Soroptimist International South West Pacific

October is the birth month of Eleanor Roosevelt, a woman of the world who worked to improve the lives of people all over the world, and assisted in writing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. I came across this quote from Eleanor "You can often change your circumstances by changing your attitude."  

Over the past few months our Soroptimists attitude has been challenged, the SI convention provided opportunities to expand our knowledge across several pillars as we listened to expert speakers, we increased our Soroptimist knowledge.  Last week in Kuala Lumpur I attended the Thriving Futures program along with 28 Soroptimists from 10 of our 13 countries. 

The Thriving Futures program (a 6 months Leadership, Retention and Extension program, which included 3 days face to face, and 1 day strategic planning day)  is about changing attitudes.  The course content covered personal development, leadership strengths, effective meetings and planning, this led into planning and strategies for SISEAP retention and recruitment.  Soroptimist International and the members will benefit greatly from this training.  The women bonded, were frank and honest about membership in their clubs, there was much sharing of ideas and what did and did not work, the attendees all finished day 3 on a high, and were eager to take back learnings to their club members. 

Day of the Girl Child advocacy program is about changing attitudes, we need our young girls to be resilient and strong as they face adversity at every step as they strive forward in this world. We need to educate our men, employers and boys, that women are equal.  The programme team have prepared two excellent interviews with young women and a toolkit to assist you with your advocacy and social media campaigns.  

Language as a tool for communication.  Recently I have had the opportunity to visit Soroptimists in a range of countries, language and communication was often a topic.  English is the official Soroptimist language, but we make all efforts to be inclusive to members who have English as their 2^nd language, and part of this inclusiveness is that the website now can be read in all the languages of our member countries. Yet whilst this has been communicated many times, it is only as I have been visiting countries and demonstrating this, that I got the “oohs and ahhs”, the smiles and high fives,  so please make sure that all your members know where and how to change the language for improved communication. The bulletin and e-span can also be converted to other languages but not all the languages of our Federation.  Club meetings do not have to be conducted in English they can be conducted in the language of the country. 

 As a Soroptimist there has been much change in the past months, but remember it is about how you react to this change, and remaining positive to what is important to you about being a Soroptimist is the key.  There is always work to do to improve the lives of women and girls and you are the one to do it.

Yours in Soroptimist friendship,

Christine Johnstone
President 2022-2024
Soroptimist International South East Asia Pacific
swppresident2022@siswp.org

How important is it to you to make a difference?  During my recent Cultural Exchange visit to Mongolia, I was accompanied by Federation Life Member Lorna Mead, Catherine Evans and Cherrie Power. We visited with the 4 Soroptimists club’s and their members, witnessing firsthand how being a Soroptimist does make that difference. The Mongolian Soroptimists projects meet many of the Federation’s 8 objectives.

Homelessness is at a crisis point in many of our Federation countries and the SI Darkhan Ger Project (a Ger is a Mongolian dwelling ideally suited to Mongolia’s harsh terrain and lifestyle) provides a home to a woman and her family. This year in partnership with other Soroptimist clubs and individual members they were able to present 3 women with a Ger. Providing a shelter and a home where plans and dreams can be made for the future.

After the official presentation of the 3 new Gers, we visited a previous benefactor who was so pleased to invite us to afternoon tea and show us her home. If you ever doubt that your work as a Soroptimist is not making a Difference, look at how proud this woman is, sharing her home and food, and showing us a big bowl of cranberries which she grew, and her vegetable garden. She wanted me to convey her thanks to the members of SI Palmerston North who provided her with the seeds to grow the cranberries and also contributed to the purchase of her Ger. This is why we are Soroptimists, to provide life changing opportunities

The Soroptimist International Convention is over, and still the positive ripples continue. This month SI announces the Visible and Vocal public speaking competition, open to any clubs in Australia and to clubs in one of our Federations non-commonwealth countries, please see the article below for all details. I encourage all eligible clubs to nominate. 

Congratulations to the successful nominees for Federation positions for 2024-2026 Biennium. Your energy, support and dedication to the vision and mission of SISEAP is acknowledged and valued. There are still a couple of positions vacant and I encourage all members to consider applying.

It is now officially spring in the Southern Hemisphere. Spring signals new growth, make this spring a time for Soroptimist clubs to implement their projects for the remainder of the year and into the new year.

A global voice for women, Soroptimists voices were indeed strong and loud over the last week in July, as 1,700 Soroptimists from across the globe convened in Dublin. A taxi driver remarked to one of our Federation Soroptimists “So many women in town, what is going on?”. We were indeed visual and vocal. The SISEAP Federation was well represented at the convention, with over 100 members attending, the group photo tells it all.

Joining us for the group photo was Soroptimist International IPP Sharon Fisher and President Maureen. The Australian Soroptimists were easily recognisable, thanks to the efforts of the New South Wales Region, who organized an indigenous inspired shirt, this was a great hit, and I know many other Soroptimists from across the globe were asking for one as a souvenir.

I was very proud to address the convention on behalf of our SISEAP members, showcasing our impact for 2021, 2022 and 2023. You can view the recording on the SISEAP Youtube site HERE. The convention was packed with quality speakers and Soroptimists news announcements, such as a remodelled emblem to lead our International movement into the next 100 years, the Soroptimist International Foundation which will permanently replace the SI Presidents Appeal, more information about the foundation and the emblem will be sent to members as it becomes available. Incoming SI President Siew Yong Gnanalingam presented her welcome address via video, as a Federation we stand united to assist Siew Yong when she takes up her international position in January. Siew Yong’s theme, “Save Mother Earth, Save the Future”, is very dear to SISEAP, as we all know the devastating effects of climate disaster. Her video will be available in coming days on the SISEAP Youtube site.

I will ask that all SISEAP members who attended convention deliver to their clubs, regions and or countries a detailed report of the positive outcomes, workshops, the posters showcasing projects across the 5 Federations and the warmth and friendships experienced by all, including the logistic nightmare of moving 1,700 women from floor 6 to ground level for morning tea and back again in 30 minutes. The 5 Federations delivered workshops, SISEAP’s workshop “Climate Change – Women Leading the Way” was well attended, we had to turn away many people as both sessions were oversubscribed. The programme team will be reporting on the success of the workshop and its takeouts for members to action on a personal and club level.

Our Federation presented to SI President Maureen a beautiful set of pearls as a thank you for her leadership. Maureen was overwhelmed by this gift, please see the image below shared by Maureen at the Gala Dinner.

Soroptimists came away from the SI Convention, inspired, renewed and ready for the Challenge to take Soroptimist International into a bright future.

I am very pleased to announce that SISEAP received one nomination for President Elect for 2024-2026, and wish to announce that Anthea Penny, member of SI North Canterbury will take up the position of SISEAP President Elect on the 1 June 2024.

Please congratulate Anthea on her appointment.

Please view her address to the members HERE. 

SISEAP Federation positions for the biennium 2024–2026 are open and I urge all Soroptimists to consider nominating for this vital work. Our Federation cannot go forth and be the change maker we all desire without the volunteer work of Soroptimists to take on these rewarding roles.

I am currently away touring Northern Ireland with 30 other Soroptimists from across 4 Federations. Once again being a Soroptimist affords us such amazing friendships. I leave you with this image of a very wet Connemara, this area of the Wild Atlantic coastline and the 12 Ben Mountains would have been magical had we been able to see it, but that is the joy of travelling, you never know what you are going to get.

Yours in Soroptimist friendship,

Christine Johnstone
President 2022-2024
Soroptimist International South East Asia Pacific
swppresident2022@siswp.org