Friendship Links Archives - SI Harrogate and District

ANZAC DAY Remembrance Service – 27th April, Commonwealth War Graves, Harrogate

7 months ago in

ANZAC

What is ANZAC DAY? On the 8th of May we will celebrate the end of the War in Europe in 1945. But let us not forget the tremendous cost of young lives it took to achieve the victory. ANZAC DAY is on the 25th April. It is the main Day of Remembrance in Australia and New Zealand. It was on this day in 1915 that the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC), part of the allied forces, set out to capture the Gallipoli Peninsular from the Ottoman Empire (Turkiye). The unsuccessful campaign lasted 8 months. It was a hard fought battle with over 250,000 casualties on each side including over 27,000 Australians and 7,500 New Zealanders. It’s significance in both modern day Türkiye and Australia and New Zealand is not forgotten. The Gallipoli Peninsula Historical Site is a memorial for all the casualties from

President’s Blog – April 2024

2 years ago in

@soroptimist80

President’s Blog – From President Christine Anderson W.A.W.W.- What A Wonderful Way to start our 91st charter year, at our AGM on 17th April 2024, here’s a quick resume of the evening: Thanking President Pat for her leadership and support through our amazing 90th year, I personally could not have imagined celebrating our 90 years without Pat at the helm Seeing Val receiving her honorary membership, it is really well-deserved as Val is a truly inspirational Soroptimist, who I have learnt so much from. Receiving the chain of office and the warmest of welcomes and support as the Club’s new President Welcoming President Elect Sheila and Vice President Heather and electing this year’s new Team Members, Jennifer, Liz F, Janet M and Irene Launching our theme for this year. The 3 Fs – Focus, Friendship and Fun Celebrating a collective 195 years of service by

President’s Blog – October

3 years ago in

It has been a busy month of events. The nights are drawing in and I’m still getting used to ‘gaining’ an extra hour. I write this the day after my return from a fabulous 4 days at our Federation Conference, Climate for Change in Belfast. More about that later. Since our last meeting I’ve met with the Elves chaired by Chief Elf Liz Stickney; experienced an outside Hygge event organised by Heather Goodall and Di Fleming that raised over £720 for Dementia Forward; walked around Swinsty Reservoir with our Stride Out walking group and celebrated the 89th Anniversary since we were chartered in 1933 at wonderful Goldsborough Hall. attended a very active Toilet Twinning meeting with Sue W and the team at Horticap. met with Maureen and handed over the cash raised for the Food Bank to Dawn from Harrogate and District Foodbank. Well over

President Blog – Summer

3 years ago in

Dementia Forward

Welcome back. Meetings start again on 7th September. I hope everyone has enjoyed summer despite the heat that at times felt overwhelming. The Climate certainly seems to be changing. We may not of met during August but we certainly have been busy. If you are not a member and are interested in finding out more about our Club and organisation email sihandd@hotmail.co.uk Toilet Twinning in Wetherby On the 25th July and I was delighted to meet the Mayor of Wetherby with Sue Williams and Heather Shipman to present the toilet twinning certificates that will be displayed in the public toilets at the town hall. We had great press coverage in the local paper too. A great start to our commitment to see Wetherby become a Toilet Twinned Town. Dementia

Friendship Day Links Across the World in Common Purpose

5 years ago in

Elimination of Violence against women

Great to meet up with our International Friendship Links again. Especially as the 3 October is Friendship Day. A real opportunity to share what we are doing and how we are doing it! President Sandra lit a candle to celebrate Soroptimist Clubs throughout the world. We share a common purpose – to make a difference to the lives of women and girls. For instance, SI Willimantic, Connecticut, USA has a fantastic way to raise awareness and involve businesses in stopping violence against women in their ‘I take a stand to stop violence against women’ campaign. SI Blantyre, Malawi are funding and supporting the building of a library to help improve literacy and the development of IT skills at a local school. SI Milford Haven in Wales is helping keeping the beaches in Pembrokeshire clean with organised litter picking events. We also heard what is happening

