Members from the Torquay & District SI had an early start recently as they were attending the annual Cockington Fayre on Wednesday 7th August 2013.  The fayre held in the grounds of Cockington Court was the venue for many stalls helping to raise funds for Cockington Church, local and national charities. President May Hulme, Treasurer Myra Brown and Committee members Veronica Prowse and Cheryl Rider were hoping to raise vital funds for Soroptimist Charities.  Members Jasmine Dawkins and  Lesley Proctor joined the fund raising team later in the day to help with the very busy book and bric-a-brac stall. It was a brilliant day, not a cloud in sight, the fayre with all it’s stalls, live music, church bells ringing, fresh food available from the BBQ drew in thousands of people. The great thing about community events is that they bring people together to have fun

Torquay and District Soroptimist International recently donated funds to Barton Hill Academy. The Headmistress  Mrs Young and  staff purchased a People Around the World Rug for the new development at the school. Several members of the Torquay & District Soroptimist’s have a close connection with the school as they regularly provide one-to-one reading support for the pupils.  Being a reading helper is a rewarding and fun voluntary experience which enables pupils to reach their full potential by becoming confident, enthusiastic readers. Through their time and dedication, they are helping to transform the lives of children.

Torquay & District Soroptimist International were pleased to donate £150 towards the sponsorship after receiving a letter from Matilda Smith. Matilda has recently been selected to work this summer for Education Partnerships Africa, a charity that sends 40 Oxford, Cambridge and UCL students out to schools in Kenya and Uganda each year as Project Workers.  In her role as a Project Worker she will work to strengthen these schools, improve the quality of education their students receive, and build a focus on education in local communities. In taking part in this project, Matilda has committed herself to a fundraising effort, and has to raise £2300 for EPAfrica to cover some costs of her trip and the amount to be invested in the school. She will leave for Kenya on 1 July and will spend over two months, assisted by another Project Worker, working closely with

The ladies of Torquay & District Soroptimist International are ‘Getting it together’ and very interested in the work done by Oxfam, members recently enjoyed a presentation given by Joanna Hulin who is the Oxfam Community Fundraiser for Dorset, Devon and Cornwall.  She talked about how funds raised went direct to the needy and the hands up approach rather than hands down helping for the future not just now. Oxfam puts women’s rights at the heart of everything they do. The Soroptimist’s aims are to improve the lives and status of women and girls through education, empowerment or enabling opportunities, since the talk the ladies have pleasure in donating £100 to help transform women’s lives in the UK and around the world. The next fundraising event with proceeds donated to Oxfam will be a Beetle Drive on Tuesday 19th March at Rosegarth to celebrate International Women’s

The Torquay & District Soroptimist International which is a worldwide service organisation for women were thrilled to welcome mother and daughter Barbara Soames and Gaynor Raisey into the membership of their club.  Soroptimist’s are 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. Whilst attending their first social event at Rosegarth, Barbara a retired business woman and Gaynor who is a Catering Manager at South Devon Health Care Foundation Trust, enjoyed a coffee morning organised by members, donations were handed over to Mrs Lyn Hookings for the Torbay League of Friends; Sandy Jay to help with her expenses in travelling to the Gambia where she is training local ladies to care for children used in slavery.  Further donations were given to Oxfam and to Barton Hill

2013 Winter / Spring Programme JANUARY Tues 8th Jan    Executive & Business Meeting Tues 15th Jan  Rosegarth House Committee Meeting Tues 22nd Jan New Year Supper Whitfields Bistro FEBRUARY Tues 5th Feb    Executive & Business Meeting Sat 9th Feb      Regional Meeting Taunton Speaker Pat Black SIGBI President Tues 12thFeb  Rosegarth House Committee Meeting Sun 17th Feb  Sunday Lunch at Veronica’s Tues 19th Feb Speaker Meeting Digital Photography MARCH Tues 5th Mar   Executive & Business Meeting Tues 12th Mar Rosegarth House Committee Meeting AGM Tues 19th Mar Beetle Drive in aid of International Women’s Day Tues 26th Mar President’s Evening APRIL Tues 2nd April Executive & Business Meeting Tues 9th April  Rosegarth House Committee Meeting Tues 16th April AGM Tues 23rd April Executive & Business Meeting Tues 30th April MAY Tues 7th May Executive & Business Meeting Tues 14th May Rosegarth House Committee

Club Executive Officers: President: Veronica Prowse Tel:01803401739 Email:veronica.prowse@sky.com —————————————— Secretary: Maureen Hunnable Tel: 01803323152 Email:m.hunnable@gmail.com —————————————— President Elect: TBA Vice President: TBA Past President: —————————————— Treasurer: Myra Brown Tel:01803865925 Email:myrandtony@gmail.com —————————————— Programme Action:Jasmine Dawkins Tel:01626863724 Email:jasmine@dawkins6.plus.com —————————————— Membership: Cheryl Rider Press & Publicity: Cheryl Rider Tel:01803292569 Email:cheryl.rider@churston.torbay.sch.uk —————————————— Programme: Gill Wood Tel:01803616266 Email:gillianwood08@btinternet.com —————————————— Social:Gwyn Turner Tel: 01803605241 Email:meriposer@hotmail.co.uk —————————————— Friendship:Shirley Wilkie Tel:01803324963 Email:s.wilkie456@btinternet.com ——————————————

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us Members welcomed Mary Sherwood a Project Manager from the Met Office who was invited to our recent Speaker Meeting.  We heard that the Met Office makes a lot of difference in many ways and it’s not just about predicting the weather! We are hoping to arrange a tour to the Met Office on one of their Public Open Days quite soon.  

WHAT WE DO AS SOROPTIMISTS Project work known as Programme Action OUR VISION • Soroptimist International is a vibrant, dynamic organisation for today’s professional and business women.  We are 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. OUR MISSION • Through international partnerships and a global network of members, Soroptimists inspire action and create opportunities to transform the lives of women and girls. TORQUAY & DISTRICT  CLUB Our Club covers Torquay & the surrounding area.  We are a friendly Club with 23 members who meet twice a month on the first and third Tuesday at 7.30pm at Rosegarth House, Torquay. WHAT DO WE DO? On a local level we fund raise for a charity each year chosen by the current President.  Past charities have included