Latest Posts

Annual Dinner November 2011

SI Birmingham West recently celebrated its 59th Annual Dinner, more recently known as our Annual ‘Duck’ Dinner as it is always one of the main choices! The venue was Edgbaston Golf Club and we were delighted to have 80 guests at our final Duck Dinner. SI Midland Arden Regional President Ruth Longville attended as well as members of other Clubs in the region. We were also fortunate to have guests from one of our Friendship Links, SI Cwmbran, SI Cardiff,  SI Chichester and Birmingham Choral Union. It was a happy, friendly evening as the Club celebrated its many successes past and present. All three joint presidents were present and President Mary McCurry hosted the dinner. The picture shows members of SI Birmingham West who were able to attend the Dinner.

Small but perfectly formed!

Club Meetings

There will be Business Meetings on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, except August & December 2011. At the Business meetings of 8 June 2011, we shall have a Speaker from St Mary’s Hospice; 9 November 2011, Sandra Brew (Birmingham Crisis Centre); 8 February 2012, Joe Jordan (Gynaecologist).

On the 4th Wednesdays of the month, we shall either have a Supper or a visit to a National Trust property (or similar) – contact us first to find out where we are going!

Our Annual & Final Duck Dinner will be held on Saturday 19 November 2011 at Edgbaston Golf Club and all are very welcome to join us there.

In addition, we shall have several fund raising events for St Mary’s Hospice, the first being a Supper on 11 June 2011; a Luncheon on 30 July 2011; Afternoon Tea on 6 August 2011; Connie Jones Education Fund Lunch & ‘Catch up with the Arts’ on 18 February 2012; Day of Service on 2 March 2012; a Quiz with Birmingham Choral Union on 23 March 2012.

We also hope to visit some of our Friendship Links Clubs during the year.

West Birmingham welcomes new member

President Ratna welcomes new member Buddi

At our AGM on 13 April 2011, we were delighted to welcome new member, Buddhi, to our Club. She is one of three new members who are joining the Club so far this year and we are delighted to have members with new interests and ideas.

Joint Presidents 2011 – 2012

Joint Presidents Mary, Marian and Ratna

This year, Ratna Sen, Mary McCurry and Marian Dawes have taken on the role of President.

We are previous incumbents and hope that our experience and enthusiasm will help Club members enjoy a lively and stimulating year. Planning was done in the knowledge that our dear Club will probably be closing in 2012 but we plan to focus on Programme Action during the year and, with this in mind, our main charities are St Mary’s Hospice and Connie Jones’s Fund (helping girls in Education projects).

We will devote time to collect appropriate items for 2 Days of Service, one for Birmingham Crisis Centre and the other for the British Red Cross.

As with previous ‘collaborations’ of Presidents, we intend to work closely together, irrespective of who is holding the chain.

Day of Service 2010

SI West Birmingham Day of Service, 27 February 2010

Once again, members of SI West Birmingham (SIWB) gathered to fill  Welcome Boxes with toiletries for a Birmingham Refuge. Sarah Bookey, one of our Presidents Elect, hosted the event and provided delicious refreshments for all the volunteers.

The Birmingham Refuge offers a safe haven to women, often accompanied by their children, who have experienced domestic violence and SIWB have been supporting them for a number of years.

Soaps, shower gels and shampoos, flannels, sanitary protection, dental requisites, combs and some little luxuries, as well as the shoe boxes and printed box labels, were generously donated by SIWB members and their friends. Also, many unused complimentary hotel requisites found their way to this good cause!

The work was quickly completed, with refreshments, mingling and catching up with news, adding an extra dimension.

The 36 filled boxes were delivered to the hostel by one of our members.

 

Beautiful shawls & blankets

Judith & Sylvia with some of the beautiful shawls
THE 2 BIRMINGHAM KNITTERS
 
As part of the Midland Arden service project Judith & Sylvia have been instrumental in keeping the needles clacking. All the blankets & shawls go to the Fistula Hospital in Addis Ababa; this is the International President’s appeal for December 10th – Restoring Dignity.
After surgery, the women take the blanket home with them.

Friendship Links

International friendship is an important part of Soroptimism and our club has links with SI Clubs in Bratislavia , Calcutta, Cwmbran, Frankfurt, Lyon, West Betuwe and Eastern Adelaide (www.siswp.org/eastadelaide) 

We correspond with these clubs, and try to have exchange visits when we can link with the aims and objectives of each other’s clubs, as well as establishing an international network of friends.

Welcome to SI Birmingham West

SI Birmingham West meets every 2nd and 4th Wednesday (except August & December) at the Apollo Hotel, Hagley Road, Birmingham. We have a varied and interesting programme of activities, including speaker meetings, social & fund raising events.

We are non party political and our members are from diverse backgrounds. We actively welcome members from ALL cultures to our Club.

You may contact us using the web form, but if you wish additional information, do not hesitate to email us at siwestbirmingham@blueyonder.co.uk.

We look forward to hearing from you!