Soroptimist International Bath and District

This is the time of year when we can relax and enjoy ourselves without thinking about the work that we do throughout the year. Lovely meal and great company.

On a very hot day we managed to make up a stall highlighting our club activities and also raising money for Mummy’s Star with a chocolate tombola and book sale. Perhaps it wasn’t the best choice for a scorching day but it brought people to the stall who were happy to take the choclate away!

A good meal was enjoyed by members and partners when we met up with Alex and Anne from the SI Goulburn club in Australia. Some of us had already met Anne at the Dublin convention so it was nice to catch up again and hear about the UK tour that they have been enjoying over the past 2 months.

The weather held out for members of the club to hold a tea party at one of our member’s house to raise funds for the charity Across (Jumbalance) and  HCPT (Hosanna House Children’s Pilgrimage Trust) which provides trips for disadavantaged adults and children to go to Lourdes each year.

Helen provided scrumptious cakes and scones which were eagerly devoured and £130 was raised.

A whole host of nations came together to attend the 2023 S.I. convention in Dublin over 3 days. We had inspiring speakers such as Former Irish Prime Minister Mary Robinson, the former President of the Republic of China Mr Ma Ying-Jeo, various representatives who have worked with the UN in the past and the present to name just a few. All very interesting and thought provoking.

At our regional meeting in Taunton, a beautiful handmade quilt was raffled off to raise money for our charity for this year called Mummy’s Star. Our club President Di was very happy to hand over the quilt to S.I. Jersey’s President Jean-Marie who had the winning ticket.

Six members from the club helped out at the annual Walk of Life providing water and snacks for participants walking either 26 or 10 miles. It was a lovely sunny day and most walkers were feeling very buoyant at the 10 mile mark at Semington. Other members were there to greet and cheer the walkers right at the end. Hoepfully a great deal of money was raised.

Lynne who has been supported by Mummy’s Star in the past few years, gave us an insight to the all important work that the charity does. The charity supports women who are diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy and up to a year afterwards. Very little is known about this national charity but Lynne gave us information on how she was supported during her treatment for cancer during her pregnancy and therafter. She said she could not have coped without the caring support and vital information that she received after such a traumatic experience of receiving chemotherapy whilst trying to look after her family. The talk highlighted the importance of more information being channelled to the right departments within hospitals and the wider community to make a real difference.

As always the Presdiency changed at our AGM and Di has taken over from Jenny. Jenny was presented with a gift and thanked for the 2 years that she did espeically during covid. Di’s charity for the year will be Mummy’s Star, a charity that helps women during pregnancy and 3 months after who discover that they have cancer. We look forward to hearing from a representative at our next meeting.

To help highlight World Book Day, books were donated to a local charity Julian House who help people struggling with life in general such as homelessness and domestic abuse.