FUN EVENING IN AID OF BOURNEMOUTH WOMENS REFUGE
SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF BOURNEMOUTH
FUN FUND-RAISER
AT
THE CUMBERLAND HOTEL
EASTCLIFF BOURNEMOUTH BH1 3AG
AN INTERESTING EVENING
With supper and ENTERTAINMENT
Featuring
“Tart ’n Trouble” and
Willard Ford as “Elvis
on Friday March 19th 2010 at 7pm
tickets £29.50 to include a drink on arrival
IN AID OF BOURNEMOUTH WOMENS REFUGE
for tickets contact 01202 759921 or 01202 390986
Drink Spiking Campaign & Federation Award -2005
In 2005 our Club was given a Federation Programme Action Award for its Drink Spiking Campaign.For several years a small group of members had been working with students from the Arts Institute and Bournemouth University, Dorset Police and other agencies to raise awareness about the issue. One of our members had a daughter who was away at university at the time and had heard how she assisted a flatmate who experienced drug assisted rape.Students from the Arts Institute produced a short DVD, posters and other publicity material to educate new students on the dangers of drink spiking. Nursing students also became involved and produced their own t-shirts,and information packs.
The Package produced was used by the local drug advisory service when working in schools.
At the 2005 Conference in Nottingham,the packs were sold to other Clubs and went as far afield as Kenya and South Africa.
Although our work on the Campaign has come to an end,the method of collaboration with other organisations, and tenacity of our members in persuing the subject gained the recognition it deserved.
Our advice-given in the local press at the time was-
“Keep you drink safe.If its a bottle,keep your thumb on the top and if a venue sells special caps for bottles,buy one”
Taki Concordia Conducting Fellowship 2006/2008
The Taki Concordia Conducting Fellowship was set up by Marin Alsop,the former Principal Conductor with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra,in 2002 in order to help aspiring young female conductors.
In May 2006, we provided both financial support and hospitality to enable that year’s Fellow, Jeri Lynne Johnson, to spend a week working with Marin and the BSO here in southern England. This was in addition to a week in Colorado. It proved to be a great success.
In November 2006, we were delighted and privileged to have Marin conduct the specially formed Soroptimist International Youth Orchestra at a fundraising concert at Wimborne Minster. This was a wonderful opportunity for young musicians from the south-west of England to play under the baton of one of the world’s leading conductors (who happens to be a woman!) and the concert raised enough funds to support TCCF UK for several years to come.
Kelly Corcoran, the 2008 winner, came to Bournemouth in January that year. Her visit included a special luncheon at Poole Centre for the Arts attended by Soroptimists and Friends of BSO, at which Marin and Kelly were guests. The luncheon was followed by a Master Class and later that week, Kelly conducted the BSO in the Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg by Richard Wagner at a public performance in Portsmouth.
Marin Alsop has now moved on to become Music Director of one of America’s major orchestras, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.
Over the period of our support a total of £4,370 was raised to assist TCCF and we are very proud to have worked with one of the world’s leading conductors to achieve this.
Marin Alsop remains an Honorary Member of our Club and is also Emeritus Conductor with the BSO.
