Lynda reports on her first experience at the Regional Meeting. “My excellent mentor, Marion, keeps me on my toes and suggested we went to the Regional Committee last Saturday, 13th November in Taunton.   I wasn’t terribly enthusiastic about it needless to say but I thoroughly enjoyed the whole day.   We had two excellent talks before lunch, the first by two amazing and devoted young women, Gemma and Sophie from the Nelson Trust.   This service was designed to respond to the needs of women accessing treatment who often had significant histories of trauma and abuse both in childhood and as adults.The second was by Natalie Giles from the Somerset Integrated Domestic Abuse Service who had some truly harrowing tales to tell but who has devoted her career to helping women and some men in the most amazing way.   Both talks were fascinating.The agenda of the meeting

Friday 29th October Conference was opened by Anne MacDonald with remembrances. We remembered Dr Barbara Dixon and President Johanna Raffan.  Sadly Johanna died during her SIGBI  Presidential year we all took a moment to reflect on their lives. The remembrances were followed by our Vision and Mission statements.  The flags of all the countries in our Federation were shown and the countries named.  We were shown slides to celebrate our 100 years and we were delighted that the original Venture Clubs featured our very own Addison Philips, SI Bristol’s Founder, and other photographs that we had submitted of our early years.  They also acknowledge that SI Bristol celebrated 100 years in 2020. Then we were shown the “#WhoIsShe” candidates with our very own Sue Perry on the front page followed by our other candidates. The first keynote speaker was Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE “Doing a

On Wednesday 20th October 2021, Lizzie and Marion represented SI Bristol at a special event at the Mansion House. The event was the postponed in-person celebration of 2020 Covid Medal winners and was unusual in that two Lord Mayors were present: last year’s The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of Bristol Councillor Jos Clark and the current year’s The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of Bristol Councillor Steve Smith. Steve gave a brief history of the Mansion House and a selection of art works. Jos thanked everyone for the contributions to Bristol during the coronavirus pandemic. SI Bristol was awarded the Lord Mayor’s Covid Medal in March 2021 for their outstanding contribution to the City of Bristol during the coronavirus pandemic. They were one of only seven organisations in Bristol to be so honoured. Their activities Included distributing over 1,000 knitted teddy bears (10 for each 100

We are delighted that we have been able to induct three new members this year and we would like to welcome them to our club.    Lynda was inducted during the Covid restrictions and Jess as the restrictions were relaxed both of whom have already been active and joined in our events.  We are now having regular face-to-face Speaker Meetings and on the 11th October we were pleased that we could induct Andrea too.  Welcome to you all

  On the 3rd October at 9 pm BST (the middle of the day in Oakland) participants watched the proceeding (via Zoom) of an outdoor celebration by SI Oakland, the first Soroptimist Club chartered in October 1921.      SI Bristol chartered in 1920 preceded it and was known as a Venture Club along with a number of other Clubs.  Later the Venture Clubs and Soroptimist clubs merged.  See SI Bristol’s book “100 Yeas of Sisterhood: Bristol Fashion” by Marion Reid for full details. Members at the actual event wore outfits based on the 1920s style. Representatives from their many friendship links from all over the world were there and we all introducing themselves saying a little bit about their clubs. Two new members were inducted and two new Friendship Links were announced and speakers told us of the wonderful work they are doing.  However, watching from

  Leading up to the Soroptimist International 100 Celebrations, we were invited to take part in a “Candle Ceremony” submitting a picture and four wishes (pictured left).           We joined many other clubs worldwide “lighting up the world in the name of a brilliant future”.         Soroptimist International Celebrates 100 Years: A Virtual Conference 2nd October (5-8pm BST):  An introduction was followed by an illustrated history of Soroptimism. We were pleased that the parallel existence of Venture Clubs was mentioned as SI Bristol was the first Venture Club established in 1920 later to become a Soroptimist Club Each of the five Federations described their achievements since the last Conference and their current projects.  Their impact on women and children globally, even during the coronavirus pandemic was impressive.  It was both eye-opening and eye-watering to hear the associated stories. The United