The word Soroptimist comes from the Latin words soror meaning “sister” and optima meaning “best”, and loosely translates as “best for women”. Soroptimists inspire action and create opportunities to transform the lives of women and girls through a global network of members and international partnerships.
Soroptimist International is a worldwide organisation for women in management and the professions, working through service projects to advance human rights and the status of women. Soroptimist International is a vibrant, dynamic organisation for today’s professional and business women, and is committed to a world where women and girls together achieve their individual and collective potential, realise aspirations and have an equal voice in creating strong and peaceful communities worldwide.
Soroptimist International has General Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council, (ECOSOC) and has representatives at many meetings of its agencies and organs in UN Centres throughout the world. SI delegations to major UN meetings and forums advocate for policies and actions which support its aims and objects and reflect agreed position statements on the issues under discussion.
About SI Leeds
Soroptimist International of Leeds is part of Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland. SI Leeds develops its own projects in partnership with local agencies and in recent years, projects have included working with the children at Quarry Mount School on a healthy eating project, with elderly residents of Little London through Caring Together and with the Arts & Gardens Project for the Yorkshire Cancer Centre. SI Leeds also works with other SI clubs locally, including a regular event at the Royal Armouries on the nearest Sunday to the International Day of Peace each September.
The Leeds Soroptimist Club was established in 1930 and quickly forged links with other SI clubs throughout the world. The following clubs have special friendship links with SI Leeds which exchange news and visits and from time to time work on joint projects:
- Amsterdam CW (Netherlands)
- Dortmund (Germany)
- Eastbourne (UK)
- Grenoble (France)
- Joondalup (Western Australia)
- Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania USA)
- Placerville ( California USA)
- Zabrze (Poland)
- Mullingar (Ireland)
SI Leeds expects the following from its members:
- Ideas for projects, social activities, club development
- Participation in club management
- Active support for the President and Club Officers
- Interest and involvement in SI projects
SI Leeds holds club meetings at 7.30pm on the second Monday of each month at Weetwood Hall, Otley Road, Leeds, and is always delighted to welcome visitors. We have fun working together, and provide support and friendship to professional women who are new to the area, including new members and those who transfer from other clubs
Contact us: sigbileeds@hotmail.co.uk
For more information, see Soroptimist International, Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland, Soroptimist International of Yorkshire or Soroptimist International of Leeds
