“What does the word Soroptimist mean?”

I am often asked “What does the word Soroptimist mean?”

My reply to Patrick Kielty on Radio 2 ” It is a silly name for a marvellous organisation”.

It means the Best Sisters… not for us the obvious, such as “Towns Women’s Guild, Mothers Union or Women’s Institute, ” ….Soroptimists.. and we are not Chiropodists either !! WE do things for other women, and we have fun doing it .

If you prefer, the official explanation………

Soroptimist International is a service organisation working locally, nationally and internationally for women and girls. We have representatives at the United Nations.

When the Equal Opportunities Act came into force, we were one of a few organisations allowed to continue a women only. This was because as an international organisation, in some countries, allowing men to become members would actually become a threat to the work of those women.

Our local branch, Soroptimist International, Buxton & District has supported individual women , Village View Farm, and First Responders in Tideswell, to name a few.

Zink, Women’s Aid , similar Buxton groups and National charities also receive financial and practical help from us as a group, and from individual members, who volunteer.

Some years ago, I organised a joint venture with The Derbyshire Dales Lions Club, to carry out Diabetes screening at Tideswell Methodist Church ( now Fountain Square Church).

Members live in High Peak and Derbyshire Dales, and bring a wealth of experience and dedication to a huge variety of charities and causes. Tideswell resident Eleanor Coles rose to become Treasurer of Midland East Region. Kathryn Simpson, June Pursglove, and Joy Bramley have all served on various committees.

Sarah Clowes and myself each became President. Tideswell speakers at our meetings have included Rachel Limer, who gave a wonderful Chocolate making demo, and our own editor Pete Hawkins who showed us a wonderful slide show of Nepal. We enjoy being Soroptimists !!!!

I organise an annual Water Aid fund-raiser, and the venues have included my own home as well as H&D, and most recently the Tideswell Lounge.

This year’s event will be held at Tideswell Lounge on the evening of June 22nd. Last year President Dr Mary Cooke met “Kit & Natter” enthusiasts to carry our a survey. Since 1992, I initiated the laying of a Poppy Wreath at the Remembrance Service in Tideswell.

Buxton Soroptimists have been represented each year since then, and the current Midland East President now lays a wreath at the National Arboretum also.

Since I joined in 1987, the world and Soroptimism have both changed and evolved.

Sadly the need for women’s voices to be heard is a strong as ever.

I have met some wonderful women during that time, and enjoyed working with them.

If anyone would like to find out more, or to join us at a meeting, as a “taster”, please let me know.

(Photo shows members serving tea at a Litton Village Hall fund raiser).