

Soroptimist Circle Meeting for Northern England
Thank you to the members from our club who attended the Soroptimist Circle for Northern England’s Annual Meeting at Hexham. ever our club has continued excellent attendance rates for local, regional, national and international meetings. The ‘Circle’ is made up of all past and present Regional Officers, the intention is for newer members within the Regional Clubs to come and interact with the past officers and pick up tips for their coming year. This year the discussion was on ADVOCACY:ADAPTING TO CHANGING CLUBS: GROWTH PLAN: SOCIAL MEDIA. Lively debate took place and everyone felt the afternoon had been worthwhile. After the meeting everyone enjoyed a delightful Afternoon Tea.

Belated World Environment Day with our local ‘Friends of Brierdene’ group.
Having just rattled off a morning of grafting with ‘FRIENDS OF BRIERDENE and several Soroptimist friends I thought I would give a quick summary of our morning. We were kitted out with huge nets to collect, by sweeping, seeds of the yellow rattle.(Rhinanthus minor).The aim was to collect 1kg of seed! Steve Stone, Friends of Brierdene’ volunteer and organiser, was hopeful that after he sorted through our collection that we would be lucky to have collected 50 – 75g – a great start. The seeds will be sown later on in the depths of the dene and why you may ask? To keep grass growth under control! Anyone attempting to create meadow lands in their garden will love this plant., for it’s little known practical use, for it is a “hemi-parasite” – a partial parasite – and can be used to reduce the vigour of meadow

SETTING UP FOR OUR FUNDRAISING ‘MARKET’ with ‘CHEESE & WINE TASTING’
SOROPTIMIST QUOTES – got a favourite?
Club member Carol found these on the SIGBI (Soroptimist International of Great Britain & Ireland) website. They’re all fantastic! “Make friends with like-minded woman. Have fun and work on projects that help improve the lives of women and girls locally, nationally and internationally.” “Inspire action to transform the lives of women” “Women at their best working to help other women to be their best”

SI Carlisle celebrates 75 years. (raising funds for flood victims)
What wonderful weather to celebrate SI Carlisle’s 75th birthday with Soroptimists from several neighbouring clubs. A relaxed day included, of course, fantastic food at The Shepherd’s Inn followed by two interesting speakers. President Alison Jary proudly introduced the celebrations by saying that their aims today are the same as in 1941 to Educate, Empower & Enable women and young girls. Starting with working with wounded soldiers and their families during the war years to more recently fund raising for Mary’s Meals and supporting the many flood victims in Cumbria. Emma Porter, Cumbrian Community Foundation, updated us with the support and help given to Cumbrian flood victims, with devastating floods in 2010 and 2015 with the main focus on helping rebuild communities coupled with supporting the emotional well being of community members. Let us not forget that 1,500 are still not back in their own homes!

Soroptimists at Lobbying, Campaigning Workshop



