Phrase of the Month: We are always promoting action on Women’s Issues.
1st Today the Centenary Team got together on the first floor at Kidderminster Library to set up our Centenary Exhibition themed “Women”. We have received 30 plus exhibits, all very differing in style and content from photographs to embroidery to paintings and weaving. Contributions from other clubs in the Region were also displayed, each with a significant story behind them. This Exhibition ran for two weeks with a Soroptimist member being present to welcome and chat to visitors throughout this time – quite a task. The intention was to attract new members and publicise Soroptimist International itself and what we do to help local communities as well as doing projects throughout the world.
This exhibition is the last of the three labour intensive celebrations our club has undertaken during the Centenary year. With five new members joining our club, it has been really successful. Through a lot of work and planning, we have achieved our goals.
6th Our President Sue Clark had a real treat today as she had successfully applied, before the lockdown, for a ticket for SIGBI’s House Of Lords Reception to celebrate our 100 years Anniversary. On a bright warm and sunny day, she made her way into Central London and entered The Houses of Parliament. There was an excellent turnout of members from our Region (Midland Arden) and a lovely afternoon was had by all. They had a great surprise when the previous Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Teresa May appeared amongst them and judged the Best High Heels competition. She talked to everyone was very friendly.
The reception was held on the Terrace overlooking the Thames.
7th We met for the first time at our new business meetings’ venue at the offices of the charity Nightstop. We are very lucky to have this venue, thanks to member Judith. She is also making zoom available to us for members who cannot attend in person. We hope this will benefit club and members to keep in touch and take part in decision making by combining the two.
10th The club received an invitation from our friendship link club in Heidelberg, Germany to attend a Zoom meeting in celebration of the 100 years Anniversary. Four members were in attendance on this Sunday morning for a celebration which proved to be exceptionally international, with members from Japan, Israel, Switzerland, Netherlands, France, Germany and UK.
All clubs attending gave around four minutes of talk about their club and its achievements. It proved the commitments of Soroptimism are indeed worldwide. Heidelberg club members sang and played for us during the meeting. They were really talented. There were members from SI Cambridge attending. One member contacted us to say that she has a relative living near Kidderminster that she visits and in true Soroptimist style was immediately invited to meet up for a coffee and chat on her next visit. We were all invited to visit each other too, which will be lovely at some time in the future.
21st Supper/Speaker meeting at the Brasserie. After a lovely Brasserie meal (the first after lockdown) members and four guests were treated to a talk from a warm and amusing speaker whose talk was entitled “From one Pig to another”. Sue Merrill is a past president of our club and gave a charismatic talk on her past life as a mounted policewoman in London – one pig – to her present position, a pig farmer with sheep, horses, and dogs. She is also an established artist and writer. A talented lady indeed. She always makes us laugh and smile with her amusing recollections and this evening was no exception.
25th A glorious afternoon for another walk in the woods by the river in Bewdley. A one hour walk in the sunshine was a great way to lift the spirits which was followed by a cuppa at the Museum Café, filled with friendly chatter. This was to raise money for Water Aid which will hopefully put an end to women and girls having to walk miles each day to fetch and carry enough water for their families instead of getting an Education.
28th Coffee Morning – just three members attended but reported that friendly conversations took place over coffee, hopefully more will attend next time.
29/30 SIGBI VIRTUAL CONFERENCE.
Celebrating one hundred years of Soroptimism this year, this annual event once again took place over Zoom, coming from Llandudno in Wales. The technology was greatly improved and a very slick programme was broadcast.
Membership was a chief ingredient this year with the emergence of the first E-Club in Italy being formed. Speakers covered many topics – from Whales to Covid 19 research. Congratulations to everyone involved in creating the Conference. You captured the essence of the problems of today around the World concerning women and girls, with relevant speakers who offered solutions to many issues and giving inspirational speeches on how we can move forward as an organisation.