Blondell Rodgiers and Carmencita Davis.
Management of the Soroptimist International Caribbean Network (SICN) was handed over to Anguilla on Saturday July 25 at the virtual Biennial Conference. Members of the Anguilla Club met on Saturday to virtually attend the conference that brought together Soroptimists from the seven islands in the Caribbean with clubs – Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Turks and Caicos and Anguilla.
The new President is Blondell Rodgiers, Vice President is Carmencita Davis and Secretary – Angelina Carty. In accepting the Presidency, Soroptimist Blondell Rodgiers said she was honoured to serve, and thanked the Soroptimists in the region for their confidence in electing her. She promised to uphold the Soroptimist ideals. The next biennial conference will be held in Anguilla in 2022, and the President said that the Anguilla membership is committed to working hard and face the challenges ahead while working together.
“When we assert ourselves with positive attitudes we will exhibit optimism, and in turn you will get the best possible results of your decisions or actions – and that is my determination during my two-year tenure, God willing,” she said.
The 26th Biennial Conference began with a talk by Donna Wellington, Managing Director of First Caribbean Bank of Barbados, who spoke on ‘The Role of Leaders in Challenging Times.’ She said that women have the ability to achieve more than they think – and the ability to multi-task. She said there is also the need to delegate when necessary. She also stressed the importance of staying calm and being accessible. The CEO title should be Chief Encouragement Officer, she suggested.
Outgoing President, Sispaoransa Stanford, stressed the importance of working together through the network and praised the committees who have worked with her during the past two years. Reports were given by the secretary, treasurer, and the chairs of the committees from the three-year Strategic Priorities:PACE– Partnership, Advocacy, Communication and Expansion.
President of Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI), Isobel Smith, joined the conference virtually – and praised the continued commitment of Caribbean Soroptimists for their work with the vulnerable in their communities especially during the COVID-19 lockdown. She thanked members for all the work they are doing and wished them well in the future.
