To all my fellow Soroptimists,

It has been a pleasure serving as your Soroptimist International President over the last two years and meeting so many new faces, whilst reconnecting with those I have known for years. As I reflect on the journey, we know there have been detours, but there have also been many wins. Although the SI Road to Equality altered its direction, we came together to ‘turn up the volume’ of our global voices and find new ways to support women and girls.

I always prefer to reflect on accomplishments, so today I will not focus my message on the pandemic but instead on our achievements as a Global Voice for Women – the things we can recognise and celebrate together.

The Road to Equality Appeal delivered four projects, with the fifth currently underway, addressing the issues of Female Genital Mutilation, Human Trafficking, Migration, Early and Forced Marriage, Domestic Violence, and the Rights of Older Women.  As we increased our presence online, we launched the SI Voices Road to Equality webinars providing information from experts, stories from survivors, and details of Soroptimist projects tackling Gender-Based Violence.

This year saw the formation of the Soroptimist International Foundation established to create longevity in our International project work, together with a realignment of our advocacy committee, increasing our capacity in this important area of work. Together with the International Director of Advocacy and our United Nations Representatives, our profile and presence has extended through the delivery of statements, interventions, and many presentations at global events. We welcomed our global membership to share in our progress at online Annual General Meetings. I also had the pleasure of virtually visiting our Federations, unions, regions, and clubs, delivering greetings and reporting on the activities of Soroptimist International.

My most memorable moment was joining thousands of members at our 100^th Anniversary Event, where we united in re-visiting our Bright Past, and were guided towards a Brilliant Future. What started as a vision became a reality, thanks to the support, commitment, and friendship of many – truly an unforgettable experience that we can remember for a lifetime.

Thanks to the Soroptimist International board members and position holders, to staff, and to you, the volunteers who serve our organisation. You have all helped in so many ways to deliver the Road to Equality vision – so thanks for jumping aboard the bus, and it is wonderful to see this vision inspire many local Soroptimist projects.

Thank you for your commitment and your passion.

Wishing you all the very best, and to the next 100 years as a Global Voice for Women!

Sharon Fisher

SI President 2019-2021