The UK Programme Action Committee

1. The UK Programme Action Committee

2. The Roadshow came about because we began to realise that certain of the UK membership had little notion of the Committee and how we could help. So we thought the best way to get our message across was to visit each Region in person and talk to people. UKPAC? Never heard of it!  UKPAC

3. Over two years the UKPAC Roadshow visited 15 of the 17 Regions of the UK. There are just Northern Ireland and Yorkshire remaining to book the Roadshow. The Roadshow visited the Regions • Cheshire, North Wales & Wirral • London Anglia • London Chilterns • Midland Arden • Midland Chase • Midland East • NW England & Isle of Man • Northern England • Northern Ireland • Scotland North • Scotland South • South East England • South Lancashire • South West & Channel Islands • Southern England • Wales South • Yorkshire  UKPAC  UKPAC

4. Soroptimism isn’t a spectator sport! Programme Action – and the emphasis is on the word Action – is the heartbeat of our movement. So important is PA that the International Constitution states that every club around the world must have a Programme Action Committee, chaired by a Programme Action Officer. Clubs may decide as they think fit on any other committees, but a PA Committee isn’t optional. It is one of the conditions of our continuing General Consultative Status at the United Nations. Soroptimism isn’t a spectator sport!  UKPAC  UKPAC

5. As you know, our Federation, SIGBI, is one of four and many clubs around the world come together to form National Associations within their Federations. Four Federations SI Great Britain and Ireland SI of the Americas SI Europe SI South West Pacific  UKPAC  UKPAC

6. For example, within SIGBI, the 16 clubs in India come together to form the Indian National Association. However, the vast majority of the membership of SIGBI is from the UK, split into our 17 respective Regions. There are 259 clubs from the UK and 82 from the other 23 countries of the Federation. Indian National Association Bangalore Bombay Chembur Bombay Gateway Bombay North Bombay West Burdwan Calcutta Calcutta Downtown Chennai (Madras) Chennai Magna Chennai Downtown East Calcutta Madurai Pune Pune Metro East South Kolkata  UKPAC  UKPAC

7. Prior to 1994 there was no collective UK membership voice. Individuals were members of a club, which was part of a Region within our Federation. It is difficult for the Federation to lobby any one government, representing so many as it does. So clubs and Regions mostly had to campaign and lobby individually. It was not an ideal situation, with plenty of scope for wheel re-inventing. Before 1994 SIGBI Federation National Associations Single Countries or ie India ie Malta Regions UK Clubs Other Clubs in SIGBI  UKPAC  UKPAC

8. In 1994 the UKPAC was formed. It’s intention was of providing that collective voice for clubs and Regions for Programme Action work. To have a national voice for lobbying and a national representation on outside bodies and other NGOs. The UKPAC has continued to do this ever since. SIGBI Federation After 1994 National Associations Single Countries or ie India ie Malta Regions UK Clubs Other Clubs in SIGBI  UKPAC  UKPAC

9. Called the UK Programme Action Committee, in reality we work with the 256 clubs in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and also with the 3 clubs in the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey. So it would probably be more appropriate to call ourselves the British and Channel Islands and Isle of Man Programme Action Committee! Isle of Man Scotland Northern Ireland England Guernsey Wales Jersey or the BACIAIOMPAC? The UKPAC?  UKPAC  UKPAC

10. Here in the UK clubs are divided between Regions. As you know, each club is required to have a PA committee, chaired by that club’s PA Officer. She in turn, along with the PA Officers from the other clubs in her Region, forms the Regional PA Committee, chaired by the Regional PAC chairman – and it is she who, representing her Region, also serves on the UKPAC. The Committee is 22 strong, comprising the 17 Regional PAC chairmen - who, between them, represent the entire membership of the UK - plus the officers. The UK PA Committee The UKPAC meets quarterly in London. Silent observers (we never insist upon silence and you don’t have to be your club’s PAO, either) are actively encouraged to join us and sit in on the meetings to gain an insight into the working of the Committee.  UKPAC

11. We have representatives on many outside bodies. Whilst not part of the UK PA Committee, as such, they submit reports to each of our quarterly meetings and attend from time to time. Between visits many Regional PA chairmen also double up and act as liaisons with the representatives. In this way we are able to keep fully up to date at all times with events with our partner organisations. Some of the UKPAC’s Partner Organisations  UKPAC  UKPAC

12. So your voices are heard! Your Regional PA chairman, attends and reports to the meeting on what the Region is doing and takes back to you what the UKPAC is doing. In this way we can share concerns and problems and lobby and campaign as appropriate. We can spot where clubs from different Regions are working on similar projects and put them in touch with one another, or offer help or advice, so that there is a reduced risk of duplication of work. We have an overview and can work on behalf of all UK Soroptimists on topics such as pensions inequality, and the national flagship project – Violence Against Women – Stop It Now! So Our voices are heard! Your voices are heard  UKPAC  UKPAC

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