President’s message
50 years ago a Birmingham stockbroker named Nellie Neale invited a group of professional and business women in Stratford to attend a meeting. As a result of that meeting our club was born. We were chartered as Soroptimist International of Stratford upon Avon and District in 1959 and Nellie Neale presented the club with a chain of office to be worn by the Club President.
Many things have changed over the last 50 years, countries have gained their independence and names have changed but Soroptimists have remained committed to supporting women and children worldwide. This support can take many forms such as setting up a co-operative in a village in Thailand where women and girls can make trade goods to sell as an alternative to being sold into prostitution, and helping set up a school in India. We have even funded a midwife on a bike in Africa! Our club also supports many organisations in Stratford upon Avon including the Women’s Refuge and the Shakespeare Hospice. We raise money by holding fundraising events. These are lively, friendly and always include food. We have fun but we are extremely serious in our commitment to our chosen projects.
We currently have 37 members who between them represent a wide range of businesses, professions and voluntary organisations. We usually meet at 7.30pm on the first Thursday of every month in St Andrew’s Parish Centre, Church Lane, Shottery. Our programme varies but more often than not we have a speaker on a topic of interest followed by coffee and a business meeting.
Our President holds office for one year and during that year she nominates, in consultation with the members, the charity or charities which will be the main focus of our fundraising events. We also support the Soroptimist International Quadrennial Project which is voted for and supported by Soroptimists throughout the world.
If you would like to find out more about us we would be delighted to welcome you at one of our meetings.