Welcome to Soroptimist International of Harrogate and District Home Page. 

 Soroptimist International,  a worldwide organisation for women in management and the professions, is a global voice for women through Awareness, Advocacy and Actions. Its objects shall be to strive for:  

• advancement of the status of women;

• high ethical standards;

• human rights for all:

• equality, development and peace.

The club is actively involved in local and international projects.  The club is committed to provide friendship and fun in achieving our objectives.

President Heather Shipman welcomes you to the Club website where you can find out more about what we do and how you can join us.  

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Snow White and the Seven Soroptimist's Panto raises over £800 for Young Carers
	Club members rendition of their version of Snow White and the seven dwarfs played to loud acclaim and a full house at Scotton Village Hall in January. The residents at Thistle Hill Care Centre also enjoyed their own performance. President Claire presented a cheque for £850 to Ann Welles from the Carer's Resource in Harrogate at the Club business meeting on the 4th April. Ann said that this money will ensure that the young carers get to go on their favourite trip - to Alton Towers.
President Claire presents cheque to Ann Welles
President Claire with Ann and the Cast from the pantomime	The cast and crew of the Pantomime at Thistle Hill Care Centre, January 2012

Club plants copse to mark the Queens Jubilee

A copse of Oak, alder, wild cherry, ash and hawthorn trees has been planted next to Rossett Nature Reserve in Harrogate. The Copse marks the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Canon Tony Shepherd of St Peter's Church blessed the Coppice. Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, Andrew Jones joined the planting party, with a total of 25 trees planted. Andrew said, 'It has been a joint effort with Harrogate Council provided the trees through Harrogate Rotary Club. The local Soroptimists paid for them but we can all admire them'. Club member Jenny Hall, the driving force behind the ideas said, 'We only got permission from the council this week to plan the copse so I'm really  grateful to everyone for pulling out all the stops to get everything ready. Once the trees are established we will plant a carpet of English bluebells.

Val Hills, Rev Tony Shepperd, Pat Shore,Jenny Hall, Rt Hon Andrew Jones MP and John Shore toast the Queen.

International Women's Day

Challenges to Human Rights and Today's World

Baroness Caroline Cox

“Soroptimist International of Harrogate and District is delighted that Baroness Caroline Cox gave the keynote address at our event in celebration of International Women’s Day, 2012. Every year the Baroness spends 6 months in different parts of the world offering aid and advocacy on humanitarian relief projects, often behind enemy lines.  She is a ‘voice for the voiceless’ and  her authority is underpinned by the fact that she has “been there” as an eyewitness. She gave us an insight into her work and her charity HART and the work she does across some of the most hard to reach places in the world.  She spoke  about challenges to human rights in today’s world  and her concerns about Sharia Courts that contravene the  equality legislation is the UK. Her mantra is - I cannot do everything but I must not do nothing. 

 

 

What a year!  Soroptimist International of Harrogate achieve recognition locally, nationally and internationally
Soroptimist International of Harrogate and District is delighted to have been awarded a grant by Harrogate District Community Safety Partnership to print posters based on the ‘Loves me Loves me not’ bookmarks. The bookmarks alert children, young people and women to their right to be free from abuse and give contact details for organisations that provide support for people who find themselves in abusive relationships. The bookmarks continue to be widely distributed throughout Yorkshire and the posters will be finding their way into children and young people’s services throughout the Harrogate district as well as locations visited by the general public.     Harrogate Soroptimists have been supporting victims of domestic abuse throughout 2011 by donating kitchen equipment to IDAS (Independent Domestic Abuse Service) to give to women leaving the refuges to set up their own homes. They have also given gift vouchers this December to help make Christmas a little more affordable for women and children using IDAS.
Soroptimist International of Harrogate and District are celebrating three awards in recognition of their work at local, regional and international level. In September club member Jenni Hall was presented with the Christine Dean Trophy by Harrogate in Bloom for working with schools to build ‘Bug hotels’ to widen children’s understanding of the environment. The Club was also recognised as Northern region winners of the Marsh Christian Trust award for their dedication to ‘Contact the Elderly’ with Club coordinator Elsie Johnson receiving the award in London. At the Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland’s annual conference in Brighton, the Club received the Best Practice award for health for the work the Club is doing to prevent the spread of malaria in the Gambia. Club member Pauline Link, who leads the project, received the award on the Clubs behalf. President Claire Bostel said, ‘I am delighted that the hard work of the Club members has been recognised. These achievements are due to the passion and commitment of our members who really are inspiring action and transforming lives.	Jenni Hall with Club members holding the Christine Dean Trophy presented by Harrogate in Bloom.

