The Road to Equality The Road to Equality is a world wide appeal led by Sharon Fisher, President of Soroptimists International. It has picked up on the United Nations mission to “leave no one left behind” as we continue to fight for gender equality. Today, our club and other members from the Cheshire North Wales and Wirral Region heard an update on progress from Ayushi Kundu, one of the co-ordinators who joined us from India via Zoom. The appeal strategically focuses on topics affecting women and girls across the world, including: Child marriage Female genital mutilation Domestic Violence Rights of older women Migration Human Trafficking. It was encouraging to hear how awareness about these issues is being raised in specific regions, and reported back to the United Nations. It is also concerning to hear that women and girls are even more severely affected by these issues

Our first gathering since lockdown – 10 of us met up at Nantwich Bookshop Cafe this week. It was so nice to catch up with members face to face, we have missed seeing ‘real’ people. One frivolous topic we all shared was whether we have been able to get to the hairdresser yet! Can you guess who has from the photo?! The Bookshop had reserved the room for us, and we are easily able to maintain social distance between us. We had such fun that we are going to make this a regular event every couple of weeks – watch this space for updates.

  We all got rid of our pet hates the other night as we played Room 101 on Zoom. We have had plenty of time to think about what really gets under our skin! We had a good old chin-wag about all the contenders and the winners were: Number One: – Unnecessary plastic packaging on salad items – who needs their cucumber wrapped in plastic??!! Number Two: – Queueing for the ladies when we get to go out again – no more needs to be said about that Number Three: – The theme tune for The One Show!! Here we are, on separate screens, yet feeling together!

International Women’s Day 2020 – members get together One of our members, Carole Salthouse hosted celebration of IWD on Sunday 8th March.  About 20  members attended along with  a few brave husbands and we were all treated to excellent snacks and drinks.   Member Vi Pritchard organised a quiz about famous women over the centuries and this was won by Maggie and Trevor Evans who went home with a smart box of chocolates.  £60 was collected for the Empowering Girls in Nepal charity and this was added to at the Business Meeting on 10 March reaching a total donation of £100 for this month. International Women’s Day 2020 – Crewe Women’s Day As International Women’s Day approaches on March 8th we have been reflecting on how we can live the theme of Each for Equal and promote an equal, enabled world. How do we actively choose to challenge stereotypes, fight bias, broaden

One of TV’s “Bake Off” stars Prue Leith made an appearance in Nantwich on Tuesday 25th of February 2020 to promote her new Book “The Vegetarian Kitchen”. Many members of the Nantwich Soroptimists were very pleased to hear Prue and her niece Peta talk about the various recipes, hints on freezing, attitudes to vegetarianism and many other “veggie” and “vegan” questions. Everyone received a signed copy of the book and vowed to go home to start experimenting!

February 2020 – Supporting the Nantwich Thursday Club for people with dementia and their carers The first meeting of the Nantwich Thursday Club providing social activities for people living with Dementia and their carers was a great success. Everyone joined in decorating cakes and biscuits, singing, chatting and enjoying tea/coffee and cake. Here is a photo of all the helpers from organisations including In Safe Hands, Right at Home, Wishing Well, Cheshire East, Cheshire Police, Morrisons, Richmond Village and Nantwich Soroptimists. The next Thursday club will be on 13th February 10.00- 12.30 when we will be making Valentines cards.

A cold and frosty Saturday morning in February saw a party of 10 members heading to London for the weekend organised by Gill- Cheers Gill! We stayed at 63 (the Soroptimist hotel.) On Saturday we went to see the Book of Mormon which was very irreverent and rather rude but hilarious.           Later we went for a meal at an Italian restaurant near the hotel. On Sunday we walked through Kensington gardens (opposite the hotel) to Kensington palace to see the exhibition of Princess Diana’s dresses. Anne and Jean attempted to look suitably regal in a Queen Anne number!           Stunningly beautiful. Then on to Kensington High Street for some retail therapy. We said goodbye to three of our number and the rest of us went for an Indian meal. On Monday – the Science museum before heading

HAPPY NEW YEAR  – WELCOME TO 2020! New Year lunch at the White Lion Weston 5th January 2020 We had a lovely friendly and relaxed gathering to catch up on news and celebrate the start of a new year and new decade.