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"Soroptimist International is an organization of women in management and professions working
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SCOUP |
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Officers:
President:
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Outreach
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Scussel
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 Calendar 2007 - 2008 March 31,2007 Service Funds are due. April 1, 2007 Dues are Due April 24th Meeting Election Of Officers May 3-4-5, May 22nd June 26th April 18-19- 20,2008 Birthdays Ellen J __________ Susan K-9/23 Betsi L- 12/19 Pegi M-1/16 Judy P - 1/25 Peggy R- 10/17 Grace S - 11/22 Alice S -5/5 Mary Louise S 6/28 Terry Sue T - 9/4 Cathy W - 5/15 Marie Y -2/13
Our club museum is upstairs at the Silver Queen. |
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A Member of our club has donated $50 to the campaign below. Our club will receive the credit. Thanks to whoever you are from all of us!!!! Fundraising: SIA ANNUAL CLUB CAMPAIGN: Recognizes gifts from Region clubs that generously support SIA Programs. “Reach for the stars” and give a fair share of your local fundraising efforts. Support your organization: Bronze $500, Silver $750, Gold $1,000. |
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Minutes: Soroptimist International of Upper Pinellas County General Membership Meeting March 27, 2007 Radisson Hotel 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. – social and dinner I. CALL TO ORDER - At 7:10 p.m., President Paula called the meeting to order. Martha read a beautiful poem in honor of Marie as our invocation. We then recited the Pledge of Allegiance. II. Introductions & Brag Bucket - President Paula passed the Brag Bucket around which collected $________________. III. MINUTES of the February 27, 2007 meeting were approved as published IV. TREASURER’S REPORT: · With no questions from the Club, the February Treasurer’s Report was filed for audit V. COMMUNICATIONS: · Thank you note from Carmen Wilson – one of our Women Honoring Women honorees · President Paula passed around a folder containing Communications received since our last meeting, i.e., newsletters, flyers, etc. · Terry Sue passed around a get well card for Ellen Jensen. She reminded everyone that the Telephone Committee was still functioning and asked that her committee members continue to contact all members regarding meeting and then let Terry Sue. VI. OLD BUSINESS: · Dues for 2007-2008 – Betsi reviewed all the expenses included in our dues and explained that Federation will be increasing dues each year for the next five years. $97.46 of active member dues are sent to SIA, Federation, Southern Region, District II, etc., leaving -$7.46 and $41.46 for life members, leaving -$11.46. Board Resolution: Raise dues for active members to $100, $35 for Life Members and the service funds would remain at a minimum of $100 per year. Resolution passed unanimously. · Women Honoring Women – Susan presented a final report on Women Honoring Women and thanked everyone for all their help. She passed out the “unofficial” Income/Expense Report (see attached). · Nominating Committee Report – Betsi presented the Slate of Officers and announced that the elections would be at the April Meeting: President – Mary Louise Scussel Vice President – Susan Kinney-Lowell Secretary – Mary Lou Ambrose Treasurer – Peg McEneaney Directors – Alice Schutendorf (2nd year of 2-year term) and Helen Maggaro Delegates – Terry Sue Turner and Martha Gray VII. NEW BUSINESS: · Memorial for Marie York – Pat announced that she placed a special envelope in the Brag Bucket for a donation “in honor of Marie York” to be sent to Women on the Way and invited anyone else to join her in this donation. Pat moved, seconded by Martha, that the Club’s $50 donation at the time of loss of a Club member be sent to Women on the Way. Judy amended the motion to include one-half of the proceeds of tonight’s Brag Bucket be added to Pat’s personal donation and the $50 Club donation. Martha agreed to second the amendment and the motion passed unanimously. · Women Honoring Women Meals for Guests – After a discussion of the problems that have arisen regarding how many meals the Club pays for at the Women Honoring Women Luncheon, the Board presented the following Resolution:
Set club policy as: § Violet Richardson Award – honoree and two parents § Women Honoring Women – honorees and one guest each + one representative of the charitable organization Following further discussion, the Violet Richardson Award was change from two parents to two guests. Resolution passed unanimously. · Voting Delegates for Southern Region Conference – Martha and Karen are our elected delegates. Martha is going to Conference but Karen is unable so it is necessary to elect another delegate. Terry Sue moved, seconded by Judy, that Susan Kinney-Lowell be our second delegate. Motion carried unanimously. · Vote for SIA President Elect – President Paula passed out the bios for each candidate. After a brief discussion, Judy moved, seconded by Terry Sue, that we cast our Club vote for Sandra Schultz of Camino Real Region for SIA President Elect. Motion carried unanimously. · SCOUP for April & May – Since Pat will be cruising the Danube in May, the April Scoup will be lengthened to include all of May information and beginning of June information. Please make sure anything you want in the Scoup