SI Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI) receive Best Practice Award for Health at the Conference in Brighton 2011

 

 

International President's Charity Silent Auction and Friendship Evening 30th November
President Claire lights a candle for Soroptimist International	Janet Haywood lights a candle for one of our friendship links
Patricia Chapman lights a candle for Hirikata Chuo	The Club celebrated International President's December 10 Appeal -  Birthing in the Pacific with an auction to raise funds. Members lit candles to celebrate our friendship links throughout the  world.

 

Christmas Shop Window Competition in support of Harrogate at Christmas More photos are available on the Harrogate Chamber Facebook page
The Club continues to support Harrogate at Christmas by organising the Christmas shop window competition. All retailers who support Harrogate at Christmas are automatically entered. There are three categories: multinational , independent and charity retailer. This years winners are: Independent: Hoopers, with Jack Wills and Debenhams highly commended. Independent: Jespers of of Harrogate with Julie Fitzmaurice and Sudo Attire highly commended and charity shop: Cancer Research UK, Beulah St with Oxfam and Cancer Research Oxford St, highly commended. Hoopers took the overall first prize with Jespers of Harrogate runner up	The Mayor of Harrogate, Cllr Les Ellington with President Claire and Winners, Highly Commended, Club members and Cllr John Fox, Chair of Harrogate at Christmas.
President Claire and the Mayor of Harrogate present the Cup to Claire from Hoopers	President Claire present the cup to Peter Jesper of Jespers of Harrogate
President Claire presents the Cup to John from Cancer Research UK

Elimination of Violence against Women
Club members manned the stand in Asda, Harrogate to raise awareness about the elimination violence against women. the Mayor and Mayoress of Harrogate joined to give their support to this important issues	L - R Val Hills. Janet Morrow, the Mayor and Mayoress of Harrogate and Val Michie.

 

November Speaker Meeting -  A celebration of Christmas

Dorothy and Maurice Taylor provided an insight into the Celebration of Christmas at the last Speaker meeting of the year. Their informative and amusing presentation gave an insight into the celebration of Christmas throughout the ages. We went away wiser about how St Nicholas, Santa Claus and Father Christmas’s role merged and developed over the centuries. Maurice talked about the four ages of man in relation to Santa Claus, first you believe in Santa, then you don't believe in Santa, then your are Santa and finally you look like Santa.  Dorothy is also a member of the Club. A festive evening’s entertainment enjoyed by all.

 

 

Soroptimists remember the fallen
President Claire at Stonefall Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery	Soroptimists throughout Harrogate and District remembered the fallen at the Remembrance services held in Harrogate, Stonefall Commonwealth War grave cemetery, Ripon, Starbeck, Knaresborough, Wetherby and Pateley Bridge.

 

Club's service to Contact the Elderly rewarded Photo courtesy of Contact News - Yorkshire Edition Spring 2012 Every year, at the Contact the Elderly Annual General Meeting, in collaboration with the Marsh Christian Trust, volunteers are nominated for their support of the organization and an award presented to volunteers who go "above and beyond". The Trust says: "these things are done out of love and dedication, not for personal fame or fortune. They don’t expect recognition but they deserve it, and that’s what the Marsh Awards aim to do" Although the Award is accepted each year by an individual who is normally the group coordinator, it is given to the volunteers of that group to use. Brian Marsh always emphasises that it is not "for the group" but for the volunteers of the group who may use it in whatever way they wish. We were delighted and proud to hear that the Soroptimist Volunteers for the Harrogate 2 Group are the Northern Regional winners and will receive £200 for the use of the volunteers in the group, plus a certificate which will be presented at this year’s AGM on Wednesday 5th October. Mary Robin-son, Executive Officer for the North and Midlands Branch, said "...you have been recognised for the outstanding way you have inspired and gained so many volunteers for Contact the Elderly, which has transformed the work in Harrogate and Ripon and beyond! You have also, and continue to be, an amazing support and help to me". Each of the regions across the country also has regional winners, and Brian Marsh will decide the overall winner from the regional winners which will also be announced at the AGM. The overall winner receives an additional £550 for use of the volunteers in the group. Congratulations to Elsie and her team of volunteers for a very well deserved award!

