We are very proud that our Club project “Young sportsmen & healthy relationships” has been included in Soroptimist International’s influential and formative report to the United Nations’ High-Level Political Forum 2020.
What is a Soroptimist? The most frequently asked question we encounter is “What’s a Soroptimist?”. Well, of course there’s an “official” definition, but each Soroptimist is different. She brings something different to the party, and gets something different back from it. Here, Founder President of Lichfield & District Club Angela Reynolds, reflects on her long standing membership and offers up her thoughts on what it is to be a Soroptimist… We are Soroptimists. Women inspiring action, transforming lives. We are vibrant, dynamic and like-minded women, Working on global to local projects that help improve the lives of women and girls. The Latin origin of the word Soroptimist is “sister” and “best”. This has mutated into “the best for women”. It was first heard at the founding gathering of what were to become Soroptimists at Oakland, California in 1921. The first known use of the
On the hottest day of the year, a group of seven ladies from Lichfield & District Soroptimists’ planet group and their friends embarked on their very first, socially-distanced litter pick of 2020.
As part of its service work during the Covid-19 pandemic, Lichfield & District Club has been putting together pamper bags for healthcare and mortuary key workers in our area.
The foods we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink and the climate that makes our planet habitable all come from nature. Yet, these are exceptional times in which nature is sending us a message: To care for ourselves we must care for nature. It’s time to wake up. To take notice. To raise our voices. It’s time to build back better for People and Planet. This World Environment Day, it’s #TimeforNature.
Soroptimist International of Midland Chase Region recently put out a call to its clubs to document the daily experiences of key workers during the current Covid-19 pandemic. There was a superb reaction and responses were gathered from a wide range of key workers – not only in the NHS and caring professions, but also in the often over looked private and voluntary sectors.
Mental Health Awareness week takes place 18-24 May on the theme #KindnessMatters. The work of the Mental Health Foundation (MHF) is focussed on prevention through mental health awareness and they claim:
In July 2018, Dame Vera Baird QC, Northumbria Police & Crime Commissioner published her report on Specialist Domestic Violence Courts, asking “How special are they?”
11th – 17th May is National Vegetarian Week 2020, it’s all about enjoying delicious, plant-based food. It’s an unusual time at the moment, but it’s also a chance to have a go at something new and enjoy cooking at home. Why is National Vegetarian Week important? According to Roger Harrabin’s report for the BBC in August 2019, “switching to a plant-based diet can help fight climate change, UN experts have said.
Like many Soroptimists, Lichfield & District Club is keen to do all it can to preserve and nurture our environment. One issue discussed in our Planet sub group was the decline in the number of pollinating insects and ways in which we might help to reverse this trend in our local area. We’re blessed with excellent Club gardeners who quickly began to think of ways to deliver on this. Not only to help our pollinating insects but also support the well-being and mental health of people in general. #Soroptimistsvolunteer
