At the first Club meeting of the year on Mon 12 January, Barbara was able to report back for Katelyn Lenander who had visited the Club the previous September https://sigbi.org/st-albans/sep25. In October she went on the “Climb for Freedom – Kilimanjaro Challenge 2025”, and the Club was able to give a donation to support her challenge in aid of the “International Justice Mission UK” – a global
organisation working to stop slavery and violence.
Being on the Mountain – Some Reflections from Katelyn Lenander – click here to read the full report from Katelyn with a few more photos: Being on that Mountain – some reflections from Katelyn Lenander. Katelyn successfully achieved her goal of Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, but was now having to work on a Monday night to fund her university courses. She sent her report which Barbara read highlighting the challenge of articulating the experience of being on the mountain with 95 people in the team, including porters, guides, chefs and support people who ‘passed them every day carrying bags and bags of pots, pans, tents, and their bags. They were incredible, and never too tired to teach the climbers Swahili, dance with them, and carry their day packs when they were too tired to do it themselves. Katelyn said she had never been so humbled by the support of absolute strangers, who “never failed to hold us up and support us through the trek.’ Katelyn said it was an immense privilege to experience this, and she is very grateful for our support.
In the previous week Soroptimists Debbie Tankard, Linda Middleton, Helen Atkinson and Jane Slatter had volunteered at St Albans Girls School (STAGS) for Year 11 Mock Interviews as part of their careers “Futures Day”. Each student has a 20 minute interview based on CV’s they have prepared in school and receive verbal and written feedback.
The students find the feedback very helpful – for some it is the first time they have produced a CV and had an interview. Providing an encounter like this is hugely beneficial and has been shown to help improve student outcomes and increase their aspirations for the future. Soroptimists have been involved for the last 11 years and have always found meeting the girls a real breath of fresh air.
On 10 Jan Helen (pictured here) and Sarah joined the Chiswell Green Litter Pickers and collected many bags of discarded rubbish including disk brakes! The Club’s Planet Team have been joining these organised events for some time now – it is deeply shocking what people will dump expecting other people to clear up their mess and causing problems for the sustainability of the natural environment.
On 26 Jan we had a Zoom Event where we heard from Margaret Chapman, Co-Chief- Executive of Ambition Education Trust – click here to read all about it: https://sigbi.org/st-albans/mchapman/
At the end of the month we were delighted to have a visit from Margaret Van Laan Martin, from our Friendship Link Club Soroptimist International Chico in California. Margaret stayed with Diana who arranged an action packed few days before Margaret was heading off on her travels to Egypt. Margaret visited the Wimpole Estate with Diana and Kat on Friday 30 Jan. On Saturday 31 Jan Jane Slatter joined Diana and Margaret for a walk in Heartwood Forest in Sandridge, followed by an enjoyable pub lunch, and a visit to St Leonard’s Church next door the pub. That evening they went to the Abbey Theatre in St 
Albans. On Sunday Helen and Barbara joined the group for leisurely lunch at L’Italiana in St Albans. Margaret was also able to visit the tree planted by Soroptimists in Memory of Jean Eaton who had become a friend of Margaret’s over the years. After lunch Margaret was able to visit St Albans Cathedral and the Museum and Gallery. What a busy few days!
Margaret has been a regular visitor over the years – this link includes news and photos of her last visit in April 2023: https://sigbi.org/st-albans-and-district/2023/agm-2023/
This page on the website includes information about all of our Friendship Links, including SI Chico, California USA: https://sigbi.org/st-albans-and-district/about-our-club/club-friendship-links/
What an action packed start to 2026!!