Across the World – Soroptimist Friendship links unite

5 years ago in

Soroptimist International

Soroptimist International is a worldwide organisation. Clubs establish links and work with other Clubs across the world. We have nine Friendship links The Covid Pandemic may have forced us into our homes but it did not stop us reaching out to the world. Zoom meetings have become our norm and now enable us to reach out personally in a way we haven’t before. Club Friendship link co-ordinator Janet Morrow worked hard to coordinate a Zoom meeting. Seven Clubs and their Friendship link members were able to join us. We welcomed members from Arlon, Belgium; Middlesborough, England; Hirakata Chuo, Japan; Blantyre, Malawi; Paisley, Scotland, Pretoria-Tshwane, South Africa & Willamantic, USA. President Sandra did a great job of chairing the meeting. We were also pleased to welcome SIGBI Friendship Link Coordinator Bhaswati Biswas from SI India. A lot of time zones covered from 10 am in the

Park Life – Keeping Harrogate District Blooming

6 years ago in

Keeping Harrogate and District Borough ‘Blooming’ is down to Sue Wood and her industrious team. Sue gave us a real insight into ‘Park Life’. Sue is the Horticultural Officer for Harrogate Borough Council. She curates many of the fantastic displays residents and visitors see in Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon, Pateley Bridge, Masham and Boroughbridge. beautiful floral public spaces brings joy to the soul. The parks and The Stray provide places where people can exercise, have fun and enjoy sport. Over 3 million people visit the Valley Gardens every year – Sue knows this because there is an electronic counter system at the entrances. Sue gave us a look behind the scenes at the busy nursery at Harlow Hill and her industrious team who work so hard from cutting the grass on the Stray to planting out the fantastic displays. A very enlightening evening. We also

Club Celebrates reaching it’s target to raise £3000 for Meru Women’s Garden Project

7 years ago in

Meru Women's Garden Project

Club members Celebrated reaching our target and more by raising £3500 for the Meru Women’s Garden Project in Kenya. This is equivalent to providing the resources to establishing twelve gardens.We were delighted to welcome three prospective members and enjoyed an excellent supper meeting at the White Hart Hotel on 6th February. The Club’s three year project to support our Federation project included raising funds and awareness in many different ways to support women and their families in Meru Kenya .The ladies in Meru have developed sustainable market gardens producing food for their own families and extra produce to raise family income. The project has also introduced education programmes for girls and boys with the aim of stopping Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), still widely practiced in this part of Kenya though illegal. The picture shows Soroptimist Penny Broadley, Joint President Hilary Waddington, Soroptimist Val Hills and

Club Welcomes Yorkshire Grant of Friendship guest Natalie Kurhaluk

8 years ago in

Harlow Carr

Harrogate and District Soroptimists were delighted to welcome the Yorkshire Grant of Friendship guest Professor Natalia Kurhaluk. Natalia stayed with Club member Janet Hutton for two nights and had the opportunity to meet with Club members and visit some of the lovely areas in the Harrogate District. Natalia is a Professor of Biology and Physiology at the Akademia Pomorska in Slupsku and a member of Soroptimist International of Slupsku, Slupsku is near Gdansk. The Soroptimist International Yorkshire Region’s Grant of Friendship is offered on a biannual basis and is open to any Soroptimist in the world to apply who would like to visit the UK and has not been here before. The successful applicant is hosted by different Clubs throughout the Yorkshire Region over a three week period. Natalia, who spoke excellent English (as well as Ukrani and Russian) had already visited a number

Club Celebrates 83rd Charter Dinner

9 years ago in

Harrogate

The Club held our 83rd Annual Charter Dinner on 15th October at the Masonic Hall in Harrogate. President Pat Shore and the Club were delighted to welcome 85 guests including the Mayor and Mayoress of Harrogate and the President of Soroptimist International of Yorkshire as well Soroptimists and partners from throughout Yorkshire. We were especially happy to welcome Sue Williams, Club President of SI Paisley, a former member of our own Club along with members from SI Paisley – one of our friendship link Clubs. The Songbirds entertained us with music ranging from Les Miserable to the Beatles. An excellent evening of fun and friendship enjoyed by all.