Past Presidents
PAST PRESIDENTS OF OUR CLUB
2009/10 Lynne Lacey
2008/09 Debbie A Rogers
2007/08 Debbie A.Rogers
2006/07 Caroline Smith
2005/06 Elizabeth Sylvester (Liz)
2004/05 Monica Collins
2003/04 Sylvia Fox
2002/03 Deirdre Castle
2001/02 Val Jolliffe
2000/01 Doreen Watson
1999/00 Margaret Norwood
1998/09 Jean Harvey
1997/98 Nadia Geller
1996/97 Kathy Berkin
1995/96 Jenny Carter
1994/95 Susan Jones
1993/94 Sylvia Fox
1992/93 Janice Gosby
1991/92 Pam Orchard
1990/91 Clare Austin-Smith
1989/90 Pam Baker (Smith)
1988/89 Ann Down
1987/88 Felicity Moreton
1986/87 Gillian Walker
1985/86 Jill C.Talbot
1984/85 Dorothy M.Newsome
1983/84 Alice Wright
1982/83 Lillian Jones
1981/82 Karen Beales
1980/81 Joy W.Bevans
1979/80 Jean M.Harvey
1978/79 Ann Field
1976/78 Norma M.Kellond
1975/76 Margaret Marlow
1974/75 Menai B.Redfern
1973/74 Ena M.Irwin
1972/73 Stephanie (Bunty)M.Fisher
1971/72 Ann Raikes
1970/71 Rae Watts
1969/70 Norah A.E.Hibbert
1968/69 Joan de Pledge
1967/68 Georgie Merrick
1966/67 Marion.J.Warren (Roberts)
1965/66 Molly Harding
1964/65 Dorothy Rogers
1963/64 Margaret (Peggy).J.Smart
1962/63 Alex L.Macpherson
1961/62 Gerda L.Selo
1960/61 L.Phillips
1959/60 Winifred M.Bray
1958/59 J.A.(Nan) Perks
1957/58 Clare M.Timbury
1956/57 Sadie Pollard
1955/56 Olive Higham
1954/55 Dorothy Loveless
1953/54 Grace Haskett-Smith
1952/53 M.G.Key (Gwynneth)
1951/52 Doris G.Bushnell
1950/51 Winifred J.A.Brooks
1949/50 Doris Mudge
1948/49 E.Beauchamp
1947/48 K.L.Wright
1947 Elise Meyer
1946 N.M.Rainsbury
1945/46 B.Hyla-Greves
1944/45 E.Hoare
1943/44 M.Maughan
1942/43 Gwendolen M.Saye
1941/42 Myfanwy C.Jones
1940/41 M.Olive Ramsay
1938/40 Muriel Lefroy
Highlights From The Past
This is the parent page for some of our past achievements -a work in progress
Bournemouth Soroptimist Housing Association 1963 - 1997
In 1964 members of Soroptimist International (S.I.) of Bournemouth purchased 54,Charminster Avenue, Bournemouth. The property had been owned by a former President of the Club, Miss Gwendolen Saye, who had run it until her death as a home for women of limited means. In her will, she had expressed the wish that this use of her property continue. Her beneficiary felt unable to carry out this request and members of S.I. Bournemouth stepped in, since the development of such a project was in accordance with their aims to advance the status of women.
They saw a great need, in the days before Housing Associations existed, to provide simple accommodation for women who had retired from jobs serving others, on very limited salaries and were therefore unable to purchase their own homes or afford a commercial rent.
S.I. Bournemouth had received a small legacy of £300 worth of Premium Bonds and used this to make a deposit against the cost of the property, which was £3,000. Members raised a mortgage to cover the outstanding amount. A new Housing Committtee was formed, chaired by Dr Alex Macpherson, who was headmistress of Talbot Heath Girls’ School. This committee selected tenants,collected the rents,and generally ran the property.
A single room had an average rent of 10s (50p) per week and the residents, all elderly, had to share bathroom facilities. In the early days, much do it yourself work was carried out by members of S.I. Bournemouth but eventually additional rooms were built on, rewiring carried out and central heating, double glazing and a washing machine installed.
By the 1990s, purpose built, better quality rented accommodation was becoming available to single women and as a result, Number 54 became less attractive. It had served its purpose and it was time to look for a better way of using the property.
In 1998, No 54 was handed over to the Bournemouth Churches Housing Association who are still able to use it to assist women in need of temporary accommodation.
The house retains its name “Soroptimist House” in recognition of the work of that organisation.
Friendship Links
We have several Friendship Links to Clubs in other parts of the world.These are-
- Lurgan, Northern Ireland
- Penrith, Cumbria www.soroptimist-gbi.org/clubs/penrith
- Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Waikiki,Hawaii
- Caen ,France
- Menton,France.
We enjoy meeting members from these Clubs from time to time,especially at our own SIGBI Conferences,or the Quadrennial SI Conferences around the world.Here we see a Penrith member on a visit helping at a Cementing Futures Fundraiser-guessing the weight of a pineapple.
