A dynamic women’s organisation is seeking enthusiastic volunteers who can periodically offer some professional expertise and skills to help with our advocacy and project work. Join us for breakfast on 4 June 2008 in the city from 6:45 am until 8:45 am to hear about who we are. Breakfast (hot and cold buffet) costs $25. There is no obligation to join… just come along, listen, chat and enjoy yourself. If you have been thinking about volunteering, we may be just the group for you. RSVP: Monday 2 June to Michelle on 0417 916 529 or by our form.  Ask your friends too.

Soroptimist International (SI) is a non-profit global women’s organisation and has been in existence since 1921. SI has over 90,000 members in 126 countries. Countries are broken down into regions and there are eleven clubs in the region of South East Queensland. Our club (a breakfast club) was chartered in 1994. Currently we have fourteen members but we are hoping to increase this to at least 25 members by the end of the 2008.

Whilst our website provides much more detail we are a global voice for women working in partnership with others to advance human rights and the status of women. Our overall programme focus is closely aligned to the United Nations (with whom SI have consultative status) Millennium Goals. Our mission is to improve the lives of women and girls by:

• advocating for equity and equality;
• creating safe and healthy environments;
• increasing access to education; and
• developing leadership and practical skills for a sustainable future.

Club members nominate projects (or advocacy work) that are aligned with the programme focus set out by the International SI board. If other members agree then that project is ratified and a working team is put together. Once the project is completed, a focus report is prepared and sent up through the layers of the organisation. Some of this information may in turn be provided to other organisations such as the United Nations.

Members have joined for various reasons including the ability to network and make a difference through service work at local, national and international levels, become aware of significant global issues, learn new skills and to help pass on their skills to others. We follow the philosophy of Awareness, Advocacy and Action.

We do make a difference and we have fun whilst doing it too! So come along, find out who we are, and most of all, enjoy yourself.