International Women and Girls Benefit from SIFC Service

In celebration of International Women’s Day, and to help women and girls around the world, Soroptimist of Fort Collins designated the evening of March 29 as a Soroptimist Service evening. Local members joined with community partners in crafting attractive and serviceable items for those in need of warmth and safety. Fleece, yarn, and pillowcases became 53 scarves, 53 pair of fingerless mitts, 10 hats, and 25 pillowcase dresses. Mitts, hats and scarves will be delivered to Vietnam. Pillowcase dresses will be delivered to little girls in Haiti.

Soroptimist members around the world strive to come together in Soroptimist’ Service on or around International Women’s Day, March 8. International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women--past, present and future. International Women's Day allows an opportunity to celebrate women's success, and reminds of inequities still to be redressed.

Binh Rybacki, Executive Director of Children of Peace International requested the mitts, hats and scarves for women and girls working in cold sections of Vietnam. Binh will deliver the warmth during an upcoming medical trip.

According to Carolyn Wade, President of Soroptimist International of Fort Collins, “Young girls in Haiti are less apt to be raped when wearing dresses; Dresses indicate a level of status and thus security.” Soroptimist of Fort Collins hopes to continue making these dresses to improve the lives of girls in Haiti.

International Women's Day

International Women's Day (8 March) is an occasion marked by women's groups around the world. This date is also commemorated at the United Nations and is designated in many countries as a national holiday. When women on all continents, often divided by national boundaries and by ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political differences, come together to celebrate their Day, they can look back to a tradition that represents at least nine decades of struggle for equality, justice, peace and development.
International Women's Day is the story of ordinary women as makers of history; it is rooted in the centuries-old struggle of women to participate in society on an equal footing with men. In ancient Greece, Lysistrata initiated a sexual strike against men in order to end war; during the French Revolution, Parisian women calling for "liberty, equality, fraternity" marched on Versailles to demand women's suffrage.

The idea of an International Women's Day first arose at the turn of the century, which in the industrialized world was a period of expansion and turbulence, booming population growth and radical ideologies.

Soroptimist members around the world strive to participate in some type of service activity on the Saturday nearest March 8 to commemorate International Women's Day and give generously of their time and resources.

Whittle S'mittens and Soropti-scarves to Warm Women and Girls in Vietnam

Knitted fingerless mittens:
Using size 9 needles, Leave a tail of yarn for 14 inches - Cast on 24 stitches
Make your ribbing: Row 1 - 15: K2 - P2 - you should end with purl stitches
Body of the mittens: Row 16 - 27 (12 rows of body - Stockinette stitch (Knit 1 row and Purl the next)
Top of mittens: Row 28 -31 of ribbing just as the first 15 rows (K2 -P2)
Bind off all, and leave a tail for 12 inches before you cut off yarn.

Fold the mitten right side in and mark with pin 3 inches from the bottom and
2 inches from top of mitten. Use the tail yarn to sew up 3 inches from the
bottom and 2 inches top down. The opening is for thumb.
(Blanket stitch works well for this.)

Crocheted fingerless mittens:
Using size G hook, Chain 25.
Single crochet 4 (working in back of stitches), chain 3 (The opening is for the thumb.), single crochet as before to end of the row.
Single crochet next row (working in back of stitches) including single crochet in each of the 3 chains. Yields 24 stitches across.
Continue in single crochet until you have 18 “ribbed” rows.
Finish off, leaving a length of yarn to stitch long ends together (Blanket stitch works well for this.)

Soropti-scarves
Using sport weight yarn and hook size "L" or smaller, chain 71 (or # required to make approximately a 27" long scarf). Single crochet in second chain from hook and each of the following chains. You will have one fewer single crochet stitches than the number of chains you started with. Single crochet 6 rows. On the 7th row, crochet 16 stitches (approximately 7" in from the end of the scarf). Chain 3, skip 3 single crochet, then single crochet in remaining crochet stitches. (Buttonhole formed). On the next row, crochet in all stitches including 3 chain stitches. Single crochet 6 rows; tie off. (Total = 13 crocheted rows plus the first chain row--making the scarf 3 to 4' wide.) To wear: wrap around neck; slip one end of scarf through the buttonhole and pull to snug.

Thanks to You, Our 2011 Used Booksale was a Huge Success

The American Association of University Women and Soroptimist International of Fort Collins extend sincere thanks for another fantastic fundraiser! Our 2011 Used Book Sale recycled 40,000 books and brought in nearly $20,000 to help support programs for women and families in northern Colorado. Thanks especially to
♦ Area readers for donating books to make the sale a reality
♦ Foothills Mall for the location
♦ Old Firehouse Books for ongoing donations
♦ Local fraternity gentlemen and sorority ladies for processing truck-loads of books, and most importantly
♦ Shoppers for supporting us!
Our nonprofits, and the individuals we serve, sincerely thank you!

Mary Robinson, SIFC Co-Chair
Margaret Grant, AAUW Co-Chair

With a little help from out friends...