At the Club’s AGM in April we celebrated a successful year under President Stephanie Ainsley, whose theme was “Enjoying Our Soroptimist Work”. She handed on the baton to our new President Christine Holloway.

During 2013/14 the Club continued to support local, national and international organisations through fund raising and the gift of time which we call “service”. Major events included a Cream Tea, raising £500 for the Birthing in the Gambia Project and Target TB, both international projects supporting women and children. The “Boffin’s Den” lecture night on forensic science raised £1400 for Breakthrough Breast Cancer and we continued to support our local Women’s Refuge, Homestart and Kidderminster Youth Trust among the 13 small grants awarded.

Service work focussed on Birchen Coppice School, the Food Bank and other local projects, both hands on and in trusteeship roles.

Speaker meetings reflected the President’s theme, including hearing from our UK Chair for Programme Action, up-dating us on Soroptimist activities with the UN. We heard from Kemp Hospice, the Guides Association and the Chair of Worcestershire Domestic Abuse Forum, all subjects dear to our heart.

Christine’s theme for this year is “The Passion Within” with speakers at our supper meetings covering a diverse range of topics.

The first speaker, Jane Flint-Bridgewater, a respected cardiologist, spoke on her passion for women’s heart health. She raised the importance of recognising the cardio vascular risk factors facing women which are often overlooked.

Our next speaker meeting on Thursday 15th May at the Brasserie in Kidderminster will welcome David Blakeway-Smith with the enticing title of “An Unbelievable Dream Come True”.

For more details regarding the activities and membership of the Club, please call: email on kidderminstersorop@gmail.com or look at our website link on www.sigbi.org