Let’s all take a deep breath!! You know, it really does help! Here’s a few updates to share with you!
May 11
:
This is currently our date that SIA has advised us to not have any club activities. We need to abide by this and I am proud of all of you for doing just that for the health and safety of our members and supporters.
Video meetings:
With that date in mind, many clubs have started using video, virtual meetings. There are several formats available, but I think your region board is going to use ZOOM. They have a free version that can have up to 100 participants, but meetings can only be 40 minutes. They also have a “PRO” plan that doesn’t have a limit on the time of the meeting, It’s $14.99 monthly or $149.99/year. If your club signs up with TechSoup.org, you can get 50% off the price, plus you'll have access to deep discounts on other software, hardware and technology.
Here are some hints to help make it a smoother meeting:
1) You need to have a microphone and camera to get the full experience of ‘meeting’. If your computer doesn’t have these, you can download the app on your smart phone or tablet.
2) when you are not speaking, it’s best to ‘mute’ your microphone so that everyone doesn’t get feedback and background noise
3) As with any meeting, try to stay on topic
4) raise your hand to be recognized by the chair, unmute yourself when recognized 4) State your name when you start to speak if anyone is taking minutes. What a great opportunity to learn something new!!
Elections:
The bright side of a situation like what we are all living through is seeing things through a new lens and being forced to do things a new way! That’s what we are doing with elections as well!
- Club presidents have verified their club delegates with our Region Credentials Coordinator, Kay Dunham and the ballots are being prepared.
- Candidates have gotten their videos sent in and they should be available today on our region website: SoroptimistSNR.org. I am so proud of all of our candidates for doing this. I’ve noticed how many of the next generation are very comfortable in front of the camera, but many of us in my generation are not, so I’m proud of each of our candidates for doing this critical step so you can all get to meet them! Please view the videos and let your club President and delegates know how you would like them to vote!
- Our Target date for getting Ballots out to our delegates is still April 6, with voting closing on April 20.
Thank you all for making this go smoothly!
Conference:
As you probably saw in the last eblast, we won’t know if the Atlantis can accommodate a combined Conference/Soroptimist Development Retreat July 10-12 until they reopen on April 17 (if they are allowed to open then, as this is so fluid of a situation). So bear with us on whether Conference will happen in July. You’ll know as soon as we know!! Of course, we all realize this is still a moving target, so stand by!!!
YOU:
Most importantly, please take care of YOU! We are all members of this organization because we love our mission, but also it’s because of the many friends we make and social interactions that we have on a regular basis. Isolation can be really difficult and can cause unexpected reactions! Take inventory of your emotions and see if you need to take some action to change your perspective. I recently went to a Rachel Hollis RISE Convention. Many things we talked about there can apply to this time in our history and how to take care of yourself.
#1 -
Move your body, change your mind – get up wherever you are right now and jump up and down, move your arms, wiggle your hips for 10 seconds. Yes, you will feel silly, but how do you feel when you are done? 10 seconds won’t hurt you too bad, but it really does set a new intention in your brain, doesn’t it? Do you feel energized?
#2 -
Play music you love, that lifts your spirit and heart! Dance to it if you can!
#3 -
Try to watch only enough news to be informed. But watching too much can lead to Fear and Sadness and we need to try to shift that to Hope and Healing. We will get through this together. (See the article below about Truckee Meadows club and what they are doing to raise hope, while in isolation!)
The new normal of ‘staying home’ can have some unexpected consequences and feelings! Do what you can to keep your perspective positive. “We don’t see the world as IT is, we see it how WE are.” Our lens tells our story and we have control over that. Look for the silver lining, i.e. forcing us to better use technology for meetings, yoga classes, guided meditations, etc. Lastly, love yourself enough to take care of yourself so that we can be strong as a group to help more women and girls become women with vision!!
Miss you all!
Governor Lane
