Ann Garvie - a message to you...
“Courage is doing what you are afraid to do;
learn from yesterday: if you can dream it, you can achieve it”
Ann Garvie
“Ann, thank you ever so much for including and
involving me once my term as President ended. I will
always be grateful to you for all that you did to make
this transition seamless. You were an outstanding SI
President with extraordinary challenges. Thank you
for your time, your dedication, and your perseverance! I was truly blessed to have you as my President-Elect. Your support, your encouragement, and
your loyalty were beyond measure. Your friendship
is something that I shall cherish
always!”
Alice Wells
“Ann, a passionate Soroptimist, is an eloquent
orator and advocate for women and girls. She
stressed the need for gender equality and a
violence free world at CSW and other international meetings. Ann ensured our voice
was heard. She served our mission faithfully
as President 2013 - 2015 and through her
President’s Appeal provided education and
employment opportunities
by bringing solar energy to
schools and enabled women
to utilise solar cookers to create employment. Ann made
a real and tangible contribution to a better world. Our
congratulations and grateful thanks for your
contribution”.
Yvonne Simpson
“I would say that SI has made a positive and life-changing impact on
thousands of people throughout the
year by exposing them to the powerful,
intelligent, articulate and passionate
leadership of Ann Garvie. Under Ann’s
leadership, SI has made the world a
more enlightened and better place for
women and girls.
Linda Witong
“Continuously challenging with many hurdles to overcome”. I quote IPP Ann Garvie
upon offering me the role as Global Executive Director. Well yes we were challenged
but my goodness how we learned to jump
those hurdles; thank goodness we were
not restrained by traditional Scottish kilts!
A phenomenally busy two years which of
course included preparing for the International Convention and redefining the work
of SIHQ but Ann’s drive and determination
and wonderful sense of humour made
working with her an absolute pleasure.
Soroptimist International has truly been fortunate to have had Ann at the helm during
the biennium 2103 -15”.
Deborah Thomas
“Eloquent, intelligent, determined, with a great sense
of humour which can be quite sharp some times,
sincere in friendship, not easy as an enemy, a winner
by nature. A Woman who fights strongly for her convictions but knows where to stop if the objective is
not totally reachable. Ann knows how to manoeuvre
situations in order to reach the best conclusion, but
with elegance, intelligence, determination and always
with that great sense of humor. Could be a Speaker in
a Tribunal, a Politician, a Diplomat, a Warrior, all at the
same time. This is Ann Garvie, just a fantastic WOMAN
who led Soroptimists through sometimes turbulent
times. The paths of destiny made us cross ways and
I had the great honour and pleasure of meeting and
collaborating with Ann Garvie; an
admirable Human Being. Wishing you
all the best, Ann!”
Lénia Lopes
”What a wonderful picture this is! (page 3), President
Ann charmed by a smiling Lucio Dalla at Milan Expo
2015 - or is it the other way round?”
Thank you for sharing this and many other precious
moments with Elisabetta and me! (SIE GM Lisbon,
2015)”
Renata Trottmann
“Ann Garvie
charmed by a smiling Lucio Dalla at Milan Expo 2015
- or is it the other way round?”
Photo & caption Renata Trottmann
“Ann’s determination has ensured that Soroptimist International is no longer the silent partner
at the United Nations. Her determination and
passion to improve the lives of women and girls
has ensured that Soroptimists are known and
respected for the work that members achieve
through awareness, advocacy and action, using
our long term theme – Educate to Lead.
I will never forget two challenges that she issued
to all members: “Courage is doing what you are
afraid to do; learn from yesterday: if you can
dream it, you can achieve it” and “Never loose
sight of your dreams: live for today and hope for
tomorrow if you can dream it you can achieve it”
However, she also took these to heart and they
are resonate of what she has achieved as a result
of her looking forward and ensuring that five vibrant young women were given
the opportunity to present at
the SI Convention in Istanbul in
July 2015. Something that will
remain with them for the rest of
their lives”.
