SICN President Briefing December 2018 1st edition newsletter

th 2018 SIGBI Liverpool Conference : I attended the 84 Federation Conference in Liverpool held 25-27 October 2018. Below are a few highlights. Picture on the left above: I am standing next to the Federation President Sue Williams after being chained during the Change in Insignia segment. New Clubs In the picture below, Caribbean In summary, Clubs and Countries to lobby delegates shared a moment. I their Governments to support initiatives to We welcomed 2 new clubs wanted to meet the delegates from address climate change and its impact in in our Network. SI the region who I never met before their respective countries. and brief them on what was Anaparima was chartered th discussed at our interim meeting in The 2018 Best Practice Award went to SI November 24 and SI August. San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago. SI Esperance was chartered San Fernando also won an award for th advocacy for their work in promoting December 10 , both in San reusable bags. Congratulations SI San Fernando, Trinidad and Fernando! Tobago. I attended both A few photos featuring Caribbean charters. Above right delegates. photo: Left is SI Esperance president, Cheryl Boodoosingh and right is SI Anaparima president, Susan Roopnarinesingh. President of SI Barbados, Judith Toppin, below, presenting her . Please go to our Facebook Club's two (2) proposed resolutions page to see more photos. on climate change that were both carried. Anniversaries 4 Anniversaries were celebrated in the month of November. SI Barbados, SI Kingston, Jamaica and SI San Fernando celebrated 56 years, while SI Newtown celebrated 8 years. 1

2018 SICN Interim meeting- Highlights We had a very productive 2018 annual reminders with regards to Interim Meeting as delegates paying club fees. from across the region met on “Moving Saturday, August 25, 2018 in After lunch, we welcomed Mr. Forward in Barbados to discuss the way Luca Pierantoni, First Secretary, Unity” forward as a Caribbean Network. Head of the Regional Cooperation and Trade Team We had delegates from 5 of our 7 and Mr. Luc Patzelt, Programme countries. Present were Manager, Security, Human delegates from Anguilla, Rights and Civil Society Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica Cooperation, both from the and Trinidad & Tobago. Anguilla Delegation of the European and Jamaica joined us via Skype Union to Barbados, the Eastern (seen in the picture at bottom Caribbean, the OECS and right) while Trinidad joined us via CARICOM/CARIFORUM (seen WhatsApp. in the picture on the top right). The Officials shared information My theme for the meeting was on the opportunities that exist for “Moving Forward in Unity”. In my our countries within the Network. opening remarks I echoed the phrase by a senior Soroptimist, We agreed that we will establish Ena Woodstock, ‘Communicate three (3) sub-committees or Evaporate’. This is a sentiment Advocacy, Organisational shared by many Soroptimists Development and CARICOM within our Network, hence my Consultative Status. The intent is decision to prepare a monthly also to develop a comprehensive president’s briefing with strategic plan for the Network December 2018 being the first with the help of the respective edition. delegates. I will be sending a draft document by the end of the Delegates were advised, among 1 quarter in 2019 and look st other things, of the setbacks forward to us making headway being encountered in opening a with these commitments. █ bank account and by extension a delay in submitting 2

Featured Soroptimist: Meet Veda Gill Starting this month, I will be featuring a Franklyn, a former president of her club, Leeds where I studied Home Soroptimist in each Caribbean island who while working at the Housecraft Centre, Economics for 3 years. Upon has contributed to her community. For the now merged into the Samuel Jackman returning to Barbados, I went back to month of December, I wish for you to meet Prescod Institute of Technology. Housecraft Centre and taught there Veda Gill – a woman with a beautiful smile and lots of energy even at the golden age She sat on various committees and was for 4 years. After the 4 years, I got a of 90 years. Photos from her youth to the president of SI Barbados in 1991 during 1-year scholarship to study at Queen most recent 90th Birthday celebration on which time the Hildegarde Weekes Elizabeth College, University of October 7, 2018. Soroptimist Activity Centre was London, where I obtained a post ********* established. She recalled the hard work graduate diploma in Home involved and the various fund-raising It was a very pleasant evening interviewing activities to get it off the ground. Veda Economics related to Community Veda Gill for my first edition newsletter. I shared with me her career history with Development.’ met with Veda at her home in St. George, great details, gave advice for the Barbados where I was surrounded by her younger women and provided me with a Her friend, Audrey, who was visiting many awards and pictures capturing traditional Christmas recipe. at the time of the interview, reminded moments from her youth to present day her of her work with the Caribbean including pictures of her late husband for Examination Council (CXC). 34 years, Cyril Earl Gill, former Postmaster Me: ‘So, tell me about your earlier days. General of Barbados. Awards were so What’s your background?’ Veda: ‘Oh yes. In 1976, I was numerous that space will only allow me to appointed a member of a panel which mention the meritorious service from the formulated the CXC Home Caribbean Association of Home Economics Veda: ‘I started as teacher. I taught at Economics syllabuses.’ and the very prestigious National Award, St. Bernard’s Girl School from 1949 to Veda was one of the 6 Barbados Service Star (BSS) in 2001 for 1954. From 1954 to 1955 I did a year’s representatives on the panel who Education and Community Work. training in Home Economics at worked on the Home Economics Veda is a member of SI Barbados and Housecraft Centre after which I taught syllabuses for 4 years which were joined the club in 1972. She was at West St. Joseph Secondary School, implemented regionally in the schools introduced to Soroptimism by Edna now Grantley Adams Memorial School. I then got a scholarship at Yorkshire in 1980. She was appointed Chief College of Science, University of Examiner for Clothing and Textile. 3

