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Our business meetings are now being held at 20 Hobson
Street in downtown Cambridge (Galt). Our business meetings
are held on the second Wednesday of the month (excluding
July and August) from 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM. A social precedes
the meeting from 7 - 7:30 PM. Beverages and desserts will
be available for a fee of $10.00 per person attending the
social and/or business meeting.
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2008 Soroptimist International of Cambridge Award Winners
Women's Opportunity Award
Recipient - Hellen Taabu
Women's Opportunity Award provides financial assistance to women who are working to better their lives through additional skills training and education. The award is presented each year to a woman, with primary financial responsibility for herself and her dependents, who is enrolled in an undergraduate or vocational skills training program.
Violet Richardson Award
Recipient - Madeline Ingrouville
The Violet Richardson Award recognizes young women, aged 14 - 17, who are engaged in volunteer action within their communities or schools. The award is presented each year to a female student whose volunteer activities make the community and world a better place.
Making a Difference for Women Award
Recipient - Casey Cruikshank
Making A Difference For Women Award honours women who, through their professional or personal efforts, are making extraordinary differences in the lives of women and girls. The award is presented each year to a special women in our community who has make a significant contribution to the lives of women and/or girls.
Soroptimist Young Woman's Awards
Recipients - Jessica Charbonneau, Stephanie Foreman, Samantha Golding
Recipients - Nicole Schembre, Deanne Sinclair, Stephanie Thomas
Soroptimist Young Woman's Award is given to a female graduating high school who is enrolled in a university or college program, or pursuing a career in a skilled trade. She has actively contributed to school life and her community; demonstrated leadership potential and is committed to high ethical standards and service to others.
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
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Monthly meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month.
January to June 2009, 20 Hobson Street, 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)
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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