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How did we take tea with strong women?

How did we take tea with strong women?

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We pride ourselves on being a group of strong women, as varied as the poems we choose to celebrate International Women’s Day. This year, we take tea together to celebrate International Women’s Day in true Soroptimist style- with strong tea, strong words and strong appetites for cake. We read poems that celebrate the stoicism, inner beauty and heroism of women – with a strong sprinkling of humour! Our choice of poets range from Stevie Smith to Joyce Grenfell and all agree this one by Nikita Gill speaks up for many women we seek to empower. Fire Remember what you must do when they undervalue you, when they think your softness is your weakness, when they treat your kindness like it is their advantage.   You awaken every dragon, every wolf, every monster that sleeps inside you and you remind them what hell looks like when

Are you ready to embrace equity?

Are you ready to embrace equity?

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Purple reigns! For one day only, purple will be the colour for the park benches in Abbey Fields!   Because it’s International Women’s Day!   March 8th every year is International Women’s Day and purple is the colour we use to celebrate it. We’ll be decorating the benches in our local park, Abbey fields with purple garlands, pom poms, pennants and flowers. Each bench will feature the picture and words of a strong woman to inspire, interest and encourage passers by to think about International Women’s Day. Our benches will be reigning purple! So what is International Women’s Day all about? The theme this year is ‘Embracing Equity‘ For International Women’s Day and beyond, let’s all fully #EmbraceEquity. Equity isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a must-have. A focus on gender equity needs to be part of every society’s DNA. And it’s critical to understand the difference between equity and equality. IWD 2023’s campaign

Please show you care –

Please show you care –

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Whether you are a Soroptimist, or simply a person who cares about women and children, please read this statement from our President. STATEMENT FROM SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND In the 21st century, how can a police officer continually abuse his power and simply go unchecked? David Carrick admitted 49 charges including 24 counts of rape. Any police officers who have been reported for domestic abuse or sexual misconduct must be suspended from duty as part of the investigative process, prosecuted and removed from office if found guilty. We support the stance and actions called for by Refuge and suggest all Soroptimists sign their open letter to the Home secretary https://campaign.refuge.org.uk/page/120554/petition/1?ea.tracking.id=POLMIS_2301_E_OL We also endorse the statemhttps://campaign.refuge.org.uk/page/120554/petition/1?ea.tracking.id=POLMIS_2301_E_OLent from the Centre for Women’s Justice’s https://www.centreforwomensjustice.org.uk/news/2023/1/17/cwj-statement-on-angiolini-inquiry-and-former-home-secretary-u-turn. WE STAND WITH OTHER WOMEN’S ORGANISATIONS AS WE SAY “ENOUGH” WOMENS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS. OUR THOUGHTS GO OUT TO HIS VICTIMS, ALL VICTIMS AND

What’s important to you about Christmas?

What’s important to you about Christmas?

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Christmas time for Soroptimists is when we like to celebrate with friends and family.   But also to remember what our organisation is about.   #westandupforwomenand girls By celebrating our friendship - with an evening of mirth, mulled wine and mince pies. We did have an entry requirement of course!   Admittance could only be by wearing something sparkly -  including partners.   A few bubbles of Prosecco, plenty of delicious cake kindly donated by Jean and a hilarious poem written by our very own Carole J ensured that we had a wonderful sociable time.   By celebrating our International links.   Because we buy second hand books at Club meetings, we're continuing to raise money for Friends of Sick Children in Malawi.   This year we bought a wheelchair and four corner chairs.   Club members have also bought these too. Made by the elves in Blantyre, Malawi, these are specifically
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Our theme for November has to be ‘Remembrance’

Our theme for November has to be ‘Remembrance’

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November was certainly a month in our calendar for us to remember so many things. Remembrance Sunday As always, we joined the service Clubs in Kenilworth to remember those, who in the words of the Kohima Epitaph 'For your tomorrow we gave our todays'.   This year, we also had cause to remember those affected by the war in Ukraine. Remembering Ukraine With our Friendship links We've carried on with regular Zoom meetings with our Friendship links, Remscheid and Arnhem Ooost.   It's a great way to see our Sisters from across the water and hear their news.   It's interesting to hear their perspective on the Ukrainian situation as of course, their countries have taken in more refugees than the UK.   Some of our sisters are hosting women and children, and they too are struggling with bureaucracy, plus not expecting to still be hosting 8 months on.
And in other news –

