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Welcome to 2025. I hope you all had a relaxing time over the festive season and are now ready and energised to plan for the Soroptimist year ahead.

During April Membership Month, we are excited to invite you to an opportunity to attend a SISEAP webinar. You will hear from members and clubs about their insights on a successful member recruitment strategy. It will be an opportune time to pick up tips and enthuse our clubs into 2025.

Four speakers from across Australia, Asia, and New Zealand/Pacific will share a short presentation on the 'how', the outcomes and their experience of a thriving recruitment action plan.

The webinar concludes with a Q & A session and is free to members.

DATE: Sunday 13th April 2025
TIME: 3:30 pm AEST (Duration 1.5hr - 2hr)

Kristeen Johnston

SISEAP Membership Convenor 2024-2026

membership.kristeen@siseap.org

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SI Mongolia Friendship Tour 2025

SI Ulaanbaatar and SI Darkhan invite Soroptimists to visit with them from the 19 -25th of August 2025

For the twin Charter Celebrations of:

25th Charter Celebration of SI Ulaanbaatar

20th Charter Celebration of SI Darkhan

Soroptimist will enjoy the hospitality of our Soroptimist sisters whilst visiting a unique part of the world.   

A action packed itinerary has been prepared by our Soroptimist sisters,  visiting Ulaanbaatar, Tereli Camp, Darkhan, Kharaa River, Selenge province, overnight in a Ger camp, Tujiin Nars National Park, Chinggis Khaan memorial and the two anniversay dinners.  Including an option to take a additional tour to Khuvsgul.

For all information, and to register your interest

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Information regarding the 2025 SISEAP Company AGM and General Meeting being held on 10 May 2025 and the Federation Meeting being held on 18 May 2025.  

Call to clubs to submit any resolutions to the company constitution to Company Secretary Theresa Lyford companysecretary@siseap.org and resolutions for the Federation meeting sent to Federation Secretary Berice federationsecretary@siseap.org

Deadline for submission 15 February 2025.

The Company By-Laws state that Resolutions for the Company AGM and General Meeting require the following:
14.2.1 For general meetings of the company – by the directors or by members (clubs) with at least 5% of the votes

14.4 Any motion which requires a special resolution (e.g. to amend the company constitution, wind up the company and change classes of membership) must be voted on at a hybrid, virtual or physical (face to face) general meeting and shall require the agreement of at least seventy five percent (75%) of all members entitled to vote.

The Federation meeting will consist of general Federation business, Best Practice Awards for Programme and  Membership, and the National President reports.  

The Company By-Laws state that Resolutions for Federation Meetings require the following:
14.2.3 For Federation meetings – moved by one member (club) and seconded by another

All resolutions will need to be written on the  Resolutions form prior to 4pm Sydney time (AEDT) on 15 February 2025 to allow for internal processing and distribution to members (clubs).

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International Women's Day Webinar 

Sunday 2nd March, 3pm AEDT 
Theme:  For all Women and Girls: Rights Equality and Empowerment

The theme has universal relevance across our 13 countries,  it addresses fundamental human rights and the Beijing Platform for Action, Our expert speakers will talk about their own stories and how their Soroptimist work and the work of our members empowers, not just individual women and girls but whole communities.

Speakers: SISEAP President Joanne Yeoh, Asst Programme Convenor Dr. Saradah Narayanan, Manager of Gusmao Reading Room Timor Leste Maria Amaral Guterres and Aotearoa New Zealand National Project Lead Andrea Murray.

Moderator: SISEAP Programme Convenor Dr. Donnell Davis.
MC: SISEAP Communications Convenor Hanaa Wong Abdullah

Register for the event and further information

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SISEAP PRESIDENT-ELECT 2026-2028 BIENNIUM
Nomination & Election Process

Nominations are invited for the position of Federation President-Elect 2026-2028. The successful candidate will automatically become Federation President for the 2028-2030 Biennium.
Completed nominations must be sent to Federation Secretary/Returning officer federationsecretary@siseap.org and SISEAP HQ hq@siseap.org by 27 March 2025 5pm AEDT

Read more for the list of those who are Eligible to Nominate, Eligibility Criteria, Roles & Responsibilities, Election Timeline and Nomination and CV Forms.

