Members were delighted to welcome Fiona MacTaggart to the supper meeting on 18th September as she was previously the MP for Slough.
Members and guests enjoyed a superb full afternoon tea at the Fund Raiser on 28th August. Sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam were washed down with tea and followed by strawberries and cream with meringues and a selection of cakes with sparkling wine. The sun shone after a shaky start and the raffle proved very successful. In total £450 was raised for local charities.
Members enjoyed a very informative talk about the problems of Period Poverty for girls and women in many parts of India. The combination of ignorance of their own biology combined with poor sanitation and poverty means that girls suffer many problems when their periods start. Many miss considerable days of education and suffer from many unnecessary medical problems. Kathryn told us about the charity which she helped to set up which has found suitable sanitary products for use in countries without clean water. There are two products available (Saafkins and Safepads) which both incorporate bio technology which enables the products to be washed in dirty water yet remain hygienic. The charity not only distributes these products but ensures that girls understand how to use them and how to look after themselves more effectively. The charity claims that £5 will provide this anti-bacterial protection for a
Members have been busy with a variety of events. There was a stall at the Maidenhead Duck Derby on 26th May which raised funds for the girl we are supporting through university in Nepal. A coffee morning was held at Irene’s home which raised money for our speakers. On 15th May a group volunteered to help the British Heart Foundation at the Frogmore House & Garden Open Day. Finally on 29th June there will be a stall selling jewellery at the Rotary Summer Fair in Alexandra Gardens in Windsor.
Forty members and their guests attended the Charter Lunch at Stirrups Country House Hotel near Maidenhead where they enjoyed a ‘proper’ Sunday roast in elegant surroundings. During the year the club had raised funds for the Cancer Care Unit at Bracknell and so were delighted to welcome Jessica Higson, who is the Macmillan Matron for Oncology at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, to receive a cheque and talk about the plans for cancer care in Berkshire. The photograph shows Jessica with club members Irene and Sylvia.
International Women’s Day event Sunday 17th March 2010 “Opportunities for Women and Girls” This joint event with SI Thames Valley and SI High Wycombe and District was very successful with approx. 70 attendees from a number of local women’s organisations. Soroptimists from Oxford, Greater London, Hertford, and Freetown attended as well as members from the organising Clubs. We also had the Mayor of Slough, Paul Sohal, and the Deputy Mayor and Mayoress of Windsor & Maidenhead, Colin and Samantha Rayner. I would like to thank all of you who took part for making the event go so well. The speakers were excellent and inspired everyone. DCI Christina Berenger was unable to attend at the last minute but DCI Penny MacKenzie stood in for her and spoke about issues affecting women in the Thames Valley. Ex Club member Gerry Lejeune spoke about The Berkshire Community Foundation.
After the success of last year’s Conference, three local Soroptimist International Clubs invite you to join them on Sunday 17th March 2019 at the Desborough Theatre, Town Hall, Maidenhead, SL6 1RF, from 2.00pm to 5.30pm to celebrate International Women’s Day. The theme of our Conference is: “Opportunities for Women and Girls” As a local organisation or as individuals, you are invited to join us to celebrate this unique day to learn about some of the issues faced by women locally and internationally. We also wish to raise awareness of the work that women’s organisations are doing. Our Guest Speakers include:- Gerry Lejeune OBE, CEO of Berkshire Community Foundation on Fundraising and Grant Giving to local community groups Christina Berenger, DCI, Thames Valley Police on issues facing women in the Thames Valley Alaa Fawaz (Chairman) and Raakhi Sharma (Representative) of Slough Youth Parliament – two schoolgirls
Club members enjoyed a festive evening at Fredrick’s Hotel in Maidenhead on 5th December when they got together for a Christmas meal and a happy social occasion after a busy year. On Saturday 8th a group helped at Daniel’s Department Store in Windsor where the British Heart Foundation had arranged for Christmas presents to be wrapped by volunteers. It proved a good opportunity to increase awareness as well as displaying the nimble fingers of some of our members. Donations were accepted on behalf of the charity. On Sunday a large group attended a Christmas Tea Party in aid of the Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice. Members enjoyed a wide selection of savouries and cakes and donated £110 to the charity.
During the Autumn members have been collecting goodies to make Christmas stockings for all the current residents of the refuges run by DASH. On Thursday 28th November the stockings were filled ready to be handed out on Christmas Day.
At the club meeting on 21st November Phyllis Sigsworth was presented with a Certificate to commemorate Fifty years as a Soroptimist. Phyllis was a member of SI Morpeth for many years before she moved south to join the Home Office and came to live in Maidenhead. She was also presented with a bouquet by the club. Earlier in the evening a speaker from The Medaille Trust talked about the work of the Trust in aiding victims of trafficking. The charity currently operates nine houses in England, providing support and help to people freed from exploitation. They provide a safe place to stay, and both physical and mental aid.
