After the success of 2013, we repeated our Celebrating Science challenge, to encourage girls to consider careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.13 teams from 7 different schools took part in our competition, coming up with ideas to help the poorest people in the world. Each team had to design, build and cost a product which would do this. It had to be sustainable, fit for purpose as well as cost effective. The winners for 2014 are-   Avonbourne School Team for their exciting ergonomic all terrain water carrier. This aims to help women and children who have to fetch and carry water for long distances in many developing countries. Highcliffe School Team, Christchurch – for their “SOLAHEDRON“ promoting a portable, collapsible solar cooker to enable the heating of foodstuffs and water to be done anywhere.  Teams from Arnewood Academy, New Milton, with their project “RIVER SPLITTING”

Borrowing a “Santa Express Road Train”  plus  driver and high vis tabards  from the Poole Bay Rotary we  raised £250- 61p for our Cementing Futures Charity one damp evening in December. The road train was expertly backed and turned in cul de sacs round a local estate playing an entertaining mixture of carols and other seasonal music. Children and senior citizens responded to the unexpected blast of Christmas Music with generous donations. One member with a pedometer revealed we had walked 4.8 miles along the streets and up and down peoples drives. The photos were taken at the end of the evening and as you can see we were still smiling! Thanks to Geoff for playing Santa and to Pete for the expert driving.

Part of a Club Newsletter was recently found by a Club Member who was having a clear out. Interesting to read about past projects and see how similar they were to the ones we have now. Sadly some of the people mentioned are no longer with us, but Pam Smith whose marriage is referred to in the last couple of lines is still attending meetings.   .

Penny Bartlett, President of SI Southern Region shares a joke with Sylvia and Tina At the Regional Party at Conference.

Two of our members attended the Conference in the Sage at Gateshead. We met many friends, heard interesting speakers and also went to parties. Here are some of the things we did. The middle photo was taken at a Friendship Lunch hosted by Penrith. We were honoured to be gate crashed in the best possible way by Ann Garvie, President of Soroptimist International and Ulla Madsen, President of SI Europe who comes from Denmark. In the same photo is Jahane Gulshan from Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Bournemouth’s first marathon needed water points to refresh the weary runners. Here are some of our Club members and friends on a sunny Sunday morning in October at Water point No 1. The effort raised some funds for our charity Cementing Futures and helped advertise the cause to the runners.

Our 75th Anniversary Celebrations continued in September with a 1930s Dinner attended by members, guests and former Soroptimists., The period theme was enhanced by some special wardrobe effects. Our President, Kirsteen Harding is seen here with  Jacquie Bachman who was inducted as a new member at this special event. Note the stylish fashion with both wearing elegant headgear. The speaker for the evening was Eileen Barker who told us  of her 1930’s childhood  in Bournemouth, giving a moving but humorous  account of the poverty and hardships that many families experienced. As ever there were pleas for help- from Bobbie  at “Waterpoint No 1” at the Bournemouth Marathon, and from Yvonne for us  to buy tickets for  the Fashion show in aid of Bournemouth Womens’ Refuge at The Hpuse of Fraser on September 26th. Liz Dominey gave us an update about the successful  Dhaka Literary Projects

Our splendid 75th Celebratory lunch on 18th May, with presentations by the winning teams in our School Challenge reported on elsewhere has been a highlight of the project. We have received the good wishes and warm thanks from many who attended. The guest speaker Roma Agrawal, a Structural Engineer who worked on London’s Shard building has written ” It was a delight to see such driven women really making a difference in society and it was an honour to be part of that” Thank you Roma for the kind words.

Celebrations for our 75th year as a Club got underway at the Bournemouth International Centre on Saturday 18th May. A Reception attended by The Mayor of Bournemouth, Cllr Phil Stanley-Watts started an interesting event which included a talk by Roma Agrawal, Young Structural Engineers of 2011. Roma also presented  Prizes to teams from Arnewood School and Bournemouth School For Girls.These were for our “Celebrating Science Competition” designed to encourage girls to take science subjects in their exams. Over 100 friends and supporters enjoyed the day which ended with a lunch