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Honorary Soroptimist Tribute by SI Weybridge & District

Honorary Soroptimist Tribute by SI Weybridge & District

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Soroptimists in Weybridge said a solemn goodbye in tribute to one of their longest standing Honorary Members last Thursday. Ahead of the AGM a candle was lit and members remembered dear Marion Strehlow, who passed on in January this year after a short illness. Marion was well known in region, an avid and intrepid traveller who exhibited all the best qualities of Soroptimism over 50 years with Windsor then Elmbridge (now Weybridge & District)  Soroptimist Clubs. A regular at SISE meetings and Friendship weekends she could speak fluent German and so enjoyed meeting up with friends across the region. An only child of German Jewish parents living in Berlin, Marion and her parents were sent to Auschwitz, but she ended up in the “Childrens” camp at Theresienstadt.  There, aged 5 she helped with the babies and toddlers. She endured hunger and was experimented on by

Afghan Women’s Minster joins Soroptimists in Elmbridge

Afghan Women’s Minster joins Soroptimists in Elmbridge

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Former Afghan Women’s Minster Ms Hasina Safi was delighted to accept Honorary Membership of Weybridge & District Soroptimist Club yesterday. We have been so moved to hear from her first hand at recent meetings about the situation in country and her knowledge of women’s issues following Taliban rule. Hasina a refugee in our region brings in depth knowledge of the history of women’s rights in the troubled region. As a child refugee herself fleeing to Pakistan with her parents only to return as the Russians left, she now finds herself again displaced and working for women’s human rights and peace from another country, Britain. Hasina and the many refugees who arrived in Britain in 2021 and since experience and continue to have trauma associated with the sudden change  in situation and liberties arising from Taliban rule, the daily knowledge of suffering back ‘home’ and the consequences

A Soroptimist Year in Elmbridge & our 45th AGM

A Soroptimist Year in Elmbridge & our 45th AGM

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The Soroptimist 2022 – 2023 year finishes with our 45th AGM on April 20th. Members do look out for the Officer Reports and Agenda in your Inbox this week. We have Jean’s Induction and a Tribute to dear Marion please join in at The Fairmile. Summary to reflect on SIW&D Club Achievements in 2022 March – SISE region club donations/funding sent to SI Clubs in Ukraine and Moldova to enable local action April and June – Foodbank Donations of Easter Eggs and Children’s Sun Cream to support Walton & Hersham foodbank needs May – Booth at Oatlands Weybridge Village Fair for publicity and to sell beautiful craft items made in Maripela, South Africa who are supported by Soroptimists &  Tea & Temptations Fashion Show run in partnership with local boutiques and SI Woking, raised funding for Barbara Watts Volunteering in Pretoria Project July – Pink

Soroptimists make a difference at Walton & Hersham Foodbank

Soroptimists make a difference at Walton & Hersham Foodbank

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  2022 was a busy year for all foodbanks and their sterling work is essential community action enabling low income individuals and families to survive week to week and gain training access and practical advice and help. Weybridge & District Soroptimists donate every quarter filling gaps and supplying seasonal items. Our 21 #elmbridge members wholeheartedly support the wonderful volunteers  and so appreciate their hard work and dedication. We were delighted to meet the local manager when she spoke about their wider work at a meeting this year. Club members ‘walk and talk’ about their work and raise it whenever we run fundraisers for our other partners. It’s amazing how few people know how to donate so we spread the word, some ask SI to do so on their behalf giving us cash or items. Just this week we donated more cash from friends and during

Support for Citizens Advice services matters even more now
Women helping Women in Distress…a £2050 donation to Surrey Domestic Abuse

Women helping Women in Distress…a £2050 donation to Surrey Domestic Abuse

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Weybridge Soroptimists #Orangetheworld..(Women helping Women) with £2050 donation to Surrey Domestic Abuse 20th January 2023 – the #Soroptimist Club in #Elmbridge summarised the proceeds from the #OrangetheWorld Club activities in November.  Shop support, posters and window dressings, social media campaign and walking and talking in Weybridge, Walton on Thames and Molesey/Thames Ditton preceeded a fundraising successful coffee morning and donations for the chosen charity. Mary, a #Cobham based #soroptimist who has joined this year co-ordinated a hugely successful Bring & Buy sale which was wonderfully supported by local members, women and another SI club, it raised £362.80. Brenda and Dee  existing  #Weybridge and District soroptimists held a raffle at the coffee morning, the fabulous prizes donated by the Club members created a buzz and a further £355.00 was added. Members who lit up their front gardens and porches and social media and the coffee morning held

