as many of you as possible at various events.
Sharon Greenhow
S I KUMBA LITERACY PROJECT
Sue Smith, the Regional Programme Action Officer,
received the following letter
from the Regional Friendship link
Dear Sue,
We send your greetings from Kumba in Cameroon. It was good to read from you,
especially as your message contained very good news. Thanks indeed for your
efforts, and the wonderful contribution of your sisters in the Northwest of
England and Isle of Man region, in helping us reduce illiteracy rate among women
in Kumba.
The literacy center is still closed for the end of the academic year holiday.
This period allows the teachers some rest, and our students time to cultivate
thir farms. Our endeavour to improve the living conditions the female prison inmates
continues. We bought them treated mosquito nets to reduce the incidence of malaria
which is a persistent menace.
To make their rooms a bit comfortable we bought and installed two wall fans.
The literacy centre reopens early October;; other institutions would by then be
functioning. It would then be easy to recruit willing and gratified teachers. It
would be perfect timing if your support gets to us before this month.
Lydia Enongene
REGIONAL MEETINGS
2010 all Saturdays . . . .
27 February 2010
19 June 2010
11 September 2010
06 November 2010 - note date change
all @ Lancaster University
CLUBS IN THE NORTH WEST ENGLAND AND THE ISLE OF MAN REGION
Barrow in Furness. President: Prue Kenley
Blackburn. President: Isobel Groves
Blackpool. President: Jean Priestley
Burnley. President: Pauline Frost-Hardwick
Carnforth and District. Joint Presidents: Carolyn Lowe and Hilary Allinson
Douglas. President: Wilma Prentice
Fylde. President: Pat Fergusson
Garstang. President: Dawn Oliver
Grange over Sands. President: Margaret Dennis
Lancaster. President: Elizabeth Roberts
Leyland. President: Bernadette Newby
Morecambe and Heysham. President: Marion Heaton and Hazel Evans
Pendleside. President: Maureen Howarth
Preston. President: Greta Krypczyk-Oddy
Rishton and Great Harwood. President: Mary Pollard
Rossendale. President: Maureen Griffin
Windermere and District. President: Jill Davies
CLUB OFFICERS
Regional Officers – 2009-2010
President: Sharon Greenhow
President Elect: Judith Grocott
Vice President
Immediate Past President: Marie Blacktop
Secretary: Edna Haselden
Treasurer: Michelle Smith
Programme Action Officer: Sue Smith
Extension & Membership: Pat Fergusson
Federation Councillor: Linda Beddows
Minuting Secretary : Margarete Hughes
Programme Action Minuting Sec: Joan Lunt
Project SIerra Ambassador - June Gabbitas