beginning of Soroptimist*

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Beginning of Soroptimist International Association

In 1927, Soroptimist clubs from the United States and Canada met in San Francisco and formed an International Federation. Through the constitution and by-laws, they had attempted to cover all Soroptimist clubs and set up a National Council for each country, thus allowing for growth.

Hopes were that this was a step toward fulfilling Mr. Morrow's original vision of a world-wide Soroptimist organization. The first meeting of the International Federation was set for June 1928 in Washington, D.C.

However, shortly before the 1928 convention, word was received from Miss Amy KerrSander that the overseas clubs did not feel bound by the 1927 constitution and that they had formed a European Federation, of which she was president. She and other overseas representatives attended the 1928 convention as observers.

It was decided in Washington, D.C., to discard the 1927 constitution and bylaws, identify that meeting as "Preliminary International Meeting of Soroptimist Clubs" and to organize an International Association and a separate American Federation, including clubs of the United States and Canada.

The new International constitution adopted in 1928 said that membership would consist of all Soroptimist federations (two in existence). For each federation there would be a representative body composed of the presidents and two vice-presidents and contact would be made through that body. International conventions were to be held quadrennially, beginning in 1930.

That year-1930-became the most eventful year of Soroptimism to that date: the first bienniennal convention of the American federation in Philadelphia, June 2-5, was followed by the International convention in London, June 14-18, attended by representatives from the United States, Canada, England, Scotland, Holland, Belgium, France, Germany, Austria, and Italy.

In 1934, a third federation, the Federation of Great Britian and Ireland, came into being.

Another important change came at the 1938 convention in Atlantic City, N.J. with an amendment to elect a liaison secretary as a tie between the federation presidents and International committee chairmen. Elizabeth Hawes, London, England, was elected and served until 1948, when she retired. Dr. M.M. Garot of Denmark took her place at the Harrogate, England, convention and served until 1952.

Growth of Soroptimism, SIA's activity in new international organizations, (such as the United Nations), and a desire to realize social projects, made evident the need for a permanent international board with a president and constitution.

A permanent board was elected and a constitution adopted at the Copenhagen convention in 1952.

Thus Soroptimist International Association, as it is today, came into its rightful place in the Soroptimist organization and Mrs. Gertrude Huitt, an attorney living in East St. Louis, Illinois, a past president of the Soroptimsit Club of St. Louis and a past American Federation president, became SIA's first president.

* reprinted from Southwestern Region's history book entitled "Out Where It All Began" written and compiled for a celebration of Soroptimist's 50th anniversary in 1971 and updated and reprinted in 1996 for the celebration of Soroptimist's 75th anniversary, prepared by the Founder Region 75th Anniversary Committee and entitled Founder Region "The Way It Was".