On the 18^th August members were delighted to welcome seven members of the Northampton and District club for a visit to the Red house Cone in Wordsley.

In May seven members of Stourbridge club had visited 78 Derngate the home in Northampton designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Northampton club members had joined the group for coffee and lunch.

The visit to Red House cone was an opportunity to reciprocate. The visit commenced with coffee in the tearooms and then a guided glass works tour by Kate Round. Charlotte the glass blower did an experimental piece of glass blowing fusing a piece of multicoloured glass to white class to make a bowl. Unfortunately the stem got too cold and broke in the furnace. This explains why such pieces are so expensive.

This was followed by an excellent lunch in the tearooms. The party then moved onto Broadfield House where following a short talk by the curator the ladies were free to take their time over the exhibits.

President Ann Middleton then invited everyone back to tea at her home before the Northampton club members set off home.

Adrian used slides to show the work the volunteers do with young people who have suffered bereavement. Initially this may be telephone support or home visits but also includes activity days and events which allows the young people to come together with their shared experiences.  These activity days can be most beneficial in enabling the young person and their family to realise they are not alone.

Round Oak Robins is not a religious organisation and offers its services to all.

Dudley Council and also BBC Children in Need support its work.

Adrian explained that the organisation is always looking for volunteers, as there are a variety of jobs to be done from working directly with the family’s fundraising and other support work.

Soroptimist International Stourbridge was pleased to offer Adrian a donation to continue this valuable work.

Following a quiz about the society Paul explained it’s work. There is a registered care home and thirty people are in supported housing. The Community support team giving support to another ninety. The services provided are varied as are the needs of those supported, varying from acquired brain injury to autism. Activities are provided not just during the day but also into the evening.

Dudley Voices for Choices have been doing disability awareness training with Dudley Council this organisation is supported by the Langstone Society, they also have a sister charity called Lunch on the Run

The Langstone Society is one of the charities President Ann is supporting this year. Robert Perry a well- known local artist has donated one of his paintings called Afterglow a view from Turner Hill to the fund raising effort. Sealed bids are being received to acquire this work of local interest.

The proceeds of the literary dinner the Soroptimist hold at Stone Manor on   11^th November will also be donated to this cause.  The literary dinner has local authors coming to speak about their work.

Jean’s planned talk was changed due to events in Coventry the previous day when vandals had pushed over and damaged the Peace sculpture, this had been Jean’s first commission and it led Jean to talk about how she became a sculptor.

Jean had brought many of her small clay pieces, these are the designs which are then converted into the stone sculptures, she spoke about the process, with clay, you are adding to the object, but with carving you are taking away. There were also newspaper cuttings of the finished pieces which are on display especially around Coventry.

Jean has had health problems and one of her ways of dealing with the issues was to sculpt her emotional response to the disease, with a series of alabaster heads this has had resonance with many other people and the exhibition is toured.

Jean works with school children who have shown an affinity with the stonemason tools and seem to enjoy the creative process.

Members had the opportunity to handle the very tactile metal sculptures and to ask many questions.

Ann Middleton has a long history of community action, especially with regard to health, being involved with the Community Health Council, then Patient and Public Forum and Local Involvement Network.   She is currently active with the Health Forum.

Ann’s theme for the year is Dream, Believe and Achieve.   The following charities will benefit from Soroptimist support in 2011-2012, the Langstone Society, Edwards Trust, WaterAid, Fistula Welfare and www.organdonation.nhs.uk.

As well as raising funds and awareness for the above the club will enjoy a wide range of social events commencing with a Royal Wedding Celebration Tea at Himley Hall.   A number of walks are planned and theatre visits.