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SI Woking and District 40th Charter Anniversary Lunch

SI Woking and District 40th Charter Anniversary Lunch

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In 1976, there was no Internet, no Wi-Fi, no email… but it was the year that the Woking Club of Soroptimist International was founded. Forty years on, the members of Soroptimist International of Woking & District, had an opportunity to look back on their combined experience of forty years of social action during a special Anniversary Charter Lunch held in Sutton Green Golf Club, Woking on 31st July 2016. A particularly welcome guest was Diana Porter: she attended the very first Charter Lunch and has been a Soroptimist ever since (now as a member of the Epsom Club). There were also many Soroptimists from clubs across Southern England – Gosport & Fareham, Guildford, Weybridge and Yeovil. Appropriately for a fortieth anniversary, ruby-red was the colour of the day – guests were encouraged to wear red, the floral beautiful table decorations (the creative work of member

SI Poole: more hats & bootees for babies of Nepal

SI Poole: more hats & bootees for babies of Nepal

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  Our latest ‘Knitting for Nepal’ session produced 33 hats and 9 pairs of bootees, which will be sent to our Friendship Link, SI Kathmandu, in early August.  That will bring the total of baby hats sent to over 200. Seven of us gathered this afternoon, including two new members, and we put the world to rights over cups of tea and biscuits while beavering away.  It was all great fun, and for a very worthy cause.

SI Poole marks SIGBI Day of Action

SI Poole marks SIGBI Day of Action

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  SI Poole marked the SIGBI Day of Action on 20th July by distributing Purple Teardrop Campaign bookmarks outside Waterstones, Poole.  Many thanks to our members who turned up on possibly the hottest day of the year. Programme Action Officer, Sue, was overjoyed when, after giving bookmarks to a young couple, they walked into the store, reading through the checklist and quizzing each other on whether or not they have a healthy relationship! If we can touch just one life, it will all have been worthwhile.   Many thanks to Waterstones Poole for allowing us to distribute our bookmarks.

A busy month for SI Woking

A busy month for SI Woking

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The latest newsletter from SI Woking features ‘Tea and Temptations’, a STEM event for schoolgirls, fundraising for their special charity, a talk about the Purple Community Fund, details of future dinner speakers and a full programme of financial and service support for local and international groups: (click on the link below) SIWD Newsletter_July 2016  

Team work to help Nepal!

Team work to help Nepal!

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  For some time now, SI Poole has been ‘Knitting for Nepal’ and, with help from SI Bournemouth, we have so far sent 165 baby hats and two baby blankets to SI Kathmandu. At the June SI Southern England Regional Meeting, SI Winchester brought along 35 baby hat and pullover sets, as their contribution to the ‘Knitting for Nepal’ project.  They are shown in the photo, packed securely in a cardboard box, ready to be posted to SI Kathmandu.   It costs £20 to send two kilos of goods to Nepal, and the parcels arrive in about a week.  SI Poole send one parcel a month.  The cost of the postage for the parcel we sent today was donated by SI Bournemouth.  The cost of sending previous parcels has been provided by generous donors.  Might you or your Club be willing to make a donation?  If

SI Bournemouth: Celebrating National Women in Engineering Day 2016

SI Bournemouth: Celebrating National Women in Engineering Day 2016

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Bournemouth Soroptimists were delighted to support the RNLI’s Women’s Network to celebrate National Women in Engineering Day 2016 which took place on 23rd June. Having been inspired by Bournemouth Soroptimists STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) Challenge, in which they formed part of the judging panel, the RNLI Women’s Network decided to set a ‘Safety Message challenge’ to girls at local schools. The prestigious event was held at the RNLI headquarters in Poole where the girls were encouraged to design a ‘cool safety message when on the water which will appeal to young people’. The event began with a list of famous women inventors in STEM based industries but who were also from creative backgrounds and the UN Sustainable Development goals were promoted. To inspire the students further they visited the ‘Ideas Room’ where ideas were discussed to make a safer ‘sea bubble’ which could

SI Weybridge & District Friendship Weekend

SI Weybridge & District Friendship Weekend

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From the 16th to  19th June SI Weybridge and District hosted a friendship weekend for a total of 20 Soroptimists from Almelo in Holland, Kristiansand in Norway, Munster land in Germany and Silkeborg in Denmark.  All the visitors and some of the Weybridge club stayed in a hotel and others came and went when available. On Friday there was a return riverboat trip on the Thames from Runnymede to Windsor, followed by a tour of the Castle.  In the evening a trip to a riverside pub was made where everyone enjoyed a fish and chip supper. On Saturday morning there was a coach trip to the National Trust property at Polesden Lacey to see the beautiful house and gardens which were much admired by all. Later the party arrived at Watts Artists Village near Guildford where everyone enjoyed a lunch of quiche and a variety of salads.  Time was given to

Soroptimist Clubs team up at Fareham Community Showcase

Soroptimist Clubs team up at Fareham Community Showcase

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    Soroptimist Clubs teamed up to staff the stand at the Community Showcase event at Ferneham Hall, Fareham.  SI Gosport, Fareham and District organised a very popular tombola, with lots of prizes.       Sue Fortescue, Programme Action Officer, SI Poole, came along to raise awareness of the Purple Teardrop Campaign.         Members of the sadly defunct SI Chichester also came along to lend a hand. It was a very worthwhile event and raised awareness of SI in the area.        

Winchester School hosts picnic with SI for local refuge

Winchester School hosts picnic with SI for local refuge

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A picnic for the Refuge in Winchester was hosted by St Swithun’s School last Sunday 26th June.  The weather held so that the picnic could take place outside as planned.  SI Winchester members volunteered to help and to provide the food.  St Swithun’s provided the venue in the Junior School playing field and pupils from 5th and 6th years welcomed mothers and children, including a baby, at the gates.  The highlight for 2 boys of 10 and under was the climbing frame and playing ‘soldiers’ in the long grass.  Later they joined their teenage sisters and the pupils in ball games on the netball courts.  The picture shows SI Winchester volunteers with St Swithun’s chaplain, Katrina Dykes, who coordinated the event successfully in every detail.

SI Poole Race for Life

SI Poole Race for Life

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  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 £200 between them. Go Poole Soroptimists, Go!