In preparation for this Angela has been busy knitting “Dragon Headdresses”

The “SIGGS” crew is raising money to be equally shared  between three charities

• Cancer Research UK
• Pestalozzi International Village Trust at Sedlescombe
• Girlguiding Sussex East.

They are seeking sponsorship to achieve their target of £6,000. Soroptimist and team captain Anne Hudson said  “This joint venture with the older Guides and Soroptimists from across the South East Region follows a request by Liz Morgan Lewis, Federation President, to foster links and encourage young women to achieve their full potential.”

Internationally Soroptimists are working on projects with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.

This award has been given in memory of Daphne Witmore , a former member of  SI Tunbridge Wells.

 She deeply valued  the international aspect of Soroptimism, and was keen to foster links with clubs in other countries of the world. East

 This Rose Bowl in her memory is  awarded annually to the club within this region which, in the opinion of the judges, has done the
most to fulfil the SI aim of promoting International Goodwill and Understanding.

 Clubs will be judged on one or more of the following criteria:

• Working in collaboration with an overseas Club or other organisation outside
  the UK.
• Undertaken a project to advance human rights in one or more of the following
  fields:
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Economic and Social Development
• The activities have made a difference to the life of a community, group or
  an individual

]]> http://sigbi.org/east-grinstead/2011/09/26/rose-bowl/feed/ 0 http://sigbi.org/east-grinstead/2011/07/14/blooming-great-tea-party/ http://sigbi.org/east-grinstead/2011/07/14/blooming-great-tea-party/#comments Thu, 14 Jul 2011 10:29:20 +0000 east-grinstead http://soroptimist-gbi.org/east-grinstead/?p=84 Continued]]>   SI East Grinstead recently held a Bridge Event which was attended by forty players.

We served them, what in the words of one player was “the best bridge tea I have ever had”.

Together with the proceeds of a raffle , we raised £450 for the Marie Curie Cancer Fund at an afernoon enjoyed by all.

The project makes dresses out of pillow cases and when finished will be sent to Africa and Ghana. SI East Grinstead and the Guides have contacts in both countries which gives the project a real hands-on feel. The girls are supplying the pillow cases and the Soroptimists the elastic, bias binding and trimming to decorate the dresses, plus the experience and know how.

Five members, armed with sewing machines, met with the older girls on a one to one basis and five dresses were completed. The idea will teach the Rangers to show the guides how the dresses are made.

Club members then instruct the brownies how to sew and lastly the little rainbow girls will design a pocket using wax crayons which can then be ironed on by the Soroptimists or Guide Leaders.

This exciting project involves a very large area with lots of girls and club members taking part. The Guide Area Leader is also hoping that the Trefoil Guides will be involved too.

             Federation encouragement has led us to work in partnership with the Girl Guides and we are all enjoying  our joint project

      “Every Little Girl should have a Dress”

What better way to round off Project Sierra than with a Royal Connection.

SI East Grinstead member Angela Edwards, inspired by the currant knitting craze, produced her version of a knitted William and Kate which was then raffled at the SE Region meeting raising £93.00 for Project Sierra.

The knitted couple were then displayed along with Soroptimist Sashes and leaflets about project Sierra in the window of a local haberdashery shop to raise awareness in the town.

President Susie Forbes and members came along and a photographer from the East Grinstead Observer took the photo and did a report which made the front page the week of the Royal Wedding.

 Great publicity for Soroptimist International

Over 100 signatures were collected In a build up to March 8th.   One of East Grinstead’s members got a slot on Meridian FM Radio (our local radio station) to talk about International Womens’ Day and SI International in general, which was wonderful publicity all round.

The local press were also invited and the photo plus report of the event made page two of the East Grinstead Observer.

To honour the resilience of millions of women survivors of war around the world, Women for Women International is hosting a global campaign called “Join me on the Bridge on International Women’s Day.” calling for women to have a greater say at peace negotiating tables.

On Sunday  March 6^th  2pm to 3pm   we are asking you to stand alongside the women in the whole of the UK, as well as Ghana, Congo, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Sudan, and Nigeria, in peace, to demand an end to war and to demonstrate that women can build the bridges to peace and development and

On Tuesday March 8^th in solidarity, women will come together on bridges throughout the world, creating a truly global movement that says NO! to war and YES! to peace and hope.  Events are being scheduled on March 8 in London and New York.  If you can’t attend these events, please consider joining us on March 6^th.

We are calling women from all over the world, and the men that support them, -wherever you are – to Join us to stretch ourselves out over Pooh Sticks Bridge with your friends and family and step onto the World Wide Bridge

Meet 2-3.00 pm on Pooh Bridge for solidarity, fresh air and an SI photo opportunity!

Wear something WHITE (IWD official Colour). Good footwear advised.

Map  and picture at http://www.pooh-country.co.uk/Tour2/poohtour/tour1.php

Please let Hilary Rowberry know if you can come: email briars@aol.com.

Cup of Tea & Scones afterwards at the Briars

On a lovely summer Sunday, East Grinstead Soroptimists held their annual Garden Party.  Together with their friends, family and members from other clubs we enjoyed a wonderful lunch and supported the many stalls that were there, raising over £1200 for our President’s  Charities.

We sold anything that we could, from produce to bric-a brac but our main aim was to promote Soroptimism and we had several enquiries.

We also made a small sum of money which will go to our President’s Charity.