Guest for the speaker evening at a recent meeting of Tenby and District Soroptimist International was Dee Jenkins, the development officer for the Wales South Region and the immediate past president. Her subject for the evening was 'Soroptimism' - what it meant to the club members, why they had joined? and how they see the future development of the organisation? All of which produced a very lively discussion. Everyone there felt that they did belong to a wonderful organisation that was just not publicised enough. Members felt they should promote themselves, and the work they do, much more, to bring themselves to the forefront and be recognised not only for the work they do within the community, but also worldwide. They felt that one of the things against them was the title 'Soroptimist International' - Soroptimist is difficult to say, let alone understand. Most tend to say SI! Dee congratulated the club and the FGM Campaign and thought what had been achieved was wonderful. She was also delighted to hear that membership was increasing and that the role of president was covered for the next four years. She was herself a committed 'Sorop' and also an avid traveller, which had enabled her to see many of the SI projects that had been set up by a UK club and when in Cambodia had seen the victims of land mines. Their Federation (Great Britain and Ireland) had, with the other three Federations, raised thousands of dollars with their Limbs For Life project. She was made very much aware that the majority of victims were women and girls, as they were the ones that did the manual work! She reminded everyone that Women's Day was on July 7 at the Botanic Gardens, and that Region were manning a display. Several members said they would go to support. Meanwhile, since December 2006, members of SI Tenby and District have taken part in the SOS scheme, sending 'goodie boxes' to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Each box to fill costs approximately £17 and the postage is £7.30. There is no concession for postage, and letters have been sent to Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Secretary of State for Defence, Desmond Brown, stating that something should be done to rectify that. To date, 30 boxes have been sent, and a coffee morning has raised £226 enabling the club to send several more. The project is ongoing and more fund-raising events are planned.
