Soroptimists Told To Lead In Tolerance

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30892, 27 October 1965, Page 2

Soroptimists Told To Lead In Tolerance

The spirit of soroptimism was incompatible with an attitude of pessimism or fear. It obliged members to be constructive in the face of current events, to think and act generously and calmly with confidence and courage, Miss Dorothy Lye told the annual conference of Soroptimist Clubs of New Zealand in Netson on Saturday.

Miss Lye, the retiring president of the divisional union of New Zealand Soroptimist Clubs, told about 60 delegates and observers that they must keep on striving for what they were convinced was right in principle. And they must be tolerant and optimistic in changing times.

Soroptimists throughout the world were bound by identical purposes and objects. These aims gave them goals to reach and implemented a definite attitude of mind—even a philosophy. “Words which express our objects, such as -promote,’ ‘develop,’ ‘advance’ and ‘quicken’ convey a concept of movement and life, the possibility of progress and improvement. Do we not believe that things can change for the better?” she asked. “Sometimes, as we read our newspapers, listen to our radios or watch television we could almost doubt it, but we must go on believing that ultimately things must change for the better.”

Pledged to Service

Soroptimists were pledged to have high ethical standards, work in a spirit of friendship and in unity and to give service. Such ideals implied confidence in human nature. tolerance and respect. The movement’s objects also spoke of peace and good will, the very words which brought new hope to the world on the first Christmas morning, 2000 years ago, she said.

“We must always seek new avenues for social service, but at the same time be able to

lead and encourage people to think about and discuss matters which are of importance to the whole community. “Even if we do not achieve these things in our own lifetime, we will be bringing about changes for those who come after us, just as we are reaping the benefit of the work of those who went before us,” said Miss Lye. Co-operation Year For International Cooperation Year, the theme of the conference was “Towards Understanding.” It was felt that soroptimists must give a lead in showing tolerance and friendship towards strangers from overseas. This good will the visitors would take back to their own countries.

Help must be given to countries which were trying to help themselves, through channels in the world-wide movement of soroptimism. But service did not begin and end with donations, delegates agreed. It had to include tolerance, understanding and a belief in the right of every member of the movement to her own opinion. United Support The Soroptimist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland, of which New Zealand is a member, had asked all clubs to support I.C.Y. in every possible way. New Zealand clubs have been represented nationally on the I.C.Y. Committee in Wellington, the conference was told. It was decided to send messages of good will to sister clubs in Salisbury, Rhodesia, and Lagos, Nigeria.

The conference dinner was held on Saturday evening, after which Mr Godfrey Bowen gave a talk on his observations of people in countries he had visited, including the United States, the Soviet Union and Britain. Delegates were taken on sight-seeing trips on Sunday land attended a special service at the Nelson Cathedral on [Sunday evening. Officers Elected

The following officers of the divisional union of New Zealand Soroptimist Clubs were elected in Nelson: President, Mrs Hazel Wright (Wellington); first vice-presi-dent, Miss Stella Rolls (Nelson); second vice-president, Miss Anne Shipherd (New Plymouth); secretary, Miss Sylvia Spear (Wellington); treasurer, Miss B. MacLeay (Auckland). Misses Betty Loughhead and Dorothy Lye (Christchurch) and Mrs Hazel Wright (Wellington) will represent New Zealand at an interim meeting of the coordinating committee of Australian and New Zealand Soroptimist Clubs to be held in Melbourne next month. Miss Loughhead is the deputy-chairman-elect of the committee.