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STOP THE PRESS!!
Congratulations to Janet Simms-Baldwin
who has just been awarded a
Woman of Distinction by the YWCA Cambridge.
She won for Voluntary, Community & Humanitarian Service
by providing leadership and inspiration to others,
enhancing the quality of life in our community
SI Cambridge is proud of you, Janet.
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2008 Soroptimist International of Cambridge Award Winners
Women’s Opportunity Award
The Women’s Opportunity Award is awarded to assist women with primary financial responsibility for their families to obtain the skills training and education necessary to improve their employment status and standard of living for themselves and their family.
Recipient - SUSAN M. NEWMAN
A single mother of three teenagers, living in Sarnia, Susan is working towards her Bachelor of Social Work at the University of Western Ontario. Susan has worked with developmentally challenged individuals for the past 12 years and believes that helping people is her calling in life.
Susan’s goal is to advocate for people who are unable to do so for themselves and to bring about change in areas such as government policies, education, healthcare and legal.
Susan partnered with Habitat for Humanity three years ago to build a brand new home for her family, evidencing her commitment to create the very best life for her children. Susan continues to volunteer with Habitat and sits on their Family Selection Committee. Being able to move from a sub-standard rental property to owning her own home has been a catalyst for Susan to continue her education.
Violet Richardson Award
The Violet Richardswon Award is a recognition program for young women, aged 14 to 17, and engaged in volunteer action within their community or school.
Recipient - JESSICA ROBERTS
Jessica is a graduate of Elmira District Secondary School and has always been involved in volunteering.
During her final year, Jessica single-handedly coordinated activities for her school’s AIDS Awareness Week, but recognizing the ongoing ignorance about the disease among her peers, she became involved with the AIDS Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and Area [ACCKWA]. The organization offers a variety of support services to the community and promotes acceptance and encourages self-empowerment and determination.
Jessica is an active member of the Women and AIDS Group [WAAG] and the Special Events Committee which organizes a variety of fundraisers and awareness campaigns. As an AIDS 101 Facilitator, Jessica regularly addresses groups of high school and university students, as well as community adult groups, to provide education and knowledge about HIV/AIDS.
Jessica’s experience with ACCKWA has shaped her into the passionate young woman she is today. Jessica will begin her studies in biochemistry at Wifrid Laurier University this fall.
Making a Difference for Women Award
Honours a woman who has worked to improve the lives of women and girls through her professional or volunteer work.
Recipient - ROSEMARY REDSHAW
Rosemary is an ordained minister and is currently the prison chaplain at the Grand Valley Institution for Women in Kitchener, having been involved in correctional work for the past 20 years.
The work is demanding, draining and emotional, but Rosemary believes that the Kitchener facility offers female inmates the best chance of re-establishing their relationship with the community at large. She is so dedicated to her mission that she made adjustments to her family life several years ago in order to be available to the women 24/7.
Diversity in her own personal life helps Rosemary to connect so completely with these women and allows them to see that there is hope through help, understanding and support from others. Even after 20 years in this line of work, she still is impressed by the talents and intelligence she discovers in these women on a daily basis.
Comfort Kits for Sexual Assault Treatment Centre
A major SI Cambridge project is providing comfort packs to women and children who are victims of sexual assault and/or domestic violence in the Cambridge community through the Waterloo Region Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centre. The entire process for women and children aside from the actual assault is exhausting and terrifying; we are pleased to provide more evidence that women care, in addition to the excellent care provided by the treatment centre staff. We believe that this is an important project.
The comfort packs are given to individuals when they are at the hospital, as the women must often surrender their clothing to the police for forensic examination.
Pictured: Sue Gallagher, social worker
with the WRSA/DVTC, and
Lynne Legge,
administrative assistant with the WRSA/DVTC.
