Soroptimist International of Northern England
TWENTY TWENTY HAS BEEN THE YEAR TO CHALLENGE ALL OF US
OUR REGIONAL CLUBS FACED IT HEAD ON WITHOUT ANY FUSS
SOROPTIMISTS NORTH EAST DID OUR VERY VERY BEST
WE MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE FROM THE EAST TO THE WEST
CLUB MEMBERS HAVE DONE US PROUD DURING THIS CRAZY LOCKDOWN
THEY’VE KNITTED, SEWED ETC AND HAVE SUPPORTED THEIR LOCAL TOWN
WE’VE SEEN ANGELS, TEDDIES HATS AND TWIDDLE MUFFS GALORE
WE’LL ALL BE READY FOR NEXT YEAR TO KNIT AND SEW EVEN MORE
SOME US MADE FACE MASKS, WASH BAGS AND PPE
SOME OF US EVEN MANAGED TO MAKE AN AFTERNOON TEA
SOME CLUBS PLANTED TRESS AND PACKETS OF SEEDS
EVERYONE WAS GRATEFUL FOR OUR GENEROUS DEEDS
LET’S HELP SAVE OUR PLANET BY PLANTING MORE TREES
WHEN THESE TREES FLOWER WE’LL BE HELPING THE BEES
WE’VE MISSED OUR NORMAL MEETINGS AND BEING FACE TO FACE
LUCKILY WE HAD GO TO, TEAMS AND ZOOM TO TAKE THEIR PLACE
IT HAS HELPED US SO MUCH HAS THE PLATFORM ZOOM
TOGETHER WE’VE STILL GOT THAT VA VA VOOM
PETS WERE DRESSED IN ORANGE TO SUPPORT OUR CAUSE
THE ONLY THINGS NOT ORANGE WERE THEIR LITTLE PAWS
WE ORANGED THE WORLD TO HELP MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE
TOGETHER WE WILL PROMOTE THIS VERY GOOD CASE
THANK YOU TO OUR KNITTERS AND SEWERS TOO
FOR ALL YOUR PA WORK A VERY BIG THANK YOU
TO THOSE WHO EXERCISED OR TOOK A CYCLE RIDE
A ROUND OF APPLAUSE YOU DID IT WITH PRIDE
Good Morning Soroptimist Sisters,
My message today will be in two parts as I have received so much information about club activities to share; the second message will reveal the winner of the SOROPTI-PET competition.
CLUB NEWS
The first attachment is a report from SI Carlisle on the ways in which they have come together to help other women through the hardships they will face this winter. Jess Sinclair tells me that they were shocked to find that the women of the Homeless Women’s Hostel in Carlisle were suffering so much from the isolation restrictions. Their community sitting room is closed and with 10 residents it would take five hours for them all to get a hot meal. Jess explains more in her report.
SI Sunderland’s President Elect Vi Stoker has been busy organising and delivering these Thank You bags for staff at Care Homes which they usually support each Christmas. Each of the 105 bags contains a hand written Thank You Card, a laundry bag and face mask [which have been hand made by Vi, Rosemary Jenkinson and Ann Brown,] hand cream, lip balm, a sample of face cream or perfume, plus a chocolate bar. Some dementia twiddle muffs are also included in the delivery.
SI Middlesbrough member’s Lockdown Project – their book OVERCOMING THE ODDS – has attracted media attention with this excellent review from the Darlington and Stockton Times. Unfortunately, Pam Cooper’s email address was printed incorrectly. It should read: cooperpageo21@aol.com
SI Stockton-on-Tees who support the local charity A WAY OUT – [bringing love, hope and freedom to vulnerable women, young people and families] – supplied toiletry gift boxes and selection boxes for their client’s Christmas parcels. These were collected from four points in the Borough, geographically easy for members to reach, by Caroline Allred’s husband, Mike, and delivered to the HQ of A WAY OUT this week. Clothing and other items were donated also.
SI Newcastle upon Tyne members have been exceptionally busy working for the West Newcastle Food Bank. The club donated £500 for Kath Shearer to make payment to Morrison’s Supermarket, where Tracy, [Community Support,] will liaise with the Food Bank to provide 100 takeaway Christmas meals, and also provide 100 breakfasts. This was funded through donations received in lieu of their usual Charter Lunch in November. Christine Lowthian purchased 100 chocolate bars last week from club funds as a treat for Gateshead Food Bank. Instead of sending Christmas Cards this year, Secretary, Cris Young, purchased 100 mini chocolate bars for Felling Food Bank – that’s a few more Centenary Projects ticked off! Cris has also written a poem which incorporates all that the clubs of Northern England have been working on throughout the pandemic. I attach it here with thanks to Cris – it demonstrates just how active and busy our members have been.
From SI Durham I learn that Bishop Auckland Women’s Refuge is closed for refurbishment. Their clients have gone into other Refuges or places of safety within the community. When finished, it will include facilities for women with disabilities and each room will have an en-suite. Thanks to Durham members, friends and neighbours, Jane Katsambis was able to take Christmas Gifts, and cards they can use, to the Refuge Managers, Paula and Alison, who were planning to deliver the donations to the women and children; they would be pleased to know there are people who care about them.
I think that there may be further Christmas donations from Clubs who are not mentioned here.
If you let me know the details, I will report in the New Year.
Are you aware that SIGB has recently opened an online shop, where you can view and order your SIGBI Trading merchandise via the internet? Information has been in the SIGBI News Bulletins.
Check it out – http://www.sigbishop.com
If you listen to BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour, [or even if you don’t] our Federation President, Johanna, will be speaking on the programme on Tuesday 22/12/2020, somewhere between 10.12am and 10.45am.
In Friendship,
JOYCE
JOINT REGIONAL PRESIDENT
SINE