As we celebrate International Club Friendship Day 3^rd
October 2014, two inspiring Soroptimist women share the story of their
friendship and what it means to their service and their lives. 

Bette Levy, UN Rep for SI in NY says: “For me being a
member of Soroptimist International has added to my life in so many ways that
it is hard to know where to begin. First and foremost is the mission and all we
stand for; then secondly comes the bonds we make over our collective work. But
for me the greatest gift was becoming UN rep for SI in NY. This has
broadened my world in more ways than I could have imagined possible. Through the
work I do daily at the UN I have learned so much from so many different people
that my mind and knowledge just keeps on expanding. One very special part of
this work is the connections that I have been able to make with my SI
colleagues across the globe. Many Soroptimists travel to New York on holiday
and others for UN meetings, but as a SI UN rep we often greet Soroptimists,
welcome them to NY and explain about the work SI does at all the UN centres.
This casual setting has led to my forming new friendships and bonds with people
I never would have had the opportunity to meet if I was not a SI UN rep.

 

Photo: SI UN Representative Bette Levy

One such person is Dora Vrdlovec. We met when Dora was in NY
for the last CSW and immediately we clicked. We knew we had common goals and
struggles and began emailing each other discussing what was going on in our own
federations, at headquarters and since we were both on the CSW exec committees,
in our region, covering current issues and successes as well. We became a team,
working from different parts of the world to help push the SI positions at the
UN and within our organization. What started as mutual support grew into a
personal friendship and when my husband and I decided to spend part of our
holiday in Vienna and I let know I was coming – Dora could not have been more welcoming or charming
as a hostess.

 Photo: SI UN Representative Dora Vrdlovec

Dora Vrdlovec UN Rep for SI in Vienna says: Meeting Bette
and her husband in Vienna was really wonderful: Whilst walking through the
town, we looked at the monuments and we would talk about Vienna and what
interested Bette most, the way of life of the Viennese. Browsing shop windows we
talked and analysed together the culture, visiting restaurants and cafes led to discussions
of food and our customs over here. Even though Bette was only a tourist in
Vienna, we had time to talk about our work at the UN and our approach to it. We
looked at the differences between the two UN centres and also the difficulties
we faced communicating amongst reps working on the same issue. Our meetings in
NY and in Vienna shows that friendship and understanding grow with personal
contact, and I carry with joy the NY friendship armband Bette gave me. I
am very glad Bette introduced me to the CSW global community, It  is so important to be internationally connected
 The pre-governors meeting organized in Vienna by the Austrian Governors
gave Bette the opportunity to meet with some European Soroptimists and also
with Christine Peer, SIE vice president.

Bette Levy concludes: “This is what is so unique about
Soroptimist International. Almost anywhere you go you can be warmly welcomed by
another Soroptimist.

Read The President’s Message here.