MRS Therese Mahindrakar is determined to clear up an image problem. "When I tell people I'm involved in Soroptimists, they think it's something to do with feet!"

So, Mrs Mahindrakar, as the new president of Soroptimist International of Bolton, is taking positive steps herself - to raise the local profile of this hard-working women's organisation which this year celebrates its diamond anniversary in Bolton.

It's odd that after 60 years Soroptimists should need explanation. After all, this is the world's largest women's service organisation, with around 98,000 members in over 3,000 clubs in 112 countries.

But the simplest argument for this is that they're so busy simply getting on with practical projects that self-publicity has been low on the list.

In Bolton, Soroptimists meet twice a month on Tuesdays, one is a speaker meeting the other a business meeting. Members are all professional females - from tax inspectors and teachers to workers in retail and the legal world.

As Soroptimists, they are involved in a variety of much-needed projects at home and abroad, working in the kind of hands-on, community-minded way that Rotarians do.

In Bolton, Soroptimists have been involved in work as diverse as road-side care on Moss Bank Way, litter-picking and tree-planting, to helping in Hospice shops and providing personal safety alarms for victims of violence.

Globally, they help support an Albanian clinic and a children's hospital in Southern India among other international projects.

Soroptimists work actively to protect vulnerable women and children via projects in several parts of the world. And they have close links with the United Nations and other pivotal international bodies.

With such a strong sense of responsibility, it's no surprise to learn that Soroptimists often become school governors and JPs, and are at the forefront of local charity fund-raising.

Mrs Mahindrakar is certainly no exception here, and has plans for her special year well in hand. She wants to raise money particularly for the children's unit and the children's psychiatric unit at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

And on Sunday, May 10, there will be a £15 a head fashion show and lunch at the Reebok Stadium. Tudor House and Felicity Hat Hire will be showing the fashions and there will also be a raffle, aided by Marks & Spencer.

Mrs Mahindrakar would also like more local women to join Soroptimists. Potential members are the kind who "want to put something back into the community," and aid women and children who need it anywhere in the world.

She has been in the organisation, here and formerly in Widnes, for several years and values both the friendship offered by Soroptimists and the sense of being able to "do something" to help others.

"I would dearly love more people to be aware of what Soroptimists do," she added. "So that they can join us .... and so that they realise that we really have nothing to do with feet!"

Anyone who would like to know more about joining Soroptimists International should ring the Federation office on 0161-480-7686.

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