Annual Function
A rare view of the sterling work done by our club PR guru, Kay Mainwaring, getting the shot of the VIPs for our album! In the frame from the left are David Hanns, the Mayoress Mrs Enid Crouch, Regional President Carole Atkinson, guest speaker Rosemarie Norman, President Pat, the Mayor of Fareham Councillor Ernest Crouch, President Elect Pam Grosvenor and Allan Norman from Hampshire Air Ambulance.
Almost 90 people attended the annual dinner of SI Gosport and Fareham at HMS Collingwood wardroom on Saturday 30th August 2008.
Members were told about the work of the Hampshire Air Ambulance, a local charity that will benefit from funds raised during the year of office of President Pat Hanns.
Guest speaker Rosemarie Norman, project support officer, said the organisation needed the support of groups such as Soroptimist International to enable them to carry out their work at a cost of £2,000 per day. They also needed to raise a lot of money to buy a second helicopter as their current machine would soon no longer conform to new European Union laws.
“It’s an expensive operation to run but how much money do you put on someone’s life?” she asked.
President Pat said the Air Ambulance was an especially worthwhile cause because of traffic congestion on our roads.
Carole Atkinson, regional president of SI Southern England, told guests of changes being carried out in the international women’s organisation to bring in improvements suitable for the 21st century. She praised the Gosport and Fareham club for its 34 years of fundraising and raising awareness.
Club President Elect Pam Grosvenor welcomed Soroptimists from clubs in Southampton, Bournemouth, Chichester, Poole, Woking, Winchester, Elmbridge, Kingston and Plymouth.
“Thanks to all those, plus friends, who support our work throughout the year,” she said.
Other speakers were Councillor Ernest Crouch, mayor of Fareham, who pointed out that the first mayor of the borough had been a woman, and Mr Roger Esnault of Fareham Rotary Club who thanked the Soroptimists for all the work they did for the community.