“The sincerity of friendship, the joy of achievement”
About Drogheda Soroptimist Club
Drogheda Soroptimists were chartered in January 1958. The founding President was Dr. Patricia McCaul Collins.
Soroptimism first began in Ireland in 1934 and to date there are 26 thriving clubs, all working together for the betterment of women worldwide.
Programme Action (this is our voluntary work) is the reason for being a Soroptimist. The word ‘Soroptimist’, is derived from Latin and means Best for Women.
Soroptimists inspire action and help create opportunities to ensure that women worldwide enjoy equality and have greater access to education and healthcare.
About Soroptimist International
Soroptimist International was founded in 1921, a worldwide organisation for women in management and the professions, is a global voice for women through Awareness, Advocacy and Action.
The Objectives of Soroptimists are:
- High ethical standards
- Human rights and advancement of the status of women
- A spirit of friendship
- A spirit of service
- International Understanding
The first Soroptimist Club was formed in 1921 on Oakland, California, and was quickly followed by other Clubs in North America. In 1924 the first clubs in Europe were Chartered in London and Paris and by 1928 there were enough clubs in these continents to form two federations, American and European. A link between them was established by the creation of the “Soroptimist International Association” in 1928. In 1934 a third Federation – Great Britain and Ireland was formed. By 1978 there were clubs on every continent. In 1994 a fourth federation – South West Pacific – was established. The motive in forming the clubs was for business and professional women to associate together to render service.
Soroptimist International is the world’s largest service organisation for women. Over 100,000 women throughout the world are Soroptimists in more than 3,000 clubs throughout the world. Each Soroptimist Club chooses the projects it wishes to help in the local community or further afield. It also adopts projects for study and action within the international programme. This covers:
- Economic and Social Development
- Education
- Environment
- Health
- Human rights/Status of Women
- International Goodwill and Understanding
Soroptimist International has direct access to the United Nations and a voice at United Nations Centres in New York, Geneva, Vienna and Unesco, Paris.
The name Soroptimist comes from the Latin soror sister, optima best. We now take that to mean the best for women and their families and this we work to achieve.
Soroptimist International is a worldwide organisation for women in management and professions, working through service projects to advance human rights and the status of women. While SI does not support any political parties or religious groups, it encourages all members to be aware of and involved in issues, which have political implications. We are committed to service to local national and international communities and to active participation in decision making at all levels of society. For more information, please visit the Soroptimist International website at www.soroptimist.org
