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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

Certificate of appreciation
How do you have a Grand Day Out?

How do you have a Grand Day Out?

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By running a plant stall at the Kenilworth Lions Grand Show of course!   It's been 4 years since Lions could hold their annual Grand Show so this year's was eagerly anticipated.   And a thoroughly Grand Day out it turned out to be :) The Fun-draising team swung into action.   Plugs were bought and planted, seeds sown, and gardens raided by many members of Club.   And thanks to Ann B who contacted Bordon Hill Nurseries, 18 trays of top quality plug plants collected. But how to keep our green credentials?  The Bordon Hill plants urgently needed potting on as we had collected them 2 weeks before the Grand Day.   Sharon's tomato seedlings were beginning to look like the Day of the Triffids!    Thankfully, the head gardener at Kenilworth Castle was kind enough to let Amanda collect various pots and trays.   More pots were collected from
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Tissue alert!

Tissue alert!

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News from our sister Soroptimists in Krakow.    As we reported in March when war broke out, our Club rallied round with other Clubs to send monies directly to SI Krakow.     To date, our own members have raised almost £2000 with a special shout out to Dishi for her fund raising efforts. Do read this report from SI Krakow about how the money is being used to directly help the women and children fleeing the war in Ukraine.   The email from Anna makes incredibly moving reading so be prepared to have the tissues handy, especially when you see the names of women and how they’ve been helped.   Her simple list of expenditure and activities shows so well how Soroptimists stand up for women.   The war is now more than 100 days old and is clearly not going away.   However not only have SI Krakow

Lifesize cardboard image of Queen Elizabeth II
How to host a Platinum Jubilee Party!

How to host a Platinum Jubilee Party!

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Well the first thing you do is invite the Queen!!! Or at least a replica to grace your Platinum Jubilee Party.   Then you put Ann P and her team in charge of platinum standard catering, complete with the new Jubilee desert. Thanks to the efforts of the Social events group, we had a fabulous garden party where the chat and laughter flowed in equal measure.   Covid has certainly changed our attitudes.   We're a lot hardier about gathering outdoors!   Despite a rather chilly Sunday we simply put our jackets on and thoroughly enjoyed each others company.   Not sure how many of us had sampled the Jubilee Trifle but it judging from the empty plates it was definitely a winner with all of our Club members and their partners. jemmas-lemon-swiss-roll-amarettii-trifle   Ann and team used this recipe but admitted to using ready made amoretti biscuits, jelly and lemon
Mindmap
A change is as good as a rest they say!

A change is as good as a rest they say!

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Well as a Club we certainly embrace change so we must be resting.   However a look back over this past year under the leadership of President Julie, we seem to have rested in a very lively way!   And although we haven’t got a president this year, the calendar of events looks no less active. President Julie should certainly be allowed to rest on her laurels. Amanda will take over as President in 2023.   In the meantime Club has responded by changing the way we will be organising some things. Programme Action have certainly set us up with a great set of projects and activities to get on with in 2022-23.   Some of these are well established  such as the Refuge, Lend with Care, Joan’s garden, Friends of Sick Children in Malawi.    Others include looking at Town Toilet Twinning, Compassionate Kenilworth and Modern Slavery and

Blackboard in the shape of a house
How do we to open doors for a bright future?

How do we to open doors for a bright future?

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Well one way our Club opens doors is by supporting women and children escaping domestic violence.   For many years now, our Club has helped the Refuges in Warwickshire, so that they can keep their doors open. At a recent dinner meeting we were delighted to be updated about how we are making life just a little easier using our contacts and partnerships. By teaming up with Kenilworth Lions, we have continued with our 'Wellbeing Fund'.   The women and children are able to access funding for counselling, but as the staff pointed out we have helped in so many other ways.   And sometimes its the little things in life that can make all the difference to a woman or a child's self esteem. So what has it provided?  A family to have some spending money to enjoy their first ever holiday children could go to the
two women, one holding a certificate
Marching On Celebrating our Support for Women and Children

Marching On Celebrating our Support for Women and Children

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Read on to see how we’ve Marched this month!   #westandupforwomen#openingdoorsforabrighttomorrow Back in the days of total Zoom, we had a presentation from Elaine of the Parenting Project. Happily now we could enjoy meeting Elaine Johnston in person to present her with a fabulous cheque for a magnificent £1500. Elaine gave members an update on the work of the charity.   These include providing a pathway of services to parents, including counselling, family wellbeing support, mentoring, and group therapy work. Their policy is not to turn anyone away.   However legislation prevents them from providing their services to adoptors/adoptees, so they have recently established a partnership with Barnardos to give this service. Our £1500 funds raised this year will enable the charity to fund training for one counsellor (at a cost of £1080).  And therefore begin to provide the support through this link with Barnardos. Elaine thanked  Club

Bench decorated for Ukraine by two women
Can you have too much purple in the park?

Can you have too much purple in the park?

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Well clearly not for the 8th March, International Women’s Day 2022!   Thanks to Richard Dickson on the Town Council, we got the ‘go ahead’ from Warwick District Council to Purple the Park benches in Abbey Fields.   We’re not sure that the park benches have ever looked so amazing! It’s safe to say that for one day only, Kenilworth woke up to a thoroughly ‘Soroptimised’ Abbey Fields.   Purple park benches with powerful prose from inspirational women.