About NASI
It was the first in person NASI meeting after a full two years. Members from clubs in India so wanted to travel for this and it turned out with a lot of camaraderie hugging with a vengeance and re-discovering the Soroptimist spirit that was so badly missed.
Host Club SI Pune Metro East went that extra mile to welcome Soroptimists, to make their stay something to remember and begin a new chapter in bonding. Soroptimist Dorothy Schmalz from SI Freudenstadt- Germany, flew in specially to support the incoming President.
For the first time in two years the outgoing President met her team and ended her term with giving away awards for the Centenary Project Challenge and bringing scores of gifts for her team and host club members. The last EC of the outgoing team and the incoming installation ceremony had in between a colourful Tana Bana (weft and warps of weaves). Attending members modelled their sarees and told the stories of the origins.
At the Installation incoming President accepted the official chain and pledged to continue the work in hand, through her theme ‘Bonding with the Best’.
The NASI Story
NASI – National Association of Soroptimist International clubs of India is the parent body of the SI Clubs in India. The body was established in 1990. All the SI Clubs are with the Federation of Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland(SIGBI)
Today, we have 17 SI Clubs in India. Kolkata (2), Burdwan(2), Mumbai (3) Pune (2), Bangalore (2), Chennai (2), Coimbatore, Kochi, Madurai and Hyderabad. The youngest club is SI Kochi chartered in Sept 2021.
Bombay North was the first club established in India. Over a period of time Calcutta, Burdwan, Jabalpur, North Bombay and South Bombay chapters were formed. SI Bombay North is still going strong, while some of the earlier clubs have since ceased to exist.
The Federation was keen to see a National Region in India. Chitra Ghosh from Calcutta and Antoinette D ‘Costa from South Bombay were instrumental in forming the National Body. The NASI Board was formed only in 1990-91 with Aroti Dutta as the first NASI President. The main officials at that time were the President, Secretary, Treasurer, Pres-Elect and PAC. The post of Councillor came later in 2003-4.
NASI conducts meetings twice a year, an Executive Committee Meeting and an AGM. The meetings are attended by the NASI Board, Club Representatives, Programme Action Chairpersons of all Clubs. These are occasions to learn from each other, build friendships and revisit our commitment to transform the lives of women and girls.
SOROPTIMST INTERNATIONAL IS 100 YEARS OLD
A century of work done across the global to improve the lives of women and girls, a century of partnerships, friendships and international commitments. The organization has played crucial roles during the war years, during climatic upheavals and times of human tragedies. So, celebrations of the successes were in order.
Despite the pandemic times Soroptimist International celebrated its achievements if only virtually.
Visit the Centenary page https://sigbi.org/soroptimistcentenary2021/
You can also read a detailed history of the growth of Soroptimist in India.
To mark the 100 years a special video has been produced: