Soroptimist members, family and friends on Tuesday August 11 celebrated the 34th anniversary of the founding of the Anguilla Soroptimist Club with a dinner at the Anguilla Great House. A powerful report on the activities of the Club was given by President Oluwakemi Linda Banks. In attendance and giving support were the Hon Chief Minister Victor Banks, the Hon Leader of the Opposition Palmavon Webster, Hon Minister of Home Affairs Cora Richardson-Hodge, Hon Evalie Bradley, President of Rotary Genefa Fedee and President of the Lions Club Ernie Hodge-Carty. Chairing the event was Soroptimist Yolande Richardson who welcomed the guests.
Toasts were given to Her Majesty the Queen by Evalie Bradley, the Soroptimists of Great Britain and Northern Ireland by Rotary President Genefa Fedee, to Anguilla by Soroptimist Olive Hodge, to the guests by Soroptimist Una Gumbs and to Soroptimist International of Anguilla, Timothy Hodge.
Replying to the toast to Anguilla Chief Minister Banks congratulated members for 34 years of service to the island and commended them for all that they have done. He noted that his mother was a founding member of the Club and now his sister is President. He said that he looks forward to hearing more about the work that members are doing in the community.
The President expressed pleasure at the presence at the dinner of the three elected women to the House of Assembly and thanked them for their attendance. “Until gender equality, justice, respect and global peace are achieved, no Soroptimist can rest!” she said. Those were the words of the International President Ann Garvie at a recent convention aimed at re-energizing members. Linda Banks spoke about Ena Woodstock-Riley who founded the Soroptimist Club in Anguilla thirty four years ago. She also welcomed Molly Hodge who was in attendance at the dinner and was the first President of the Club.
The President spoke of the Day Care Centre that enables mothers to leave their children in a safe environment while at work and said that the Centre is currently being upgraded. She mentioned some of the activities of the Club including the summer reading workshop, conducting health fairs, sponsoring mammograms, teen talks, promoting re-usable shopping bags and facilitating music education through guitar lessons. She said that members in Anguilla join with those around the world to make a difference especially to the lives of women and girls.