And in other news –

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Part of the problem with such a busy Club is that there’s so much news to share!   It’s a good problem to have though.   So, grab a cuppa and sit comfortably for a whistle stop round up of our most recent news.  There’s been much to celebrate A new member We are very happy to welcome new member Jan to our Club.   We first met Jan at the pop-up Toilet twinning event in September.   And she’s already contributed with some fabulous ideas for the annual Kenilworth Christmas Tree display at St Nic’s church.    Of course, we’ll be using Town Toilet twinning campaign as our theme.   Quite how we manage to put a Christmas tree ‘on the throne’ remains to be seen! News from Malawi ‘Our nurse’ Elizabeth has graduated with honours in her B.Sc Nursing and Midwifery.   We’re so proud of all that she’s

women standing in sunshine holding bras
What’s pink but has a serious message?

What’s pink but has a serious message?

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and pink the colour used to represent it.   We all agree that prevention is better than cure.    And regular checks of breast tissue for both women and men is one way to get help early.   But what if you don’t know what’s normal for you? We know that all women between 50-71 are called for regular screening but what about younger women – and men?    And more to the point, what can we as a Club do about raising awareness in younger people?   By holding a ‘Pink Popup’ stall one Saturday morning in Kenilworth.   Decorating it with pink bras certainly attracted a lot of attention.   Once folk realised that we weren’t selling the bras, they were very happy to chat to us! As always, we needed to be sensitive as most of us know someone who has

How to start a revo-loo-tion!

How to start a revo-loo-tion!

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Well, the easiest way is to get Kenilworth the status of a Toilet Twinned Town.   Our ambition is to get twenty loos across Kenilworth twinned with loos in the world’s poorest countries. Why does a loo matter? Well, we probably moan about the lack of public toilets these days, and particularly if we have to pay to ‘spend a penny’.   However, it’s hard to imagine not having a clean loo available at home or in our workplace or school.   As a woman or child, you’re especially vulnerable.   You might miss school when you have your period, run the risk of attack when ‘going’ outside at night.    And as Soroptimists our hashtags include #westandupforwomenandgirls, #transformingthelives of women. You can read more about the stark statistics about the lack of a loo by clicking on this link Toilet Twinning sanitation So as women of action –

Queen Elizabeth II, A truly remarkable woman

Queen Elizabeth II, A truly remarkable woman

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Club member began the business meeting on Thursday 8th with two minutes silence to reflect on the life of service given to us by our Queen. Over the next few days, many of us have shared our thoughts about just what a remarkable woman the late Queen Elizabeth was.   And have taken  comfort from the words of King Charles III about his loss.   A mother, grandmother, great grandmother,  a relative, somehow someone that we could all relate to. Her Majesty The Queen | News | Blog | Events | Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI) Club members attended the Proclamation held at Kenilworth Castle on Sunday.   The words read beautifully by our very young Town Mayor, Sam Louden-Cooke.   Sad the the occasion was, and strange to sing ‘God Save Our Gracious King’, it was wonderful to be part of the large crowd that gathered. 

Summer Roundup

Summer Roundup

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Summer 2022 has certainly arrived with a heatwave.   Unlike the summer of 1976 we’ve not been exhorted to share a bath, just have quicker showers.   How times have changed! So to show that despite the heat, we’ve still been active, here’s a roundup of what we’ve been up to over the summer. How to relax and get a better night’s sleep How prescient was this  – given the heatwave that followed a few weeks later!   Our very own Club member Barbara, took us through this after the July business meeting.   By showing us how improve our breathing, and so relax and get a better night’s sleep.   We even practiced with a paper straw!   Many members reported that they enjoyed the best night’s sleep for ages.   This was something we definitely needed when the peak of the heatwave hit us later that month.   SIGBI Day