for the next couple of months, gets to Pat ASAP. Pat will include all of the April-May-June dates. · Update on SI Weekend Events – Betsi and Mary Louise recapped the events of each SI Club’s recent awards functions… SI Tampa on Thursday, March 8th, SI Largo and SI Holiday Isle on Friday, March 9th. · Invitations for 2008 Regional Conference – President Paula recapped information from Governor Connie regarding Conference Hosting. Mary Louise reported that the contract was FedEx’d to Governor Connie by the Hilton today – so far everything is set for the Hilton Clearwater Beach. Dates are set for April 18-19-20, 2008. Have lots planned including Friday night Starlight Cruise with a visit from the Santa Margarita Crew (Chris Arbutine’s crew). President Paula would like a Conference Chair named by the April Meeting as well as a list of people committed to working and being there for the entire weekend. Discussion followed on the May 2007 presentation of the next conference invitation in Key Largo. Several ideas were bantered about and we will spend the April Club meeting getting whatever is decided “ready to go”. Looking at a pirate type them and Pat (through Chris) donated 20 dozen beads for “throwing” in Key Largo. VIII. ANNOUNCEMENTS · President Paula announced that SK Homestead member Mary Gathencolt (sp?) who is the “Shuttle Chair” for Southern Region is in the hospital with lung cancer. Paula called Governor Connie to make sure she could get the word out on who to contact for Shuttle Reservations and NOT to call Mary. · Susan announced she had labels with Marsha’s information – these labels are to be added to your Club Directory. With no further business, President Paula adjourned the meeting at 9:00 p.m. and the Club recited the Soroptimist Pledge. Respectfully submitted, Susan Kinney-Lowell Secretary |
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SOROPTIMIST ORIENTATION
Region Secretary Position Open. Does anyone want to apply. U N Status of Women Report from Dawn Marie Lemondsits winds down its its face found this fall |
Dedicated to Dorothy Quick who loved to share her Soroptimist wisdom with us. S.O.L.T. |
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Click here for Southern Region Newsletter from Governor Connie |
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April 1, 2007 From: Nominating Committee Chair: Bess Dowling |
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Marie Lemonds,
SI Liaison to the Quadrennial Project “Women Survivors
of War“, attended the UN Commission on the Status of
Women as our representative.
I was privileged to be part of the Soroptimist International Delegation for the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women 51 during the week of February 26- March 2 2007 focusing on the Girl child. Arguably the most important lessons of the week were the following: 1. No violence against children is acceptable. All violence against children is preventable. So many of the issues that face girls is because they are largely "invisible"- their problems are hidden and not even perceived as problems. 2. Girl children face enormously more negative consequences in their lives around the world in both developing and developed countries simply for being born a girl. Types of violence include: Harmful Traditional Practices: Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting, Forced Child Marriage, Child mothers and heads of household ( as young as 9), Girls in the worst form of child labor-- slavery and recruited for the military, Girls affected by HIV ( three times more girls 15-24 than boys are getting the disease) Girls as refugees, and particularly the problems that socially marginalized girls face which very often exacerbate any of the other situations listed above. 3. The first and most pervasive form of discrimination and abuse against girls is in the home-- the very place that girls should be protected. This type of violence includes emotional and the worst forms of physical violence including beating, raping, and death. Girls are treated as commodities and property. 4. Ninety-five percent of all violence again women and girls is perpetrated by males. Violence against women and girls should more properly be referred to as male violence against women and girls. 5. Solutions and strategies for effective changes in society will only occur when men and boys are part of the solution. 6. People are born with a sex and are taught gender. Social behavior is learned and therefore can be changed. 7. Strategies that work and have lasting benefit must consider values. A particularly important part of the week's experience was sharing sessions with over 240 girls that were brought to NY from around the world. We were privileged to hear testimonies from girls of 12-18 years old; some had served as soldiers, some had been raped and now have HIV, some had been slaves and others trafficked, some were "activist" girls who were working for girls. We were implored to make sure that girls were invited to have a "voice" in the sessions and to remember that girls are not women; they are in the process of development and change and bring unique perspectives to the issues we were addressing. SI sponsored a young girl from India. One of the sessions I attended that was particularly heart warming It was about effective strategies with high risk girls. We heard three young women talk about their horrifying stories and their transformations through the wonderful supportive services of the Silesian sisters, a Catholic Charity operating in 79 countries helping disadvantaged children, especially girls. We heard three stories: one from a girl in Zambia, another from India and the third from Colombia. Each of the girls showed bravery and courage beyond my imagination and each of their stories commanded the room. The following is Anna's story: A young woman who is now 20 from
