A DAY IN EASTER ROSS   Club members from the north of Scotland have met up for their quarterly meeting in Easter Ross. SI Aberdeen members were joined by members from SI Perth, SI Inverness and Nairn and SI Easter Ross. Everyone enjoyed  meeting up again, exchanging ideas and making plans for the region's 90th anniversary celebration at the end of June. As part of the Soroptimist Orange campaign to  Stop Violence against Women and Girls members had the opportunity to learn how to construct Origami butterflies which when open, show a campaign message. Easter Ross members did the demonstration and explained that they distribute the butterflies around their area where they can be accessed by other women.

On Saturday 23rd May Bonnymuir Green Community Trust hold their annual plant sale. As in previous years members of our club will be present on the day to sell our plants grown and donated by club members, and other gardening based items. There will be a huge variety of plants on offer and even a selection of plant pots! The cafe will also be open for food and drinks. COME AND ENJOY THE DAY!

A group of members spent time looking round ‘Jak’s Den’ in the city with a member of the Team Jak Foundation, a charity which supports families facing childhood cancer. The Jak’s Den concept is at the heart of all they do, providing a range of activities for emotional, practical and social support. Their activities  programme includes music therapy, lego club, family fun sessions, teen sessions and counselling.http://teamjak.org.uk

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 8.3.26 In the days before Sunday 8th March, International Women’s Day, members were busy making preparations to mark this special day when, mindful of this year’s theme, ‘Give to Gain’, they would present a variety of roses to women and girl members of the public at the Duthie Park in the city. Each rose was paired with a ribboned label highlighting an appropriate message for the day, and all submitted by club members themselves. This year marks the 125th anniversary (1911-2026) of International Women’s Day celebrating women’s achievements worldwide, raising awareness of discrimination and taking action to establish gender parity. Gloria Steinem, the world-renowned journalist and activist reportedly once said, “The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organisation but to the collective efforts of all those who care about human rights.”  

THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO SUPPORTED US!

As part of the campaign to stop violence against women and girls members installed an orange post box 'topper', created by a club member, at a focal point in a busy residential and shopping area in the city, to raise community awareness of and mark the 16 days of activism.

On the night of 25th November, the first day of the 16 Days of Activism campaign to end gender based violence, a group of members joined many more women of all ages in the local march to 'Reclaim the Night' in Aberdeen city centre. His Majesty's Theatre was a gathering point, lit up to mark the occasion.  

Members have recently spent several hours printing out posters and assembling information sheets in preparation for the 16 Days of Activism (25 November -10 December) when around the world individuals and organisations unite to raise awareness of and take action against all forms of gender based violence. This year's theme is 'Unite to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls'. The colour Orange is used to promote the global campaign  symbolising a future that is bright and free from violence against women and girls. Members will encourage staff in a number of shops to support the campaign by decorating their windows. A group of members also set up and manned a table top sale in a local church. Items for sale included Christmas gifts and decorations made and donated by past and present club members. Proceeds from the sale will be distributed to various

A founder of the charity Team Jak Foundation gave our club members an inspiring talk about the ten year history of the charity and the work it has done in that time to establish ways of supporting families with children and young adults with cancer aged 0 to 25 years old , and to those who are bereaved. Across Scotland the charity has provided hundreds of families and friends with emotional, social and practical support, all their actions inspired by the founder’s son Jak who passed away aged 15 years and whose wishes and plans were the starting point for the charity.info@teamjak.org.uk ‘CREATING SMILES,EASING THE JOURNEY’

Afternoon tea was greatly enjoyed by a group of members to celebrate the long service of four members with certificates and bouquets of flowers awarded in recognition of 20 years, 25 years and 40 years as members of SI Aberdeen. Photos of past club events were passed around and stories of members’ successes were swapped with much humour and delight!