During the First World War, because of a shortage of men, women began to do jobs that were normally associated with men, and in the post war year’s women found it easier to get jobs in business and the professions. Around the same time in the UK, Venture women’s clubs were being formed. An American, called Stuart Morrow, a professional organiser of men’s clubs, called on a secretarial school in Oakland, California and found its head to be a woman. Following on from this and realising women were becoming leaders in their professions, he installed the first Soroptimist club on on 3rd October 1921 in California. The name Soroptimist comes from the Latin soror meaning sister and optimum meaning best, hence ‘the best of women”. Soroptimism spread quickly and came to the UK in 1924 and in 1930 the 11 Venture clubs merged with the Soroptimist clubs. From the founding of the first Soroptimist club, through to the present day where over 3000 clubs are flourishing throughout the world, Soroptimists have continued to strive to achieve ‘the best for women’ in every sphere of their lives
The first official meeting of SI Dewsbury took place on Thursday 9th April 1942 at the Templefield Senior Girls School. Then, the club, along with all the other Soroptimists clubs, was quite an exclusive one, only ladies from the most well to do in society were invited to join and it had a strict ‘hats and gloves’ policy. Over 80 years on, the hats and gloves are no more, as is the formal invitations and the restriction to only professional women. SI Dewsbury & District is an active, fun loving organisation helping to improve the lives of women and girls. We currently meet every 2nd & 4th Thursday at the Oakwell Centre, Dewsbury & District Hospital from 7.30pm for business and speaker meetings. At the latter we have varied speakers to keep our members informed of issues relating to women in local, national and global communities. We hold many varied fund raising events, from musical evenings to quizzes to fun runs, fashion shows and themed evenings. Over the years, through fun and friendship, we have supported numerous local and international charities. We look after a small part of a walled garden in Crow Nest Park
We support a young girl in her education in Thika, Kenya. We help to organise a Macmillan Coffee Morning and a Christmas party at Tentercroft Court, Dewsbury
We have painted Dewsbury & Ossett Pink for Breast Cancer Campaign. We lay a wreath on Remembrance Day in Mirfield. Organise our annual Carol service at local Churches
For more info www.sigbi.org/dewsbury Find us on Fb and Twitter
