The Soroptimist Club of St Albans and District holds Club Meetings on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of most months at  Greenwood Park Community Centre, Tippendell Lane, Chiswell Green AL2 3HW (click on Soroptimist Useful Links on the left of your screen for information and a map). Doors open at 7.30pm for 7.45pm start, coffee break during the meeting and end at 9.45pm. Coffee mornings are usually a morning in the 1^st week of the month from 10.30am to 12.30pm and are held in different members’ homes. The Club’s Executive Officers of the club meet in the evening of the first Monday of most months. In addition there are social and fundraising events. Details of the programme are included here.

If you would like to attend an event, be a speaker, or are considering membership, please click on “Contact Us” on the left of the screen, or email sistalbans@hotmail.com 

Programme of Events for club year 2013-2014

Wed 1 May – Coffee Morning at the home of Helen Francis. Please click on “Contact Us” on the left of the screen, or email sistalbans@hotmail.com if you’re interested in coming along.

Sun 12 May    Visit to Watercress Wildlife Association followed by tea. Meet at 3.00 pm – approach from Riverside Road St Albans. The steps are not steep but can be muddy so do wear comfortable shoes.There are easy paths through the site. The chair of the association will be coming along to meet us and tell us about the history of the site and some of the local sightings and flora and fauna. It is not a large site a real oasis in the middle of a busy city. Please click on “Contact Us” on the left of the screen, or email sistalbans@hotmail.com if you’re interested in joining us. 

Mon 13 May  Club Meeting + Elizabeth Sarney, who visited the Club last September when she was fundraising for her VSO climate change project in Malindi, Kenya. Elizabeth is coming to tell us all about her adventure!

Sun 2 June  Coronation Lunch, 1pm Harpenden: join us to celebrate the Diamond anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation.The price is £15 for a 2 course lunch with 1 drink. There will be a “Coronation” quiz” and a raffle. The dress code is “Regal” – of course! Numbers will be limited so book early to avoid disappointment – please click on “Contact Us” on the left of the screen, or email sistalbans@hotmail.com . The event will raise money for the Soroptimist International President’s charity “Birthing in the Pacific”: More than 1500 women per year die in Papua New Guinea due to complications of pregnancy or childbirth. Money raised saves lives by increasing access to skilled birth attendants and health care services in Papua New Guinea. Soroptimist International works with local partners to apply international best practice. For more information please go to: www.soroptimistinternational.org 

Tues 4 June – Coffee Morning at the home of Sheila Chadwick. Please click on “Contact Us” on the left of the screen, or email sistalbans@hotmail.com if you’re interested in coming along.

Sat 8 Jun SI London Chilterns Region Meeting/mini-Conference – High Wycombe Clare Foundation – 10am to 4pm – promises to be a really interesting day – guests are welcome – www.sigbi.org/london-chilterns/

Mon 10 Jun   Club Meeting + update following the Region meeting + meet award-winning Students and hear an update about our Soroptimist International St Albans and District: Peggy Hodges Prize for the highest performing female student completing the second year of a full time MEng/BEng Engineering degree at the University of Hertfordshire. See news items from 2010-2012: http://sigbi.org/st-albans-and-district/2012/top-female-engineer-wins-soroptimist-award/ http://sigbi.org/st-albans-and-district/2011/top-female-engineers-win-soroptimist-award/ http://sigbi.org/st-albans-and-district/2011/soroptimist-female-engineering-award/

Mon 24 Jun Nosh ‘n Natter – always an enjoyable evening – all are welcome – venue TBA Please click on “Contact Us” on the left of the screen, or email sistalbans@hotmail.com if you’re interested in joining us. 

Mon 8 Jul - Club Meeting + Life Talk - always interesting when our members share different aspects of their busy lives ……..  

Mon 22 Jul Speaker – Claire McCreesh from St Albans Fairtrade.

Sun 28 Jul - Walking book group with Helen Byrne – curious? more details to follow……..

Sat 3 Aug - Charity Car Park – Oaklands College Welwyn Garden City – in aid of the St Albans & Hertsmere Women’s Refuge www.stalbansandhertsmerewomensrefuge.org.uk

Sat 7 Sep  - Book Stall, St Albans Market, to mark  International Literacy Day www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/education-building-blocks/literacy/ in aid of the St Albans & Hertsmere Women’s Refuge www.stalbansandhertsmerewomensrefuge.org.uk

Mon 9 Sep - Club Meeting + celebrate International Literacy Day with Poetry www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/education-building-blocks/literacy/

Mon 23 Sep - Speaker: Jeweller Harriet Kelsall  www.hkjewellery.co.uk/ Harriet will educate us on ethical mining and Fairtrade metals. 