NOMINATION & CV FORMS

The list shown below in alphabetical order was extracted from the SISEAP Database and comprises those members who have completed at least two (2) years of service during the past 8 years.  However, they may not meet all the criteria requirements. (Note this list excludes those who have already declined to nominate):

Tasneem Ali                                                    Linna Khorn                                                 

Kimberley Berem                                            Hermione June Langton

Zareena Bi                                                        Audrey Lo        

Helena Cheah                                                  Sokphima Ly

Dulambayar Dorjzovd                                      Rhonda MacDonald

Maria Doton                                                    Anita Prasad

Catherine Evans                                             Oyungerel Rentsen

Wendy Evans                                                  Sandra Richards

Joanne Fannin                                                Veena Sharma

Ralda Forzin                                                    Anne Sheehan

Linda Gan                                                       Sineat Som

Hnin Nu Hlaing                                                 Bunthary Srun

Sylva Hutagalung                                            Oriana Titisari   

Tjandra Kerton                                                Dorjsuiyaa Yondonperenlei

Tasneem Ali from SI Nadi has advised she is willing to be nominated for this position.

All those eligible to stand for election for the position of Federation President-Elect for the 2026-2028 Biennium have been emailed by the Federation Secretary on 25 January.

Eligibility Criteria for President-Elect Position

  • Have served as a President of her club or region
  • Have served as a member on the Federation Board, Federation Officer, Committee Convenor, Assistant Convenor, National Representative/ President for two years within the past eight years
  • Be an active member

Election Process Timeline

1 February 2025                    Notice to Clubs regarding election of Federation

                                                 President-Elect

                                                  List of eligible members

                                                  Nomination Form

                                                  President-Elect Roles and Responsibilities

27 March 2025                      Nominations close at 5pm AEDT to Federation

                                                 Secretary and HQ Officer

1 April 2025                           Result announced if only one nomination received

                                                 OR

                                                 Nominations and CVs for Federation President-Elect position emailed to clubs and uploaded to the website

14 May 2025                           Electronic voting begins if required

29 May 2025                           Electronic voting closes at midnight AEST

1 June 2025                            Result of election emailed to members

Federation Fees 2025

A reminder for Clubs who have not taken advantage of the Early Payment Discount that the final due date to pay full fees to HQ is 28 February 2025.

INFORMATION ON MEMBERSHIP FEES

2025 Club Position Holders Changeovers

Each year after the Club AGM, the newly elected Club Officers & Position Holders need to be added into our database. It is very important that each Club completes this task by 31 March 2025.  See ICT Latest News for information on how to. 

Welcome Programme Zone Coordinator 4

Welcome to Elizabeth Harrison who has recently joined the Federation Programme Team as Programme Zone Coordinator 4. See link below for the full Federation Leadership team along with their email addresses

LEADERSHIP TEAM

New Name Badge Design

We are thrilled to announce a fresh update to our SISEAP name badges.  The new design incorporates the new SI emblem, includes our Federation name and is consistent with our SISEAP branding colours. The new design is available now.

New Member Badges

We're also excited to announce that we have received our newly designed member badges, featuring the new SI emblem and our Federation name. These are now available for purchase. Our previous badges with the old SI emblem will continue to be sold until stocks run out at a discounted price.

Updated Membership Post Cards

We have just received updated stock of membership postcards featuring the new SI emblem. These postcards are a fantastic tool for promoting SISEAP and engaging prospective members.

Get yours today and help spread the word about SISEAP.

SHOP ORDER FORMS & CATALOGUE

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Stay informed! Below you will find the latest information from ICT. Don't miss out on important information for members and clubs.

Google Gemini AI

Announcing that Google has released Gemini to Not for Profits (NFP).  SISEAP's license with Google allows the use of the basic version of Google's Gemini AI.

