What is an Opposite?
At the beginning of each Soroptimist year members are placed at random in to groups by the Executive Committee and a list of Opposites is distributed at the AGM.
As soon as possible after the AGM, Opposites should introduce/reintroduce themselves and whenever possible sit together at Suppers or Meetings.
If within your opposites group there is a new member, then it falls to the existing members to act as mentors to the new member to help them through their first year of membership and ensure they are supported at all points. A mentoring guide has been produced to help you with this most important role
Each member is responsible for keeping in touch with her Opposites throughout the year, especially if an Opposite is housebound, ill, or unable to attend meetings on a regular basis.
If a member notices that her Opposite has missed two meetings, and does not fall into the above categories, then she should contact her to inquire if she is well and discreetly ascertain the reason for her absence.
If absence is due to an illness which may result in prolonged absence, that should be reported to the President who will inform members at the next meeting. Help should be offered if appropriate.
If the illness is of a minor nature the member may wish to send a card to her Opposite.
If absence is due to perceived lack of interest in the Club and/or Soroptimism, then the member should attempt to encourage her Opposite to return to meetings and make her concerns known to the President or the Executive Committee, who should try to address these concerns and rekindle her interest in the Club.
The purpose of the Opposite is to encourage Friendship and Fellowship within the Paisley Club.
In some cases, Opposites find themselves with shared interests which had not been recognised previously and a deeper friendship develops between members.
Opposites normally exchange postcards from their holidays and cards at Christmas time with one another.
If an Opposite does not have access to electronic communication the member should make paper copies available to their Opposite, this would not necessarily include copying all communications and the member may wish to discuss this with their Opposite.