Veda was appointed principal in January Veda: ‘First thing is commitment. If you 1970 at the Housecraft Centre and was are not committed, you will not want to also appointed education officer from July attend meetings. You will not want to do 1970 until her retirement in 1988. anything. Meeting attendance is important. I never missed a meeting or SICN conference unless there is an Veda is the author of a series of three (3) emergency, or I am off on a cruise.’ text books for CXC. [Laughter. It is no secret that Veda is always going on some cruise.] Me: ‘What about your involvement in activities other than Soroptimist?’ Veda: ‘I will share Bajan Jug-jug.’ Me: ‘A little bird told me that you do an excellent Jamaican patty which I am yet Veda: ‘I was also involved in the Barbados to taste.’ We ended the evening with a slice of Association of Home Economics as well as fruit cake and a glass of good old Christmas sorrel, Veda’s style. the Caribbean Association of Home Veda: ‘I don’t do Jamaican patties, I do Economics and held various posts our (Bajan) patties and I know who that Veda being an elder, you can imagine including assistant treasurer, 2nd Vice birdie is.’ calling her by her first name does not President, President 85-89 and consultant. [Laughter] roll off the tongue as smoothly and In total, I had 26 years on the Executive. I Mrs. Gill would be too formal and also worked with women at the female distant. Auntie Veda feels right and prison and I am very involved in my Her friend, Audrey, began complaining the level of respect she deserves.█ church.’ and said to Veda ‘how come you only ******** give me sweet bread when I come Auntie Veda's Christmas Jug-jug recipe: here’. 8 cups green peas, 1 cup guinea corn Me: ‘Coming back to Soroptimism, we have flour, had several members who left ½ lb salt beef or any other salted meat, Soroptmisim. What kept you?’ Veda’s response: ‘Well you just tun up ½ lb fresh pork or chicken, 2 tablespoons here’. butter, 2 medium sized onions, 3-4 blades Veda: ‘I love it. I am committed to it. I [We all burst out laughing again.] eschalot, thought we were doing a good job back 1 bunch mixed herbs, Salt and pepper to then and I wanted to be a part of that. I still taste and think we are doing a good job now.’ Me: ‘We see in society the loss of about 4 cups water. values and respect in many areas, what advice would give to our young Boil the pork or chicken in water; add the Me: ‘In terms of how we have grown and people?’ salt meat cut in pieces and soaked previously to remove the salt; also add evolved as Soroptimists in Barbados and in peas and herbs. Cook the mixture until fact across the region, do you think there is peas are soft. Now strain it off reserving more we can do?’ Veda: ‘To be respectful, I think that is the stock. Mince the meat, peas and very important; and to be kind and seasonings. Cook the guinea corn flour in friendly.’ the stock for about 10 minutes, stirring Veda: ‘I think the clubs are doing a lot as is. constantly. Add minced ingredients, stir And with the other involvements, we must Me: ‘What’s your favorite dish?’ and cook for about ½ hour stirring the be careful we don’t spread ourselves too mixture until it becomes a fairly stiff consistency. Cover and allow to steam for far as we won’t be able to accomplish Veda responded with laughter: ‘I don’t 5 minutes. Before removing from the much.’ know about a favorite dish, I know heat, stir in some of the butter, then about what is convenient and that is turn mixture out on a dish, spreading it Pilau.’ smoothly with the rest of the butter. Me: ‘What advice would you give to young Serve hot with sliced ham and chicken. Soroptimists?’ Me: ‘As it is Christmas, can you share a Christmas recipe?’ 4