SI Crosby member Marjorie Lawley has clocked up 50 years as a Soroptimist. Her fellow club members held a party to celebrate her achievement in style with flowers, gifts, cake, a commemorative certificate - and plenty of pink fizz.

A retired Chartered Physiotherapist, Marjorie is the longest-serving member of SI Crosby. Still actively participating in meetings and projects, she also delights in getting to know the newer members and helping them settle into club life.

President Pat Williams said “Marjorie was Club President in 1967-8. Her anecdotes about club’s activities over the years are fascinating, and they often throw light on the ways in which Soroptimism has developed. What is unchanged, however, is our organisation’s commitment to work on behalf of women worldwide - and Marjorie’s loyalty to this principle of service remains as strong as ever. We value her wisdom and friendship, and we congratulate her on her Soroptimist golden jubilee.”

President Meg Edwards and SI Port Talbot Club Members were joined by the Mayor and Mayoress, Malcolm and Mary Gunter, on Sunday August 10th to ‘launch’ outside the Port Talbot Civic Centre a flowerbed designed in celebration of the Club’s 60th Anniversary. It was a very wet and windy morning but fortunately a brief break in the weather meant …. umbrellas away, all smile and say cheese for the photographers.

Former paralympic swimmer Ros Hardiman and member of SI Gosport and Fareham is due to tackle the English Channel. After 2 previous crossings as part of a relay team, she is now taking on the challenge solo. Her training programme has included a number of long-distance swims, such as down the length of Lake Windemere

She was originally given a potential date for her attempt of Thursday, 21 August, but the weather conditions and the ‘queue’ of swimmers ahead of her meant that her slot has been put back. She is still waiting to hear when her turn will come, news which she and her Club members await daily!

It is hoped that a (small) crowd of Soroptimists, from Gosport & Fareham and SI Folkestone, will be able to wave her off, whenever the attempt turns out to be.  Ros is pictured here sporting her team wheels from the Sydney 2000 games.

Project SIerra is a partnership between Soroptimist International and Hope and Homes for Children in Sierra Leone which aims to raise over £1 million to transform the lives of some of the most deprived women and children in the world www.projectsierra.org

Join us on Saturday 27th September. We will meet at 11.45 at the Soroptimist Residential Club, 63 Bayswater Road, and then head to Hyde Park (entrance opposite). Nearest tube is Lancaster Gate.

UN World Environment Day (WED), commemorated each year on June 5th, is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action. Each year, a different country hosts the international celebration.

The theme for 2008 is “Moving Toward a Low Carbon Economy and a Balanced Earth”.

A UN date to mark the need to improve literacy across the world. ‘Educate a woman and you educate a family’. Access to education and specifically, literacy and numeracy skills, is a key factor in improving life for women and girls throughout the world.  For further details see APD for Education

The 2008 Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland Conference will be held at the Sherbourne Centre, Barbados from 30 October 2008 to 1 November 2008.

Human Rights Day is celebrated annually across the world on 10 December. Soroptimist International commemorate this by launching an International President’s Appeal on this day each year.

This year the appeal is in support of Hamlin Fistula Relief and Aid in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which aims to restore dignity to women with fistulas who cannot be completely cured and need ongoing medical care.