Good morning to all my sister Soroptimists
Yesterday was World Environment Day and many of our clubs are embarking on environmental projects from litter picking to rejuvenating communal flower beds, from planting trees to supporting community groups with seeds and vegetable growing – so please do keep the news flowing as we all love to hear about the projects that our clubs are engaged in.
S.I.Darlington & District report that they have been working on the “Wave of Hope” organised by Fairtrade to lobby the leaders at the G7
summit in Cornwall this week. They have decorated paper and cardboard hands with images and slogans to get out the message about the need to work together for a fairer world. The farmers who are helped by Fairtrade are among those people in the world who have been hardest hit by COVID-19, climate change and extreme global injustice. The club has posted their waving hands on social media and have emailed their M.P. They have other plans to enforce this message in the coming weeks – so congratulations to Darlington members for engaging in this piece of advocacy work.
S.I. Penrith & District members took a walk up to the top of the Penrith Beacon to do a collective litter pick. The enjoyment of members being out and socialising in the fresh air, and enjoying coffee and traybake provided by one of their members can be seen here.
S.I.Durham have recently circulated their monthly club newsletter for June. I can recommend this for a good read as it contains such a variety of reports across many topics. There are informative and very serious pieces on F.G.M. and the role of the Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVA’s ) who are very necessary in supporting victims of domestic abuse through the Justice system and Court appearances. But there are also lovely items to make you smile – particularly the ‘Flower Bomb’ project to provide habitats for bees and insects even if you only have a very small space to grow flowers for pollinators. Durham members are planning to plant 100 Flower Bombs as part of their Centennial celebrations.
Durham members have also been out and about for monthly walks as part of their ‘work, rest and play’ programme. This face to face reconnecting to raise mental and physical health is proving to be popular and very beneficial in members gaining their confidence in meeting up with people again after such a long time of isolation.
S.I.Middlesbrough members have been paying tribute to their long serving member Alwyn Klaus who is currently on the June #whoisshe page on the SIGBI web site.
“I first met Alwyn in 1983 when Kath Manning invited me to join Middlesbrough Soroptimists. My membership has waxed and waned over those four decades in lieu of meeting my own family and employment circumstances, however I have always maintained an interest in the Movement of Soroptimism, and, in particular with the key ‘movers’ and personalities that I considered were fundamental to the club that is SIM.
Alwyn is one of those key people – ‘old school’ loyal, disciplined, dedicated, independently opinionated, stalwart and active ; all of which I think has been notable to our assorted members and admirably sustained.
I am proud and grateful to her for her friendship and for the role model of Soroptimism that Alwyn has offered and warmly congratulate her here for reaching the landmark of fifty years membership. – Annabel Young “
“In her 50 years as a Soroptimist, Alwyn has seen many changes to our organisation and to the lives of women all over the world. She remains a steadfast source of inspiration and proved an enduring reminder of why we are Soroptimists. Well done on your milestone achievement and thank you for your hard work over the years, Alwyn. “
We all join with S.I.Middlesbrough members in congratulating Alwyn on her outstanding service. The photograph attached shows her accepting her commemorative certificate for the #whoisshe citation.
The SINE Regional Celebrations on Saturday 19 June are now all rehearsed and ready to go ! Please don’t forget that if you wish to attend then you need to register with Regional Secretary Joan Heckels by this coming Saturday 12 June. This also applies to the purchase of any Raffle Tickets for the Butterwick Hospice and the Diamond Education Grant – the proceeds of which need to be sent to Hilary Clavering who is the Treasurer for this fund raiser.
The Regional Coffee Gatherings have been held for a number of months now. The next one is planned for Saturday 10 July at 10.30am for an hour. Please do put this date in your diary and I will remind you of where to receive the Zoom link nearer the date. Numbers attending having been dwindling recently and we are wondering if this is due to the ability of members to meet up now and the extreme feelings of social isolation are beginning to fade. We will try for another month and review the need for such virtual social links when we see what the attendance is like in July.
Continue to look after yourselves – but enjoy the meetings with friends and a step closer to normal social life.
In friendship – Christine Lumsdon – your regional President
email: christinemlumsdon@gmail.com