July PAC Meeting – Bins it Another interesting, enjoyable and informative evening was held in July at Burhill School when  environmental issues were the topic of this all club PAC evening. Justin Houghton the Manager of Hersham Waitrose kindly gave a very interesting presentation on the company’s ethical and environmental policies. He provided information on the success of their recycling schemes, their own version of a fair trade scheme in South African farming communities and the reduction in the use of plastic bags and packaging. Waitrose now have a local supply policy where goods are supplied directly to the stores. This covers fruit and vegetable produce in rural areas and even beer sourced locally to the Hersham store (local is defined as within 30 miles).  He also mentioned that they have their own farm and a visit to the farm could be arranged for those

Four members from Elmbridge joined the 2009 Friendship weekend which was hosted by club Munsterland Sud in Germany. There were also visitors from the other linked clubs, Kristiansand in Norway, Almelo in Holland and Silkeborg in Denmark. It was yet another inspiring weekend for all with lots of talk, laughter and some serious discussion. We all arrived ion Thursday evening in Ludinghausen, and were welcomed in the Hotel zur Post with tea, coffee and cakes (funeral tea!) and, of course, we chatted!   We were distributed to our hosts and taken to our homes for the next few nights.   It was interesting to see the distances members had to drive to meetings.  One hostess was 45 minutes from the meeting place. Friday dawned and we were driven into Ludinghausen, where we boarded the coach for Remondis, the largest industrial recycling plant in Europe – it was enormous! 

Following SI Elmbridge’s successful motion at the Federation Conference in Gateshead in 2006 “Clubs across the Federation each endeavour to form a link with a school to work constructively to assist in the development and education of girls or women” was the starting point for establishing a formal link with a school in our Borough.  Annette Calver, Headteacher of Burhill Community Infant School in Hersham came to talk to the members about ways Soroptimist International of Elmbridge could make a link with the school to support their educational activities.   In September 2006 the Government announced plans for Extended Schools that will offer a range of services to meet the needs of children, families and the local community.  Burhill School was identified as an Extended School with a Children’s Centre offering high quality childcare, parenting support, easy referral to specialist services and a programme of