Chairman's September Message

Hello and welcome to the UKPAC website.

My name is Janet Hodgson and I am the Chairman of the Committee. I hope you enjoy looking through this site and find many things of interest.

The weather this summer holiday has not been kind, but I hope that you have all managed to at least have a good rest.

I know that some clubs do not meet during August, but now most people will be back from their holidays; their batteries charged and raring to go!

 

Last month you may have noticed a new item on the menu list: Clubs' Breaking News. This is a facility we've put in for those clubs (or Regions) who want to draw the country's attention to something interesting that they are doing. The first item was SI Chelmsford's Messerschmitt tour of London Anglia Region. The idea was that a club member would drive to every club town in the Region and people would have to guess the mileage that she had clocked up. The closing date for entries is 5 September, so I'm not able to divulge the figure yet! Money raised to go to Project SIerra.

The second item of Breaking News is another enterprising idea for Project SIerra, it's SI Rhyl's Walk2NY. At 10am on Saturday 13 September, members will talk the first five miles from Trafalgar Square to Putney Bridge, and the walk will finally end up in New York. (I think somewhere along the line a plane is going to have to figure in this walk!)  All support would be very welcome.


I would like to remind you all about Programme Focus reports. There is a download on this site which gives you a step by step guide to how to submit your projects on-line. I am giving you all a gentle reminder because I did not have as many reports of projects this year as in previous years. This was a pity as I draw on them extensively to illustrate my report for the Federation Programme Action Committee, which meets just before the annual Conference. A copy of my report has been circulated to the Regional Programme Action Committee chairmen, so do contact them if you would like a copy.  Please do report your work; I know that some clubs are working on some fantastic projects, but we won't know about yours if you don't tell us about them!

When I was compiling my report I came across some fantastic projects that you are doing. One that I would like to bring to your attention is the Dignity Appeal in Zimbabwe and South Africa for sanitary products. Again these are things that we take for granted and not something that the media picks up on.

VAW-SIN I was pleased to see so much work is being done by clubs on this. Whether it is domestic violence or trafficking (purple ribbon campaign) – FGM or forced marriages. With the other women’s organisations and the WNC we must keep up the pressure on governments to do more for vulnerable women and girls.

At the next UK PAC meeting Helen Aikman, Fundraising Initiatives Officer for UNICEF UK, is coming to talk to us about their Born Free Appeal.  Again an email has been circulated which is very comprehensive and has a lot of useful information on it for fund raising ideas. After Helen’s visit I will be able to give you an up to date total of funds raised. Jane Hastings, our representative on UNICEF UK, keeps us up to date with the appeal and has arranged for Helen to visit us.

One body on which UK Soroptimists are represented (by Sylvia Watson) is the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee. As Soroptimists you are entitled to attend these meetings as a silent observers and details of the meetings are with your Regional Programme Action Committee chairmen.  In-depth reports are regularly submitted to the committee by Sylvia. 

The WNC (Women's National Committee) is now much stronger and we are getting regular, and interesting reports from our representative, Moira Randall. Moira also circulates the public appointments information: do look at these (or go to their website)because you might find that there is something there that interests you and in which you could make a contribution - we need more women in public positions.

In the news just lately there has been quite a lot about carers and I am delighted that our new Princess Royal Trust for Carers liaison, Pam Rhodes, will be able to attend the next meeting of the Committee. I noticed that most clubs are doing something for carers, and that they are raising awareness in their local community about their needs. The more we do to raise awareness the better and it also helps to raise our own profile.

The next meeting of the UKPAC, on 5 and 6 September, will be a sad one in some respects; it will be the last for some members of the Committee, including myself. To those members who are standing down after years of service representing their Regions, I would like to thank them for their commitment and dedication; it has been a pleasure working with you all.

My holiday break has now finished; I have to go back to work today - so no doubt the weather will begin to improve!

Janet Hodgson - Chairman
September