Our Projects:Programme Action
1.Violence Against Women
We support the local Women’s refuge, providing a variety of goods,such as toiletries to help women and children through the difficult early stages of their new life.We have also held several fund raising events in the past to support this life transforming project.We also provide Christmas Presents to all the women who have to spend this season in the Refuge.
We also remain interested in the issue of the Trafficking of Women,and are looking at the Map of Gaps via our Lobbying Group
2.Lobbying Group
This group is a new one and has been formed to follow up work in support of the issues brought to our attention by the United Kingdom Programme Action Committee( UKPAC). We hope to be able to find a way to disseminate issues to club members and enable them to lobby MPs, MEPs and Government Ministers as well as Local Authorities to achieve our organisations long term aims.We are looking at the Map of Gaps, www.mapofgaps.org , dealing with the issue of the provision of Women’s Support Services,and supporting the UNICEF Campaign for improving sanitary arrangements in the developing world.
3.Project SIerra
Our big Quadrennial Project-please see the main SIGBI website for full details.In the past one of our members has arranged walks in aid of this project.The walks are local and not too far a distance,usually involve a tea or pub stop-sometimes both.If you would like to join one of the walks,please get in touch.
4.Licking Lassa Fever
Helping people in Sierrra Leone to reduce the incidence of Lassa Fever.We collect old,broken and unwanted jewellery of any description and pass it to another SI Club who are in partnership with other organisations to deal with this distressing disease.The jewelery is sorted by experts who are able to repair and sell on the items.If you have anything to donate please get in touch by email and we will arrange collection.Mosquito nets,food containers and education in hygiene will really have an impact on reducing the incidence of this fatal disease which continues to afflict people in the developing world.
5.Contact the Elderly
Several of our members act as hosts or drivers for this scheme. Two or three elderly people are given a drive out to the tea venue on a Sunday afternoon.They always enjoy listening to the stories of their guests who clearly love conversation and the chance to socialise in a different environment. Fun and laughter are the outcomes every time. Contact the Elderly’s website is www.contact-the elderly.org.uk
6.Dhaka Support
One of our Friendship Link Clubs runs several projects to help children enter mainstream education.The children are those who live on the street.We send regular donations to assist them.
With the HIV Aids being a concern,SI Dhaka used some of our donations to produce a DVD to be shown to groups in their society deemed to be at high risk of contracting the virus
Get in Touch With Us
If you would like to get in touch either to enquire about membership or any other aspect of our work please email sigbibournemouth@hotmail.co.uk
Our Special Project-Cementing Futures
Cementing Futures
In 2008 our then President Debbie Rogers,assisted by Soroptimists and others set up a new charity to help build a new school in Dhaka,Bangladesh.Our club has been supporting educational and other projects through our Friendship Link Club,SI Dhaka.
More details about the charity can be found by visiting www.cementingfutures.org
The Educational System in Dhaka
The National Policy:
Free education for all, but
- lack of proper monitoring hinders the quality of education
- no compulsion for children to attend.
- huge drop out rate and high levels of illiteracy in Bangladesh.
The main problems for children accessing state education
- Lack of money to be able to afford school books and uniforms
- Distance to nearest school is too great and again lack of money is an issue
- Parents do not encourage children to attend school as they either need the children to babysit the younger children or they send the children out to earn extra money to help support the families.
Nijera Shikhi (Non-Governmental Organisation)
Overcome these obstacles by
- providing educational facilities near to the slum areas
- providing textbooks, uniforms and ‘tiffen’ (a nutritional snack) for each child
- schooling is only carried out for half a day
- parents are encouraged to send children to school as vocational skills are also taught alongside literacy, numeracy and social and health education classes
- classes for the parents on health and hygiene, family planning and parenting skills
The main problem for the NGO’s is that all the ‘schooling’ is given in rented properties. They have no continuity to the site of their schools and only have access to the buildings as dictated by the landlords.
Because the buildings are often used for other purposes, there are no storage facilities and the premises are often run down and in a dilapidated condition.
A purpose-built school would be a real help to stabilising the support that can be given to a community and it is envisaged that the school building could also be used to provide medical services, adult education and also serve as a hurricane shelter in severe weather conditions.
Events We Have Enjoyed!
Here we are at our Christmas “Meeting”.I think we were trying to be Reindeer!
