Soroptimist International South West Pacific

What’s Your Elevator Pitch?

Have you heard of an “elevator pitch”?

It’s a simple, short way to explain something important—like what it means to be a Soroptimist. Imagine you had just 30 seconds to tell someone why you are part of this organization. What would you say?

I spoke with Hanaa Wong Abdullah, the SISEAP Communication Convenor, about her elevator pitch. Her advice?

“Create one that’s true to you. It should feel natural and reflect your own voice—that way, it’s authentic and impactful.”

Why does this matter?

Because when someone asks, “What’s a Soroptimist?” or “Why do you volunteer?” it’s your chance to inspire them.

Whether they’re a potential member, donor, or supporter, your pitch can show them what Soroptimists do and why it matters.

How to Create Your Elevator Pitch:

Here’s a simple 6-step guide to help you craft your own:

1. Know What You Want to Share: Think about what’s most important. For example: • “SISEAP unites women across 13 countries to lead change in their communities.”

2. Think About Who You’re Speaking To: Tailor your message for the person in front of you. • Potential Members: Highlight the benefits of joining. • Donors or Supporters: Focus on the impact Soroptimists create.

3. Explain the Problem Soroptimists Address: Be clear about what we’re working to change. Example: “Women in many places face barriers to leadership and equality. Soroptimists work to break those barriers.”

4. Share How Soroptimists Make a Difference: Talk about the solutions we provide. Example: “We focus on education, advocacy, and building strong networks to empower women.”

5. Highlight Real Results: Share a success story or impactful numbers. Example: “Last year, Soroptimist members launched over 50 projects, transforming thousands of lives across our region.”

6. Invite Action: End with what you want the listener to do. Example: “If you care about empowering women, we’d love for you to join us or support our work!”

Example Elevator Pitch:
“SISEAP brings together women from 13 countries to lead social and economic change. We tackle barriers to leadership and equality through education, advocacy, and collaboration. With over 50 successful projects last year, we’re making real change happen. If you believe in empowering women, join us or support our mission!”

Feel free to make your pitch your own. Practice it until it feels natural—it’s your personal way to share the
incredible work of Soroptimists.

Contributed by:
Kristeen Johnston – Membership Convenor
Hanaa Wong Abdullah – Communication Convenor

Membership Best Practice Awards 2025

Clubs are invited to celebrate their membership initiatives and successes.

GREAT NEWS!

Along with the Best Practice Award certificate, clubs have an exciting opportunity to win prizes! This is for the Recruitment Award only.

1. The highest number of new members recruited for a club from 1st January 2024 - 31st December 2024. 1st prize AU$100, 2nd prize AU$75.

2. The highest % growth in membership for a club from 1st January 2024 - 31st December 2024. 1st prize A$100, 2nd prize A$75

Nominations will be sought in the 1 February and 1 March Bulletin, with a close-off date of 25 March 2025. The Awards will be presented at the Federation meeting on 18th May 2025.

SISEAP Recruitment and Retention Membership Award 2025

Noting number of new members and membership % increase from1st January 2024 - 31st December 2024, plus the provision of a 2024 Recruitment and Retention Plan, and a photo or photos

SISEAP Friendship Links Award 2025

noting activities undertaken with a Friendship Link Club in the past two years (social, training, programme, and/or other).

SISEAP Diversity of Membership Award 2025 

What is your understanding of the importance of diversity in a Soroptimist club, and how has your club taken steps to enhance inclusivity and diverse representation?Share examples of how your club has worked to create an inclusive environment within your Soroptimist club, ensuring diverse voices are heard and respected. Diversity can include a range of cultures, ages, skills, socio-economic backgrounds, geographical locations, abilities and disabilities, and membership categories, all showing the club's inclusive nature. Supply a photo/s showing the diversity of your club, if possible.

SISEAP Membership Innovation Award 2025

An open award that showcases a club’s creativity and/or originality, a positive impact, potential for sustainability or adaptability, and instances of collaboration or partnerships, with a membership outcome for training or recruitment or retention.

Kristeen Johnston

SISEAP Membership Convenor 2024-2026

membership.kristeen@siseap.org

Highly Recommend Soroptimists to attend the Thriving Futures workshop course!

That was the clear message from eleven Soroptimists from eight clubs across Aotearoa New Zealand after they attended the 15^th – 17^th June course recently held in Wellington.

Soroptimists some very experienced, some relatively new, came from a mixture of clubs across our National Region. However, we all had the same goal, to learn from Anthea Penny the Facilitator and each other, on how we can re-energise our Soroptimist clubs to retain and build our membership.  We scored the program very highly, the overall evaluation results were 94.8%.

With very clear goals Anthea took us through the course content.

Pre Workshop Webinar

Attend a pre two-day workshop Webinar that discusses the programme contents and introduces members to recruitment planning cycle and the pre analysis required.

Content of the Two day workshop

• Understand the case for change regarding our declining membership and the need for action.
• Using a strategic model, share and discuss the analysis of our clubs / regions, Strengths, Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats SWOT., together with the dynamics of Soroptimist Clubs and Renewal Processes
• Explore the key elements of a high-functioning club and strategies that encourage office holding and recruitment and develop tactics for recruitment.
• Prepare a plan for recruitment and retention for individual participant’s clubs containing Goals, SMART objectives, criteria for evaluation and a timeline.
• Develop your narrative for change and call to action for your club and practice the narrative and Elevator Pitch

Post Two-day workshop

Coaching in groups is available port workshop and the final presentation of each participant’s club is presented online in four months’ time

What worked well for participants?

“Having specific items to work on and the flow of the programme. The opportunity to meet an amazing group of interesting, very motivated, positive women and hear the many different ways clubs work and the personalities encountered. The skills I have gained and the courage to go back, analyse them and use them”.

“Meeting and making new connections with others in SIANZ who have a likeminded view of Soroptimism and want to make a change in how we look at what we are doing to support strong and not-so-strong clubs”.

“I loved the friendship and laughter; the feeling of safety in saying what I felt and the feeling of support. I am an idea’s person and I felt the environment we were in allowed many thoughts to come forth. I LOVE THAT!”

If you are interested in the Thriving Futures Program which now contains a 2 day face-to-face workshop, please contact me at swpmembership2020@siswp.org or Anthea Penny at  swppresidentelect2020@siswp.org

Kristeen Johnston
2024-2026 Membership Convenor
swpmembership2020@siswp.org