International Women’s Day is a global day to recognise and celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. To mark and to celebrate International Women’s Day members enjoyed a range of traditional sweet and savoury snacks from a variety of countries represented by a group of Aberdeen club members from Brazil, Algeria, Nigeria, Wales and Scotland. Aberdeen City Council headquarters at Marischal College in the centre of the city was lit up in purple light to mark the day, and two members attended the Scottish Women’s Convention event at the Scottish parliament. In lovely sunshine at the local Duthie Park Winter Garden a group of members gifted single roses to forty women.

‘A good time was had by all’ was the unanimous comment following a most enjoyable few hours at the Woodside Women’s Day which took place at the Woodside Community Centre in Aberdeen. Run by members of the Woodside Network, and on offer at no cost, was a wide range of workshops and information sessions highlighting the holistic and practical support available to women living locally and beyond. There were opportunities to join yoga, Zumba and meditation classes, to learn about the Cacao ritual, to experience Sound Bath, to hear from the Scottish Women’s Budget Group and the Spirit of Women Panel, and to learn more about nutrition. Club members who attended agreed that it was a most relaxing, satisfying and informative day, not forgetting, of course, enjoying the lovely lunch!

In a central city venue, Common Sense Coffee House on Union Terrace, club members organised and manned two Christmas fundraising stalls with several donations of Christmas items from members and friends, including cards and craft pieces made by members, raising more than £200 for Grampian Women’s Aid.

To continue to raise awareness of the UN campaign to eradicate violence against women and to reflect the 25th November start date for the annual activities members of Soroptimist clubs wearing orange items and orange  badges meet up in a range of venues in towns and cities on 25th of every month for a cuppa and a chat. Groups of our club members have been gathering in cafes in shopping malls, in restaurants, in church cafes, in a community centre and in the local art gallery.   PLEASE CONSULT OUR CLUB PROGRAMME AND JOIN US FOR A CUPPA AND A CHAT

This week certificates were awarded to the three best orange window displays in the Rosemount shopping area of the city. Several windows were ‘Oranged’ in an effort to raise awareness of and participate in the UN 16 Days of Activism  campaign to prevent and stop gender based violence. First place went to the Rosemount Community Centre whose many windows displayed  a range of orange shapes as well as slogans to stop violence against women. In second place was an eyecare business whose windows included not just a variety of orange items but also an orange motor bike! The third certificate went to a well known wool shop. A long standing member was delighted to view all the orange window displays and to present the certificates to the worthy winners! Club members hope that the exercise can be repeated next year.

This year Monday 25th November marks the first day of the annual United Nations 16 Days of Activism, first launched in 2008 to 'End Violence Against Women'. The global campaign calls on people everywhere to wear ORANGE, and this year the theme of the campaign is PREVENTION FIRST.   Around 50 businesses in the Rosemount shopping area of the city dressed their windows in orange to support and raise awareness of the campaign with bunting, balloons and posters supplied by club members. Later in the week a prize will be presented for the most attractive window display. A post box topper which has been created by a club member has also been installed in a prominent corner of Rosemount. To end the day a group of members braved the cold to join the RECLAIM THE NIGHT WALK through the centre of the city along with

  This week at a lunch meeting presentation of a certificate and flowers was made to a club member in recognition of 20 years service to the club. She thanked club members and spoke of the club’s much valued activities and her wish to continue to support it in the future.

From 1st to 3rd November a group of club members were among 500 delegates from across the world who gathered in Edinburgh for the 90th Anniversary of the SIGBI ( Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland) three day conference. Greetings were received from King Charles, from the former First Minister for Wales and from both Soroptimist International Presidents of the South East Asia Pacific Federation and of the Americas Federation. All our member delegates were happy to join others at the introductory ‘meet and greet’ coffee morning organised by SI Edinburgh where we swapped stories with other members and caught up with friends from other clubs.   The conference was opened by the SIGBI President and a short welcome talk was given by the first woman of colour to be elected as Rector of the University of Edinburgh three years ago telling us about her

The Lady Provost of the city of Aberdeen, Hazel Cameron, the wife of the Lord Provost Doctor David Cameron and a member of Aberdeen City Council, gave a most interesting talk about her experiences and activities since taking up her post in the summer of 2022. She began her talk by speaking about her chain of office, known as the ‘Jewel for the use of the Lady Provost of Aberdeen’, with the pendant made in gold and commissioned by the wife of Henry Alexander, Lord Provost of Aberdeen from 1932 to 1935. It includes a central sapphire and a pendant pearl, and depicts in relief the saltire and four saints with special significance to the city, namely, St Nicholas, patron saint of  the Burgh of Aberdeen, St Clement of Fittie, St Fittick of Nigg and St Machar of Old Aberdeen. On the reverse side is

Over the last few weeks club members have been very busy, successfully knitting several ‘Thin Red Line’ scarves as part of our campaign to highlight the impact of climate change, modelling the scarves in the bandstand of our local Duthie park. Scottish club members are being encouraged to contact their MPs to remind them of the importance of enacting policies in line with the Paris Climate Agreement and are also being urged to display their scarves in their towns and gift the scarves to their MPs! Club members have also recently spent a week supporting the local charity ‘Aberdeen Cyrenians’ in the Aberdeen City Council charity shop. Volunteers ran the busy shop throughout one week and were thanked for all their efforts. http://www,weareac.org Members will gather together this week at our Orange Cafe to promote our club and will be delighted to chat to anyone