{"id":4772,"date":"2021-02-09T12:08:37","date_gmt":"2021-02-09T11:08:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/harrogate\/?p=4772"},"modified":"2021-02-09T12:13:46","modified_gmt":"2021-02-09T11:13:46","slug":"ask-me-why-i-am-a-soroptimist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/harrogate\/2021\/02\/09\/ask-me-why-i-am-a-soroptimist\/","title":{"rendered":"Ask Me Why I am a Soroptimist?"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”4779″ add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\n

Lesley Berry responds to Why I am a Soroptimist?<\/h2>\n

Why are we Soroptimists? That is the question posed to our members. If you’re interested in finding out more about joining \u00a0email sihandd@hotmail.co.uk. We will be in contact.<\/p>\n

Here is why Lesley is a Soroptimist<\/h3>\n
A Soroptimist since 1992, my first Club was Castleford, Normanton and District. I\u2019d been spotted in the local paper showing some Russian lecturers around the school where I was Head of History, Featherstone High School. I received a letter inviting me along to a meeting.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

S.I. Castleford, Normanton and District<\/h3>\n
I didn\u2019t take up the invitation to join at first as my father had died suddenly and our family were knocked for six. When I did eventually go to a meeting I was bowled over by these (I must say somewhat elderly) ladies who chatted about their exploits and how they were travelling all over the world, not just on holiday, but to Soroptimist Conferences and Conventions. One of them, the indomitable Betty Moisley and the keeper of the famous \u2018drawers\u2019, fascinated me with her talk of Hawaii and the Americas. I wanted to be like that. So I became a member.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

Getting Stuck In<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Soon I was in the thick of the things, taking up positions in the Club, attending Regional Meetings and eventually SIGBI Conferences. I was lucky enough to become Yorkshire President, being installed at the SIGBI Conference in Durban , South Africa \u2013 a place I never expected to visit having grown up in the apartheid years. After that I became Federation Councillor, attending meetings in London and Barbados (yeah, I know, that was hard).<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

S.I. Selby – \u00a0Fun and Friendship<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
\n
I have been to some wonderful places as a Soroptimist but mostly I have made some wonderful friends. None more so than with SI Selby where I moved to just after I retired from the post of Assistant Principal. We had great fun with our Programme Action work and fundraising. My fondest memory being of our Bus Pass Challenge when I was President of SI Selby. Ten of us, just using our bus passes, travelled over the Pennines to Morecambe \u2013 the Challenge was to arrive in time for dinner with our Friendship Link Club, SI Morecambe and Heysham, at the famous Art Deco Midland Hotel. As we were sponsored, we raised over \u00a31000 for my grandson\u2019s Saturday Club in Harrogate.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

S.I. Harrogate and District – \u00a0a Warm Welcome<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
\n
More recently, my husband and I (oops \u2013 sound like the Queen) moved to Harrogate to be nearer our son and his family. (I have two beautiful grandchildren shared with another Harrogate member, Pat Shore). Once again I have been made to feel so welcome by the members of SI Harrogate. Another group of beautiful, kind hearted and talented women.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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