Service groups planning combined project

Press, 23 February 1977, Page 16

Service groups planning combined project

Three women's service elubs in Christchurch and Canterbury are planning to get together for a combined, community welfare project.

Altrusa. Zonta and Soropiimist clubs held their first «>?mbined meeting on Monday evening to assess support for meh a project. The 130 xun -n decided unanimously *o investigate the possibilities. Proposals for projects put i rward by members at club Vvel will be considered at mother combined meeting at (>e end of April. Then it is toped a committee will be formed to guide the project. The clubs are anxious to preserve their individual Identity, and their place in their wider. international t’iganisations. But there was I considerable feeling among the women that they could tombine their strengths. A precedent has been set Recently, Altrusa, Zonta, and south Christchurch Soroplimists combined in a big 'und-raising project, Wheels for Wheels. This provided a special vehicle for quadra-! fiegics at St John of God hospital. j "This project brought the ihree clubs together, and promoted a better understanding between the members," said Hiss Rosalie Sterritt. president of the Altrusa Club ofi

Christchurch, yesterday. The women do not beiievt their service projects over lap. "The need in the com munity is so great that ever if we do sometimes work foi the same cause, it car always do with any help we can provide.” said the president of the Christchurch Soroptimist Club, Mrs Eileen Mars. The enthusiasm and cooperative spirit at the meeting delighted its organisers. “Everyone seemed very keen to get behind the idea.”’ said Mrs Lorna Speary, president of the Zonta Club of Christchurch. "And many of us did not realise that women we meet regularly in business are also members of service clubs.” “It was an impressive meeting, with some really outstanding women,” said Mrs Mars. The women in the service clubs are all business and professional women in positions of responsibility. Categories of employment are not duplicated, so membership covers a wide range of occupations, talent, and ability. The Altrusa principle of

iPractical idealism is embodied e in all three clubs. They aim r-to foster personal improve-i-iment and development, n alongside community service ir at home and abroad, n Combined membership of I e the clubs is almost 270. i- Other representatives of h clubs in the area were the n presidents of the Altrusa Club of Ashburton (Mrs Jen-' nifer Hunt), the Altrusa Club. J of New Brighton (Miss lsa- ; , bell Linton), the Rangiora; n Soroptimist Club (MrsNgaire! r l Thomson), the Ashburton t . Soroptimist Club (Mrs Jean, . Campbell), and Mrs M. Bond. I j of the Cashmere Soroptimist[ glClub. s ! Mrs Grace Hollander,, e national president of the National Council of Women, i described the gathering as a e unique group of women. They were women who had 3 been successful in careers, who had the foresight and e compassion to realise that d|thev were not fulfilled "if - they were not also giving ’. service. e [ Women’s rights and re■j sponsibilities was the theme; • of her address. The Govern- ■ a ment’s proposed Humanl Rights Commission would. fi not immediately put women [ into the Government, or into [ the board room. An advisory! I body, it would not change j discrimination which was a i matter of attitudes, or age-1 ; old traditions. [ It would be up to an in- i I formed public to be alert and 1 I insistent for the commission [ I to achieve its ideals of safe-! 1 ! guarding the rights of the in-! 1 | divdual. I Mrs Hollander asked if J there was not a new wind of!' i change that could help ! { [nations cope with the mon-,; [ strous problems of the 19705.,' She expressed her optimism |,

I for international accord if it) i! were left to women such as[ • ithe delegates at the 19761 .International Council of! ■ Women in Vancouver. It was awe-inspiring to' [know that across the world' women were thinking alike. I This shared concern for people and peace could bring international accord. Mrs Hollander suggested women take up President .Carter’s challenge to revitalise the old-fashioned values. (She was not suggesting they form a protest group, though .‘‘by all means let us express I our disapproval at various or I specific facets of society.” Women should roll up their, sleeves and attempt to put[ i things right by positive ac-! I tion. If women came together for the good of all 1 people they would be aI power such as the world had j never seen.