March is Women’s History Month, so is the perfect occasion to celebrate a local trailblazer who broke into the male dominated world of architecture………and was also a Soroptimist! Read all about Elisabeth Scott here Elisabeth Whitworth Scott (R.I.B.A. 1898-1972) – Dorset History Centre blog (dorsetcouncil.gov.uk)
This has been an interesting year for SI Bournemouth. We have all been thrilled to host three events face to face. Two of these were for the celebration of Soroptimists one hundred years. The first at West Hants Club, where we hold our monthly meetings, we planted three Soroptimist roses and enjoyed lighting the candles of celebration as you will see in the photos above. The second event was at the Miramar Hotel where we planted an Olive Tree for Peace. The third Event was our Summer Party held in the grounds of a local school, we enjoy having the Lord Lieutenant Angus Campbell as our Guest, and an interesting Speaker, Eileen Rawlings, who is a founder of the Annual Shakespeare play performed on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour. We are pleased that we have been able to continue our Programme Action during the pandemic,
SI Bournemouth are celebrating with one of its members, Mrs Patricia Marchiori, who has been awarded an MBE for her services to education in the New Year Honours List. Pat has been a member since 2016 and was Chair of the Ambitions Academy Trust, which had been established to manage schools in Bournemouth which were failing or in need and of which there were 13 in the Trust at the time of Pat’s retirement a few years ago. Prior to her role at the trust she was Academic Principal at the Southbourne School of English for many years so there is no doubting her experience in the educational profession! Well deserved Pat and many congratulations.
Aide Memoire- Recycling Opportunities The Planet Group at SIB has been actively engaged in a variety of projects to help improve the environment. Club members have been encouraged to reduce, reuse and recycle in a number of ways. The group has produced an aide memoire for club members about the many options available- the what, where and how to recycle in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area as well as nationally. Examples of more unusual things that can be recycled include razor blades, spectacles, mascara wands and under garments. For more detail look at Aide Memoire Nov 2021 Ecobricking Ecobricks are plastic bottle packed solid with clean and dry, used, non-recyclable plastic including many types of packaging like cellophane wrapping, cling film, blister packs, etc. Ecobricks are made to a set density to create reusable building blocks that can be made into a variety of
The purpose of the STEAM Challenge (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) is to encourage girls to overcome gender-based barriers by selecting STEAM-based subject choices and subsequently careers. This year is particularly special the launch is coinciding with Soroptimist International’s 100th Virtual Birthday Event! Lots to celebrate! We challenge Year 8 and 9 girls to design, research and build a product which would create a sustainable solution to help people in the poorest parts of the world. This group will also extend our work by working with junior schools to raise awareness of science among younger girls. (Formerly our STEM Challenge, founded in 2013) Please click here to read about the 2019-2020 Challenge. Heats and Finals are held at Bournemouth University where you will be shown around the campus by their student Ambassadors.
Outgoing President Julie Lankshear charged the Executive with the administration of the Club for 2021/22. This was accepted by Kathy Moore on behalf of the Executive. Immediate Past President, Catherine Beal, accepted the Past President badge and Julie the Immediate Past President badge. Members thank Julie and Catherine for their service.
SI Bournemouth members are proud to support the Wardrobe Foundation. Wardrobe Foundation is a social enterprise, based in Cranborne, Dorset. Our aim is to provide clothing gift bags to women in need of clothing support across Dorset and BCP. We work with charities, organisations and local community groups to deliver these gift bags. We also promote sustainability through re-selling and upcycling pre-loved items. All donations are processed at our HQ, where we launder and steam them and sort into three categories: gifting, upcycling and resale! Read their latest news here
SI Bournemouth members showed their support for International Women’s Day at their recent meeting when they celebrated their actions educating girls in Bangladesh and twinning toilets throughout Asia and Africa. #SoroptimistsStandUpForWomen #EachforEqual
True Story, True HonourIn recognition of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, SI Bournemouth #orangedtheworld and partnered Bournemouth University and Dorset Police to host an ‘Honour Based Violence’ presentation by Sarbjit Kaur Athwal and Dr Clive Driscoll from the charity, True Honour. The True Honour charity campaigns to raise awareness of honour based violence, forced marriage and Female Genital Mutilation. Sarbjit’s sister-In-law was the victim of an honour based killing and she gave a very personal testimony at the event which was heartbreaking. She strived for years to convince police and social services that her sister -in-law had been taken to India and murdered. Eventually Dr Clive Driscoll who at the time was a DCI with the Metropolitan Police took up her case and obtained the first conviction for an honour based murder. Sarbjit tells the story in her book –
SI Bournemouth members welcomed Liz Carter, Project Manager at the Water Lily Project to their September meeting. The Project provides support and empower vulnerable women in Christchurch and surrounding areas and help them back to independent living, a service which soroptimists are enthusiastic about locally, nationally and internationally. It predominantly supports vulnerable women in crisis. This may be a temporary crisis such as an acrimonious divorce, bereavement, illness etc or it could be something more long term such as mental health issues, self-harming, domestic violence and abuse, addiction or financial difficulties. The aims for all of the beneficiaries is to: provide a friendly and loving environment where women feel safe and protected give women the freedom to be themselves give women space to heal and grow give FREE support in a non-judgmental surrounding On a secondary level the project supports the local community at a cafe which they
