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Can you have fun as a Soroptimist?

Can you have fun as a Soroptimist?

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Well for our Club the question should be ‘how much fun can you have? Adapting the saying ‘ All work and no play makes June a dull month’ certainly doesn’t apply to our Club.   Whilst we stay committed to standing up for women, and gender equality, and doing our bit for the environment,  we still know how to enjoy ourselves.   Whether we meet via Zoom or in person staying within the current Covid guidelines.   With a glass of something bubbly, and usually some cake, our members always commit whole heartedly to what every project we’re working on.    Do read on!

5 women and a dog finish Moonwalk
M for May, Membership and Moonwalks

M for May, Membership and Moonwalks

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May might have been the wettest on record but it certainly wasn’t a washout for our Club!   Watch our brilliant video about why we’re members of Soroptimists!   Enjoy reading about Lin’s amazing Moonwalk in the pink. May stands for Membership month in the Soroptimist calendar Amina, our newest member, and Julie P, our current president, with the help of Anita’s son Tom, have created a fantastic video.   It brilliantly sets out exactly why we are members of this women’s organisation.   And why it’s so important still in the 21st Century to Stand Up For Women. Sit back and watch it by clicking on this link Membership Video Always keen to raise our profile of our members in Kenilworth & District, Julie also appeared in our local paper The Courier.   Setting out her for her presidential year. In the Pink – Moonwalking around Kenilworth Well not

Portrait photos two women with photo of regalia between them
And it’s A stars all around for our Club!

And it’s A stars all around for our Club!

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April is a month of change for our Club with lots happening all beginning with A and many deserving stars for their actions. Who would have thought we would still be using Zoom for our meetings?!   But we’re getting used to it and 33 of our Club welcomed new President Julie to her role at the AGM. Amanda as one our newest members read the Soroptimist Vison and Mission statements  Gill has been an amazing President this past year.   Despite all her wonderful plans for her year, nothing could have prepared for a pandemic.   Yet Gill has led our Club through these strange and difficult times.   She has educated, enabled and empowered many Club members to use Zoom.   This has been shown by the high attendance we’ve had at our Zoom meetings. As Julie said in her speech of thanks to Gill, as with the

It’s the 8th of March so it’s International Women’s Day!

It’s the 8th of March so it’s International Women’s Day!

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International Women’s Day 2021#ChooseToChallenge                 Our Soroptimist motto for this year’s International Women’s day is  #We Choose To Challenge. Soroptimists around the world have been celebrating International Women’s Day for many years.   So it’s been great to hear so much on the BBC about it this year.    From songs such as the iconic ‘Sisters are doing for themselves’ by the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin to the brilliant film ‘Hidden Figures‘. Clubs around the country have been busily posting on their social media sites.   Do take a moment to click on this link to watch a fabulous video made by SI Bristol. International Women’s Day 2021 – 537DAFF8 9E51 4403 8A4B 988212459F44 – YouTube   There is much to be optimistic about that finally by choosing to challenge the status quo we can succeed in achieveinggender equality

Younger woman with zimmer frame
So February is the shortest month?

So February is the shortest month?

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February might be the shortest month of the year but we haven’t been short on action! And as another month rolls round during Lockdown 3, we’ve been women of action as usual.   Supporting the NSPCC, the NHS and celebrating our connection to Malawi.   And not least of all, each other, at home and abroad with our Friendship Links. Eat In to Help Out Valentine’s Day provided the perfect excuse to eat in and help out to support our local NSPCC group.   Several Club members are involved with the local group and they alerted us to an amazing meal deal  Sean, mine host, at The Anchor in Leek Wootton was offering.   All we had to do was choose two courses, book a collection slot, pay and provide our own beverages.    The NSPCC left envelopes so we could make our donations with Gift Aid.   What was

Card with Kenilworth Castle and Christmas greetings
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

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Christmas with a difference! Who would have thought it back in March that we would be so familiar with Zoom, tiers and social distancing?   This year has not been how we ever imagined life would be.   Birthdays this year have taken on a new meaning as when ever we sing ‘Happy Birthday’ now we all think about washing our hands!   And Christmas is certainly going to be very different for us all. However, as ever, Club members have responded in their usual positive fashion.   Thinking of each other, and those women less fortunate as always. Christmas greetings Thanks to Marion, President Gill has sent out a lovely e-card to our sister Soroptimists in Midland Arden Region. ‘We at Soroptimist International Kenilworth and District hope that you will enjoy a peaceful Christmas and a healthy New Year with increasing optimism for the future.  Kindest regards from

What colour do you associate with November?

What colour do you associate with November?

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Red for Remembrance Poppies?   Orange for the UN 16 Days of Action? Despite the restrictions due to Covid, we have still managed to take part in Remembrance Day.   And of course Orange the World as part of the UN 16 Days of Action. Remembrance Day  2020 As with most things this year, Remembrance Sunday was very different.  No parades, no gatherings, hymns or prayers at the War Memorial in Kenilworth.   However, thanks to our Town Mayor, Richard Dickson, a small service was held and our wreath was laid on our behalf with the other service organisations in Kenilworth. As several of our Club members have a link with Kenilworth Lions, it seems entirely appropriate that our wreath is slightly in front of theirs! Orange the World Why orange to represent the 16 Days of Action of against gender based violence ? The campaign uses orange as

Screenshot from SIGBI Conference
How do you give the gift that keeps on giving?

How do you give the gift that keeps on giving?

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By lending with care that’s how! Our October meeting was back to Zoom format – which works really well when you’ve got such an interesting speaker as Sue Tonks.   As October is also Friendship month, we were joined by 3 members of our sister Club, SI Cardiff. Sue told us about she has given money through the charity Lend with Care and helped microfinance a variety of projects.   There is no interest on the loan, just repayment.    So when she gets her gift back, Sue then has the satisfaction of giving again to a new group.   Sue, as an established entrepreneur,  usually chooses to lend to women in business and agriculture. So what have been the highlights for Sue Tonks? To raise money in 2016, Sue undertook a 650K bike ride from Laos to Cambodia, that’s over 400 miles to you and me!   She vividly

Socially distanced picnic on Abbey Fields
Can you meet in Kenilworth during Covid?

Can you meet in Kenilworth during Covid?

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Well thanks to President Gill’s efforts, we’ve certainly done our best 🙂   In fact we’ve managed to meet twice! Picnic time for Soroptimists Ok so we didn’t take our Teddy Bears but we did take our best smiles to a picnic on August Bank Holiday Saturday.   In true Winnie the Pooh style it was rather a blustery day but that didn’t stop us from meeting up to enjoy each other’s company.   At a safe social distance of course 🙂 And a Speaker Meeting It was great to have a sense of normality and meet at our usual venue on the second Thursday of the month for a speaker meeting.   President Gill and Elaine went to great lengths working with the Holiday Inn to ensure that we were Covid safe.   Nineteen Club members listened to our speaker, Hazel Gumbs about how to recognise Coercion and Control.