In a tribute to retiring President Sheila on behalf of club, Past President and Honorary member Shirley Smith said: “Sheila has not just been our President and a club member but is a true friend to her club who upholds the ideals of Soroptimism. Enthusiastic in her year, supporting our charities, she has worked hard with her executive team and club to ensure that many charities will benefit from her year, including Sefton Young Carers which I know is close to her heart.     “President Sheila you have fostered togetherness and friendship in our 80th year and, as we know, together we are strong. Congratulations on an excellent year – we admire and love you.”  

Our dear friend and Soroptimist Helen Pfeiffer sadly passed away last September.  Helen had been a trustee and health visitor at the Feel Good Factory in Netherton since it opened 20 years ago.  The centre provides valuable support to the local community with feel good exercises and a place to meet and make friends.         To honour her memory, the garden was refurbished and re-planted after a lot of hard work and input from our own club member Linda Glenn and was officially opened by the Mayor of Sefton on Friday 10th May.

The 2019 AGM of Crosby SI, heralded the arrival of the new Club President.  Debbie Oulton has been preparing for the role for the last 12 months as she has shadowed and indeed stood in for some of the President’s duties and official events, in her role as President Elect. Club members were very pleased to see Debbie take the reins, knowing the club will be in safe hands for another 12 months.  

SI Crosby members enjoyed the thrill of the racing from a very warm and comfortable position; inside The Liner Hotel in Liverpool. Hearts were still a flutter as the horses showed their indomitable spirit for horse racing biggest event of the year. There were only winners for our ladies!  Looking lovely ladies!

Crosby Club members gathered at West Lancashire Golf Club on Monday 18th March to celebrate President Sheila’s year in office. What a celebration was had by all.  Club members dressed for the occasion and would have given the ladies at Aintree Ladies day, a run for their money. Sheila has led the club with great style, passion and courage over the last year and all members of the club hold her in very close affection. Well done President Sheila!      

“You can reach the top like us” – message from leading women scientists and engineers to local schoolgirls Inspirational young women working in science, technology, engineering and maths came to Crosby to inspire local girl students that they too could reach the top in scientific, technological, maths and engineering careers.  The speakers included leading engineers, medical scientists, a high flying car industry apprentice and environmental experts.     Almost 100 girl student from seven local schools in Crosby and Formby attended the STEM conference, organised by a local women’s organisation, Soroptimist International of Crosby. The aim was to open the students’ eyes to the exciting job opportunities awaiting them in career paths which girl students do not always consider as a career.  It is the third year that the Soroptimist group has organised the event. Speakers from some of the region’s biggest employers shared their

  President Elect Debbie Oulton and fellow Club members attended SI Liverpool’s 92nd Charter lunch on Sunday 24th February 2019. The event was held at Woolton Golf Club and presided over by Club President Dorcas Akeju OBE.  Guests included Regional President Sue Underwood and President of SI St Helens, Pamela Wright OBE.   Guest speaker Dame Lorna Muirhead delighted the audience with a highly entertaining talk about her experiences as a nurse and midwife in Liverpool.  Her hilarious stories about meetings with HRH the Queen, when she served as Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, kept the audience laughing throughout.      

The Chief Executive of a charity that supports women, young people and children who are experiencing, or have been affected by, domestic abuse has praised the efforts of SI Crosby. Neil Frackelton from Sefton Women’s and Children’s Aid (SWACA) said Soroptimists had played a vital role in ensuring the service since its inception in 1975.  The help came in many forms – from providing packs for families who have had to flee violent situations and move into emergency accommodation, (refuge), to regular fund raising and volunteering. The refuge, Dawn House, is named after a late member of the Club and many people have served as trustees including current member Shirley Smith.  The founder of the charity, Lesley Paterson, was also a winner of SI Crosby’s Margaret Yarwood Woman of the Year accolade. Neil told members that the work of SWACA was needed now more than

  The event enables Soroptimists who will soon be taking up leadership roles to meet the regional team as well as their ‘chain gang’ colleagues in other clubs. Guest speaker was Sue Williams, the President of Soroptimist International, Great Britain & Ireland (SIGBI). Sue spoke engagingly about her Soroptimist journey. It was clear that, whenever a volunteer has been needed in her club or region, Sue has been willing to have a go. Building on these experiences she took on roles within SIGBI – and thus on to President.       Further details are available via this link https://sigbi.org/south-lancashire/2019/01/28/chain-gang-challenge/                 https:///south-lancashire/2019/01/28/chain-gang-challenge/

SI Crosby took to the streets in December to accompany Santa’s Sleigh as he visited the homes in Thornton. As well as the great opportunity to spread Christmas Cheer, the generosity of the people of Thornton meant that over £600 was raised on the night.