Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/5151/-1/140/
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Soroptimists Anniversary Dinner
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The 26th Anniversary of Soroptimist International of Anguilla was celebrated on Saturday August 25 with a dinner and dance at Flavours Restaurant. It was attended by His Excellency the Governor Andrew George and Mrs George, who is the patron of the Club, the Deputy Governor Stanley Reid and Mrs Reid who is the patron of the Day Care Centre, Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming, and Speaker of the House, David Carty, as well as Soroptimist members and their friends.
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Governor George (right), CM Fleming (left), DG Reid (centre) and others at dinner
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Governor Andrew George congratulated the members on their achievements and proposed a toast to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming said that organizations like the Soroptimist Club aid the Government and that he is grateful for all the work that they do in the community. “I hope you will go from strength to strength,” Fleming noted. He proposed a toast to the island of Anguilla.
President Alison Carty described some of the programmes of the Club including the literacy programme, the teen talks to youth groups and the classes for Spanish-speaking persons, and thanked Stella Horsford for organizing these projects. She also referred to WISE (Workshop Initiative for Support in Education) and the plan to set up cooking classes, and asked for support in supplying kitchen equipment for the group. She reported that a new Director has been appointed for the Day Care Centre and thanked Murielle Owen for all her work in keeping the Centre running. Other projects mentioned included raising money for Survivors of War which is an international project, supplying five benches to the arrival gallery at the Wallblake Airport, the annual Christmas Fair and the anniversary stamps.
Timothy Hodge, Director of the Social Security Board, spoke on the achievements of the Club over the past 26 years and proposed a toast to the Club. He made mention of the loan that the Soroptimist Club asked Social Security for, when building the extension to the Day Care Centre, saying that they are the only group that has ever offered to pay back a loan, and this they did, which he described as admirable.
Another toast was made by Soroptimist Stella Horsford who toasted Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI). She explained that there are four federations and that Anguilla belongs to SIGBI which has 398 clubs in 30 countries and includes women of all ages and ethnic groups whose aim is to give service to others. She said that there is a close relationship with other clubs and all are aiming to adapt to changing circumstances and remain an organization relevant to society and the young women of today. A toast was made to the guests by Lady Josephine Gumbs who thanked everyone for their support.
Music for the event was supplied by Boss and Company and after the speeches some lively dancing completed the evening. The evening’s proceedings were chaired by Soroptimist Violet Berry. The invocation was said by Soroptimist Olive Hodge and the vote of thanks was given by Soroptimist Audrey Rogers.