At our August meeting Veronica and Adrian Stabbins gave a talk with a video presentation about the work of Rotary International and their Eradicate polio campaign  Rotarians have helped immunize more than 2.5 billion children against polio in 122 countries.  Veronica and Adrian have volunteered in India several times and their video explained the process.  India has a specific day when volunteers and Indian health workers set out to vaccinate all the children under five throughout the country – a daunting task.  Each child receives two drops of vaccine under their tongue and this task is repeated for several years to build up immunity.  In the poorest areas where there is little effective hygiene this process has proved incredibly successful.  Parents are all too aware of the dreadful consequences of contracting polio and the majority are delighted that their children can be vaccinated – the children

Members were delighted to welcome Susan Brett to the February meeting.  Susan realised that there was a real problem in Maidenhead for a number of residents who simply could not afford to feed themselves properly.  Starting from simply making soup and serving it from the boot of her car she has moved on to a fullscale Foodbank which operates in conjunction with social services.  Initially she used her garage but now has premises and a large number of volunteers.  Those in need receive a voucher from social services which entitles them to use the foodbank.  However just providing food was only part of the problem as some recipients could not cook so Susan moved on to providing simple cookery and nutrition lessons. She has also worked with the homeless to provide accommodation and stepping stones back to being employed and ultimately having their own accommodation. 

Members were delighted to welcome Dave Bullock of Thames Valley Police on Wednesday night.  Dave came to talk about two initiatives within Windsor:  the Windsor Homelessness Project and the Windsor Street Angels. Dave set up Windsor Street Angels ten years ago with twelve volunteers and that now number has expanded to over forty.  These members of the public are on duty every Friday and Saturday night from 9pm until the small hours of the morning.  They work in pairs and patrol Windsor streets looking out for anyone in need of assistance.  They carry water and pink flip-flops – the latter are in great demand by girls who have taken off their high heels and then found they cannot get them on again!!  The flip flops help prevent cuts from broken glass and make getting home just that bit easier!  The Street Angels can also help

Club members of Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead wrapped Christmas presents for all the women at their local refuge. Each present consisted of a donated handbag which they packed full of pocket sized useful items. These included practical things such as lip-gloss, wet wipes, sewing kits, shampoo, conditioner, pens and of course chocolates!

Members of the club got together with 1200 other Soroptimists to participate in the annual Federation Conference from 26h to 28th October. There were many inspiring speakers including Mandy Hickson one of the very few female fighter pilots and Dame Katherine Grainger the most decorated female Olympian.  These two women admirably related to the conference theme of ‘Step Up and Lead the Way’.  There were sessions on Violence against Women and Modern Slavery and Trafficking – areas where many clubs are working.  In the final session Past President Ann Hodgson handed over to Federation President Sue Biggs who invited all members to Liverpool to celebrate the 84th Conference in October 2018.