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Soroptimists on the Wildlife Trail
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Tea-time Strawberries
Crosby’s Soroptimists helped prepare a fundraising ‘click and collect’ strawberry tea. The local charity Sefton Women’s and Children’s Aid (SWACA) set up the novel event as Covid regulations outlawed the usual garden party. Into each pre-ordered bag went scones, jam, butter, clotted cream, strawberries, tea-bags, a selection of fun-based activities – and fizz. Plenty of goodies for a delicious afternoon tea. And all in aid of SWACA – a very good cause.
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Super Spanish Supper
Pam fulfilled her auction promise! Judith and friends thoroughly enjoyed their tapas and paella. They successfully bid at Crosby Soroptimists’ auction evening for Pam’s culinary promise. Our club raised over £2,000 through the auction in support of Sefton Women’s and Children’s Aid. Buen provecho!
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Federation President Johanna M Raffan MBE
It is with great sadness that we announce that President Johanna M Raffan MBE passed away on 15 June 2021. Our thoughts are with Johanna’s family at this very sad time. Johanna was elected president of our federation, Soroptimist International Great Britain & Ireland (SIGBI), in 2020.
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‘Flower Power’ Soroptimists
Soroptimists from the Crosby club are growing native wildflowers from seed. Why? Once strong enough, the flowers will be used to form part of the wetland wildflower meadow at Lunt Meadows nature reserve. The Soroptimists planted lesser knapweed, meadow vetchling, ox-eye daisy, meadow crane’s-bill, field scabious and ragged robin. They will nurture the seeds for several weeks, in readiness for planting out. The reserve is managed by the Wildlife Trust: Lancashire, Manchester & North Merseyside (LWT). This is LWT’s trial scheme, to see if robust plants have a good chance of thriving. Are they less of a temptation than the juicy seedlings so beloved of magpies? Lunt Meadows’ native wildflowers will act as a source of food for pollinators and invertebrates. In turn these will attract larger wildlife such as birds and dragonflies. SI Crosby is in a long-term partnership with LWT as the nature
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Soroptimists ‘Travel’ to Sweden
Crosby’s Soroptimists have ‘been’ to Sweden for a meet-up with their Scandinavian friendship link sisters. SI Falkenberg invited members from Crosby to join them via Zoom for the first part of their club meeting – to be held in English. Anita Westerström opened the meeting in the traditional way. She lit four candles, symbolising Soroptimist International, the two Federations represented (Europe and Great Britain/Ireland), the Swedish Union, and the clubs present. Chris Smith talked about some of SI Crosby’s achievements during the pandemic, and the way in which the club has kept everyone in touch. Terry Francis outlined the club’s ongoing involvement with Lunt Meadows Nature Reserve. ‘Breakout rooms’ then enabled small groups to chat and compare experiences during these challenging times. Cynthia Ashworth, SI Crosby’s Friendship Co-ordinator, said: “This was a delightful opportunity to join our Scandinavian sisters. “We had been looking forward to
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Soroptimists on Screen
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Going, Going, Gone – Successfully
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A Sunshine Welcome
A few of Crosby’s Soroptimists were able to hold a very special ‘in person’ gathering recently. Firstly, in President Chris Smith’s garden – in the sunshine – there was a simple change of insignia. Chris Chua-Short has been SI Crosby’s ‘Covid President’, holding virtual meetings throughout her year and co-ordinating the Club’s lockdown activity. She was therefore proud to wear the Club’s historic presidential badge before officially passing it to her successor. Secondly, the Crosby club welcomed a new Soroptimist – Vesna Levi. For several months Vesna has attended the Zoom meetings: but this was her first opportunity to meet other members – or, at least, a handful of them. “It was lovely for her finally to get together with a few of us in person, as she has only seen us on-screen. Now she knows that we all actually have legs!” said President Chris.