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Stella then tells us the history of their dog: "Hillary is 10 years old now and she came to us, a 5 weeks old, born on Dec 25 just like my father. "She has been a joy for both my husband and I. She loves car rides, walking, fishing and hiking."
A Page where Chatliners can share something about themselves with others.
Stella Funk
When Stella sent me her photo for our "Faces Directory" she included a family picture with her husband, Allen and their dog Hillary. "Because," Stella said, "it is one of our best photos and shows off our Oregon coast."
"I brought Hillary home from a drop-in-center for homeless teens where I work one night as she was rescued from a boa constrictor snake for lunch by one of my friends, who was in a transitional housing. She would have
lost her housing if they knew she had a puppy.
UPDATED: April 16th 2003Stella the Author
[Stella Funk Butler
Soroptimist International of Portland, OR
Imagine Life Without Violence, Chair
Northwestern Region, USA, SI of the Americas]
"But even more important than the sheer pleasure you, and the "team" or "core" of Chatline contributors generate, is the breaking down of barriers and frontiers. The world is shrinking and that can only be good."
On the Left: Jackie with an umbrella, standing in front of a swollen River Thames, in the UK.
Jackie writes further:
"We were enjoying the Gala Evening to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of SI Gravesend and District in 2002. It was a super occasion and the members of Gravesend and District taught our members a great deal.
"We left Kent feeling truly inspired."
The names of the Past Presidents of Kingston-upon-Hull are, from left to right: Betty Dean, Audrey Marshall, Margaret Moody, Alex Henderson and Jackie Kirkby.
[Jackie Kirkby
Kingston-upon-Hull
Yorkshire Region, SIGBI]
Sheilah annually goes on a fishing trip to Lake Taupo and sends photos to prove that she actually catches trout :-)
[Sheilah Downs
SI Lower Hutt
New Zealand, Central Region
SISWP]
Shown on the photo on the left: Chatliners Barbara Milburn (SI Upper Hutt) and Sheilah Downs (SI Lower Hutt).
Barbara sent a photo of their SOS Project. She writes: "For our Saturday of Service our club did garden maintenance for a local rest home.
On the photo are: In front Gillian Buchanan (past President )
Mary Money (SI programme liaison 1991 - 1993)
behind them Jimmy a resident who helped with the hosing and has hosed regularly every day since.
[Barbara Milburn
SI of Upper Hutt
Central Region
New Zealand
SISWP]
On photo below: Meryl (in red) with
Margaret Burton, at the 2002 Conference
in Kuala Lumpur.
Meryl was asked by a newcomer on the Chatline to tell about herself, Meryl writes: "Because I am such an 'old' chatliner, the newer members only know me as a contributor. Here is my story and that of early Soroptimist days I experienced 'down-under'. - Precis - I joined as a charter member - Woollahra Club was chartered in January, 1956. This is an area in the eastern suburbs of Sydney. I was matron of a Mothercraft Training Centre (Truby King). Being a new club we were all appointed something - I was Secretary and delegate to Region - soon elected Vice President of the Region.
"Our federation was GBI but we had just been granted permission to hold conferences of all Australian clubs - a small constitution, fees to cover costs, etc. and to elect our own officers. Annual conferences commenced in 1957, the first in Hobart; the second in Melbourne in 1958 welcomed two members from New Zealand - and so in 1959 we had a Council of Soroptimist Clubs of Australia and New Zealand. when the conference was held in Sydney. These conferences changed to biennially - the next one being in 1961 - reason was the International Convention in London in 1960 where I was the leader of the delegation. I think there were about 30 of us. Transport was mostly by ship in those days. I left Australia the previous year to work initially in Vancouver,BC, thence to UK where I undertook a Premature Baby course in Birmingham, travelled in UK and Europe - youth hostels. Attended the GBI annual conference in Brighton.
"Back to OZ to a new position in another location - so by the rules of those days I moved clubs. A few more changes - Director of Nursing of two hospitals - and another club - Sydney Club. Meanwhile my first two clubs did not exist any more, the second one combining with Sydney Suva Club in Fiji was chartered in 1971 and Fiji joined our group and we became 'South West Pacific'. Then the Annual Conference of GBI was held in Sydney, 1973, when I was President of the Council of Soroptimist Clubs of South West Pacific.
"Our conferences continued biennially - our aim to become a separate federation was achieved in 1978 when the Presidents of the three other federations and the International President joined us in Adelaide for the conference. Melbourne was the venue for the International Convention in 1987 - and now it returns to 'down-under' this year.
"My three clubs in the Sydney suburbs together with my current club, SI Goulburn, are now all in the same region of NSW. This region combined the older regions of NSW, South Coast and Tablelands, and Monaro which included ACT (Canberra).
