Many of these presidents have met twice a year for lunch and to enjoy each others company.

On April 21st 2013 eight  of these  Past  Presidents enjoyed a delightful lunch at Garstang Country Club, renewing friendships and catching up with each others lives and travels.

April 20th               Table Top Sale at St Wulstan’s for Mary’s Meals

April 30th                Literacy Evening with Rotary

May 11th                Regional Conference on ‘Opening Minds’ to Educate, Empower and Enable

May 14th                Business Meeting

May 27th              Chocolate and Sweetie Stall at Gt Harwood Show for HARV

May 28th              Speaker on Blackburn Orphanage

June 11th            Business Meeting and Conference Report

June 15th           Chocolate Stall at Accrington Carnival for HARV

June 19th          Manchester Canal Trip

June 25th          Summer Lunch

June 29th         Regional Meeting Lancaster University

July 6th             Chocolate Stall at Rishton Festival for Purple Teardrop

July 9th             Business Meeting and Regional Report

August 13th      Business Meeting

August 27th      Garden Party at President Elect,  Pam’s

September 10th       Business Meeting

September 24th       Microfinance in UK

October 6th 59th      Charter Lunch at New Drop

October 8th          Business Meeting

October 22nd      Speaker on Guide Dogs for the Blind

October 31st – Nov 2nd   79th Annual Federation Conference – Gateshead

November 9th    Regional Meeting and AGM – Lancaster University

November 12th   Business Meeting Regional and Federation Reports

November 26th    Speaker from Mary’s Meals

December 10th     Business Meeting

December 17th    Christmas Celebration Lunch

January 14th        Business Meeting

January 28th       Speaker on Saudi Arabia

February 11th     Business Meeting

February 25th     Quilt Making

March 11th          Business Meeting

March 25th        Friendship Evening

April 8th            Business Meeting

April 22nd        Installation of new President and officers

President Dorothy with Inspector Andrea Bradbury

Our Friendship Evening with Andrea Bradbury was a resounding success.

Our  guests were welcomed by Joint President Dorothy who also welcomed our Regional President, Susan Parke- Hatton.

Inspector Andrea Bradbury MBE BSc Hons, who was the recipient of the George Herbert Award 2011 for her dedication to Community Service, informed and entertained everyone as she spoke about Women in the Police and working to prevent Terrorism.

Supper was provided by our members and the Raffle which was in aid of Water Aid raised a final total of £90.

Our aim was to raise funds for new water barrels with handles which can be wheeled along instead of women and girls carrying water on their heads.

They are part of a number of teams who are on a seven week rota and help to ensure that this important community work is continued in Hyndburn and district.

Sessions are held on Saturdays between 2.00pm and 4.00pm and new members are always welcome but need to be CRB cleared.

 Our next session is in May.

A Big Thank You to all those members who have helped at the Centre during the past twelve months.

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The two Presidents were presented with a small gift each in thanks of the work they do for the club.

Two members were congratulated for serving 25 years with the club and one absent member who has served 40 years will be given her gift at a later date.

Members toasted absent friends and wished each other a very Happy Christmas.

 Agnes and Brenda were presented with a small gift for 25 years services by President Dorothy.

The Purple Teardrop campaign was started by Poole Soroptimists to raise awareness of the problem and support those who have been rescued.

Members of Rishton and Great Harwood began on Anti Slavery Day by raising funds to purchase Purple Teardrop (PTD) badges, flyers and posters, and then distributed them amongst friends and family.

On November 27th, the United Nations day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, they organised a Body Shop Party to raise more awareness and funds for the support of the Purple Teardrop.

In total £110 was sent to the Purple Teardrop Campaign.

Yes, there was an Olympic Torch held by Colin Cooper leading the parade

Our stall raised another £107 for the HARV Domestic abuse unit at Accrington, which primarily supports both children and women who have been subjected to abuse.

Three of our members helped steward the parade through Rishton.

She was asked at first to arrange the Soroptimists display, but her talents were spotted and she was then requested to design and arrange the Diamond Jubilee and Olympic Games displays in the porch.

Our favourite display was also in the porch area and was a modern ‘Happiness’ portrayal.

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Dorothy ,Jeanne, Jean, Margaret, Mary and Joyce also helped with displays, selling programs, refreshments and general assistance

Diane was then persuaded to arrange four more beautiful window displays and an extra radiator display.

 Everyone agreed that her arrangements were stunning and beautiful and also gave us the opportunity for Soroptimists to be involved in our local community.

Welcome to the Soroptimist’s Olympic Pentathlon Garden Party

What a beautiful day we had for our garden party at President Dorothy’s house in August. Sandwiched between days and days of pouring rain, the sun shone and we enjoyed an Olympic afternoon competing in our very own Pentathlon.

We had a number of different games to choose from including Swing Ball, Skittles, Bowls, Snap and Connect Four. Guests were rewarded with Silver and Gold Medals before they enjoyed tea and cakes in the warm sunshine.

Although fun and friendship was the main aim of the afternoon we raised £173 for a Cambodian Maternity Hospital where Dorothy’s sister Angela has been working for the past 16 months. She is there until next March and has already improved the survival rate of new born babies.

For more information see her Blog at

http://angelaandchriscambodia.blogspot.com/

We have provided 12  Fob watches for the Birth Attendants to test the Pulse Rates of the new mothers and babies and 15 individual hand gels to reduce infection.

We have also collected approx 25 little cardigans for premature babies.

Angela’s son has taken  all of these out to Cambodia this October.

Soroptimists of Rishton and Great Harwood were at the Fair to sell cakes and other kitchen utensils to raise funds for Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Domestic Abuse Unit. A Bran Tub was also provided to catch the attention of the younger revelers.

The weather was not only dry and sunny but warm and summery as the townsfolk  came out in droves to enjoy the atmosphere and general feeling of goodwill about the town. There were a variety of Kings and Queens at the Fair including Henry the Eighth with two of his wives and Charles 1st with his entourage.

A total of £300 was   raised which will go to HARV for the benefit of the women and children who have been subjected to violence or other forms of abuse.