To all my sister Soroptimists in Northern England:
Thank you to everyone who has sent in news items for this week’s edition. Certainly, it looks as if club programmes are starting their new years with energy and exercise as well as thinking of others less fortunate than ourselves.
S.I. South Shields and District have started their latest project “Adopt a Planter (or two)” to improve the local area in Harton Village. They spent the Bank Holiday morning making over one of the planters at the corner of Moor Lane and Sunderland Road. This was cleared of all weeds and refuse, and then planted up. What a mammoth task it was given how badly it was overgrown. They have their eye on a second one now! Fortunately, the weather stayed fine in the morning, and just as they left, the heavens opened watering everything in for them. I am told that they took Soroptimist literature with them and it was useful as several members of the public stopped to talk to them and one has shown such interest that she is a potential new member.
S.I.Cockermouth and District were also out and about when they had their first face-to-face opportunity as 13 of them (split into socially distanced groups of 2 – 3 ) held a litter pick at Flimby . They collected 13 bags of rubbish which was left at the roadside for collection by Allendale Borough Council. Members agreed that it was great to see people in person and to clean up an area of the countryside.
Many members in SI Northern England have been supporting the drink cans ring pulls collection organised by S.I. Cockermouth. The club is having a speaker meeting on Thursday 20 May at 7.30pm for a 7.45pm start. Jane Walker from the Purple Community Fund will be speaking about the PCF work on the rubbish tips of Manila. If you would like to join, then please contact cockermouthsoroptimists@gmail.com for joining details.
S.I.Carlisle are continuing their very practical support to the Women’s Hostel on Water Street. They have now completed 74 of the draw string bags to hold sanitary and toiletry products and they are expecting to reach their 100 for 100 target quite soon.
The club was recently asked if they knew of anyone who could reupholster the easy chairs in the individual rooms at the hostel, 14 in total. Unable to help with this particular request, they have agreed to provide some comfortable and cheerful cushions to improve the look of the chairs.
The cushions have a teddy bear fabric on one side and a silky fabric on the other and are zipped and washable. These are to be delivered this coming week together with some long life food supplies.
Also, the club has been in touch with Cumbrian Police about any requests for more of the knitted ‘police’ teddies. They have received an enthusiastic reply from their police contact who reported that supplies were running low and more would be gratefully received. So the message has been passed to the Cumbrian Clubs and a pattern for these specially dressed teddies is available to those wishing to start knitting again.
S.I. Tynemouth, Whitley Bay and District have been celebrating MEMBERSHIP MONTH by acknowledging the contribution that each and every member makes to the club. This was called the “Bouquet of Flowers’ awards. Joint Presidents Anne Gunning and Sue McSharry presented each member with a flower brooch pinned to a card and then read out a message of thanks for their specific contribution. The idea behind it being that if everyone was a flower together then we would make up a beautiful bouquet! During the process, they inducted a new member, and she also became a flower in our bouquet! I think that this also fits in with the current theme of mental health wellbeing and is a lovely kind way of thanking members for doing all that they do.
The club members also held a raffle to celebrate World Bee Day. The Planet Group organised 15 lovely bee related prizes and £341 was raised.
S.I. Darlington and District had a speaker at their meeting last Monday who was from Family Help, their local Women’s Refuge. Gemma, who is the Refuge’s Community Engagement Worker gave a presentation which was designed to educate and raise awareness on domestic abuse issues while providing information about the services they they provide at Family Help.
I have been sent a wonderful account of the years that S.I. Whitehaven was alive and active. Anne Dick has forwarded it to me and after discussion at the Regional Officers Meeting, we have decided to extend the History section on the SINE web site to include these summary reports of clubs who are regrettably no longer with us. I am wondering if any former member, or someone who has now transferred to another club, has any summary history notes that they would like preserved in a safe place. It could also tell us where the former club records have been stored and what happened to their regalia. So that brings me back to Club Histories and I do hope that as this centennial year progresses that each club will be able to put an entry on their own club web site to ensure that our contributions to our communities is not forgotten.
From all that I am hearing, clubs are now busy and involved in existing and new projects. Please do send me news that we can share. This Newsletter is a good way of keeping in contact and exchanging ideas and I thank each of you for your contributions.
Keep safe, even though the COVID regulations change tomorrow and you may feel freer to go out and about and meet up in a more social way. We do still need to be cautious and look after ourselves and those close to us.
In friendship
Christine Lumsdon – your Regional President
