Our decision last year to share the task of leading the Club between three members was very popular, so we are doing it again. Our co-presidents this year are Norma Empringham, Katharine Heatley and Moira Grieve.
The theme we have chosen for the year is “Overcoming Challenges “. Our May speakers from the Woking Blackhawks wheelchair basketball team told us about the challenges they and their players face. They were followed in June by a speaker from Your Sanctuary. She told us of the challenges that children have to overcome when they are involved in difficult family situations. Your Sanctuary children’s services are doing a fantastic job. Go to our page on domestic abuse to see how you can help them do more.
Our July speaker was Dr Gisela Unsworth – she told us about the vastly-improved service that the NHS offers to Surrey residents with mental issues. This is so important at this difficult time. The lockdown phase of the Covid-19 pandemic was not good for the mental health of many, but coming out of lockdown brings a different sort of mental stress.
We are delighted to say that our long-standing member Rita Walsh is now an Honorary Member of SI Woking and District. Rita gave the Club a memorable year when she was President: in addition to the usual fundraising and awareness raising activities, she organised a trip to Eastern Europe for the members and hosted a dinner in Woking for members of the former royal family of Yugoslavia.
We also congratulate one of the members in Soroptimist International Southern England Region on becoming President-Elect of the national federation. Ruth Healey is a member of SI Surrey Hills and is a major contributor to Soroptimist affairs.
Friendship is one of the founding values of Soroptimist International. So we are delighted to say that we are forming a new friendship link with the Soroptimist International club in Durham. We are looking forward to many interesting exchanges with the members of SI Durham.
During this Centenary year, we are telling the story of the Soroptimist Movement month by month in Club News. We’re enjoying looking back at what we have achieved since our Club – a comparative youngster – began in 1976. On other pages, you can read more about the national centenary celebrations and cameos of some of our members.
Norma Empringham, President SI Woking & District
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To find out more about our initiatives and projects, get in touch via the Contact Us page on this website or via Twitter @WokingSorop and Facebook.
If you want to be actively involved – by joining our Club, or attending our events, we will be delighted to hear from you – With you, we can do so much more!-
Photo acknowledgements: Prawny, Alexas, Niederwimmer, Wixin Lubhon, Gordon Johnson (Pixabay)