Maureen Maguire
“Ann has been such an inspiring leader and
assuring convoy in our journey towards one
of the most exciting conventions in Soroptimist history. A climactic symbol of her firm
SI Presidency, the 2015 Istanbul Convention
was, I hope, a crowning experience of her
Soroptimist career. Her presence was always
a motivating force for us, the members of the
organization committee, and her diligence
always an inspiration.
Personally, I am highly thankful for having
had the opportunity to work closely with
such a powerful fellow Soroptimist sister
- in character and deed. I truly feel more
than just a professional closeness with Ann
who has utilized all her humane resources to keep us together and offer our best
to Soroptimists from all across the world.
She shall surely and proudly be embedded
in the history of Soroptimist leadership with her
will, industriousness and
affection”.
Emine Erdem
“I shall miss your ‘robust’ oratory
- with every good wish”
Jenny Vince
“Ann, I admired your sharp wit, that lovely
Scottish Brogue, and how you tirelessly
juggled all those balls that were up in the
air - which at any time could all have come
crashing down - but in the end they all
floated to the ground, superbly handled
by a consummate professional who never
gave up.
I hope that you will still play a major role
at some level in our organisation and that
you and I may get an opportunity to work
together at some stage in
the coming years. Thank
you so much and please
take a well earned holiday
- you certainly deserve it.”
Theresa Lyford
“A Scottish breeze, or should we say whirlwind, challenging
the out of date way in which we worked- challenging, refreshing, stimulating, uncomfortable but essential for us to move
forward and be the global voice for women and girls. A real
people person, who always had time for the members
and their projects, their initiatives and concerns.”
Hilary Ratcliffe
“Ann will be sorely missed by all the UN reps, as
she was a force to be reckoned with!
Ann had a vision of how to get the SI name
& brand recognized through out the world as
leaders in advocacy for women & girls human
rights, and in turn through her enthusiasm and
energy, she made us as UN Reps take that on
as our mission. Ann gave us great support
and a reason to push harder, be more
involved.. For that I am forever grateful”.
Bette Levy
“As her home region, Scotland South members have been very proud of Ann
Garvie as she has updated us on her activities as Soroptimist International
President. She challenged us as she informed us about her work with UN representatives at the UN centres, especially New York and Vienna. We heard
the appalling statistics related to so many issues from illegal waste disposal
to human trafficking to the role of education in empowering young and old.
Ann demonstrated there are still many gaps and opportunities where Soroptimists can raise awareness of issues. From where we stand in Scotland, Past
International President has shown us how advocacy based on evidence can
challenge the governments of the world to recognise the human
rights of women and girls, and truly be a global voice and we thank
her for that”.
Pat Black
“We thank Ann Garvie and appreciate her visits to the UN Vienna,
advocating for Soroptimist International. Through her outstanding
participation in ‘Targeting Women in War’, organized by ACUNS Vienna, Ann Garvie reinforced very much the position and the profile of SI.
Talking on this vile act of war to the Ambassadors of Guatemala, Mexico and Norway, Ann urged all attendees to take positive
action globally, and to sign a declaration of commitment to
end sexual violence in conflict, as proposed by the London
Global Summit.
Dora Vrdlovec
“In 2011, SIGBI members chose you Ann to go forward as our Federation nominee for SI President. We have
been proud during your term of office of your knowledge, enthusiasm, willingness to listen to others, your sense
of humour and patience. Most importantly your engagement with so many members throughout the world. As
a Past International President myself, one thing that really pleased me was your enthusiasm for our work within
the UN system, raising our profile at the then five UN Regions and throughout the whole UN System. You have
been a great Ambassador for our work.
WELL DONE, through working with the four federations you have continued the evolvement of SI in the modern
world through our three important words, now known to every Soroptimist. Educate Enable Empower, as we
strive together for women and girls to reach their full potential in life. If you educate a boy you educate the man,
but educate a girl you educate a woman, her family and eventually her nation.
Ann, welcome back to SIGBI, see you in Glasgow.
Hilary Page
Ann Garvie thank you
“Never lose
sight of your dreams live for today and hope
for tomorrow”
Ann Garvie
if you can dream it you c