Members joined together at Teras restaurant, Bangor University, to enjoy an evening meal together. Instead of a raffle, this year we had a Christmas bran tub and the Club made a donation to the SIGBI International President’s fund.
We combined our ever-popular chocolate tombola with a sale of Christmas crafted goods. It was a lovely seasonal event and we made almost £300 for our main charity this year, Dementia Care in Ysbyty Gwynedd .
Members enjoyed a practical evening assembling bags for the Women’s Refuge, families in the community and a large box of coats, jumpers, scarves, gloves and socks to be taken to St. Mary’s. Four bags of food, together with bags of toiletries were made up for the Women’s Refuge, 12 bags of food for the families in the community and 20 bags of toiletries. Members thank Tesco for their donation of colourful Christmas gift bags to contain the gifts. In addition, members supported the Stop the Violence against women and children across the world campaign wearing orange items of clothing. It was lovely to be joined by Catherine Baldwin, who has recently undertaken a three week trip to Guyana for which the Club had contributed sponsorship. She gave a short presentation of the work she had undertaken and her plans for future study. She thanked the
Soroptimist join with Bangor Mother’ Union – Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign 30/11/18 President Andy, Mavis Evans and Joan Wynne joined members of Bangor’s Mothers’ Union for a short but very moving Vigil in Bangor Cathedral for women across the world who are victims of gender-based violence of different kinds. We then jointly raised awareness of the issues with posters and leaflets outside the Cathedral in the centre of Bangor.
SI Bangor and District held a Christmas coffee morning in Penrhyn Hall. We raised over £300 for the President’s two charities, Dementia Care in Ysbyty Gwynedd and UMEED. Christmas creative goods made by members were particularly popular as were the bags and Christmas decorations made from can ring pulls sold for the Purple Community Fund who fund projects for disadvantaged groups. We also used this opportunity to promote the 16 days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign.
The work of the North Wales Women’s Centre in Rhyl, Miriam Kisby 20/11/18 The speaker was Miriam Kisby from North Wales Women’s Centre in Rhyl, who gave an overview of the activities and services the centre offers to women. This is a unique and inspiring centre and members hope to visit it in the future.
Sian and Andy supported the ‘Love Your Liver’ campaign, with its informative mobile van and free liver screening service, which visited Bangor on Monday 19th November. We had to explain to onlookers and passers by what was on offer. Many people took advantage of this excellent opportunity.
In Memory of Muriel Pritchard MBE Our oldest and much-loved member, Muriel Pritchard, MBE, died, after a short illness, on 12 November 2018, aged 99. Muriel was a committed and passionate Soroptimist . She was Club President from 1976-78, Club Secretary for many years and when she was no longer able to attend meetings, she continued to follow and support Soroptimist activities closely. She was awarded the MBE in 2001 in recognition of her tireless ‘services to the community in Bangor’ and was very proud to be awarded Honorary Membership of SI Bangor and District in 1994. The Club tribute to Muriel on her 90th birthday was titled ‘A Soroptimist Timepiece’ and finished with these words: ‘Some people are like a good watch, open faced, pure gold, quietly busy and full of good works’. She will be missed greatly.
President Andy, Mavis Evans and Joan Wynne attended the Civic Remembrance Sunday service at Bangor cathedral and were proud to lay a wreath in remembrance at the cenotaph from SI Bangor and District.
The Reverend Cathy Jones, Dean of Bangor Cathedral explained her connection as a club Soroptimist previously. She thanked members for their part in adding 500 + poppies to the over 24,000 knitted poppies which had formed an amazing installation at Bangor Cathedral. Poppies had been received from all over the world and created a great impact in many ways such as bringing the community together, encouraging emotional responses and as an artistic work addressing mental health and outreaching into society.
