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International Women’s Day – 8th March 2017

International Women’s Day – 8th March 2017

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President Pat Shore and Harrogate and District Soroptimist’s were delighted to welcome people to the Wesley Chapel in Harrogate to celebrate International Women’s Day.  Jennie Levick, Soroptimist International Yorkshire President, welcomed everyone, with a reminder that this date, is one which has been marked across the world since 1908, as an opportunity to join hands together to celebrate the achievements of women. Stating that ‘130 million girls across the world didn’t get to school today’ was just one reminder which raised our awareness of the work still be to done to build a better world for women and girls. It was also an  opportunity to recognise the achievements of two inspirational young women from across our District. The Young Woman in the Community Award is given to those who have given outstanding service. President Pat Shore and the Mayor of the Borough Nick Brown were

The Work of Childline Zimbabwe

The Work of Childline Zimbabwe

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We were delighted to welcome people to our meeting on WEDNESDAY 15th FEBRUARY 2017 at 7.30 pm when Stella Motsi, National Director of Childline Zimbabwe and Dr Amanda Mason Jones, Senior Lecturer in Global Public Health, University of York who spoke on ‘THE WORK OF CHILDLINE ZIMBABWE’   Synopsis of talk. In February 1997, Soroptimist International of Zimbabwe (Harare) W/O 54/67, an International Women’s organisation with members in 115 countries decided after consultation and moral support from the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, to establish Childline – Zimbabwe, to be run along similar lines to those agencies already operating in the UK, South Africa and elsewhere, but adapted to make it relevant and appropriate to Zimbabwe in the 21st Century. http://www.childline.org.zw/index.php/about-us Using pictorial slides and a video of an actual case Childline Zimbabwe have handled, the talk  highlighted and provided an overview of the work of Childline Zimbabwe over

Charity Burns Nights Supper raises nearly £500 for charity

Charity Burns Nights Supper raises nearly £500 for charity

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Club members, friends and family chased away the January Blues  at our Charity Burns Night Supper on the 21st January 2017.  Venue NineteenNineteen provided a warm welcome for over 50 guests as we celebrated the life and loves of Robbie Burns. Diane Walsh led the procession as she piped in the Haggis, with the Address to the Haggis being superbly recited by Keven Millar, ending with the haggis being raised in triumph and greeted by the guests with rapturous applause and a tot of whisky! A very tasty traditional menu of haggis, neeps and tatties was enjoyed by all, thanks to the Soroptimist Team and the staff of 1919. The Speech to the Immortal Memory was given by John Shore, with the Humorous Toast to the Lassies, being given by Roger Frier and responded to in a similar vein by Irene Kerr. Between the speeches,

Wetherby Christmas Charity Shop Window Winner and Highly Commended

Wetherby Christmas Charity Shop Window Winner and Highly Commended

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                Harrogate and District Soroptimists are once again delighted to be supporting Welcome to Wetherby and organising the Charity Shop Christmas Shop Window Competition. The judging took place in early December against the criteria of Innovation, Impact and the Spirit of Christmas. The judges were impressed how the charity shops utilize their limited resources to create windows that appeal to young and old alike as well as entice customers into their shops. Three shops were short listed and invited to the Welcome to Wetherby Christmas Shop Window presentation at the Town Hall on the 15th December in the presence of the Mayor of Wetherby Cllr Norma Harrington. Club President Pat Shore was pleased to present the Winners Certificate to Louisa Alan, Manager of OXFAM. Martin House Shop and Cheshire Home Shop were also Highly Commended and presented with

