Presidents Message 2024-2026

Have you made a new beginning promise this year, or a New Years resolution, did you promise to do something good, or start afresh with some difficult ‘thing”.  Did your club conduct a planning day, or is yet to do so?

Did you take the time over the Holiday break to reflect on your year, was Soroptimist part of this reflection?  We cannot make a change or a new beginning unless we look back and evaluate, our new beginning has to be free from the actions or thinking that got you there in the first place.  Your new beginning has to be mindful of the past actions and recognition of what is required to implement that new beginning. 

This year, by renewing your membership you have already taken the steps to that new beginning.  Recognising that being a Soroptimist holds much promise, working with supportive ‘sisters’, linking into a global movement, and always that service or volunteering ‘work’, knowing that it will benefit many women and children as well as yourself. 

This week we celebrated Education week, read more HERE. Although the Programme team is still finalising approving the submitted reports, I did extrapolate what data was available for Education week.  $58,875 AUD on Education projects, $99,659 AUD worth of scholarships, bursaries and vocational training. Members are to be congratulated on the invaluable projects and scholarships undertaken which address education, and it has been said many times, we know that this is not the full story, as many clubs do not report, I am sure these figures could possibly double if we all took the time to report.   We need your data, data allows us to bench mark, to evaluate, (part of the reflection to be undertaken at club planning days), provides for informed decision making, problem solving, greater understanding (of the problem and solution), improving the process and understanding (meeting the needs of the recipients of our projects).

Our next major campaign in both CSW68 and IWD, Soroptimist International has a team across the 5 Federations going to CSW.  SISEAP will be presenting an in person webinar, (more news about this in the February eSPAN).  To publicise Soroptimist International, SISEAP have organised SISEAP branded IWD purple ribbons, these have been priced very cheaply (1.70AUD) they come folded and pinned ready to sell or hand out at your events, place your order NOW through HQ just email hq@siswp.org with the quantity to be ordered. 

Your Soroptimist new beginning has begun, being a Soroptimist is rewarding,  lets continue our work as we amplify our voices for change.

Yours in Soroptimist friendship,

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