Presidents’ Message
A warm welcome to the web pages of Soroptimist International (SI) Poole. Chartered in 1952, our club has been active in the community of Poole for the last 58 years. It has a wide catchment area and members come from as far afield as Dorchester and Wimborne as well as from Poole itself.
We have a varied calendar of events, ranging from participation in the Race for Life and Dorset Wildlife Trust beach cleans to fund-raising, beginning with afternoon teas at Wimborne St Giles village hall on Sunday, 23 May.
This year, the club has a new approach to its project work and a different meeting schedule and format so as to meet the needs of its busy membership.
Members are looking forward to working on a fresh range of projects:
- Lobbying against human trafficking, part of the club’s flagship Purple Teardrop Campaign against human trafficking
- Establishing a new bursary to help others achieve projects related to SI objectives
- Campaigning against sweatshops, part of a wider Soroptimist International initiative
- Working on Dorset SARC (Sexual Assault Referral Centre)
Members meet on the 2nd Monday of each month at the Salterns Hotel, Poole for project work or for speakers on SI related issues. Prior to each meeting, there is informal social/dining time.
This year, the club has a joint presidency - Kate Dukes (pictured here) and Liz Rodgers. During a year which sees the club undergo fundamental change, Kate and Liz’s theme is to be passionate about Soroptimism, to enjoy contributing to SI Poole and to inspire others through our club’s achievements.
Whilst the focus of SI Poole is on projects, we are also fund-raising for our new volunteers grant, Soroptimist International’s Diamond Grant Fund, Project SIerra and Out of Afrika as well as a number of Poole based charities.
We will continue to raise awareness of the plight of victims of human trafficking through our Purple Teardrop Campaign, selling teardrop pin-badges and working in partnership with other organisations with complementary objectives. Our Purple Teardrop Campaign patron, Louis de Bernieres, helps us to raise the profile of our project and achieve our objectives.
To find out more about Soroptimist International Poole, keep reading and if you are interested in becoming a member or would like to support one or more of our events, please contact us as enquiries@sipoole.org.uk
Presidents Kate Dukes and Liz Rodgers
SI Poole, April 2010