Soroptimist International

The international body, based in Cambridge

Soroptimist International has consultative status with the United Nations and has twelve permanent representatives in New York, Geneva, Vienna and Paris.

 

In 1984 Soroptimist International attained General Consultative Status as a non-governmental organisation (NGO), the only women's service organisation to do so. It is only through work at Club level that we maintain our national and international influence.

Website and Global Voice

Soroptimist International's website (see the opening screen left) can be accessed at the link. They have introduced the Global Voice newsletter and members may sign up to receive monthly electronic copies of this. 

SI also has a variety of social network links

It has a Blog, called SoroptiVoice  And has links to Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. There is a wealth of information on the site, do take time to have a good look round.

 

The International headquarters' contact details are:

Soroptimist International, 87 Glisson Road,Cambridge,CB1 2HG

E-mail: hq@soroptimistinternational.org  Telephone: 01223 311833

Staff

Soroptimist International maintains a small staff of five members and one temp. Administrative Assistant at the Cambridge offices:

Executive Director - Position currently vacant

Programme Director - Reilly Dempsey

Programme Officer - Anna Aitken

Finance Director - Abigail Watson

Finance Officer - Rebecca Fu

Temp Admin - Allison Holloway 

 

As with this UKPAC website, there are large areas of the International website that are only available to members. Please ensure that you have the Username and Password for the international website in order to be able to view everything. If you do not know, or have forgotten these, contact us with your membership number (your club secretary will have this) and we'll send them to you.

 

How it all started

Dublin-born Stuart Morrow, who emigrated to California in 1885, was responsible for forming Rotary clubs in the UK (but it was Paul Harris who was responsible for Rotary International) and formed the world's first Soroptimist Club in 1921.

While attempting to form a male ‘Optimist Club’ in Oakland, USA, he called upon the Parker-Goddard Secretarial School in search of a candidate for membership, presuming that the school was run by two men. On learning that is was operated by women, he sought to excuse himself, but one of the principals, Adelaide Goddard, commented, "When the men admit women as members of their service clubs, I would be interested."

This remark sparked an idea for Morrow. He called together several of the outstanding business women in Oakland to pursue the idea of forming a club for women, and the Articles of Incorporation of that first Soroptimist Club, with Adelaide Goddard as one of its founder members, were filed by Morrow in 1921. The chosen name - SOROPTIMIST - was coined from two Latin words: SOROR and OPTIMUS. Soror - Sister: symbol of the bond of comrades. Optimus - the best: the highest good. Hence it became known as "The Best for Women".

When first organised, the Soroptimists met as a luncheon or friendship club - but not for long. SERVICE was felt to be the key word for Soroptimists, and has remained so ever since; indeed, Soroptimist International is now the largest women’s service organisation in the world.

The idea of Soroptimism grew rapidly. Morrow travelled widely; his vision, to form an international Soroptimist organisation. In 1924 he organised the Paris and the Greater London clubs, the latter’s charter-meeting being attended by over 250, including members of the Royal family. On St Valentine's Day, 2009, the Greater London club was 85. Please see their club page for more information. 

Stuart Morrow made his living from chartering service clubs and worked for many organisations. He charged a fee to charter every club and a percentage of the annual dues for each member. He owned the corporation which chartered Soroptimist. In 1927 SI purchased the rights in the Corporation and the name ‘Soroptimist’ from him for $5,500.

Today, Soroptimist International has come a very long way from that first vision of Stuart Morrow’s ‘friendship’ clubs. Soroptimist International now has Consultative Status at the United Nations and accreditation with many bodies, including the UN High Commission for Refugees and The UN Environmental Programme. It also has representatives on a large number of organisations, amongst which are UNICEF, Landmine Action, The Status of Women Commission and the Human Rights Commission.

A man might well have started this movement 90 years ago, but its female members immediately saw the potential and have taken it forward into an organisation which enjoys international standing and immense respect around the world.

Soroptimist International's website can be accessed at:

http://www.soroptimistinternational.org