  • Access:

    1. Open your SISEAP email account.

    2. Click on the Google Apps grid. (This is usually represented by a grid of squares or dots.)

    3. Click on "Gemini."

  • Features: The basic version of Gemini offers a range of helpful AI capabilities:

  1. Ask questions: Get answers to a wide variety of inquiries.
  2. Task assistance: Receive help with various tasks, such as scheduling, research, and more.
  3. Text summarization: Condense lengthy articles or text into shorter summaries.
  4. Image generation: Create basic graphic images based on your descriptions.
  5. AI interaction: Explore and experiment with different AI interactions.

What we don't get is the more advanced features, such as the integration with Google Meet where you are able to keep a text recording of your meeting. These are all extras which are not provided under the NFP grant.


GoTo Webinar

Great news, it was recently announced that GoTo now integrate Interprefy on all their Goto Webinars. Now when you hold a Webinar using the GOTO platform, your audience can request to have the session translated. 

This will enable your webinars to be more inclusive and this provides opportunities to increase your audience participation and awareness.

  • Chinese (Mandarin)
  • Chinese (Cantonese)
  • English
  • Indonesian
  • International Sign Language
  • Thai

Whilst it does not cover all of our Federation's countries' native languages, there are many European languages and these will continue to expand.

What does this mean for SISEAP? It means that your webinars can be more inclusive, that you can present a webinar in your native language and the translation service will translate to English or one of the other languages, this provides opportunities to increase your audience participation and awareness.

Please contact Webinar Training Coordinator Sue Latta at meetings@siseap.org for more information or assistance on setting up your next webinar.

Notice for clubs which use Humanitix for event booking

Recently the NFP ticketing rate for SISEAP users for Humanitix had reverted to the general fee. They were contacted and they have reapplied the NFP booking fee to all SISEAP account holders. Next time you are creating an event, please check your ticket sales to ensure that you are being charged the NFP price for ticket sales.

The right-hand column is the NFP discount price per ticket:


Add Club Position Holders to the Members Database

The club secretary, president, treasurer or ICT (for the previous year) will have to log onto the website,  go to Members on the left-hand menu,  and scroll down to club positions link to update their current club position holders. 

WEBSITE TIPSHEETS HERE

ICT Liaison

Christine Johnstone

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Updated Membership Post Card

We are excited to announce that we have just received updated stock of membership postcards featuring the SI emblem! These postcards are a fantastic tool for promoting SISEAP and engaging prospective members.

Simply fill out the Shop Order Form and send it back to HQ at hq@siseap.org to process!

Get yours today and help spread the word about SISEAP.

SHOP ORDER FORM & CATALOGUE

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Membership Best Practice Awards 2025

Clubs are invited to celebrate their membership initiatives and successes.

GREAT NEWS!

Along with the Best Practice Award certificate, clubs have an exciting opportunity to win prizes! This is for the Recruitment Award only.

1. The highest number of new members recruited for a club from 1st April 2024 - 31st March 2025. 1st prize AU$100, 2nd prize AU$75.

2. The highest % growth in membership for a club from 1st April 2024 - 31st March 2025. 1st prize A$100, 2nd prize A$75

Nominations will be sought in the 1 February and 1 March Bulletin, with a close-off date of 25 March 2025. The Awards will be presented at the Federation meeting on 18th May 2025.

SISEAP Recruitment and Retention Membership Award 2025

Noting number of new members and membership % increase from 1st April 2024 - 31st March 2025, plus the provision of a 2024 Recruitment and Retention Plan, and a photo or photos

NOMINATON FORM HERE

SISEAP Friendship Links Award 2025

noting activities undertaken with a Friendship Link Club in the past two years (social, training, programme, and/or other).

NOMINATION FORM HERE

SISEAP Diversity of Membership Award 2025 

What is your understanding of the importance of diversity in a Soroptimist club, and how has your club taken steps to enhance inclusivity and diverse representation?Share examples of how your club has worked to create an inclusive environment within your Soroptimist club, ensuring diverse voices are heard and respected. Diversity can include a range of cultures, ages, skills, socio-economic backgrounds, geographical locations, abilities and disabilities, and membership categories, all showing the club's inclusive nature. Supply a photo/s showing the diversity of your club, if possible.

