THE SOROPTIMIST LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

In August of 2009, the Soroptimist Leadership Academy was born. A number of reasons brought about the birth of what we can now consider an institution of Soroptimist learning. To begin, this biennium finds the Soroptimist in a new office headquarters with a conference room conducive to professional learning. Governor Mimi and the Governor Elect Paloming are both educators.The chair of our Education Committee, Benita Santos is an awarded trainor retired from the Civil Service Commission. THe other members of the professorial team, Marisol Tugade, Evelyn San Buenaventura, Fe Amor Ilagan, Cherry Tumaneng, Cely Ng are professionals in their own fields of expertise.

The reality is that when members are recruited, the SOLT, (Soroptimist Orientation and Leadership Training) for members may be brief and sadly insufficient for a better understanding of Soroptimist and the numerous joys derived from volunteerism. The SIPR executive committee conceptualized the Soroptimist Leadership Academy to provide for this needed training. We call this gathering or seminars the Nurturing/Fellowship Series.

It is expected that members today will become the officers of tomorrow. The governor's team hpes to meet as many regular members who may be new in the organization buy may have so much to share. Perhaps these members may be too shy to participate in club discussions. What could be a vetter way to do this than to meet them "up close and personal". We want to know each member's talents, expertise, capabilities, contacts. We wnat to hear the voice of the membership.

Most of the seminars are held at the Soroptimist Headquarters to enable more members to visit the new office at the Globe Telecom Plaza. We are scheduled to take the Academy to Davao in Mindanao in January and to the Visayas in February.

The training we are conducting now, (when time permits) on a monthly basis, takes on a new format, with our professional team as lead speakers, however, we invite speakers from outstanding clubs to share their best practices with the gorup. This is interspersed with some fun and fellowship, and a short workshop to ensure that members are generally aware of Soroptimist and its mission. Meeting other members from other districts is something of a new experience for the participants. Lunch and snacks are served free of charge and a certificate of attendance is given each participant at the end of the session. As an added bonus for the governor's awards, each club gets 50 points for every participant they send.

The seminar proper begins at 10AM, but participants are requested to come at 9AM, giving enough time for each attendee to know each other. An invitation for lunch from the governor is sent to members which gives the Soroptimist Leadership Academy a personal touch.

As gleaned from the evaluation forms received, the Leadership Academy is considered the best form of membership enhancement.