Loud and proud in SI South East England Olivia Ogunko, from Tonbridge


The regional final of Loud


SI South West & Channel Islands Conference


The South West and Channel


Islands Region held its 70th AGM and Conference at the Headland Hotel Newquay Cornwall on 26th June. SI St Austell hosted the 18 Clubs


in the Region. Federation President Jackie was a special guest, as a member of SI Yeovil. Region President Elect Mary


McNaughton gave a resume of the Clubs’ activities throughout the year, during which an extremely impressive £84,000.00 had been raised by Clubs in the Region for local, International, Soroptimist Charities and sponsorships. Good practice awards for their


Programme Action work were given to SI Cheltenham, SI Plymouth and SI Torquay. The guest speakers were two very successful local women; firstly Xenia Irwin, Master of Wine, who loves her job travelling around the world tasting, blending and ordering wine, the other speaker was Professor Liz Kay, Inaugural Dean of the Peninsula School. Even in the 21st century they


are, as women in a minority in their positions. Photo shows Region President


Wendy Plaice (SI St Austell), Prof Liz and Sally Wilding (also SI St Austell).


and Proud, a public speaking competition for girls aged 14-19 in full time education, took place in Maidstone, Kent, on 26 June. Local heats held across the region during May and June produced four finalists in Group 1 (Years 9-11), and three in Group 2 (Years 12-13). SI South East England initiated this competition with the aims:


• To encourage girls to play a more prominent part in public life • To improve the art of communication • To encourage girls to develop the skill to speak effectively and to articulate with clarity • To develop confidence and personality


Grammar School, impressed the judges with her speech, “All Life is a Constant Education” and won a trophy and a £50 book token as first prize in Group 1. Group 2 winner, Lourdes Webb,


from Invicta Grammar School, Maidstone, won a similar prize by inspiring the judges with her talk on “How High Can a Girl Fly?”. Second prizes of £25 book


tokens were won by Maria Jane, from the Charles Dickens School, Broadstairs, (Group 1) and Charlie Hall, of Tonbridge Grammar School, (Group 2). £10 book tokens were won by third prize winners Katie Major, from Dover Grammar School for Girls and Abigail Metcalfe, of Hillview School, Tunbridge Wells, in Groups 1 & 2.


Jan Day, SE Region President, centre, with Lourdes Webb, left, Years 12-13 winner, and Olivia Ogunko, right, Years 9-11 winner,


With her customary flair,


SI Wales South Regional Evening Supper & Ideas evenings were


held in the West, Middle and the East of the Wales South Region in June. These evenings were attended by all but one Club and there was a positive Soroptimist buzz in all three evenings. Wales South Soroptimists are keen and enthusiastic to move our organisation forward. The evenings were opened by Regional President Sue and Vice President/ Extension and Membership Officer Rhian Williams. Members heard how SI Barry


with Past President Iris Hopkins changed the running of the Club and presidential year. All members felt valued and had an input as they were put into groups with a leader who had responsibility to organise three or four months of the year with guest speakers and one


Jacque Emery of SI Canterbury co-ordinated the event with SI Ashford, Folkestone, Maidstone, Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells, and adjudicated the final with Jan Day, South East Regional President. Candidates delivered a prepared


fundraising event. Goridan Appleton, Past President


of SI Carmarthen talked about a day time meeting for the older members of the Club every other month, with a variety of activities/ talks arrranged specifically for them and these members now felt part of SI Carmarthen as they could attend a meeting and avoid missing out on the Soroptimist news. After talks by Iris and Gordina,


Ann Hodgson, Federation Councillor Wales South gave details of marketing our Clubs. Supper was enjoyed by all in all three venues - Nantyffin Hotel near Narberth, Churchills, Cardiff and Aberavon Beach Hotel. Past Federation President Carwen Wynne-Howells joined the meeting at Nantyffin.


speech and also gave an impromptu address from a selection of topics which they were given on the day. They were judged on the content and structure of their speeches and their ability to communicate with and engage the audience.


The organisers were impressed by


the exceptional oratory displayed by the young women and felt that the event more than achieved its aims. It was also very enjoyable, thanks to the participation of the girls and their teachers, families and friends, as well as Soroptimists from across the entire South East Region, and Regional President, Jan, warmly thanks everyone who supported it. Such was the success of this


project that arrangements are already underway to repeat the event next year.


SI Cheshire, North Wales & Wirral Members from Cheshire, North Wales and Wirral Region were honoured to


receive invitations to a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in July. Looking stunning from the left Anne Barnard and Jacquie Weatherill from SI Nantwich & District, Mair Jones from SI Bangor and District and Noreen Yule from SI Runcorn Frodsham & District. Ciss Lloyd and Enid Griffiths from SI Bangor & District also attended.


Soroptimist News SEPTEMBER 2010 23


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28