We supported World Book Day donating books to local schools and celebrated St Piran’s Day. Our hugely successful Unsung Heroine Awards Evening was held to mark International Women’s Day. Winners were Sally Bourton our Unsung Heroine, Karen Clarke for Covid Kindness and Sandra Heyward the Soroptimist Special Award. 8 members attended the Region meeting in Taunton
We welcomed Ailie Henry back to the club as a linked member, members donated to the local hygiene bank supported a soup lunch for St Petroc’s hosted by Imm Past President Barbara and a group attended SI Plymouth Lunch
Our January social/fundraiser event was cancelled because of the rise locally of cases of Covid but a very large donation of knitted items, teddies, jumpers and blankets was donated to Teddies4Tragedies
Our December meeting had a Christmas theme with dressing up and the singing of 12 Days of Christmas with all the actions. We welcomed yet another new member Ellie Glason. President Nettie drew the Prize Draw which raised almost £600 for the Presidents Charities. We joined other community organisations by decorating a tree at Wheal Martyn. Members were keen to help others and some members helped with the street collection for CHSW others gave Christmas trees and decorations for women in the care of the Refuge and one woman received furniture for her flat. All members were invited to fill and donate festively wrapped boxes of packaged and tinned Christmas food for Gover Community larder with Soroptimist Sandra ensuring these went to the most in need. Finally members and partners joined others at Carlyon Bay Golf Club for a Christmas Party.
At our November meeting we welcomed new members KirstyAbbott & Clare Penellum and presented a cheque for £2080 to Clare Hancock of Look Good Feel better. Members visited the Cornish Beaver Project at Woodland Valley Farm Ladock, we didn’t actually see a beaver but there was plenty of evidence that they were busy. Members filled two cars to attend the first Region Meeting led by Region Jackie Collins. It was two years since the clubs had met face to face. President Nettie with other club members attended the town’s Remembrance Day Parade. Our way of marking the 16 days of Activism is to have a collection of non perishable goods for local Refuges. We were so grateful to Tesco for allowing us to be there this year and the public were as generous as ever. The items were shared between the two local Refuges we support.
The clubs 4 short videos showing the work we do were launched this month. At the start of the month we planted a tree in the grounds of Little Harbour in memory of Howard Rosevear, husband of past member Shirley. They donated the land for Little Harbour CHSW. We held our own party to celebrate 100th anniversary of Soroptimist International, complete with cake and a special plaque with all the members names. A special mirror compact was commissioned too for members to buy for £10. Founder member Carol Gardner was given the This is Your Life Treatment. SI held its Virtual Celebrations that weekend with members joining from over 100 countries, speakers from all over the world with presentations and good wishes. President Elect Jill attended The House of Lords Lunch and other members ran in the Marathon and Race for Life. The hybrid October
Our first ‘proper’ club meeting was held in Pattern Hall Charlestown and with the miracle of modern technology members not able to attend could join by Zoom and hear speaker Lyndon Allen on Charlestown. Whilst the cyclists in the Tour of Britain were speeding around the county members helped out at the Community Day in Truro Road Park. A Holistic evening was held at The Mermaid Centre in Sticker and members learnt about Zero Balancing from Lizzie and Soroptimist Wendy Leach. Members cleaned and surveyed the beach at Charlestown for the MCS nationwide survey. Soroptimists Heather and husband Peter organised a walk around Fowey with a quiz and supper after. To mark the SI Centenary the club has launched it’s “Buckets and Bowls” project to give to women leaving The Refuge. A lovely commemorative mirror compact had been produced for members to purchase for £10
Jane and Kay filming the video for the presentation on Membership for the forthcoming Virtual Federation Conference the end of October. The New President’s Hog Roast evening went ahead albeit at Charlestown Hall instead of Libby’s exquisite garden because of rain. The Executive committee met for real since February 2020.