The packs include any or all of:
- a set of scrubs – hospital scrubs help them blend in to the hospital environment so that they may not easily be identified as a victim
- a kit containing a variety of "travel size" personal care items – some have left their environment with nothing but the clothes on their backs – they can take this kit to the safe haven so that they can shower and try to remove the “dirt” of the incident
- Tim Horton coupons for the hospital restaurant – some may not have the money to get a coffee or tea or treat to help them relax and get ready to deal with what just happened
- a teddy bear is given to the victims to hold on to when they are being examined or interviewed – it is something that will often help them relax as they can twist, squeeze or hug it. Often memories of comfort are associated with soft plush animals
- a teddy bear can also be given to family members for comfort (such as children that attend with the victims)
- we have also included a book mark that we produced for our “Beautiful Women” project that has positive body image statements. This goes with the journals that they receive from the Treatment Centre
The club has taken part in several promotions to support this project.
- Club members canvassed local businesses and personal connections in the community as partners through donations of products, money or discounts to purchase the scrubs and toiletry kits.
- Club members worked together to put the personal care kits together in June.
- On December 5th, 2007 Kitchener Rangers held their annual Teddy Bear Toss, in a game against Brampton Battalion. After the Rangers scored their first goal, 6013 plush animals were thrown on the ice by 5,874 fans for local charities. Zellers supports this event by selling plush animals at the game with all proceeds to the local Cystic Fibrosis Chapter, and having mascots dance on the ice when the goal is scored. The Zellers Team along with the Cystic Fibrosis and Soroptimists volunteers were able to retrieve plush that suited the needs of the KW Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centre.
- We participated in a Ladies Day at a local women’s fitness centre where all of the proceeds from the bake sale and the Treasury Coupon Books went directly to the Soroptimists for this project.
- A raffle was held with the draw on December 12, 2007. The raffle prizes were: a print of the Grand River by Bob Green, a hand made quilt by Shirley Boddy and a small wool rug from Alexanians.
- During our March 2008 Awards Dinner several of our larger sponsors/partners are invited to join us in recognition of their support to this project.
Congratulations and thanks are extended to Sharen Robinson and Joni Gosselin who have been the leaders in this project.
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Monthly meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month.
January to June 2008, Optimist Room, Hespeler Arena, 640 Ellis Road, Cambridge,
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Service Programs
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Small Steps to Success
A project recently adopted by SI Cambridge is the Small Steps to Success program. This program provides stimulus and assistance to women who are either trying to get back into the workforce or finish/continue with their education. Guidance is offered to the women concerning resume writing, interview skill, self-esteem, confidence building, etc. Often the women are ready to make an application to college or an apprenticeship program but cannot afford new clothes that are “interview appropriate”. Each year SI Cambridge holds a Strawberry Social event to raise funds for this program. In 2007, $3,500 was raised to contribute to the Small Steps for Success program. (Social and Economic Development, Education, Human Rights/Status for Women)
Body Image
SI Cambridge partnered with the City of Cambridge and the Cambridge YWCA on the Beautiful Women Project. The Beautiful Women Project, an exhibition of clay sculptures of volunteers from age 19 to 91 by artist Cheryl-Ann Webster, is designed to raise awareness of the link between self-worth and self-identity and society's attitude toward physical appearance. SI Cambridge held a "EveryBody is a Somebody" event to launch the exhibit on March 4th, 2007.
EveryBody is a Somebody was well supported by the community and our club members. Fifty women and girls, plus twenty SI Cambridge members made the afternoon a success. They listened to a presentation led by Cheryl Ann Webster, toured the sculpture exhibit, which included 90 clay painted, women's torsos, and actively participated in workshops. Feedback was very positive on the event and the impact on the lives of women and girls in the community was significant. Our appreciation is extended to the Soroptimist Foundation of Canada for a grant of $1000 to support this event.
The body image bookmarks were so popular that 5000 additional bookmarks were reprinted. Bookmarks will be used to further the work of the Beautiful Women Project, positive body image and self esteem in women and girls. They have been distributed to places such as doctor’s offices and the Sexual Assault Centre.
