Soroptimist International Bath and District

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

3 members from our club attended the Annual Soroptimist Conference in Liverpool for 2 days.  We had interesting speakers including Emily Rose Yates, Sally Kettle, Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Dr Helen Pankhurst to name but a few.

We met up with our Friendship Club from High Wycombe and District and we were there to support the volunteers who are going to lead our Region, South West and Channel Islands for 2018/19.

President Helen handed over the reins to President Diane at the last supper meeting. Helen has been the President for the last 18 months . Waiting in the wings is our President Elect Jenny James who will take over  in April.

We held a Neal’s Yard party at a member’s house and managed to raise £365 for the RUH charity appeals. The folowing day we were able to present Lauren Noble, the Community Fundraiser at the hospital with the cheque after Lauren gave a very interesting talk at our supper meeting.

This charity was set up  by Jane Walker, MBE to help build businesses for women in the Philippines .  We collect ring pulls from cans and they are sent to the women who turn them into beautiful items which helps pay for their children to be fed and educated.

There were only a few decorations left when this photo was taken as they were so popular.

SI St Austell shared one of their successful projects with the rest of the regional clubs at today’s meeting showcasing the use of soft loans to women worldwide with huge success stories.  They were wearing T shirts saying ‘Deeds not Words’ on the front and on the back ‘Women and Empower’.

It was a pleasure for President Elect Diane to induct 2 new members into the club at our recent super meeting. We’re sure that they will make wonderful members and really embrace what Sorotpimism is all about.  They have already been very involved with the club and we look forward to working towards a better world for girls, women and families.

Ruth Buckley gave a fascinating talk about her life, career and humanitarian work all over the world which was truly inspiring.  The inspirational talk was heard at our supper meeting with a power point presentation to support all the nursing work  in particular, that she has done throughout her career and through voluntary organisations.

Life is certainly for living, and helping unfortunate babies, children and families has been her passion for many decades.  Ruth hopes to continue her humanitarian work in the future and maybe revisit some of the projects.