About our Club
Ballymoney and District Club was chartered on the 13th June 1964 with a membership of 20. The Coleraine Club acted as sponsor and the first President was the late Dr Sadie Gault. In the early days meetings were held in member’s homes but as the club grew alternative venues had to be found. Currently the Club meets in the Tweed Room, Robinson Hospital, Newal Road, Ballymoney.
As the Club has grown and developed so has its activites. In the early days tea and chat was as important as the work of the Club and in that regard little has changed. However the main charity event has devloped form a wine and cheese party in the Manor Hotel, courtesy of the late Maureen Laverty, to the more ambitious and now annual fork supper in the St. Patrick’s Parish Centre. The only sad thing about the progress is that there is now less involvement of SoroptoMISTERS - perhaps the wine was the attraction for the other halves in the past!
The work of the founder and early members in getting the Club to grow and prosper is inspiring. Houses and gardens were opened for tea parties and the enthusiasim for Soroptimism was spread. The Club is now a very healthy size - as of July 2008 we have 45 members, with 26 in the ‘active’ category, 18 ‘retirered’ (and probably as busy if not busier than the active memebers) and one honorary and our sole remaining founder member. In a club of this size it is still easy to get to know everyone. Getting to know other memebers and getting involoved is key to getting the most from the Club and from Soroptimism.
The Club has produced 3 Regional Presidents (formerly Divisional Unioun Presidents) over the years, the late Etta McClure in 1976, Margaret Charters in 1983 and Dr Pamela Young in 1994. As well as the presidential role Etta was Regional Extention Officer for a time and Pamella was vice-chair of the organising committee for the Belfast Federation Confernece. Margaret compiled a short history of the clubs of Ireland as part of the celebration of the golden jubilee of SIGBI.
We have a history that we are proud of and, as a Club, we have a future which knows no bounds. We have a wealth of talent and enthusiasim for life, for friendship and for Soroptimism. At present the Club is undertaking a process of review and renew - essentially we want to hold on to all the good things about the Club but at the same time develop new and fresh ideas for how we can take the Club forward, continue with meaningful work and retain our membership and attendance levels.