Charity Shop Christmas Shop Window Competition brings Christmas Cheer

Charity Shop Christmas Shop Window Competition brings Christmas Cheer

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It must be Christmas when the annual Christmas shop window competition takes place. Harrogate and District Soroptimists are once again delighted to organise the  Charity Shop Window Competition; it was great to see so many shops getting involved. There were some super displays that really demonstrated innovation, impact and the spirit of Christmas. The judges were impressed in the time, effort and thoughtfulness that had gone into many of the windows. The winners were invited to the Harrogate Borough Mayor’s parlour in Harrogate on the 29th November to receive their certificates. The overall winner, Saint Michael’s Starbeck also received the Soroptimist International Shop Window Cup from President Pat Shore and the Cllr Nick Brown, the Mayor of Harrogate. The charity shops are one of the main sources of income for the charities they represent. They rely on volunteers. Kim, the manager of St Michael’s Hospice

Club Highly Commended in Harrogate District Volunteering Oscar Awards

Club Highly Commended in Harrogate District Volunteering Oscar Awards

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  The Club was delighted to be nominated for the Harrogate District Volunteering Oscars and even more delighted to be highly commended in the Organisation category. The award recognised the service to the community the Club gives and has given over the last 83 years. The Club is actively involved in supporting the local women’s refuge –  financially and giving service by helping update the arts room and making safe the children play area. We have supported Contact the Elderly in Harrogate and Ripon for more than 10 years – Supplying hosts and drivers so lonely people get the opportunity to meet with others and have an afternoon tea every month. The Club also runs the annual Charity Shop Christmas Shop Window Competition across the Borough and has been actively involved in Harrogate at Christmas and the Harrogate Shop Window Competition since 2003.

Club Celebrates 83rd Charter Dinner

Club Celebrates 83rd Charter Dinner

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  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.

Behind the Scenes at Harrogate Theatre

Behind the Scenes at Harrogate Theatre

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Soroptimists of Harrogate and District were enthralled by Anne Cherry’s talk on the History of Harrogate Theatre. Anne had a wealth of historical information dating back to the days in 1900 when the theatre first opened. Anne has been actively involved with the theatre for the last 18 years, first by taking her daughter to the various pantomime rehearsals to being the Chair of the Harrogate Theatre Supporters. Her close involvement prompted her deep interest in all aspects of the theatre and for the last seven years she has been their ambassador and given many talks to varying groups of people. Her love of the theatre was evident as she shared with us some of the facts and photographs she has unearthed during the many hours she has spent researching the Theatre’s history. It was a fascinating talk and a wonderful evening. Our lecture wasn’t

Friendship Evening Silent Auction raises a fantastic £530 for Educate to Lead – Nepal

Friendship Evening Silent Auction raises a fantastic £530 for Educate to Lead – Nepal

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Harrogate and District Soroptimists celebrated International Friendship Day with a candle lighting ceremony in recognition of our friendship links across the world. President Pat Shore welcomed members, guests and friends including Yorkshire President Liz Lyle. President Pat spoke about International President Yvonne Simpson’s  Educate to Lead Nepal Appeal and how the appeal is helping educate women and girls in Nepal in some of the most remote areas of the world. Soroptimist International of Harrogate and District has 10 friendship links. Candles were lit for each of the Clubs as well as Soroptimist International. All the Clubs friendship links were asked to nominate a special woman.  Some Clubs also sent gifts for the Silent Auction. The event, held at The Hub in Knaresborough raised a fantastic  £530 for the International Presidents Appeal.

Meru Garden for Life wins Silver Award – and raises enough money to support FIVE Meru Gardens

Meru Garden for Life wins Silver Award – and raises enough money to support FIVE Meru Gardens

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Harrogate and District Soroptimists have had a very busy 3 days at the Harrogate Autumn Flower Show at the Great Yorkshire Show Ground.  Over 37000 people visited the show and apart from heavy rain on the Friday morning the sun shone bright. Our Meru Garden recreated a little bit of Meru in Yorkshire. It tells the story of how the Meru Women’s Garden project supports women to develop the skills and knowledge to create a ‘garden’ that is productive and will give them an income as well as food to feed their families.       We manned our garden throughout the 3 days. We met some fantastic people from all over the world including people from Kenya and those who used to live in Kenya. We were delighted to hear from them how authentic they thought the garden was. We waited with baited breath