About our Region
Welcome to the Region of Soroptimist International of Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland is a country within the United Kingdom lying in the north east of the island of Ireland. It covers 5,459 sq miles (14,139sq metres) - about a sixth of the island’s total area. It shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west. Its population is approximately 1.7 million - about 3% of the population of the United Kingdom. Northern Ireland consists of six of the nine counties of the historic Irish province of Ulster.
Soroptimist International of Northern Ireland has 16 Clubs in its region. These include:-Ballymena, Ballymoney, Bangor, Belfast, Coleraine, Downpatrick, Dungannon, Enniskillen, Larne, Lisburn, Londonderry, Lurgan, Newtownabbey, Newtownards, Newry and Mourne and Portadown.
The Regional Executive Team includes:
President - Jackie Gilmour
President Elect - Eleanor Ferris
Regional Vice President - Hazel Holmlund
Regional Im. Past President - Kate Courtenay
Honorary Secretary - Isobel McComb
Honorary Treasurer - Valerie Miskimmon
Programme Action Chair - Maura Maginn
Extension and Membership - Doreen Tennis
Federation Councillor - Irenë Orr
Biographies on our Regional Officers may be found on a separate page.
Club News
Sharon McCaffrey (third from the left) with Federation President Marguerite Woodstock-Riley and other soroptimists.
Soroptimist International of Northern Ireland were delighted when it was announced that Sharon McCaffery - S I Ballmoney was awarded a scholarship to attend the 74th Federation Conference in Barbados from 29th October - 1st November 2008.
SI Dungannon held a Sponsored walk around Dungannon Park lake in aid of Regional President Kate’s charity ‘Mum’s for Mums’. We got a bit wet but warmed up with coffee and scones at Alison’s house nearby. A fun morning.
GRANT OF FRIENDSHIP:
On Saturday 3 October 2009 Jen Loughridge travelled to Melbourne to spend two weeks with members of the 14 Clubs in the Victoria region under the Grant of Friendship scheme. At the moment Jen has no more details about her visit, only that she will be spending time in Melbourne, Ballarat and Bendigo. Jen will keep us posted and take our greetings to all the Clubs she visits.
TALK ABOUT AN OPPORTUNITY? Soroptimist International’s 27th Annual Youth Award Public Speaking Competition, supported by Progressive Building Society.
The final of Soroptimist International’s NI 27th Annual Youth Award Competition, supported by the Progressive Building Society, will be held on Saturday 27 February 2010 in Belfast High School, 740 Shore Road, Newtownabbey BT27 0PX at 12.30 p.m. Fifteen girls will compete for the handsome perpetual trophy, a £250 bursary and the chance to deliver their speech at the North/South Annual Soroptimist Conference in Athlone in May. The winner’s school will also receive book tokens to mark the win.
Soroptimist International, Downpatrick & District Club welcomed the new Northern Ireland Regional President, Jackie Gilmour and Federation Counsellor, Irene Orr to their Club meeting on Tuesday 17 November 2009.
Carbon Footprint Leaflet produced by Downpatrick and District Soroptimists
Soroptimists International Goals for years 2009-2010 includes Objective 6 – “Mitigate the effects of Climate Change and Integrate sustainability into personal choices and government policies and programmes.”
In the light of recent activity in relation to Climate Change issues and the Copenhagen Talks, Downpatrick and District Soroptimists have produced a Carbon Footprint Leaflet relevant to Northern Ireland. Isabel Hood, a Lecturer in Environmental Studies and Economics with the Open University, provided invaluable assistance and guidance.
The leaflet is designed to raise awareness of, and provide ideas on how to reduce, the individual and family’s carbon footprint. For example it provides website details to allow readers to work out their own carbon footprint. This site also provides suggestions how to “offset” that energy use. Also did you know that in Northern Ireland car use is higher than any other region in the UK. The leaflet also encourages the reduction of packaging from supermarkets.
While the leaflet was produced by Downpatrick Soroptimists Club, following presentation to our Regional Programme Action Committee, it is to be rolled out across Northern Ireland in 2010 via our sister Soroptimist clubs for distribution in their local areas. Our club is to provide guidance and suggestions based on our experiences.
We are delighted to be able to say that Down District Council have permitted us to locate leaflets in all Council run centres including Museums, Arts & Leisure Centres in the New Year. Through our involvement with our local Council this will provide a template of action for other other Soroptimist clubs in the Province to follow.
We are aware of the Leaflet’s value as an educational tool within schools. For example primary schools p3-p5 curriculum includes “The World Around Us”. Down District Council Educational Officers have agreed to include the Carbon Footprint leaflet in their “Eco News” leaflet that goes out twice a year to all schools in the District, (64 in total of which 19 are post primary).
The Carbon Footprint Leaflet is available to download FREE from our website www.soroptimists.info
Miriam Hamilton, Club President of Soroptimist International Downpatrick and District presents specialist equipment for the Sensory Room of the Special Needs Unit to Colin McCready (pupil) and Jean Campbell (acting Vice-Principal). The £1100 used to purchase the equipment had been raised by The Downpatrick Soroptimists walking in the Belfast Marathon last year. Members are getting into training again for this years event.
Miriam, formerly a physiotherapist with the unit, now provides aromatherapy sessions for the pupils on a voluntary basis.
IMPORTANT REGIONAL DATES
1st meeting - Regional Council will be held on Saturday 14 November 2009 in Sandelford School, Rugby Road, Coleraine at 1.30 p.m.
2nd meeting - Regional Council will be held on Saturday 13 February 2010 in The Village Centre, 7 Ballynahinch Road, Hillsborough at 1.30 p.m.
3rd meeting - Regional Council will be held on Wednesday 14 April 2010 in Newtownabbey (note evening meeting).
4th meeting - Regional Council
Annual General Meeting - 8 May 2010, Athlone
President’s Lunch and Workshop - 10.00 a.m., 23 January 2010 for all incoming Club Presidents - Newtownabbey Council Offices, Mossley Mill, Newtownabbey.
Regional Final of the Youth Award Public Speaking Competition - Saturday 27 February 2010 in Belfast High School, Shore Road, Newtownabbey.
Joint North South 2010 Conference - 7 - 9 May 2010, Shamrock Lodge Country House Hotel, Athlone.