What A Bertie!
Club Diary 2009/10
PROGRAMME FOR 2009-2010
DECEMBER
21st December:Our Christmas Party.Urgent Club Business and reports,followed by our Christmas Dinner and some entertainment.Always a good evening.Guests welcome.Please be there by 6.45 so that we can be sitting down to eat at 7.15pm.
2010
JANUARY
9TH JANUARY:DHAKA GROUP BRUNCH 1000-1200 AT SARAH’S.TICKETS £5
18th January:Business,reports from the Region and PAC meetings.Also a speaker or My Job Talk.
FEBRUARY
15th February:Club Business,PAC Reports and plans for 2010/11.We also have a visit from Rosemary Bynam who will speak about Project Sierra .
MARCH
6th March:72nd Annual Lunch at the Cumberland Hotel.
15th March :Reports from Region,Speaker or My Job Talk.
FRIDAY 19TH MARCH:FUN FUND-RAISER AT THE CUMBERLAND HOTEL.SUPPER AND ENTERTAINMENT TICKETS £29.50 .7PM START.THIS IS IN AID OF BOURNEMOUTH WOMEN’S REFUGE.COME AND SEE A REAL LIVE ELVIS IMPERSONATOR!TICKETS FROM YVONNE OR DEIRDRE.OR EMAIL US.
APRIL
11th April:A Walk in Aid of Project Sierra.Details to follow
17th April:A Friendship Lunch -75 for 75.We aim to raise £75 for Water Aid to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of our Federation.Venue-Branksome Dene Community Room,by the sea. Tickets from Sylvia Fox are £8 and guests are welcolme
26th April:AGM with Change of Insignia,and Dinner
MAY
17th May:First Meeting of New President
About our Club
Our Club meetings are held at the Belvedere Hotel, Bath Road, Bournemouth on the third Monday of each month.
The evening usually starts with a meal and a chance for members to socialise and unwind from their day.Some members meet in the bar beforehand for a drink. We try to make sure we sit with different people each month. There is a lot of laughter and fun,and a real “Buzzy”atmosphere.Visitors from other Clubs,and from the Community often join us. Last Year we had a visiting German Soroptimist ,Grit Gotz-Skork, who was in Bournemouth for several months on a Language Course. Once everyone is suitably refreshed, we continue with the business meeting-which we aim to streamline There may also be a speaker.Meetings are where we not only enjoy a get together,but also hear what else is going on in the world of Soroptimism.Invites to other Club events,Regional Meetings and arrangements for our Annual Conference are dealt with,but we also use email for communication and much day to day business.This helps keep admin to a minimum.
Like all Clubs we have developed traditions over the years,but are always listening to our members and involving them in making joining us a positive and warm experience.
Guests are welcome to attend most meetings, but we would need to know in advance in order that we can confirm numbers for the meals.
If interested in coming along, just to see if you like us,or out of sheer curiosity,please contact us via our e-mail address sigbibournemouth@hotmail.co.uk
In July we often meet at a different location….just for a change….
Some Friendship Link Visitors March 2008
President Lynne Lacey’s Page
President Lynne
I would like to welcome you to the web pages of Soroptimist International (SI) Bournemouth.
We are a lively, friendly and active group of women who use our various skills and talents to make a difference to the lives of others.
Our club is well-established and very active and we are looking forward to an exciting year working on the many projects that our club support.
We achieve our goals by enjoying what we do, working effectively and encouraging and enabling others less able to help themselves.
We are committed to service to local, national and international communities.
For more information on SI Bournemouth browse through our web-pages and find out more about the projects we are supporting. If you are interested in what we do, we would love to hear from you.
We welcome new members so if you are interested in making a difference to people’s lives whilst having fun and making new friends, do come along to one of our meetings to find out more
Get in touch; you can be sure of a warm welcome.
Club Officers
OFFICERS FOR 2009/10
PRESIDENT: Lynne Lacey
PRESIDENT ELECT:Yvonne Fairchild
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT:Debbie Rogers
SECRETARY:Deirdre Castle
TREASURER:Barbara Chapman
PROGRAMME ACTION OFFICER:Liz Sylvester