Once again the Corless family opened up their home for a good cause.  International President Yvonne has named Nepal as her international appeal to help provide education to children, particularly following the earthquake earlier in the year.  There is a very active Soroptimist group in Nepal and one of their members spoke passionately at Glasgow Conference about what was needed.  They already have created makeshift classrooms for children and helped victims of the earthquake in a number of ways. So, always ready to eat and drink (and now bake) Soroptimists, neighbours, friends supported the morning to the tune of £244!  Chris and Liz had made cakes, breads and marmalade and I had made a gluten free Victoria sponge that was rather good even though I say so myself!!  President Pat took charge of raffle ticket sales. A lovely morning and a good result –

Today was the launch of the Soroptimist Lichfield knitted poppy campaign that has been running for a few years now!  The Sewing Shop in Tamworth Street buzzed from 10am till 2.30pm as cakes, coffee and conversation led to a massive £430 being raised!!  President Pat Wain was delighted with the day as Local Organiser, David Haynes joined her for refreshments and chat.  Once again he reminded us that we are the single largest donation in the city and our fundraising is much appreciated!  Also attending was Bev Billings’ brother Ian, as it was Bev’s idea to have the partnership with the Sewing Shop and knitted so many poppies and baked so many cakes and we miss her still. President Pat was joined by Soroptimists Pauline, Chris, Gill and Dishi.  We were able to raise awareness of our own organisation too and President Pat was pleased to

Last Wednesday, 13 Soroptimists gathered at Staffordshire University, Lichfield Campus for this popular event.  It is held to encourage girls into the STEM subjects of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.  Over 80 girls from Year 9-11 attended from The Friary, King Edwards Lichfield, Cheslyn Hay, Nether Stowe and Clayton Hall in North Staffordshire.  There was a buzz in the Lecture Hall as proceedings were about to begin. Lichfield Soroptimist Ellie, a highways engineer, welcomed the girls and staff from the schools and introduced the workshop providers, JCB, Perkins Engines, Smallpeice Trust,  Staffordshire University Forensics Dept. and Computing Games Dept  The event is in partnership with Entrust, South Staffs College and Staffordshire University. Carrying their folder of information and wearing colour coded lanyards for their groups, the girls attended 3 of the 5 workshops each.  Chris and Maureen have been taking the lead on this annual event and

Our charity fundraiser for Staffordshire Young Carers was a resounding success!  Wonderful atmosphere with Dandy keeping us laughing and singing the whole night through.  A tasty supper, a well stocked bar and over 100 in the audience.  The evening raised awareness of the 5-16 year olds who take responsibilities for family members as well as themselves.  It is estimated that carers save the NHS as much money as it spends annually – the unsung heroes in our communities.  A whopping £1,613.50 was made due to the generosity of all those there that evening.

Yesterday saw me in trainers (diamante and high wedge heels) waterproof and packed lunch accompanying the Lichfield 5th Group to the Stone Centre.  The day was a complete adventure where we panned for semi precious stones, made plaster casts of fossils, went on the fabulous train and looked for fossils in the ground. The girls were fabulous, the trip was meticulously organised by Brown Owl Sylvia and Helen and the weather was wonderful.  The café did the most amazing bacon butties so some of my packed lunch came home with me!                      

A fabulous day where we talked about Soroptimism and gathered the contact details of 17 interested ladies!!  Less is more worked for us as we were able to talk passionately about the projects we highlighted on the display boards on the day – Skirting Science, Local Brownies, Young Carers cookery kits, Dresses for Africa and Poppies for the British Legion.         Packing up at the end of a very successful day.  We wonder if anyone would sponsor a van for us now that we have a waterproof marquee???

A waterproof marquee at last after previous gazebos made us wetter inside them on rainy days than if we had been outside!  Having sourced this one, the cost was staggering but Ellie was able to get it sponsored by RW Services Ltd, a construction and civil engineering contractor based in Streetly, West Midlands.  A great big thank you from SI Lichfield!

As always, and like many other clubs, we have a social event in August rather than a formal meeting.  This year President Pat had organised a walk round Elford Hall Garden and then a cream tea at her home, Elford Park Farm.  Although overcast, the rain held off and we were all very surprised at the size and scope of the restored Garden.  Well worth a visit – or several! The tea was laid out for us when we arrived at Pat’s with beautiful china.  Tables were set around the house and we sat at the table on the front lawn.  The scones were plentiful with jam and cream and we were happily munching away when the cakes were brought round…..chocolate cake with white chocolate filling, coffee and walnut, lemon drizzle, Victoria sponge, carrot cake…..you get the picture!!  Pat’s neighbours, Ursula and Colin sat with us

Our sewing bee project goes from strength to strength and Mansfield Club are interested in making some dresses.  Next week Chris and I are taking over 50 dresses and 10 skirts for ladies to Hertfordshire for their onward journey to Lusaka in Zambia.  So Tuesday saw the pair of us using the opportunity of meeting up to sew at the same time!  This photo is one from the Kori Project and the dresses were made by Ann, a non-Soroptimist who wanted to help.  She also made washable sanitary towels and bags to take them to school and back.  Gill of SI Thames Valley reports that the girls have suddenly become taller and slimmer so need some longer length dresses next! We are not expert at sewing and Soroptimism is not really a craft based organisation but so many clubs have seen this need and, of course, the

We seem to have been ‘off the air’ since our June walk kindly hosted by David and Pat Wain but much has been happening!! On 27th June we were able to support the ‘Walk a Mile in her Shoes’  event for Pathway.  Once again some brave young men actually walked in high heeled shoes and we wore pink and caused a stir.  It was Armistice Day and Speaker’s Corner was in full use but they paused as we tottered by!  I understand from Kathy Coe that almost £1000 was raised! Poppy workshops continue to take place at the Sewing Shop in Lichfield at 10am on the last Friday of each month and two members are usually there to teach and chat. On 18th July we had a big stand at the Alrewas Show.  It was an awareness raising event to try to make sure that