" When in 1986 I retired from the position of Director of the Division of Nursing in the NSW Dept of Health, and Chairman of the Nurses' Registration Board of NSW, I moved house to the country - and after a few years travelling to Sydney to attend club meetings transfered to SI Goulburn. My days as a ' delegate' continued to region until this year. For my sins, though, I am on the committee preparing for the forthcoming Convention.
"The Region of
NSW covers a large geographic area with 14 clubs. Extension is not easy and many have commented that all service clubs are struggling. Goulburn is a rural centre of around 22,000; static with equal men and
women. The rural economy is not good and now the drought which commenced
three years ago has added more problems. My club needs to aim its fund raising at local needs to gain support and recognition - though we always
manage to support the Federation and International projects. I will have
the ChatLine quilt here before Easter for 11 days on display in the local
Arts and Craft Centre.
On the right one of Meryl's paintings of an Australian scene.
"SI Goulburn is too small at present - only just
legal - and we are working hard on recruitment. I turn 77 this year and don't know if I will be able to go to Glasgow in 2007. I will, however
make the next Federation Convention in Wellington next Easter.
"I am single, mother of two Jack Russell Terriers, shown on the photo with Meryl wearing the SIAM Project hat. I have a small cottage
in the Southern Highlands of NSW - about two hours from Sydney on the
route to the south west towards Canberra and Melbourne.
A garden that suffers from neglect too often, and a cottage that could do with a good clean and tidy-up!! My local life is busy and happy. We have just
commenced Seniors Week (which is actually ten days)yesterday
with a concert at which we performed.
" This morning was art class where I learn oil painting and I will have stall at the Convention selling these (
Australian scenes, unframed for ease of transporting) - in aid of my
club's contribution to the new international project.
Shown below more of Meryl's paintings:
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"Enough from me - what about you?"
[Meryl Caldwell-Smith.AM,RN,JP
SI Goulburn
Region of NSW SISWP]
All of us have been deeply touched and inspired by Governor Irma during the last months with her fight and determination as she never gave up. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her children and the many family members.
Governor Irma's beautiful spirit was reflected in her Soroptimist membership. She fought the good fight, finished the race, kept the faith, and her struggle is over. She is home and smiling at all of us from her heavenly mansion.
We love you Governor Irma and thank you for letting us be a part
of your life.
GE Voncile Rayner
SIA/Southern Region
A photo taken when Irma was visited by Chatliner Joan Sherry from the Isle of Man. Shown from the left: Soroptimists - Mickey Aulls, Joan Sherry, her daughter
Jacqui Morgan and Irma Galloway.
Irma regularly entertained Chatliners with interesting facts about Soroptimist under the Subject Line : "Did You Know".
Here are two of her Soroptimist snippets with photo illustrations.
Irma writes: "Did You Know that Soroptimist of Fort William-Port Arthur Canada, now known as Thunder Bay began it's centennial project with a sod turning ceremony that turned into what was named The Impossible Dream.
"The International Friendship Garden became a reality and in 1986 a beautiful arch was dedicated. The entrance to the gardens holds a bronze plaque with the Soroptimist Pledge written on it.
"As of May/June 1987, they were starting "Stage 3". During the first two stages, they started putting in gardens. At the 1987 point, they had Finnish, Italian, Lithuanian, German, Ukrainian, Polish, Hungarian, Slovakian, Canadian, Chinese, Greek, Indian, Filipino, Slovenian and Scottish.
"There is a second arch at the entrance of Stage 2, but I don't have that picture. The club at that time had gotten cooperation to have a street closed between the gardens and a Home for the Aged. The residents used the gardens for their daily outings. It has no fences and can be entered at any time without charge. The club has put in benches and resting areas.
I assume that this garden is still in use. I have never heard anymore about it."
[I did not go to the Soroptimist Garden when I visited Thunder Bay, Ontario, last year. Will do so when I visit again. HCF]
"The Soroptimist Redwood Grove:
started in 1971 with a donation of land by a member of the community. It was a Dottie Kissinger goal. She would become SIA president in 1976. It also marked the 25th anniversary of SI Pamona and the 50th Anniversary of the founding of SI. The redwoods were donated by friends as living memorials and gifts of recognition.
"In July of 1976, a US bicentennial tribute was celebrated by the planting of 200 more trees also funds were appropriated for granite blocks to identify living memorials. The hard work of redesigning the grove, new signs, more donor blocks came to fruition when in March 6 1987 they had the Pomona centennial celebrations.
[Irma J. Galloway
SI Lake County
Governor Southern Region SI/A]
for "Getting to Know You" PAGE2 
