It is hard to believe that it is a year since I produced the last news letter. Though we try to keep everyone informed of the news through our care groups, it is quite good to have a resume in print and/or on our website, so I will try to keep it up to date. So let me recap some of our activities and news.

Club members were greatly saddened by the sudden death of Mrs Jean Campbell in May. Jean was a long standing active member of the club and had served as President and on most of the committies. She had a great interest in Programme Action and made a positive contribution. She always enjoyed going to the Conferences and was great fun to be with.

Our move to the Royal Yacht Club, Gourock, in February has proved to be a great success. Lots of members come to share a meal and relax in a friendly, comfortable setting prior to the meeting.  It is also good for communications.

Our first meeting was our Friendship Evening on 26th August when we enjoyed a beautiful buffet supper and caught up with all the summer news of holiday, weddings and friends.

16th September, we had an excelent speakers from Scottish Love in Action -  Caring for children in India

7th October, we again had a very good evening with a presentation from Dr Gupta and Mr Chundoo of their work setting up Eye clinics around the world.

22nd October, this was a real treat when Pushpa Gupta opened her home to us. She and her friends prepared and served us a wonderful curry meal. 

It was a lovely occassion and a great gathering of friends, some new and some long standing. Over £400 was raised for Scottish Love in Action.

Sandra Blair and Margery Baird went to the Federation Conference in Barbados which they enjoyed. They reported back on the speakers an of the friendliness of the people both at the conference and during their holiday time. 

4th November, as our speaker Mrs Beth McLeod was unwell and unable to come we were very greatful to …………. who spoke to us about her training and experience in Complimentary Therapies. She also gave a demonstration of Indian Head massage. We all volunteered and Margaret was the lucky one. Having had a very stressful day at school we could see her relax as she enjoyed the massage. We hope to have Beth McLeod back on another occasion to talk about Sierra Leone.

18th November, we were pleased to welcome back Miss Carrie Gibson to see and hear how she had “Conquered Everest” We had had to Carrie speak prior to her Everest climb and been happy to recommend her to the 3S Trust. We were thrilled when she showed us her slides and told us of her achievement - the first girl to do so!   

In November we  had the pleasure of recognising Dr Euphemia (Fay) Rogers’s contribution to Soroptimist International and to our club in particular by awarding her Honorary membership. Fay is our longest serving member having served SI Greenock and District as a dedicated member for 50 years. She has made an enormous contribution to Soroptimism, medicine and the local community. Fay served twice as Club President, once as Regional President, becoming involved in environmental issues, Save the Children, the League of Friends and has travelled extensively. Fay continues to make a great contribution to local, national and International issues. She is a great lady and we hope to have the benefit of her wisdom and friendship for years to come.

 27th November was another happy social occasion. We celebrated St Andrew’s day with a lovely lunch at the Ambition Restaurant, James Watt College and they did us proud.

16th December was an interesting evening when Ms Laura Alexander told us of her work with Visit Scotland. She entitled her talk “Sleeping around Scotland” so we had a few good laughs with her as she showed us her slides of the  good, the bad and the ugly. We now know where and where not to go for B+B.

20th January 2009 was our Burns evening and we had a lovely time. The meal was most enjoyable as was the entertainment. Mrs Margaret Kane gave an excellent Immortal memory and Gordon McKenzie thrilled us with his singing and guitar playing.

3rd February was another interesting meeting when Mrs Sue Pinder, Principal, James Watt College, told us of her roll as it had developed in this first year in post and her plans for the college in the years to come. We hope to continue our links with them and perhaps enlist Sue as a Soroptimist.

3rd March we look forward to a happy evening recycling books, excess Christmas gifts and unwanted treasures. Unsold items will be given to the women’s refuge or the homestart unit.

Unfortunately I am having difficulty adding in the photos at present so thought I would just give you the words and maybe the rest will folow in the next update.

1st September - Business meeting

15th September - Children’s Hearing System speaker Mr Kenneth Ritchie, MA LLB Dip.LP CFM

6th October - Executive and Business meeting

20th October Theatrical Costume Design  Speaker Ms “Ming” Menzies

29th October - 31st October Federation Conference Cardiff

3rd November - Executive and Business Meeting / Federation Conference Report

17th November Inverkip School / Malawi School Speaker Mrs Anna McIndoe 

1st December Elephants on the Roof (Ethiopia) Speaker Mrs Ann Macleod

15th December Christmas Social and Buffet

5th January 2010 Executive and Business Meeting

19th January Burns Evening - Lorna and Alan

2nd February My Experiences in Chile Speaker Miss Heather Fisher (3S Trust recipient)

16th February Executive and Business Meeting

3rd March  Recycling evening

16th March Domestic Abuse Unit - Strathclyde Police, Renfrew

6th April The Golden Casket Speaker Ms Mary Davidson

20th April AGM and Buffet Supper

5th May History of Warburtons Speaker Mrs Gayle Allister

18th May Scottish Women’s Hospital Trust Speaker Mr Ian McFarlane

1st June Executive and Business Meeting

15th June Social Evening with Buffet.