A successful recruitment programme is essential for the growth, vitality, and sustainability of any Soroptimist club. As a global volunteer organisation for women, Soroptimists focus on empowering women and girls through projects, advocacy, and networking.

 Attracting new members ensures fresh perspectives, increased resources, and the continued ability to make a positive impact in local and international communities.

A successful Soroptimist club recruitment programme is not just about increasing numbers—it’s about building a vibrant, engaged, and diverse community of women dedicated to service and advocacy. By combining clear messaging, inclusive practices, active outreach, and ongoing support, clubs can create a welcoming environment where new members feel inspired to contribute and grow.

To demonstrate a commitment to SISEAP Best Practice, I am sharing with you a video of SI South Perth’s membership strategy.

As you know, over the years, they have been successful in numerous SISEAP Best Practice Awards and as such, an excellent example of successful continued club membership recruitment and retention.

Thank you to all who are providing feedback and embracing the current M2M membership Campaign. We really appreciate your efforts!

Here’s to our 10% increase in membership by 31^st December 2025.

Kristeen Johnston

SISEAP Membership Convenor

The celebration in August 2025 for SI Darkhan’s 25^th Anniversary, in conjunction with the celebration of SI Ulaanbaatar‘s 20^th Anniversary, was an amazing experience for 7 sisters from SI Bangsar.  Our friendship link with SI Darkhan manifested into reality and we made new friendships with members from other Clubs more than we ever expected.

After having “met “ each other online, it was a joyous union to meet each other in person.  The effective use of digital communications via zoom calls, Whatsapp and emails has really brought clubs closer to each other . 

Seeing the Mongolian club projects with single mothers – procuring land rights from the authorities,  acquiring “gers’ for housing of needy families, reforestation of land laid barren by mining , partnering with giant corporations was a true eye-opener.

We shared the home of our SI Darkhan sisters and even did the city walkabout at UB. The cultural experience was so enriching, especially watching the dances which had ballet elements, the music that sounded like a horse neighing or galloping, the operatic voice that astounded everyone at dinner, the throat singing by a female member that was unique to Mongolia.

The rustic elements and the city, and cross country sights showed a developing nation. Not only did we meet “history “in person in the form of a …. Tal statue of Chinggis Khan. We also visited the museum where we saw swords, catapults, and gained knowledge of Karakorum, the ancient capital city of the world.

We realize that there is so much more we can do when we motivate each other, collaborate, and keep in close touch with each club’s activities/ projects all with the same SI Mission.

Meeting the Minister showed us what it meant to have support from the “top” – she was a lady who was not only gracious, but supportive in all the work of SI Ulaanbaatar members.

Our Mongolian sisters went all out – imagine hearing “jazz” in the hills whilst enjoying a barbeque with a bonfire nearby.  Sleeping in a “ger” and waking up to see cattle grazing nearby.

We were ever so pleased to share our club’s latest project/publication of a women’s self-help book “LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE”, which we hope can be translated and adapted by SI Ulaanbaatar/Darkhan. 

Having a session on fundraising ideas was a quick and useful exchange of ideas.  We look forward to being actively involved in all things “Soroptimist“! Cheers to one and all.

Nora Lam 

President SI Bangsar

Current Discussions on Elections in Aotearoa New Zealand

Right now, elections and voting are a prominent topic of discussion in Aotearoa New Zealand. The triennial local government elections are underway, and there is ongoing debate about voter participation. Notably, during the 2023 local government elections, only 40.88% of eligible voters cast their ballots. In comparison, the 2023 General Election saw a turnout of 77.1%.

Unlike Australia—where voting is compulsory, as it is in 13% of the world’s democracies—Aotearoa New Zealand does not require eligible citizens to vote. This distinction raises important questions about civic engagement and the relevance of voting in our society.

Relevance to Soroptimist International

This discussion is especially pertinent at the SISEAP Federation level, where nominations for the 2026–2028 SISEAP positions have recently opened. Similarly, Soroptimist International ANZ has invited members to step up to national governance positions. These calls for participation highlight the opportunities available for members to engage in leadership and governance within the organisation.

The Privilege of Participation

It is important to recognise how fortunate we are that most women in our Federation—and at many levels—are free to vote and pursue leadership roles. Many women around the world still face significant barriers to these privileges. For example, I recently learned that women, particularly from the Global South, were prevented from attending the 2025 UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York. The main reasons cited were restrictive US visa policies, insufficient funding, limited travel resources, and other structural barriers.

This situation highlights the ongoing unfairness that persists globally. Despite the progress women have made, there are still many countries where it remains difficult for women to vote or participate in governance.

Historical Perspectives on Suffrage

Reflecting on our own history, I realised I knew little about the suffrage journey within our own SISEAP Federation. Research revealed that progress towards women’s right to vote has varied greatly across regions. On 19th September 2025, women in Aotearoa New Zealand celebrated the 132nd anniversary of women’s suffrage. Kate Sheppard, a leading New Zealand suffragist, was instrumental in organising the 1893 Women’s Suffrage Petition, which led New Zealand to become the first country in the world to establish universal suffrage.

When travelling in the United States, I was reminded by a local that Wyoming, in 1869, was the first territory to grant women the right to vote and hold office, making it a pioneer in women’s suffrage in the US. According to Wikipedia, Mongolian women were able to vote and be elected as President by 1924. In Australia, women gained the right to vote at the federal level in 1902, with this right extended to all women in 1962. Malaysian women received the right to vote in 1957, coinciding with the country’s independence, marking a major milestone towards gender equality. In Fiji, the general elections held in April–May 1963 allowed women and indigenous Fijians to vote for the first time alongside other populations.

A Call to Action

With this history in mind, I encourage members to consider stepping up to local and Federation Soroptimist positions. By doing so, you not only have the opportunity to influence the future of our organisation but also to develop your own leadership skills and experiences.

At Soroptimist International South East Asia Pacific, we find ourselves at a crossroads: we must choose to modernise and grow, or we risk further decline in membership.

Reflections on the Past and Present

As we reflect on these issues, one might wonder what our ancestors would think of the current decline in voter participation and the persistent barriers to equality faced by so many women today.

Kristeen Johnston

2024-2026 SISEAP Membership Convenor

membership.kristeen@siseap.org