Model debut for new Soroptimists president

AS the Ennis and District Soroptimists’ prepare for next month’s charity fashion extravaganza in Dromoland Castle, club member Stasia McDermott has just been presented with some rather stylish neckwear.

However, this chain isn’t making a fashion statement, instead Stasia has just been named as the local club’s newest president.
One of the first high profile events of Stasia’s presidency will be the fashion event on Wednesday, May 4. All proceeds from the fashion show will benefit the 65 Roses national Soroptimists fundraising project for Cystic Fibrosis.
The fundraising appeal, devised by the Ennis and District Club, seeks to raise €100,000 by November 1, 2011. So far €75,000 has been raised though a combination of small efforts including coffee mornings, bake sales, charity walks, shopping events, corporate raffles and donations.
The fashion show will involve styles from many local boutiques, ‘pop-up’ shopping and prizes for the best-dressed lady amongst others. Also taking to the catwalk alongside the professional models will be local Soroptimists, including new president Stasia.
“We’re all modelling and it’s going to be great fun. We’re in the middle of preparations for the event and already tickets are going well, so it should be a great night. New presidents usually chose a charity to get involved with for their year in office, but because this project has been ongoing over two years I feel quite identified with it so I wanted to be able to run something that would help us achieve our fundraising target.
“We’ve set our target at €100,000 and with this fashion event and some other companies being generous and coming on board, we are hopeful that we will make our target,” she said.
“The local support we have been getting for this event in terms of sponsorship has been fantastic. Now that we’re in recessionary times you feel terrible asking, but at the same time a lot of these causes, like Cystic Fibrosis, are struggling and it’s falling back even more on the general public’s generosity. Cystic Fibrosis is Ireland’s most common life threatening inherited disease, it couldn’t be a more worthy cause.”
Stasia, a native of Dublin, first got involved with the Soroptomists when she was secretary to former club president Bendy Britchfield. Having relocated to Clare with her husband Aidan, from Doolin, Stasia says she was particularly drawn to the sense of friendship amongst the Soroptimists.
However, her first encounter with the Soroptimists goes even further back, she revealed.
“When I was in school in Dublin our school participated in the Soroptimist public speaking competition. Little did I know I’d end up president of a club,” she laughed.
She added, “When I came in as Bendy’s secretary I got a feel for Soroptimism and what it is they do. They’re a great bunch of women from all over the county and even outside the county and there is a really varied group. it’s great if you’re not from a place to be able to meet people. There is a real friendship side to the whole thing, but it’s also about people who want to serve their community well. These are people who are interested in advancing the status of women. Of course there is a real international flavour to Soroptimists, with clubs all over the world linking together.”
Stasia says she is thoroughly enjoying her first few weeks as club president. While she began as Bendy’s secretary, in a case of role reversal Bendy has offered to be Stasia’s secretary during her year in office.
“Having been secretary before I saw how it all worked and what the president needed to do. The support that you get when you decide to do something is phenomenal and that’s for every president. When there are other people around you who are so supportive then you can take on the role,” she said.
The biggest event on Stasia’s year in office will be the Friendship Weekend, which will see 150 Soroptimist members gather in Ennis in September.
Stasia explained, “This will be the main focus of my year in office. Our club has the national president of Soroptimists Ireland Rosalie Byrne-Muir as a member and in her honour we are holding this Friendship Weekend.
“We are expecting members of clubs from all over the country and possibly even internationally, to come to the weekend. It will be a very convivial event with guest speaker Ger Colleran of the Star set to come down to the event. We are all really looking forward to the Friendship Weekend and of course the rest of the year will be taken up with various fundraising events.”
The fashion event in Dromoland Castle will take place on Wednesday, May 4 at 7pm in aid of Cystic Fibrosis.