This week’s SoroptiVoice comes from outgoing International Programme Director Dawn Marie Lemonds. She wrote this a few months ago and we’ve been saving it for the international SI Convention here in Montreal – Thank you so much to Dawn Marie for sharing this and for all her amazing work over the past few years!
For many years I have had the great privilege to address the issue of
"international vs local" with small and large Soroptimist audiences
around the world. For some reason, there seems to be a perspective that one
must be either focused toward one or the other. I have had a version of the
same conversation in many different towns, cities, and countries. The same
conversation! One of the amazing things I have noticed is that everyone views
themselves as being local while every other place is international. It was
surprising to some of the visitors to Rwanda years ago who heard the
Rwandan Soroptimists view the international work WE were doing as LOCAL work
for them! The other common perspective is PRIDE about their local community and
the work that members are accomplishing in their local field.
Recently I was asked a few questions toward the same topic by a friend of mine,
Shirley Mc Coy from Canada. Here are Shirley’s questions:
Why does internationalism matter?
Why does it make Soroptimist unique?
What made you appreciate Soroptimist the most?
I think the questions give us a chance to think about our membership, and about
being a global voice for women and girls- many who do not have the opportunity
to have their voice heard. I am sharing my answers in hope that both the
questions and answers give you pause to look at your membership and find what
is TRUE for you while also using these questions as a catalyst to create
conversation with other members and prospective members.
Why does internationalism matter?
The plain fact is that we are international! On a more esoteric level- we are part of the world
community that has agreed to support issues for women and girls. By the fact of
our organizational structure- each of us is local and international to others.
Our collective power is greater than the capacity of each club. Our advocacy
and voice for women and girls is strengthend with the local and international
voice that we have. Maybe the question is "why wouldn’t it matter?"
Why does it make Soroptimist unique?
We are a local, "on the ground workforce" with
90,000 workers in 3,000 communities around the world. We are known to not just
talk about our work but to do it! We are known to take on HARD topics when they
weren’t popular and make them important for our core group of women and girls.
One example of our courage in taking on hard topics is the work we started
doing with Human Trafficking and combatting commercial sex with other employment opportunities.
In 1995 and since, we have revealed "this dirty little topic" and
fought internally and externally when others were afraid to mention
prostitution with trafficking. The agenda has moved steadily and persistently
forward and around the globe, many are now facing some of the more serious parts of the
puzzle which are the "demand side of sexual slavery". I remember
handing out leaflets in an Orange County California airport on the first USA
National Awareness Day of Human Trafficking. It was one of the hardest things I
have ever done but if not me- who?
What made you appreciate Soroptimist the most?
What a difficult question- there are so many reasons! From my
first introduction to Soroptimist I was dazzled by the "do gooder"
ladies from Newport Beach that gave a darn about people they didn’t even know
in two other countries far away. I could not believe their large heart for
women. I now know that we are MUCH MUCH MORE than CHARITY LADIES who do good. I
know that while we have the best time together and my best friends are
Soroptimists- the thing that brings us together is empowerment of women and
girls- finding ways for them to have a voice and be those "do gooders with
purpose" in the present and future. I appreciate our international and
local struggle to do the right thing, for the right reason and use our work for
good on behalf of women and girls to achieve outcomes that matter. I appreciate
that we are willing to roll up our sleeves- go to the "coal face" of
the issue and take risks. I appreciate the integrity of purpose and the passion
of the people.
Ask these questions. Have these conversations. It is always the perfect time to
take a fearless look at your SI Membership and help find that inner compass to
ignite our passion and work and hopefully find great reasons to celebrate BEING
INTERNATIONAL!
Dawn Marie Lemonds
Past IPD