Good Morning Sister Soroptimists,
I begin this message whilst I am sitting in a garage in Darlington where my car is undergoing its annual service. Mask in place and provisions to hand as the coffee machine has been removed, however there is complimentary water supplied.
It’s going to be a long morning but excellent for getting things done!
CLUB NEWS.
Pat Jefferson reports from SI Tynemouth, Whitley Bay and District –
‘What could be better than any online meeting? A summer afternoon, lots of grass and trees, afternoon tea and Soroptimists. We gathered together with our individual picnic tea, something to sit on and created a large circle of friendship. Social Distancing – tick! No agenda, just serious catch up time. Absolutely wonderful to be with you Tynemouth, Whitley Bay and District members!’
Doesn’t this sound like a joyful occasion, from the photographs it looks brilliant and the sun was shining. I understand that Anne Gunning raised money for DAFT AS A BRUSH by selling beautifully made face masks.
Also the club donated a large amount of picnic ingredients to Harbour Women’s Refuge in Whitley Bay, enough to fill a car, to allow the mothers to take their children for their own picnics.
From SI Newcastle upon Tyne a challenge for you all. You will be aware from my previous messages that the Club is celebrating our Soroptimist Centenary in a big way and with various challenges all featuring 100!
Their plans were going to include a Fashion Show at the Annual Charter Lunch in November – their aim to have members and guests modelling fashions from the past century as part of their celebrations. However, since their Charter Lunch has now been cancelled, they are inviting all of you to send photographs of yourself, family or friends wearing fashion items from the past century. There will then be a collage created of 100 photographs of women over the last 100 years.
Interested members please send your photographs to Newcastle Secretary, Cris at – cris.y@virginmedia.com
They will then be passed to their Social Media expert, Liz Graham, who will make the collage.
Closing date 30 October 2020.
So, I take up their challenge and submit a photograph which I know will be 100 years old next year. Dated December 1921, it is a photograph of my Mum, Dorothy Bower, aged 18 when she received her Associate of the Musical International College in Piano and Singing. Maybe this is not a fashion statement but it is a documented event that fits the timeline.
News from Barbara Brown of SI Darlington who spent a day last week collecting from members the money raised for Water Aid. All members have been collecting pennies when they used the loo and boiled a kettle. I remember when they launched this by giving everybody cardboard cups to hold the pennies. Such a simple idea and one that everyone should be able to participate in. Barbara tells me that they have raised from this initiative at least £260.
Sadly, another event to be cancelled is the 75th Charter Lunch of SI Middlesbrough which was to have been on 11 October 2020. They are hoping to be able to announce another date, soon, possibly in April 2021.
Once again, please keep in touch with your news, I do enjoy hearing from you.
Quote this week is from Martin Luther King Jr. –
If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way
Until next week, stay safe and keep well
In Friendship,
Joyce
PRESIDENT
SINE