NOMINATION FORM HERE

SISEAP Membership Innovation Award 2025

An open award that showcases a club’s creativity and/or originality, a positive impact, potential for sustainability or adaptability, and instances of collaboration or partnerships, with a membership outcome for training or recruitment or retention.

NOMINATION FORM HERE

Kristeen Johnston

SISEAP Membership Convenor 2024-2026

membership.kristeen@siseap.org

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Federation Fees 2025

All Clubs have been emailed notification of the Federation Fees and the Annual Return Packs for 2025.

All Soroptimists:
A reminder that the due date for Soroptimists to pay their membership fee to their Club is 31 December 2024.

All Clubs:
To be eligible for the Early Payment Discount. Federation Fees must be received at HQ by no later than 31 January 2025.  Otherwise, the final due date for Clubs to pay fees is 28 February 2025.

INFORMATION ON MEMBERSHIP FEES

HQ Office Holiday Closure

The SISEAP HQ Office will be closed for the holiday period from Monday 23 December 2024 through to Monday 6 January 2025. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and all the best for 2025

SISEAP Shop - End of Year Orders

Orders with Name Badges – Order and payment must be received by 12pm Wed 4 December
Orders without Name Badges – Order and payment must be received by 5pm  Tues 10 December

16 Days of Activism Ribbon
We want to remind you that our 16 Days of Activism Ribbons are available for purchase! By wearing one of these ribbons, you can show your support for this crucial cause and help raise awareness about the need to end gender-based violence. Don’t miss your chance to make a difference—get yours today and join us in taking a stand during this important campaign!

New Name Badge Design

We are thrilled to announce a fresh update to our SISEAP name badges.  The new design incorporates the new SI emblem, includes our Federation name and is consistent with our SISEAP branding colours.
The new design is available now.

New Member Badges - Coming Soon
We’re excited to announce that a new design for our member badges is currently in progress, featuring the new SI emblem. In the meantime, we are offering our existing badges with the old emblem at discounted prices. This is a great opportunity to grab your badge at a fantastic price while we transition to the new design. Stay tuned for updates on the launch of our fresh look!

SHOP ORDER FORMS & CATALOGUE

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We are excited to invite you to an impactful online event: Preventing Gender-Based Violence. Mark your calendars for 26 November 2024 6pm AEDT, and be ready to engage in critical discussions that can drive change in our communities.

This event features an amazing lineup of guest speakers who are renowned experts and advocates in the field of gender-based violence prevention. They will share their insights, strategies, and experiences, equipping you with the tools and knowledge necessary to make a difference.

All attendees will have access to the recording for 30 days following the event.

REGISTER NOW

Tickets are $40 for non-members and $35 for members. 

Members can use the code "16DAYSACTIVISM" to receive the member price. 

Meet our Speakers

Helena Hassani
Executive Director, Boland Parwaz

She is a human rights advocate and campaigner for the prevention of child and forced marriage and family violence. Helena is the recipient of the Echoing Green Fellowship 2024 working towards ending child and forced marriage in Australia and globally.

Helena was a delegate to the United Nations in Geneva for the Annual Tripartite Consultation on Resettlement in 2023. She has also been an NGO delegate to the United National recently in March 2024 in New York for the Consultation on the Status of Women 68th Conference. She is a silver medal winner of the Women Changing the World Award 2024 for the Cultural Diversity and Inclusion Impact category. Helena has significant experience in family violence and modern slavery particularly forced marriage. 

Currently Helena is the Director of Boland Parwaz PTY LTD which is working towards a future without child and forced marriage. She is one the multilingual female facilitators of Men’s Behaviour Change Program for Intouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence in Victoria. Helena is a research assistant for the Anti-Slavery Australia at the University of Technology Sydney and the Modern Slavery Lead at the Mercy Foundation.

