I sat down to write my last article for the Bulletin and I think I am about all written out, in the past two weeks I have written my Presidents Report, the opening address for the AGM, the article for the company annual report, my opening address for the conference and am currently working on my closing address for the conference. I begin to wonder how many times one can say Soroptimists are amazing people and I love being a Soroptimist all of which is factful and true.
But before we get to that, there is still some business topics to cover. We are entering one of the most important weeks of our Soroptimist year, I hope that clubs are prepared for the AGM, General Meeting and the Federation meeting. Have you held a meeting to choose your club representative at the meetings, have you read through the motions for the constitution and the decision for a Federation Logo? Have you given direction to the club representative on how she will vote? Have you discussed if your club would like to raise any questions with any of the Federation convenors? It is important! Have you completed the forms to inform Federation secretary who will be your club representative? I urge each of you to read through the annual reports by the convenors and the National Presidents. I find reading all of the National President’s reports to be of immense value, to understand what are the barriers to women achieving gender equality, see what has been achieved by clubs in their countries, and they also highlight areas of advocacy and ideas for projects.
The statistical data which has been extracted from the programme reporting database fills me with much pride, and you will have to wait until the company agm to hear how beneficial the work undertaken by SISEAP Soroptimists has been.
The conference committee effort these past few weeks has been outstanding, there is so much to do to ensure that we all have the most amazing experience. The key note speakers will present a range of topics all of which are relevant to our Soroptimist work. Workshops will provide topics which address both our personal interests and our Soroptimist interests. The Friendship night is always fun and we have the Gala dinner to cap of a memorable 3 days, make sure you bring your dancing shoes for both events.
In closing, over the past 2 years, each month I have sat down at my computer attempting to write a monthly article which I hope has been of interest to our members, and now I am sitting here writing my last monthly greeting to you all. SISEAP soroptimists have embraced the biennium tag line “Our Voice for Change – Our voice will amplify our areas of concern”, where you have identified areas of concern your voice has advocated for that change, the projects have addressed the 8 objectives and also the identified core elements of Education, Equity, Economic Empowerment, Enterprise and Environment. Clubs embraced the Living with Nature Art competition which provided a voice for our youth through creative art. It has been with immense pride that I have been your representative at club charters, international events, webinars, Federation President’s meetings, conferences, conventions, CSW and many other times. I thank Federation Secretary Sue for her constant support through these 2 years, Headquarters staff who contribute over and beyond what is asked of them, the directors who took up the challenge to ensure that we operated as a company and supported the restructure of the company and Federation. The Federation convenors and their committees, I cannot thank you enough for your dedication, the volunteer hours you each have contributed to ensure that SISEAP continues to meet the vision and mission of our organisation has been huge. This biennium has been a lot of hard but enjoyable work, come the 1st of June I am off on a walking tour of Arnham Land, and I am sure I will have time to reflect back on what a ride it has been. Thank you for your trust and friendship.
Christine Johnstone
President 2022-2024
Soroptimist International South East Asia Pacific
swppresident2022@siswp.org
