Dear Soroptimist Seniors and Sisters,

I am very proud and pleased for being the president for the 2017-2019 term. I am much appreciated for trusting and delegating this task to me and to my fellow board members.

My acquaintance with this organization was with Çanakkale Peace Project in 2005. I found myself in an international network where women worked alongside to one another for peace and sorority.

Within this journey after serving as a member, secretary, treasurer and vice president, I have taken over this honorary position after dear Lale Ersin. I thank to the former President and Board of Directors for their efforts and achievements.

Within years I have learned the true vision of Soroptimism. I have realized that through reaching other women we have mostly reached ourselves. I have learned how to function and serve within an organizational structure. I have realized the value of being a part of a greater network that we are in. I have learned the time to act and what to do within this organization.

We are all very different from one another and this is the very essence of our value. Some offer their time, some offer their wisdom, some their resource and some other put any and all of it. Our club benefits from all our different strengths when we work together. That is why we are dedicating 2017-2019 term to work together by bringing all our differences and making it a harmony just like in an orchestra. Our goal will be to include all our members in all our work.

Just like in our internal structure, our goal will be working along and harmoniously with other Clubs, our Union, Sister Clubs, other Organizations, NGO’s and Local Governments.

Our priority is to organize projects for women and girls and to increase our budget for scholarships in order to provide for more students.

Our motto for this term will be Communication, Love, Tolerance and Service.

Best Regards,

Ayşe Baykan

President  2017-2019