Phrase of the month. Soroptimists petition for fairer laws for women everywhere.
6th – We held our monthly Business meeting with Regional President Elaine Clarke in attendance. She gave a presentation to us on how our Region has performed during lockdown.
We were notified that our region (Midland Arden) has raised £2901 for the disaster on St Vincent and The Grenadines. The local Soroptimist International club are giving aid and support to the victims on the front line and asked for our help to buy supplies for the locals. It is so good to know that we can help immediately with our club links to the area.
10th – The book club – held every six weeks. We all read – The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare’. This book contains a very detailed insight to the life of a Nigerian 14 year old girl. The prejudice she faces, forced marriage, domestic violence, slavery and human rights are all a part of her story. She is empowered to better herself when a friend shows her an article for sponsorship leading to an education. Then she is enabled to achieve this by the support of another woman. All Soroptimist values and aims are contained in this book – well worth a read.
10th – A visit to Cookley Community Garden took place today to talk to the team who cares for the area. Contact with two members about planting more trees was made and leaflets about Soroptimists were given.
13th – An Executive meeting was held on Zoom this morning to plan future events to fund-raise, when to meet face to face once more and how we can incorporate Zoom into our meetings in the future.
19th – This evening, several members took part in a discussion with our partners Green Alliance, on Zoom. We spoke of how we can make our local area greener and a better place to live. Questions were asked about what needs to change for the better and how we imagine the world to be in the future. This was a very informative evening with a good deal of agreement from different parties. Part two of this subject will take place next month.
20th – The centenary group met this morning to discuss our event to celebrate 100 years of Soroptimist International on Sunday June 27th at 2pm. There is a need for contributions from other clubs in the Region to be submitted, as time is drawing near. With COVID restrictions, meeting up to rehearse has proved very difficult.
Tonight, we held our speaker meeting, on Zoom of course. We welcomed Janet Poole, a friend from the Rose Theatre in Kidderminster, who spent many years in Malawi. She gave us a beautiful presentation of the wildlife. She also gave an in-depth view of life for women and girls in Malawi and how she supports her adopted family in education and making a home. So much still needs to be done, especially now with Covid present.
Our newest member Bronwyn was inducted into the club tonight at our speaker meeting and was presented with her badge and membership certificate. Welcome Bronwyn. We are so happy you chose to join us. She will be an asset to our group and brings extensive knowledge and many skills. We will all benefit from her friendship.
24th – Today saw three members go to our local Women’s Refuge to replant three large garden pots for the summer. The flowers were all donated by other members and will provide a beautiful display for the women and children staying there.
25th – A charity lunch was held today at Lord Morton’s Tea Rooms near Droitwich in aid of The Three Roses Home in Clent. Our member Cindy has held these lunches and afternoon teas for many years now and today raised another £350. This was a great amount as numbers were lower due to Covid. Great work Cindy.
26th – Our President attended a Book Club meeting held by the nearby Stourbridge club who reviewed “The Thursday MURDER Club” by Richard Osman. This was a book she greatly enjoyed and was interested in hearing others’ views. It’s great that we invite each other to these meetings spreading the friendship that is the basis of all we do.
27th – Today our President visited the office of Nightstop to look around as a potential new meeting place when Covid is lifted. Our member Judith has very kindly offered us this opportunity of using the premises in the evenings for our scheduled meetings in the future. We have enjoyed a productive relationship with this charity for the homeless for some time and look forward to our partnership going from strength to strength.
29th – Our member Cath very kindly offered her garden to hold an afternoon tea this afternoon to raise money for Tarango – a charity based in Bangladesh. The sun came out just in time and £150 was raised.
Well done Cath and a big thank you to all who gave their help and time to make the afternoon a success.