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SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL HISTORY

The first Soroptimist Club was formed in 1921 in Oakland, California, and was quickly followed by other Clubs in North America. The name Soroptimist was coined from the Latin soror meaning sister, and optima meaning best. Soroptimist is perhaps best interpreted as "the best for women".

In 1924 the first Clubs in Europe were chartered - in Greater London and Paris. The idea, which germinated almost simultaneously in the Americas, in Great Britain and on the continent of Europe, was the movement for "classified" executive business and professional women to associate together to render service. Even as the first Soroptimist Club came into being, the ideals and objectives of such a group were blossoming in many scattered areas around the world.

By 1928 there were enough Clubs on these continents to form two federations - American and European. A link between them was established by the creation of the "Soroptimist International Association" in 1928. In 1934 a third federation - Great Britain & Ireland - was formed.

By 1978 the number of countries with Soroptimist Clubs had grown to 55 and there were Clubs on every continent. They were of very different cultural and economic backgrounds, and in this year a fourth federation - South West Pacific - was established.

Since 1928, Clubs throughout the Soroptimist world have joined together for a Convention. The first was held in Washington D.C. and, apart from the war years 1939/45, have been held quadrennially. The 1999 Convention is to be held in Helsinki, Finland.

MEMBERSHIP

There are currently about 95.000 members in over 3.000 Clubs in 112 countries and territories, and the movement is expanding rapidly,
with many Clubs being formed in the developing world. Soroptimist International is now the world's largest service organization for women.

Membership of a Soroptimist Club is by invitation and care is taken to ensure that each Club represents a wide range of occupations.
Members are chosen for their individual qualities as well as their status in their chosen area of work.

To be eligible for active membership, a woman must be actively engaged in a management or professional capacity, in the private or public sector, or in an occupation with comparable status or comparable responsibilities.

SOROPTIMIST OF LBI

Soroptimist International of Long Beach Island was chartered on March 10, 1956. the first President was Adselaid Kapler. The club then had 18 members, today it has over 65. The LBI club belongs to the North Atlantic Region, which includes New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware and part of West Virginia. The North Atlantic Region is part of the Federation of the Americas, which is part of Soroptimist International.

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