Friendship is a key aspect of Soroptimism and the foundation of all our service activities and we also work outside our own Clubs in a number of ways, including building friendship links (and welcoming our overseas friends when they visit the UK and Bath, attending club events in the UK and international conferences and conventions.
Visiting other clubs
President Liz attended the Friendship weekend on Guernsey recently – here she is with other Soroptimist snappy dressers!
Our President Gillian Horigan attended the 90th Birthday Celebrations held by Bristol – the club that originally founded the Bath Club (see our history page). Here is the cake cutting ceremony – what a wonderful birthday cake.
Our President Gillian went to Jersey SI’s celebration weekend to honour their 60th Anniversary. Here she is (on the right) with other Soroptimists with a Govenors Guard at the reception (known as the levee) to celebrate the Queen’s birthday held at Government House in Jersey.
Friendship links
These are other SI clubs where we have built specific links, and we have links with the following clubs:
SI Aix-en-Provence (France)
SI Alkmaar (Netherlands)
SI Braunschweig (Germany)
SI Burnley (UK)
SI Edmonton (Canada)
SI Goulburn (Australia)
SI Venice (Italy)
Last year we welcomed a number of overseas visitors, usually with a nice meal out!
In October, we had another visitor from Australia, Margaret Hall which was an excuse for lunch!
President Gillian held a charity dinner during the summer – and Beate Kirchner from one of our friendship link clubs, Braunschweig, was able to come! Here she is with Bill and Gill Hurd.
Earlier this summer, our President Gillian Horrigan and Secretary Liz Schofield meet Rosalind Sawyer from SI Albany, Western Australia on a nice warm summer’s evening in Bath – yes we do have those in England!
Open Heart-Open Door
The Open Heart-Open Door programme was established in 1995, to encourage friendship, exchange and hospitality, as part of Soroptimists ongoing programme of International Goodwill & Understanding. Registration to the programme is open to all Soroptimist members, who are interested in opening their homes and their hearts to Soroptimists from around the world; offering accommodation and/or services as guides (in cases where Soroptimist may not have any spare room in their houses) to visiting Soroptimists. There is even an active youth exchange programme, where you can offer hospitality to the young relatives of other Soroptimists.
Perhaps you intend to travel and would like to meet up with some local Soroptimists? The Open Heart-Open Door programme can put you in touch with Soroptimists from around the world who have already offered their hospitality. Often, exchange opportunities are advertised in the published Soroptimist magazines that are sent to members periodically.
To register for the programme, please download the Open Heart Open Door Application Form.
Chatline
In order to join the Soroptimist chatline, which is really a closed e-mail system, members should write to Kate Moore, who is the ‘keeper of the list.
E-mail Kate at: kate@kate-george.co.uk
With the following information:
- Name
- Club
- Region (or National Association)
- Federation
Its as simple as that! By providing these details, Kate will know immediately that you are a Soroptimist, and can forward you information directly. She will then send you further information as well as a history of the Chatline and can add you to the growing mailing list. In a very short space of time you will be in touch with a growing online community of Soroptimists from around the globe.
