Since April 2016 Poole Soroptimists have distributed 435 baby hats, 47 blankets, 71 hat & pullover sets, 13 pullovers and 19 pairs of bootees. The majority of knitted items have Nepal as an end destination though some have gone to the Calais Jungle and others are destined for Sierra Leone. Photo’d here are Gill and Peggy, SI Thames Valley, Gill, plus Sue and Liz, SI Poole.The five met up in Swanage when Poole’s Programme Action Officer Sue Fortescue presented a selection of baby clothes and blankets to Thames Valley Soroptimists for onward despatch to the Kori Project in Sierra Leone where they will be given to mothers for their newborns.

SI Poole and Purple Teardrop Campaign had a table at the Safer Poole Partnership’s Domestic Violence Awareness Day event in the town centre today. Visitors very generously gave presents for the Women’s Refuge and outreach service users and children. The proceeds of the prize draw was split between the Women’s Refuge, Dorset Rape Crisis and the Purple Teardrop Campaign, the latter benefitting from over £500. The event brought together many organisations and demonstrated the community’s passion to tackle domestic violence and raise awareness of it.

The 2016 SI Great Britain and Ireland, which has a science focus, conference is in Malta. Poole Soroptimists are represented by member Jackie de Trafford pictured here with members from our twin club Soroptimist International Plymouth.

October brought a very special Friendship Weekend and Poole Soroptimists’ Charter Dinner event. It was a huge pleasure and privilege to welcome President Uta von Both and 7 members from our twin club SI Hagen, and as you can see from the images, we made the most of the glorious weather to show our visitors some of our local highlights, especially Salisbury, Stonehenge, Bath and Compton Acres. On 10th October, our 64th charter anniversary, we welcomed Councillor Xena Dion Mayor of Poole and Mr Bryan Dion, Soroptimists from Plymouth and Bournemouth, Poole Lions and friends and family to our charter dinner at Poole Yacht Club. President Uta gave a most thought-provoking speech on the role of Soroptimism in today’s world and our speaker Anne Millman, RNLI volunteer, inspired us with her bravery and opened our eyes to the work of this amazing charity, based of

During their Friendship Weekend visit, our sisters from friendship link club SI Hagen took part in our Knitting for Nepal project work. And as a result of the combined efforts of Hagen and Poole members, our Programme Action Officer has sent 28 baby hats, 5 sets of baby hats & pullovers, 4 blankets and 2 pairs of babies bootees to our friendship link club SI Kathmandu. A truly international Soroptimist International achievement!        

Members of the Poole and Bournemouth branches of Soroptimist International joined forces on 24th June to knit more baby hats to go out to Nepal. Nepalese families are still homeless after last year’s devastating earthquake and British Soroptimists are making and sending much needed blankets and baby hats to the Soroptimist club in Kathmandu for onward distribution to families with babies.

Poole Soroptimists participated in Cancer Research’s 2016 Poole Race for Life Soroptimists Jackie de Trafford and President Liz Rodgers walked the 5k circuit with friend Lorna in 54 mins. The Race which starts and finishes in Poole Park attracts thousands of participants and the sight of so many women running and walking along the shoreline, united in the aim of raising much needed funds for Cancer Research, is quite awesome! Jackie and Liz have raised over £300 between them. Go Poole Soroptimists, Go!    

SI Poole held a Membership Evening on June 13th. 15 members and their guests gathered at Salterns Harbourside Hotel on a lovely sunny evening. The purpose was to inform potential members about the aims of Soroptimism. The evening ended with a quiz about various aspects of Soroptimism – and each guest was presented with a prize! The evening was warmly appreciated by members and guests alike – and the guests even presented a vote of thanks! Many thanks to Membership Officer, Helen Kanolik, for organising this important and enjoyable event.

Soroptimist International Poole marked her Majesty’s 90th birthday by planting a beautiful double pink camellia in the gardens of Soroptimist House in Parkstone, Poole. Soroptimist House residents joined Poole club members in the planting ceremony on the evening of 6th June and watched gardener Linda plant the camellia and President Liz place the commemorative plaque. President Liz said that it was most fitting for Poole Soroptimists to mark this important occasion celebrating the 90th birthday of such an inspirational individual whose values towards peace, humanity and justice are so in tune with those of the Soroptimist movement. Poole Soroptimists wish her Majesty the most happiest of birthdays.

Poole Soroptimists are fortunate enough to be located in the stunningly beautiful county of Dorset and today went into the heart of the countryside to the village of Wimborne St Giles and served afternoon teas in the village hall there. Guests enjoyed home-made sandwiches, cakes, scones and bakes plus there was a tombola stand and a bric-a-brac table.Our recruitment table engendered interest and the event helped to raise the profile of Soroptimist International locally. The event raised several hundred pounds for Poole Soroptimists’ charity fund. This year, the President is supporting local charity, LEAF which assists patients and families through leukeamia. The sun shone, the team effort was second to none and the food stunning – well done everyone.