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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.

Soroptimist and a Lion standing outside a van full of furniture
So just how do we support Women and Girls?

So just how do we support Women and Girls?

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Let me count the ways!   At the heart of our Club is our desire to stand up for women and girls.   By inspiring action and transforming lives we want to open doors to a bright future for them.    Our Club works to support women on so many levels and in so many ways including partnership with the local Lions So let’s have a look  at just what have we achieved recently with our Programme Action and Fundraising :- World wide Club members enjoyed ‘Afternoon Tea’  where we could mix business with pleasure.   We bought second hand books and gifts made by Friends of Sick Children in Malawi.   Although limited to Soroptimists due to Covid we have still managed to raise over £500 at two sociable events.   This will be pay for the education of a nurse to work in the paediatric department at Queen

What a year it’s been for our Club!

What a year it’s been for our Club!

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Talk about a ‘Bright Past -Brilliant Future’ our motto for our Centennial year. This year we’ve met, we’ve zoomed, we’ve raised money, we’ve raised awareness, we’ve cared, we’ve shared.   You name it, we’ve had a go, all in the name of #westandupforwomen. Soroptimists are nothing if not flexible! We have a lot to be proud of as our members have adapted to what ever has been asked of them.   Covid has continued to affect all our lives this year.   And yet our Club has still held a full programme of events.   When our meeting place became a quarantine hotel we found an alternative.   When those arrangements had to change, we quickly adapted back to Zoom.   Bad weather thwarted our tombola stall at the Kenilworth Christmas lighting up event, so we simply sorted another date and venue.   Club has found a positive way to respond to

Dynamic S sculture
What colour do you associate with caring?

What colour do you associate with caring?

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You can take your pick of colours.  November has definitely been a month that we Soroptimists and our Club have shown that we care.   Not just locally but nationally and internationally.    We continue to demonstrate that #westandupforwomen in many ways and varied colours The colour red - for Poppy Day Lots of us joined President Julie as she lay our wreath at the Remembrance Sunday ceremony, along with many other service Clubs in Kenilworth. In Julie's words - Upwards of 500 people gathered at the war memorial in Kenilworth for the Remembrance Sunday service. It was a solemn, dignified and moving ceremony and I felt the  privilege of representing SI Kenilworth and District in laying our wreath. Our own Rachel was among the ministers leading the ceremony and it was lovely to be able to see her in her work, as well as in
Group of women on the terrace of the House of Lords
So how do you celebrate your 100th birthday?

So how do you celebrate your 100th birthday?

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By going to the House of Lords of course for a champagne reception!   What other way is there to celebrate with your Soroptimist sisters from far and wide.   With London calling, Club members Georgie, Elaine and Amina , together with Associate  member Tricia travelled to the House of Lords.   There they  joined Soroptimists from the UK and Ireland to celebrate our Centennial. Federation President Cathy and SI President elect Maureen Maguire led the champagne toast.   They reminded us of the great achievements of our organisation.   And also that there is still a lot to do to improve the lives of women and girls. We were joined by our last female Prime Minister the Rt Hon Teresa May.   The House of Lords protocols prevented us sharing this on social media however incoming Regional President Anne Rogers did mange to obtain her autograph.   A lovely souvenir. Many

Two women with standing with framed certificate of long service
So what was special about September?

So what was special about September?

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It was certainly a very special September for so many reasons.  With so many firsts it was a fabulous beginning to Autumn. We got off to a flying start with coffee and cake at Ann P’s in aid of Friends of Sick Children in Malawi.   With the added bonus for our more organised members to bag some bargains for Christmas.   What’s not to like 🙂 Our Club has enjoyed a long and special relationship with Friends of Sick Children in Malawi through Gordon Cowie.   It’s always heartening to hear how things are improving in the paediatric unit of Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre.   However it is still salutary to learn how much they achieve with so very little.   The £340 we raised we know will be used to great effect.   More fun was to be had at our first face to face meetings.

woman in turquoise jacket holding a sheet of paper looking at display in window
Putting women who’ve made a difference on the map!

Putting women who’ve made a difference on the map!

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If you had to choose, which women would you want represented on a trail map around Kenilworth?   And why?   Who would be in your hot one hundred?   Have they made a difference to your own life?   Are they someone you feel hasn’t had enough recognition for their efforts? As part of our celebrations for Soroptimists International 100th year, club members nominated one hundred women.   President Julie and team then created a Women of Empowerment Trail around our town of Kenilworth.   Limiting the number to 100 proved quite a challenge once we got into the swing of it   And some of the nominations generated some fierce discussion.   Well what would you expect from a Club of strong minded women!    Even through Lockdowns we’ve been a lively bunch and actively encourage discussion.