Here, we say a fond farewell to Yvonne Simpson, SI President 2015-2017, with a slideshow of wonderful memories from her biennium, and a selection of messages from Soroptimists around the globe. Yvonne writes a letter to you in friendship, and we are sure you will join us in wishing her the very best of success and every happiness in the coming years.
“Dear Soroptimists,
It has been a hectic, challenging, stimulating and humbling experience to be President of Soroptimist International over the past two years. I thank you for your friendship, guidance, support, patience, humour and service.
I take this opportunity to thank the directors, officers, post holders and staff for a successful biennium. It was a highlight to end the biennium with major changes agreed to – changes that will ensure our organisation does not merely survive, but thrives.
Highlights for the biennium:
We created a plan – a Strategic Plan – that gives us guidance until 2019. To build this plan involved going back to the basics and revisiting our Vision, Mission, and Principles. We determined the key strategic priorities, goals, objectives and KPIs (Key Performance Indicators). My thanks to the team leaders who worked with their teams and provided details plans for their key areas.
Advocacy: The major key priority is Advocacy. I would like to register my thanks to International Director of Advocacy Pat Black, and her team, the Advocacy committee, The UN Representatives, and the Advocacy Managers (first Francesca, then Caroline) for the mountain of work done to ensure SI is a Global Voice for Women through Advocacy. UN Centres have been more fully staffed over the course of the biennium.
Communications: A new website compatible with mobile and tablet devices was approved by the Board in September and launched in November last year. The result has been an increased Social Media presence. Our thanks to Communications Manager Sarah for the sterling effort to raise our profile. The President now has direct access to uploading posts to the website – and I have provided at least two posts with photos each month since that facility became available.
The Centennial Celebrations are on track. We established a Centennial Celebrations Committee at the First Board Meeting in Istanbul ( July 2015) and now we have agreed the main celebrations will be in the San Francisco area in 2021. It will be organized by SI Americas. SI Communications will promote the event. There will be an SI centennial project, celebrating the past and looking forward. We will create a Virtual Museum, celebrating the development, advocacy, projects and leadership of SI, ready to launch in 2021.
The 2015 – 2017 Presidents Appeal: ‘Educate to Lead: Nepal’ was our response to the devastating earthquakes in 2015. The appeal projects, led by Assistant Director of Advocacy, Sharon Fisher, include education, economic empowerment and leadership projects. Our goal was to raise 320,000 GBP. Currently we are closer to 350,000 with more funds expected. All Federations have supported the President’s Appeal, and I thank you most sincerely for your support and generosity. We expect our target of assisting 1000 to be surpassed, with closer to 6500 women and girls being educated or empowered.
Convention: The 2015 convention was judged a success in terms of finances, attendance and feedback on the quality of the programme. Our thanks to Convention Chair Emine Erdem, IPP Ann Garvie, GED Deborah Thomas and their team. The 2019 Convention, under Chair Siew Yong Gnanalingam, is well in hand and promises to be an exotic, colourful and stimulating event – I hope to see you in Kuala Lumpur 18 – 21 July 2019.
Strategic Leadership is a key priority that encompasses governance (all manuals were completed and the board has a self-audit process in place to randomly monitor the Board’s effectiveness), board structure (there will be a new structure in place on 1 January, the biennium dates will consistently start on 1 January, and we will have a smaller board which includes the President, Treasurer and Director of Advocacy as Directors), and a streamlined committee structure. This is a most exciting development. I thank the Restructuring Working Group, under the leadership of Director Carolyn Hudson, for their dedication to this task and commend the SI Directors for taking a bold step forward.
Succession planning: All post holders had at least five months in place to ensure a smooth transition to the next biennium. On 1 January 2016, we welcomed Mariet Verhoef-Cohen as SI President Elect and farewelled IPP Ann Garvie as an officer. Mariet has been fully involved with all officers’ meetings, business and decisions. Her expertise with advocacy, knowledge of Africa, and experience with holding a convention are invaluable assets to the team.
The team is really important. The officers have provided a great deal of support. They have given much time and willingly shared their expertise. It has been a privilege to work with officers PE Mariet, IDA Pat, and Treasurer Susanna Raccis. My thanks to the appointees (Procedural Consultant Anne Gover, HQ Liaison Bozena Benton, Investment Advisers Jenny Vince and Judith Lewis, and Research Consultant Linda Witong) for their help.
The board’s decision on the best use of the SI HQ building was to be implemented by July 2017. This was achieved. The HQ building in Cambridge has recently sold, the money invested, which gives SI best use of its resources.
The Leadership Development Committee was also a new introduction in July 2015. Under the leadership of SI Director Ulla Madsen, Directors have received training, we have shared the roles of the UN Reps, and held webinars in preparation for CSW. There are short video clips of the SI leadership on the website. All activities raise the awareness of our leaders and SI’s leadership profile.
My personal highlights have included meeting Soroptimists allover world – from Israel to Ireland to Italy, Kenya to Kathmandu, New Zealand to New York. We meet as sisters with a common cause. I am humbled by your care and commitment to the Soroptimist Mission to transform the lives and status of women and girls.
We have a talented and dedicated team of staff and volunteers working towards fulfilling the SI Mission. My thanks to GED Deborah and the HQ staff. My thanks to all the volunteers who contributed to the biennium. Many work beyond what is expected of them. It was a privilege to serve with them and I thank you all for your team work and dedication”.
Yvonne Simpson, Immediate Past President, Soroptimist International
Click on the image below to read a selection of thank you messages for SI President 2015-2017, Yvonne Simpson