Dr Mary Polson -  Obituary.  Soroptimist from 1954 till 2011
Dr Mary Polson with Sylvia Purser -  celebrating her 50th year as a Soroptimist in 2004 with a special evening that recreated the Club as it would have been in the 1950s with hats. The Club made Mary an Honorary Member for her service to Soroptimism.		Obituary for Dr Gertrude Mary Polson, SI  Harrogate and District It is with much sadness that SI Harrogate and District announce the loss of their longest serving member. Dr Mary Polson died on the 2nd October.  Mary was a stalwart of the Harrogate Club. Mary came to Harrogate in 1953 as a relatively newly qualified Doctor. Mary worked in Women and Child health services. She joined the Club in 1954. She served as President in 1963/64 and became an honorary member in 2004 when the Club celebrated her 50th year in Soroptimism. Mary recalled the honour and privilege to be invited to be a member and she was delighted to accept. She recounted the formality of the meetings in the 1950s with members expected to wear hats and gloves and sit in rows on Club nights. Mary never for one moment regretted becoming a Soroptimist and continued to attend events and support the Club in anyway she could. It was always a delight to see her. She always had an encouraging word. She gave 57 yrs of service to the Club and  will be much missed.
Dr Mary Polson arriving in style in a 1950s Morris Minor at her 50th year celebration.		Dr Mary Polson with Val Hills at the Charter Dinner held at the Crown Hotel in October 2010.

Lizzie’s Strawberry Tea
SI Harrogate and District were delighted to be approached by Lizzie Stoneman-Roberts age 9 ¾ who asked if we would help her organise a Strawberry Tea party fundraiser. Lizzie, is the daughter and granddaughter of Soroptimists Lisa Stoneman-Roberts and Pam Johnson, and had heard of the plight of Harrogate Homeless during the winter snow. Having come along to a coffee morning run by SI Harrogate & District Lizzie went away challenged to do something to raise funds to help support the charity. Despite all the horrendous rain during the week, the sun definitely shone on Lizzie’s Strawberry tea and Soroptimists, friends and family all came out to help raise a fantastic £270.20!

 

NIDD HALL EXPERIENCE JUNE 2011
President Claire with Club members and guests		President Claire enjoys afternoon tea at Nidd Hall
The  Presidential year fundraising started with a visit to Nidd Hall in aid of The Mettapalayam Trust and we were delighted to be joined by a member from SI Selby. A fascinating tour of the grounds was given by the entertainments manager where we learnt about the history of the Hall, the church and grounds.  The group then went on to have a sumptuous afternoon tea in The Terrace Restaurant followed by a quiz with the theme “Afternoon Tea’s” which after a dead heat question was won by Maurice Taylor. A lovely afternoon which helped raised approx. £90 for the charity.

 

Mettupalayam Trust
	Visit the website:  http://irdt.co.uk/
	David and Adele Eldridge, staunch supporters of the 'Friends of Mettupalayam Trust'  provided an informative, inspiration and motivating talk on the work carried out by the Charity in Tamil Nadu, South India. Working with the local community the Trust (www.irdt.co.uk) provides support through education, nutrition, disability, credit unions, health & welfare, farming and providing for the elderly. President Claire Bostel has nominated the Trust as one of the charities to benefit from the Clubs fund-raising activities this year.

Long service awards presented at the AGM
The Club welcomed our new President Claire Bostel at the Annual General Meeting held at the White Hart on 20th April. President Claire is looking forward to representing the Club, her chosen charity is the Mettupalayam Trust, Changing lives, a rural development project in India. Out going Club President Helen Stalker thanked the Club for all their support over the last year in which over £6000 was raised for Open Arms Orphanage in Malawi. Helen's last role as President was to present long service awards to four members with a total of 120 years service to Soroptimism. Janet Haywood and Audrey Wood have both being Soroptimists for 40 years and Janet Hutton and Dorothy Taylor for 30 years. Janet Haywood is also a former Yorkshire President and the author of the History of Soroptimist International.

 

Friendship Links get together to stop the spread of Malaria

Pauline Link and Val Michie from SI Harrogate and District were welcomed to friendship link SI Paisley’s business meeting on Thursday the 24th March. Pauline and Val gave a presentation about the Club Project of donating Mosquito Nets to the Children's Ward and the Female Surgical Ward at The Royal Victoria Hospital Banjul, Kumbija village or a Health Clinic where the need is greatest. Pauline spoke about her voluntary work in the Gambia and how mosquito nets make a real difference in the prevention of Malaria. President Jenifer McFarlane and members of SI Paisley agreed to continue to support the worthwhile cause and gave Pauline a donation to purchase further mosquito nets.

Pauline Link with President Jenifer and Val Michie

 

If you are a professional or business woman and want further details of how to join Soroptimist International Harrogate & District please email sihandd@hotmail.co.uk