Significant Soroptimists
Violet Richardson (1888-1979) was president of the very first Soroptimist club in Alameda County, California.
While a student at the University of California, Violet established Berkeley Women’s Gymnasium.
As a physical education teacher, she fought for equal pay for women. Showing a vast enthusiasm for creating opportunities for girls, her parting words on her retiral as president were, “Let us continue the work together and with others, toward the development of a better womanhood, a better manhood, and a better citizenship.”
Helen Catto (18871978), often described as the mother of Scottish Soroptimism, became first Scottish president of the National Union of Soroptimist Clubs of Great Britain in 1931.
Helen graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a Master of Arts and became Glasgow
Central Station’s Lady Welfare Supervisor for the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company.
Mima Robertson (1901-1985) was founder of the Dunfermline club.
Historical novelist Mima was also a prolific serial writer for “The People’s Friend”.
Rita Lewis from Soroptimist InternationaI Ellesmere Port has been celebrated in the organisation’s
#WhoIsShe awards for her amazing work in the community throughout the pandemic, delivering food parcels and free meals to people in need.
Marissa Roxburgh is one of Soroptimist International’s youngest members at twenty. She joined the Paisley club at seventeen after attending meetings with her aunt since she was eleven.
A student at Glasgow University, she is a member of the Scottish Youth Parliament for Renfrewshire South, Youth Voice and the East Renfrewshire Champions Board.