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Soroptimist |
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Overview P.O. Box 1049 La Conner, Washington Charter Date: February 29 1996
Meetings are held the second Wednesday at 6:00P.M. at The Farm House Restaurant Dinner is served
Soroptimist loosely translated from its Latin origin means “Best for Women.” It is one of the largest service organizations with clubs located in approximately 120 countries throughout the world with a membership of over 95,000 women.
To quote from the NW region web page : “The gift of Soroptimist membership provides a variety of benefits including personal fulfillment, friendships all over the world, networking, leadership development, and an avenue to serve as a mentor reaching out to women…..”
SILC’s own mission statement reflects this. It reads: The mission of Soroptimist International of La Conner is to help women in our community who demonstrate courage in the face of adversity, who show signs of leadership against overwhelming odds, who are promising citizens if given a hand-up in their present circumstances. We look for and honor the values of character, self-pride, self-discipline, sacrifice and good will towards others.
How do we accomplish these ideals? By offering a variety of scholarships and awards to high school graduates and single moms; by offering assistance, when needed, to local groups and individuals, and by recognizing outstanding efforts of women who work so hard to better their community and opportunities within that community.
All of these programs are funded primarily through the income received from our thrift shop – Vintage La Conner. The membership is to be congratulated for the efforts put into making this one of the most successful enterprises for a small club in a town of this size. We have additional fundraisers such as our annual tea and fashion show, occasional wine tastings, silent auctions, and other events – all geared to be fun for the membership and to raise additional funds.
I’d like to briefly explain four of the programs we offer to the community:
The Women’s Opportunity Award program is Soroptimist’s major service project. This award is designed to assist women heads of household entering or re-entering the workforce in obtaining the education and skills training they need to improve their employment status. Recipients of this award are frequently victims of abuse, neglect, or poverty, and their stories are both heart breaking and inspiring. Local winners then become eligible to receive region–level awards. Every year, 28 geographic regions throughout North, Central and South America, and Asia each grant one $5,000 first–place award, and two or more $3,000 awards. These 28 first–place recipients become eligible to receive one of three $10,000 finalist awards. These monies are made available through the Laurel Sociey funds. The Laurel Society is a permanent recognition program for members and others who contribute $1000, or more, to Soroptimist. Three of SILC’s winners, who have received this $1000 award, have gone on to receive additional awards at the regional level, one taking first place – an amazing achievement for a community of this size.
The Violet Richardson Award, also an SIA (Soroptimist of the Americas) program, is designed to honor high school girls for their volunteer commitment in making their communities, high schools, and homes a better place in which to live.
The Christmas Program (or as one recipient has named it - the Secret Santa Program) is unique to SILC. Each year we have given gifts to single moms or heads of households to congratulate and honor them for the hard work they do to make a better life possible for their families. Since 1998 we have recognized 67 moms and three dads with a note honoring their efforts, a check for $225 and a $25 gift certificate to our thrift shop. We deliver these personally, and are often given huge hugs in thanks. The thank you notes we have received for this program have been heartwarming. A sampling of these follows: “I am both honored and humbled …Thank you for your selflessness to make our (and many others) lives better and brighter, not only through gifts but also by acts of recognition …” “My heart is so thankful to you…you made me evaluate myself and say ‘I am doing great!’…”
The SHOUT program, standing for Soroptimists Helping OUT, was established here in La Conner several years ago, because we recognized there might be an opportunity to contribute to short term community needs. Our SHOUT projects have included such activities as providing sandwiches for flood workers, planting trees at La Conner’s Maple Hall, working on Habitat projects, setting up and dismantling of Skagit Historical Society exhibits, gathering and bagging toiletries for Friendship House and most recently helping out with hosting duties at a national lactation conference held at Maple Hall.
In addition to these programs, SILC gives $1000 scholarships to at least three high school seniors each spring at graduation.
To get a feeling of the scope of Soroptimist activities here in our Northwest Region and around the world, be sure to visit the websites available.
La Conner club website: www.silaconner.com Northwest region website: www.soroptimistnwr.com Member before 10/2002 - Login: Member #, then lastnamefirstname Member after 10/2002 - Login: Member #, then firstnamelastname SIA: www.soroptimist.org Login: last name, then Member #
Your member # is on the mailing label of the Soroptimist magazine and on your membership card. If you have not received your first issue, call the Internet coordinator (Pat Elston), and she can provide you with a temporary number.
Jane Godfrey SILC President December 30, 2006
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