Lucy Gregory

CEO, Domestic Violence Prevention Centre Gold Coast

Lucy Gregory is the CEO of the Domestic Violence Prevention Centre in the Gold Coast. (DVPC GC) DVPC GC provides specialist domestic and family violence service and support to adults, children and young people who have experienced DFV and to those who use violence. DVPC also leads the Gold Coast Domestic Violence integrated Response, which has been in operation for over 25 years.

Lucy has had the honour of working in the domestic and family violence space for almost 20 years, including in the ACT, Victoria and Queensland in both direct client service delivery and program and policy development. Lucy previously worked for Family Safety Victoria and was responsible for the practice and operational guidance for the state-wide The Orange Door Network in Victoria. Highlights of Lucy’s career include being Senior Advisor to Rosie Batty, supporting the establishment of the Victim Survivor Advisory Council in Victoria and working on the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Lucy is a qualified lawyer and sociologist and is committed to ending violence against women and girls globally.

Karima El Korri

Resident Coordinator Malaysia, United Nations

Ms. Karima El Korri is the Resident Coordinator in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam. She has more than 20 years of international development experience within the United Nations and externally. Within the Organization, she most recently led the 2030 Agenda division at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), a role she assumed after managing the population and development portfolio and pioneering the work of the Commission on international migration, population ageing, and youth empowerment.

Before that, she served as a regional advisor on governance and project coordinator at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Prior to joining the United Nations, Ms. El Korri worked in Morocco as a lecturer at the Al-Akhawayn University as well as with a think-tank engaging with government, civil society, the private sector, academia, youth, and international organizations on development issues in the country.

Richie Hardcore

Activist and Educator - Family and Sexual Violence Prevention

Richie Hardcore is a public speaker, consultant, educator and advocate. His work discusses masculinity, mental health, pornography, sex and consent and how we can end sexual and domestic violence.

He has a Masters's degree in Sociology, is a White Ribbon New Zealand ambassador, and is part of the New Zealand Ministry of Social Development’s ‘Change is Possible’ anti-domestic violence campaign. His work has been featured regularly in the media and was recently part of the SBS Australia documentary series “Asking For It”. He was a multiple New Zealand champion in Muay Thai, and now he has retired from fighting is a coach and trainer. Through his charitable trust he uses Muay Thai and Kickboxing as part of a mentoring program for people who have left the criminal justice system, are in alternative education or alcohol and drug rehabilitation.

Lorraine Finlay

Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission

Lorraine Finlay is the Human Rights Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission.  In this role Lorraine leads the work of the Commission in areas including modern slavery, asylum seekers and refugees, business & human rights, and technology & human rights.

Prior to joining the Commission, Lorraine has worked as a lawyer and academic specializing in human rights and public law.  She holds a dual Masters in Law from New York University and the National University of Singapore, where she studied as a Singapura Scholar.  Her past roles have included working as the Senior Human Trafficking Specialist with the Australian Mission to ASEAN, an academic at Murdoch University, and a State Prosecutor with the WA DPP. 

Naomi Pfitzner

Deputy Director, Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre

Dr Naomi Pfitzner is Deputy Director of the Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre and a Lecturer in Criminology at Monash University.

Naomi is also a Associate Investigator on an ARC Centre of Excellence for the Elimination of Violence Against Women awarded in 2023. Naomi has extensive research experience in family violence prevention and response. She conducts research in the area of family violence, gender, family studies, social policy and law. Her work has a key focus on the primary prevention of family violence, respectful relationships education and gender equality.

We encourage your club to purchase tickets for this essential event and host an impactful gathering that brings all members together. Additionally, individual members are welcome to buy tickets on their own to enjoy this enlightening experience independently. By joining this collective effort or attending individually, you can foster meaningful discussions and strengthen your commitment to preventing gender-based violence.

Don’t miss out—buy your tickets now to ensure your place and make a difference together!

REGISTER NOW

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SISEAP Membership

Soroptimist International is a global movement of women, with members belonging to more than 3,000 clubs in 126 countries/territories, spread over 5 Federations