Hand cream for Gosforth Care Homes
Hi There
Good Morning Soroptimist Sisters,
Congratulations to Barbara Brown, SI Darlington, whose entry to THE BIG STORY has been placed 5th equal of 100 entries. Barbara allowed me to read her story “HOLIDAY IN NICE 1960” – her childhood reminiscences of friendships which last. She will be happy to share it with you, should you wish to see it, if you email her on – brbmbrown19@icloud.com
In the next few months, the winning stories will be recorded by celebrities and Barbara has been asked to provide one or two relevant photographs from her childhood to bring the film to life. I share Barbara’s excitement and hope that we may get the opportunity to view the finished results. Well done, Barbara!
This has been an enormously successful initiative for the Nepal Project resulting in £20,765 being raised towards the project from sponsorship money.
It is always good to report significant achievements even if they are not by Soroptimists. Marianne Hill of SI Middlesbrough, contacted me this week to tell me about her husband David – a Rotarian – who organised, with the Rotary Club of Stokesley, a Teesdale Way Walk – [approx. 92 miles] – and the Club managed to raise the incredible sum of £25,000 plus! Most of the funds raised were donated to Village Water – ‘One Village at a Time’ project, allowing many wells to be developed in Tanzania. A smaller percentage was donated to their Lusaka Project which was supported by the UK Government. Their initial target was £5,000 – so the result was spectacular. David has allowed me to share two files for your information. and the link to the Village Water website. See he side bar to the left.
David also has a pictorial and informative Power Point Presentation which tells the full story of what they did and why? Possibly an idea for a future speaker when clubs can resume their meetings. Contact me for David’s details.
I found this achievement to be quite staggering in its result!
-o0o-
Lots of news from SI Newcastle upon Tyne this week, as on Tuesday they held their summer event on ZOOM – MIXOLOGY – to which I was invited along with PA Chair, Karen. We were joined by some members of Newcastle’s Friendship Link Club, SI Glasgow.
It was such a fun evening – we were all requested to wear a hat and to have made a cocktail/mocktail to be named and described. 16 ladies on the screen with 16 hats and 16 cocktails and lots of laughter! Some of the efforts had names like:
‘Cocktails in the Rain’; ‘Walk through the Garden’; ‘Sicilian Lemon Gin Feast’; ‘Bloody Cupboard Cocktail’ [don’t ask!]; ‘Soroptail Infusion’; ‘Orange Gin and Tonic with Glasgow Gin’; and ‘Benton Bliss’. Members swapped stories of drinking experiences and shared ‘good news of the week’ stories, as well as a further appeal for more fashion photographs for their 100 years collage. Lis Graham would be happy to hear from you if you have any, as they still have gaps for years not covered. elisabeth.graham35@gmail.com
-o0o-
During this week also, Newcastle members started to distribute 100 hand creams for staff in 16 Nursing/Care homes in the Gosforth area of Newcastle. This is a thank you for their hard work during the pandemic.
Also in the bags is a printed flyer promoting the club. Lis Graham has volunteered to deliver the hand creams on foot around her home area. Yet another project in their 100 years celebrations for Soroptimist International.
Patricia Gatherum [SI Newcastle] was sad that I had no photographs to add to last week’s message and sent me photos of Gruffalo and his friend Edgar who sit in her window. Passing children wave to them and Patricia has made friends with lots of children who pass her house because of them. It is tiring work so they have a well earned rest in the evening . Thank you Patricia. I remember the Gruffalos which we hid in the Sage auditorium for a lucky member to find during the 2013 Newcastle/Gateshead Federation Conference, as I was given the important job of hiding them!
-o0o-
Instead of a quote this week I am sharing with you some words which Pam Cooper [SI Middlesbrough] found when she was researching the history of her club. It is a description of a Soroptimist by Mildred B Berry of SI Central Birmingham – date unknown.
A Soroptimist is an International figure embodying efficiency with humanity to soften it; duty with grace to perform it; wisdom with humour to flavour it; success with modesty to shroud it; understanding with experience to express it and above all, infinite kindness with generosity to distribute it!
Until next week, stay safe and keep well.
In Friendship,
Joyce
PRESIDENT
SINE