Members of Soroptimist International St Albans & District decorated a tree as part of St Saviour’s Church Christmas Tree Festival. The theme was Christmas Past, Present and Future www.ssaviours.org

The Soroptimist tree had the title “Yesterday is History, Tomorrow a Mystery, Today is a Gift, That’s why it’s called the Present”. History was represented by the organisation’s emblem, the future was represented by the organisation’s new logo, and the present was represented by small wrapped gifts.
Pictured here from left to right are Madeline Skinner, Jill Ogley, “The Tree”, Jean Eaton and Jane Slatter.

Generous St Albans commuters donated £521 to the Soroptimist International St Albans & District carol singers at St Albans station on 12th December! The St Albans & Hertsmere Women’s Refuge www.stalbansandhertsmerewomensrefuge.org.uk will find the money very welcome in these tough times with financial cuts hitting charities.

Pictured here is one of the teams giving their brains a “winter work-out”!

On the 9th November Shweta Mehta (MEng in Aerospace Engineering) and Peng Zhao (BSc Hons in Multimedia Technology) were awarded the 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.

Peggy (Margaret) Hodges was a highly acclaimed British engineer who was awarded an OBE for her services to engineering at a time when this was even rarer than it is today for a woman. Peggy was a member of Soroptimist International the global women’s organisation and she left a legacy to her Club, St Albans and District. One of the Soroptimist goals is to “improve the lives and status of women and girls through education, empowerment or enabling opportunities”. We created this award for these reasons and in honour of Peggy’s life.

Pictured here, following the prize-giving event, from left to right are: Jane Slatter Communications Officer Soroptimist International St Albans & District Club, Shweta Mehta and Peng Zhao with their award certicates, last year’s winner of the first award winner Tatiana Olivieri and Helen Byrne President-Elect of the Club.

 St Albans Soroptimists sold hundreds of books on St Albans Market on Saturday 27th August in aid of the St Albans and Hertsmere Women’s Refuge – the charity SI St Albans & District is deservedly supporting again this year

The event marked International Literacy Day. Each year, UNESCO reminds the international community of the status of literacy and adult learning globally – this year’s theme is “Literacy, Peace and Gender Equality”. Global literacy remains an elusive target: some 759 million adults lack minimum literacy skills and two thirds of these are women! Have you heard the saying “educate a woman and you educate a family”?….

The St Albans Soroptimists Latin Jazz and Dance Evening was a sizzler of a success – raising £1000 for the St Albans & Hertsmere Women’s Refuge. Pictured here is Mish getting the party going with a Salsa demo (that’s after a Mojito cocktail) and the wonderful local professional band “Semafour” with guest singer Yvette Byrne who got everyone tangoing onto the dance floor.

Wow – what a start to the new Club year! The Club’s newest member, Diana Kingham, brought the inpirational Dr Karambu Ringera from Kenya along to speak to us this week.

Dr Ringera spoke to us about how she came to create an orphanage and organisation (International Peace Initiatives) to help Kenyan women and children affected by HIV/AIDS. She has a unique philosopy about helping people to help themselves ,which she developed as a result of her relationships with the women in her project.
Please see the website for more information and to find out how you can support her organisation www.ipeacei.org

Dr Ringera’s words are as powerful in this video of a presentation to the University of Denver where she studied as they were in person. She has a way of connecting with you through her openess and honesty www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ib-jqgF88g
 
Club Members were impressed with the simple but effective way Dr Ringera has helped the women to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to begin to take control of their own lives. It is also obvious that her philosophy is just as applicable to breaking down the dependency which affects people in developed countries like our own. The fact that she is now going to be involved in the setting up of a Soroptimist Club with the group of ladies she works with in Meru Kenya is the icing on the cake. 

The St Albans & District Soroptimists raised a whopping £2715 for the St Albans and Hertsmere Women’s Refuge in the club year 2010/11.  The Refuge has used the money to help fund educational programmes for both staff and victims of domestic abuse. This is the second year that the club has supported the Women’s Refuge as the club’s annual charity and the club has decided to support the Refuge again in 2011/12. Soroptimist Club President Jane said “charities like the Women’s Refuge find it difficult to get support, so it is vital that we support them, particurly in this tough financial climate”. Liz, the manager of the Refuge said to the Soroptimist Club members ”This money makes a big difference to us and it’s fantastic that you have decided to support us for another year.”  As well as fundraising, the club has provided tea, coffee and sugar for the Refuge, household items to help women leaving the Refuge get started in a new home and Christmas gifts. Staff and supporters of the Refuge also joined in with some of the fundraising activities including a book stall on St Albans market, a quiz night and carol singing at St Albans station. 

Pictured here left to right on the outside Soroptimist Co-Presidents Janet Tansley and Jane Slatter and in the centre Liz Perry and Sara Jackson Managers of the St Albans and Hertsmere Women’s Refuge,  

Soroptimists joined the biggest 100th International Women’s Day celebration in London on March 8th

1200 women from multiple women’s organisations partnered Women for Women International’s ”Join me on the Bridge” event www.womenforwomen.org/bridge by marching across the Millennium Bridge. Pictured on the bridge are Soroptimists from St Albans, Hemel Hempstead, Watford and Harpenden – all members of Soroptimist International St Albans & District. The bridge symbolises building bridges of peace all over the world. Liz Morgan-Lewis, Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland President, spoke afterwards at the Royal Festival Hall along with Annie Lennox, Bianca Jagger, Lynne Featherstone (Equalities Minister) and others. 

There is more about International Women’s Day in the diary on  the Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland website: www.soroptimist-gbi.org/blog/2011/03/01/100th-international-womens-day-soroptimists-inspiring-action/

Please sign the on-line petition calling for urgent action so that Afghan women can play a full part in building the bridges of peace for their future:  www.womenforwomen.org/bridge/sign-the-pledge.php This is really important with the troop withdrawal this year, and supports UN Security Council Resolution 1325 for women’s role in post-conflict peacekeeping. 

On the 10th November Tatiana Oliveira was presented with the first Peggy Hodges Soroptimist Award at the University of Hertfordshire prize-giving ceremony. This was awarded to a top female Engineering student in memory of our past-member Peggy Hodges OBE. Peggy received prizes and accolades including her OBE for engineering, so this is a fitting tribute tp Peggy.  Tatiana is studying for a BSc in Computer & Network Technology and is a worthy recipient of the award.

Pictured above is Tatiana Oliveira being presented with her award by Janet Tansley, President of the St Albans Soroptimists, with Neville Reyner (CBE DL) Chairman of Exemplas University of Hertfordshire. Thanks to Pete Stevens at CreativeEmpathy.com for the photographs.