Community Breast-feeding Support Group
SI Cambridge has continued to partner with other agencies in providing educational activities related to the promotion of Breast-feeding. Funds were donated this year to the Breast-feeding support site at the local shopping center. (Health, Social and Economic Development, Education, Human Rights/Status for Women)
AWARDS RECOGNIZING WOMEN 2007
Women’s Opportunity Award
This award recognizes a woman who has primary financial responsibility for supporting her family, who attends a vocational/skills training program and has financial need. Of 13 eligible award winners, the 2007 winner was a single Mom enrolled in the Social Services Program at Conestoga College. The award winner is a survivor of domestic violence and addictions. She received an award of $1000 at our awards banquet in March and commented: "I feel to ignore my past would be an injustice...my plan is to one day work with other recovering addicts, homeless people or survivors of abuse. I am learning how important it is to be able to walk a mile in the shoes of those we will be working with."
Violet Richardson Award
In 2007 there were 5 eligible applicants for the VRA, recognizing young women aged 14 to 17 engaged in volunteer action with their community or school. The recipient this year of $250 was a volunteer who works with children at Lang's Farm Village Association. Her accomplishments include a provincial volunteer appreciation award and leader-in-training certificates. The winner received her award at our awards banquet in March and commented that: “I would like to pursue social work in university and this gives me good experience for the future”.
Making a Difference for Women
Marion Logan was recognized at the awards dinner in March for her long-term contribution to making a difference for women both locally and internationally. Local and international activities include: executive director of the YWCA of Cambridge; women's desk co-coordinator for the United Church of Canada; and work with single mothers at the Conestoga College basic employment preparation program. Marion also founded the Woman to Woman Choir and in the early 1980s she initiated the Ontario Women's Conference at the University of Waterloo. Logan is one of the founders of feminist awareness from Cambridge to South Africa. In 1988, she was invited to help three major racial groups talk to each other to overcome the apartheid system. A friend described Logan as having dedicated her life to building bridges that span the differences in age, sex, sexual orientation, race and religion. (Education, Health, Social and Economic Development, Human Rights/Status for Women)
The Eastern Canada Region declared Marion the Region winner for 2007. She gave a key note address to the ECR Spring conference.
High School Graduation Awards
A monetary award of $200 is presented to a female student from 7 of our community high schools. The award recognizes the student’s contribution to school life and her community. The recipient is selected by the staff at her school and has been accepted into either a college or university program. (Education).
SI CAMBRIDGE CLUB AND MEMBERS RECEIVE RECOGNITION AWARDS
- From Soroptimist International of the Americas
- Soroptimist Celebrating Success – 2nd place
For the Strawberry Social fundraiser for Small Steps to Success
- Renaissance Challenge Award 2006
For recruiting 4 new members
- Women’s Opportunity Award
Participation Certificate
- At the Eastern Canada Region Spring Conference
- Making a Difference for Women Region Award to Marion Logan
- Seasoned Soroptimist Award to Alice Reynolds
- Cambridge Soroptimist of the Year Award to Alison Sanders
- Soroptimist Foundation of Canada
- Club Star Certificate Gold Star
For a donation of $1,185.00
- Red Maple Leaf Pin
For individual contribution of $500.00 to Joan Moyer
- City of Cambridge Bernice Adams Award
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Fundraising
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During the past year there have been changes to our club’s approach to the generation of funds. A number of strategy sessions initiated the process of alignment with the mission and vision of Soroptimist International of Cambridge and then guided our decision making as we embraced the Renaissance Campaign infrastructure. The club chose to focus energy on events, which would not only raise money but also raise public awareness of the program and services that our dollars support. The club identified the growing need for a corrective response to members over-extending their own resources in order to fulfill all of our commitments. The club is on track and participating in fundraising activities which give us a good return for our energy, generated the required funds for our commitments, reflect a clear level of excellence, reflect what is best for women and allow all members to enjoyably participate.
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