Surrey Domestic Abuse benefits from £2000 donation from Elmbridge women

Surrey Domestic Abuse benefits from £2000 donation from Elmbridge women

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November 25th #16DaysOfActivism Elmbridge women raised over £660 at a coffee morning organised by #siweybridgeanddistrict last Friday. Six generous spontaneous cash donors added more…£295. An incredible woman donor match funded EVERY POUND AND MORE. #elmbridgesoroptimists can now donate £2000 to #northsurreydomesticabuse part of Citizens Advice, a local ‘public’ service supporting women and families through trauma, domestic abuse, fear and coercive control, also advising on refuge, legalities and outreach support Local community action for women, by women, supported by donations from men who want to ensure we stamp out violence and abuse.

#Orangetheworld SI Weybridge Walks, Talks & ‘Oranges’ Surrey

#Orangetheworld SI Weybridge Walks, Talks & ‘Oranges’ Surrey

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25th November 2022 – UN Day for the Elimination of Violence against women and girls and start of #16daysofactivism #Weybridge Soroptimists walk and talk, provide information and posters to traders, dress the #elmbridge localities with ‘oranges’, and highlight the importance of the UN global #orangetheworld effort to help change attitudes and femicide. See the 20221 UN report here. Thank you to #SouthernRailHamptonCourt for displaying our poster alongside your ‘white ribbon’ poster. Powerful in combination. A reminder to those travelling with ill intent. https://www.unwomen.org/…/five-essential-facts-to-know… #hamptoncourt # 16daysofactionagainstgenderbasedviolence #16DaysOfAction #womensupportingwomen #westandupforwomen #womenempowerment #stopdomesticabuse

Santa delivery at Walton & Hersham Foodbank

Santa delivery at Walton & Hersham Foodbank

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7th December 2022 On Day 12 of #16DaysOfActivismAgainstGenderBasedViolence soroptimist elves are supporting women who often put others first and bear the brunt of stress and worry about feeding their families. #SIWeybridge & District #soroptimists continue to #OrangeTheWorld today delivering elf hats filled with treats for Mum so youngsters have something to give “From Santa for Mum” #The team at #waltonhershamfb gave us a jolly welcome (thank you all) they plan to sell the lovely artist cards donated by one of our friends at #SILiverpool at a forthcoming food fair and were appreciative of last months sanitary donations too! Like to hear more about our ‘elfing’ activities and how we help women succeed? Get in touch, meet us for a cuppa or via zoom we local women (part of a global movement gather monthly to enable projects that help women and girls www.sigbi.org/weybridge #16daysofaction #OrangeTheWorld #foodpoverty

Bijou hotel owned by Soroptimists in Central London

Bijou hotel owned by Soroptimists in Central London

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Ladies! Looking for somewhere central in London to stay and feel safe? Number 63 might be just the place. Discounted rates for Soroptimists/Shareholding clubs. Rooms also on booking.com. Sixteen en-suite rooms, singles twins and doubles, all beside Kensington Gardens. Great rates. What’s not to like. They even have their own GIN! https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g186338-d2557597-Reviews-Number_63_Guest_House-London_England.html

A little ‘Elf’ for busy Mums

A little ‘Elf’ for busy Mums

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Elves are so excited! Our #soroptimist hat collection is growing by the day and little red elf has her sewing fingers busy closing up them up and attaching the elf tags “For Mum from Santa”. Elves from Cape Town, Florida, Anguilla and Elmbridge have been busy too from afar. This Soroptimist Santa sack is going to @WaltonHershamfb at month end. Get busy elves deliver your hats to little red elf soonest ready for the foodbank festive hampers!