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Zoom Christmas party
Christmas – but not as we planned it!

Christmas – but not as we planned it!

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We had planned a proper Christmas meal this year – to make up for the lack of one in 2020, but with the recent surge in Covid cases, we took the difficult decision to postpone the planned dinner until the New Year. So we took to Zoom (again) to wish each other a happy Christmas and a dozen of our members can be seen here doing just that. President (and quizmaster) Eleanor got our brain cells working with a Christmas quiz (well done Julia for getting the most questions right) and then did a couple of rounds of  ‘Have you ever…I have never’, allowing several of us to share memories of Christmases past, places around the world where we spent them and Christmas customs from home and abroad. It all put us in the festive spirit and we send best wishes to all Club members,

Orange the World
Oranging Salisbury!

Oranging Salisbury!

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Members of SI Salisbury spent a very chilly Sunday raising awareness of domestic abuse as part of #OrangetheWorld 16 days of activism against women and girls. There was a great deal of interest from men as well as women, as well as good feedback on the recent community conference we held in partnership with Safer and Supportive Salisbury. This year the Club chose the theme of ‘signposting’ the signs of abuse to raise awareness, because individuals and those who support them do not always recognise the symptoms of a bad relationship until too late. The stall  received interest from both men and women and the orange balloons and fresh oranges were a great hit with youngsters.       Goodie bags were handed out which included bookmarks on what a heathy relationship looks like, a useful list of contacts for the support services that are

Christmas Tree Festival - Moldova
Our Friendship Christmas Tree

Our Friendship Christmas Tree

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This year our theme for our Club Christmas tree in the St Thomas Christmas Tree Festival is Friendship. We were delighted to use this opportunity to celebrate our Friendship Link with SI Chisinau in Moldova. Club member Jane met up with the Moldovan members on a recent visit and was able to bring back these beautiful local decorations.  The Moldovan flag makes a colourful addition and the clasped hands of friendship show our commitment to each other across the miles.       Well done to the Christmas Tree project team, seen here relaxing with a coffee now the tree is safely in place and looking stunning. Well done all!   You can go along to view the tree (and all the others too) the festival is open: 30th November to 5th December 2021 10am – 6pm Mon – Sat and 12pm – 6pm Sunday

Annual Quiz Night

Annual Quiz Night

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Thinking caps were firmly on the heads of all members of the eight teams who entered SI Salisbury’s fourth annual quiz night. The grand sum of £870 was raised, of which £300 will go to EdUKaid to continue our sponsorship of a girls club in Tanzania. The balance will go to support  the Salisbury Women’s Refuge.   You could hear the cogs turning as the teams vied against each other to answer questions on a wide range of topics ranging from sport, music, gardens and gardeners, famous sisters, history makers and the year 1921 (for obvious reasons!) as well as a picture quiz and a country quiz. Congratulations to Flamboyance, the winning team.     There was a wide range of raffle prizes provided by generous local donors as well as a well stocked bar. The evening’s nutrition was provided for the quizzers in the

Feeling Safe in Salisbury

Feeling Safe in Salisbury

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Some 80 people gathered at The Chapel in Salisbury on Thursday 18 November for a community conference to discuss how we can make our city safer for women and girls – and by so doing, make it safer for everyone. In her introductory remarks SI Salisbury President Eleanor said: “For those of us who have been organising the event, we have always been interested in women’s issues and in safety. So when there was national outpouring of concerns about women’s safety back in March, triggered by the terrible murder of Sarah Everard, we decided we wanted to make this a moment that mattered and to use it to inspire change in Salisbury.” She went on to say: “So the aim of the event today, is to create an action plan that we can all take forward and commit to together.   We want to focus on

Celebration of Her Salisbury Story

Celebration of Her Salisbury Story

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Our Her Salisbury Story project is all about sharing the achievements of women past and present who have made a difference to our city or the wider community. Meet female builders, cutlers and publicans as well as doctors, gardeners, artists and authors. Our articles about historic women have been written and researched by our volunteers while on the contemporary side volunteers have been recording interviews with inspirational women for you to listen to. Saturday 16 October saw us celebrating Her Salisbury Story at an afternoon event in Salisbury Methodist Church. Over 100 people joined us to hear about women who had made a difference in Salisbury. Highlights included: A conversation with two of our contemporary women Tracy Daszkiewicz & Susi Mason who took on roles supporting the community during the Novichok crisis, a live-stream to Cornelia Funke  in Tuscany who announced the winners of our

Five potential new members with Liz and Eleanor
Welcoming new faces to our Club!

Welcoming new faces to our Club!

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  A lovely warm September evening was enjoyed by all as President Eleanor, Membership Officer Jane and Liz held an informal get together for potential new members in Jane’s lovely garden. A total of five lovely local ladies joined us to learn more about the Club and to introduce themselves to us and each other. There was lots of interest in our various Club projects and all the ladies are keen to make new friends in the area.  We told them what a friendly Club we are and we do hope to see them again soon – at our next meeting.  

garden party
Glorious Garden Events

Glorious Garden Events

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August (despite the less than great weather) gave members the opportunity to support a number of weekend social events in the wonderful location of Club Membership Officer Jane’s beautiful garden in the Cathedral Close. The first two were Silver Salisbury-branded events led by self-styled ‘Friend of the Club’ and Older People’s Champion, Irene. She and Jane reached out specifically to the ‘international’ community here in Salisbury, translating the poster and online adverts into different languages and visiting speciality shops. Members were delighted that there was a warm response from those from different parts of the world who have chosen to make Salisbury their home. It made for some really international-themed events and the Club hopes helped let everyone know that they are very welcome here in our city! The events culminated on Saturday 28 August in a fundraiser for EdUKaid, the small local charity working

Members at the June 2021 meeting
Back together again – face to face!

Back together again – face to face!

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Club members were delighted to get together again for the first face to face meeting since February 2020! Although meetings have been held regularly throughout lockdown on Zoom including two AGMs, everyone agreed it was just wonderful to see each other again.     By kind permission of former member Hilary Maidment who allowed us to use her summer house, we carried our full risk assessments, ensured that proper social distancing measures were taken and had plenty of ventilation. A bonus was the chance for our President Eleanor to induct two new members, Julia and Charlotte.   We hope to continue meeting here over the summer, for our July and August meetings, with a plan to return to another venue in September.              

President Eleanor presents Mary with her certificate and flowers
Mary is one in a Hundred!

Mary is one in a Hundred!

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Club members were pleased to be able to get together for the first time in many months – in Club Treasurer Bernie’s lovely garden in June. It was great to see each other and chat to each other after countless Zoom meetings…. The party included a celebration of Mary Paisey, member of the former SI Salisbury Club who had been honoured with recognition by the Federation in the #Whoisshe? showcase as one in a hundred members who have made a significant and positive difference for women and girls.   President Eleanor presents Mary with her certificate and flowers       In a short ceremony, President Eleanor paid tribute to Mary’s dedication to local community groups and charities and in particular to her many years’ service to  Salisbury Women’s Refuge, which is supported by the Club, and of which Mary is President.     Chatter