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About our Club

Message from President Sue Simpkins

Business is continuing as usual.  We may have been isolating but we are still communicating by virtual meetings and a not too serious weekly club newsletter.  We have even had a virtual a tea party.
We are learning new skills to be able to hold these virtual meetings. But we are Soroptimists so never too old to learn!  We continue to support women and children locally, nationally and internationally. 

About our Club

Membership of a Soroptimist club provides opportunities to meet like-minded women with a broad spectrum of professional knowledge and expertise, together with friendship and fun with purpose.  We work with other SI Clubs by raising global issues affecting women and children in particular and by lobbying for the disadvantaged.

The Stratford-upon-Avon Club was formed in 1959 and attracts members from South Warwickshire and the adjoining counties of Gloucestershire, South Worcestershire and North Oxfordshire.  We meet on the first Thursday of the month either virtually or at 7.30pm at St Andrew’s Parish Centre, Shottery, CV37 9HQ.  The venue is on the outskirts of the town and there is ample parking space. The usual meeting format is a talk by a guest speaker followed by coffee and a business meeting where we discuss SI (Soroptimist International) issues and organise fundraising, community, social and other activities.

SI is a global organisation and clubs form friendship links with other clubs worldwide.  The Stratford-upon-Avon Club has friendship links with Ancona (Italy), Cape of Good Hope (South Africa), Hilversum (Netherlands), Skien Porsgrunn (Norway), and Wigan (UK).

Soroptimist International (SI) is a world-wide organisation for women with consultative status at the United Nations on women’s issues. It is a non-religious, multicultural organisation working locally, nationally and internationally. Soroptimist International is committed to a world where women and girls together achieve their individual and collective potential, realise aspirations and have an equal voice in creating strong, peaceful communities worldwide.
In the UK the Stratford club is affiliated to the Midland Arden Region (MAR – https://sigbi.org/midland-arden ) providing opportunities to meet and work with Soroptimists from twelve other clubs in the area. We support their annual regional conference and annual public speaking competition for local schools and attend regional meetings.
The National Federation, Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI) Ltd (https://sigbi.org ), co-ordinates and guides its 350 clubs. It has a well-attended annual conference, attracting inspirational national and international speakers: several Stratford members attend each year.
Soroptimist International (http://www.soroptimistinternational.org ) is the umbrella organisation, co-ordinating the global activity of its 88,000 members and liaising with the United Nations. It promotes the shared values of all Soroptimists:

How it all happened – and how it all fits together Soroptimist Information Booklet April 2019[301]