Sat 12 Oct  - London Chilterns Region AGM Meeting – speaker to be announced -  10am to 4pm – Lancaster Hall Hotel London – guests are welcome www.sigbi.org/london-chilterns/

Mon 14 Oct - Club Meeting + update from Region + Update from the St Albans & Hertsmere Women’s Refuge www.stalbansandhertsmerewomensrefuge.org.uk

Mon 28 Oct  - Social event – whatever we do it will be an enjoyable evening – all are welcome – venue TBA Please click on “Contact Us” on the left of the screen, or email sistalbans@hotmail.com if you’re interested in joining us. 

Thur 31 Oct – Sat 2 Nov Soroptimist International Great Britain & Ireland Annual Conference Newcastle/Gateshead www.sigbi.org/gateshead2013/

Mon 11 Nov - Club Meeting + update from Members who attended Conference www.sigbi.org/gateshead2013/  + update from local charity HomeStart St Albans www.homestartstalbans.org.uk

Sat 16 Nov  - Tour of New Pearls Exhibition at V&A with Beatriz Chadour-Sampson & SI Winchester. Beatriz is a Soroptimist, a jewellery historian and consultant curator to the V&A. 

Mon 25 Nov - Speaker: Johanna Raffan Region Councillor – Building the Future of Soroptimist International Great Britain & Ireland (SIGBI) www.sigbi.org

Mon 2 Dec - Christmas Social – this will be an enjoyable evening – all are welcome – venue TBA Please click on “Contact Us” on the left of the screen, or email sistalbans@hotmail.com if you’re interested in joining us. 

Sat 7 Dec  - Region Mtg & Human Rights Day Celebration 10am to 4pm - always an uplifting way celebrate the 10 Dec signing of the UN Declaration of Human Rights www.sigbi.org/london-chilterns   www.un.org/en/events/humanrightsday/ 

Mon 9 Dec - Carol singing from 6pm at St Albans City Station in aid of  St Albans & Hertsmere Women’s Refuge www.stalbansandhertsmerewomensrefuge.org.uk – come and exercise your lungs for a good cause and join us for supper afterwards – to see last year’s event: www.sigbi.org/st-albans-and-district/2012/shake-rattle-and-sing-2/

Mon 13 Jan  -  Club Meeting + update from Region + Update on our International Project & Jewellery sales http://sigbi.org/st-albans-and-district/our-international-project/  International Peace Initiative (IPI) is a charity in Meru Kenya. Money we have raised by fundraising and selling jewellery made by the women in Kenya educates and empowers women and girls whose lives have been affected by HIV and AIDS. For more about IPI please visit the IPI website: www.ipeacei.org and www.inpeace.kbo.co.ke

Mon 27 Jan  -  Lucky Dip  - curious? more details to follow……..   

Mon 10 Feb  - Club Meeting + learning about the St Albans Food Bank

Mon 24 Feb - Nosh ’n Natter – always an enjoyable evening – all are welcome – venue TBA Please click on “Contact Us” on the left of the screen, or email sistalbans@hotmail.com if you’re interested in joining us. 

Sat  8 Mar  - London Chilterns Region Meeting/mini-conference – speakers to be announced -  10am to 4pm – Lancaster Hall Hotel London – guests are welcome www.sigbi.org/london-chilterns/

Sun 9 Mar - International Women’s Day Event St Albans – please join us - more details to follow – to see the 2013 event www.sigbi.org/st-albans-and-district/2013/international-womens-day-peace-on-a-bridge-in-st-albans/

Mon 10 Mar  - Club Meeting + Update from Region Report + Life Talk - always interesting when our members share different aspects of their busy lives ……..

Mon 24 Mar  -  Speaker: Kate Bretherton, author of “The Remarkable Trees of St Albans“

Sat 12 Apr   - Ever popular Quiz Night – last year was a sellout so book your table early to avoid disappointment. Come and have some fun, give your brain some light exercise and raise funds for a good cause:   
Homewood Road Church Hall, St Albans AL1 4BH (Junction Homewood Rd and Sandpit Lane). 7.15pm for 7.45pm start. Fish & chip supper (with chicken or veggie option) £12.50 adults, £6 kids under 16 – up to 8 in a team. In aid of International Peace Initiatives - a Kenyan charity transforming the lives of girls and HIV-positive women www.ipeacei.org 

Mon 14 Apr  -  Club Meeting + Life Talk - always interesting when our members share different aspects of their busy lives ……..

Mon 28 Apr - AGM & Social – round-up of the busy year just gone and an opportunity to relax with a drink and nibbles.