Zambia- Anna-particularly took my breath away. She told
her story where at age 12 she was orphaned, living with
her aunt and on a day when she went with her sister to
the hospital to visit her brother in law, they were
"picked up" by a man that her sister knew. He took her
sister home and then raped Anna. Anna screamed and
struggled and was dropped from the car. She tried to
report the rape, but no one really followed through,
tried to find out who the rapist was and no one took her
to the hospital. It was only after her Auntie decided
that she was tired of taking care of her that Anna went
to the Silesian sisters’ program, and when they did a
health check it was discovered that she had HIV. The
news of her HIV status- which should have been private-
became known and this too become a jeopardy for her
because the other girls at her school- many who were
richer than her and had families at the private school
she initially attended- rebuked her and even attacked
her. Eventually Anna starting a healing process through
personalized special treatment and now this young woman
is a model of courage and self sufficiency. She has
graduated from college and is an advocate for people
with HIV throughout many countries in Africa. She said
to us " I have a message to give girls with HIV. Believe
in yourself. Take your treatments. Take care of
yourself. I have to rule the virus- the virus doesn't
rule me. It is my body. I am very much happy and proud
of myself. I can do something good. Let us give support
to women that are vulnerable. Let's also take these
issues to Government and society!" | |
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A GIFT THAT KEEP ON GIVING “SUPPORT THE TROOPS “ PROJECT SI Davie Club has started a project that must be shared throughout Soroptimist. Through the leadership of Marie Ambrosiono, club members have been collecting personal items for a US Army Reserve troops in Iraq. Marie told the story of how she met a Lieutenant Colonel at their Relay For Life event last November. He describe the needs of the soldiers on the front line and how committed they were to the US mission. The club shipped over 60 pounds of requested items in shoeboxes hoping to reach these soldiers in time for the Christmas holiday. Success! They enthusiastically sent a letter of thanks for making their holiday a little happier knowing that “strangers” appreciated their efforts. Wouldn’t it be nice if we all got
involved in supporting our troops? 1) See if any members know of anyone serving overseas, if not. 2) Call your local recruiting office of any of the branches of service or 3) Contact your local Red Cross Office. You must have an actual person and Unit to send to. Once you have that, obtain a preference list and send away. The Davie Club has agreed to support this Unit until they come home. They recently received another letter from the Unit Leader. The message from the soldiers was that the most appreciate packages are those sent by people they don’t even know. It really lifted their morale knowing they are truly loved and appreciated for their service to our country. No matter what your political opinions are, we must rally to support our service men and WOMEN, who are so gallantly defending our freedom. Hats off to the Davie Club for stepping up to the challenge for such a worthy cause and setting a president!!! P.S. One of the members of the Huntsville Club has a son in Iraq. March 3, Saturday of Service they will be sending packages to his Unit. Free shipping boxes can be obtained from the Post Office and sent (as long as you have an APO address) for $8.10 a box. All that is required is a customs form to accompany each box, listing the contents. If you would like more information on this project, please feel free to contact Marie Ambrosiono @ maa101@aol.com or myself @ RonandLu @aol.com. In Soroptimist Service, Louise Barlow, Chair, Soroptimist Orientation | |
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Contribute through GoodSearch
GoodSearch is a Yahoo-powered search engine that donates 50 percent of its advertising revenue (about a penny per search) to the user's favorite charity. Ours, of course, is SIA. The pennies add up quickly. Consider that if only 1,000 members, friends and staff search the Internet just twice a day, Soroptimist could earn $7,300 a year - just for doing something we do every day! If we think bigger, for example, 10,000 users searching twice a day will earn Soroptimist $73,000 a year!
All you have to do
is visit www.goodsearch.com and download the GoodSearch
toolbar. Enter 'Soroptimist' in the 'My Charity' field
and then every time you search the net on your computer,
don't forget to use GoodSearch!
Thank you for
using GoodSearch to help Soroptimist fund our programs
that improve the lives for women and girls. Let's see
how much we can get those pennies to add up!
Note from Pat: This is not Yahoo's standard bar. | |
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"Live Your Dreams" pins are
available at our club for sale at $3 each which is our cost. There is
more information on "Live Your Dreams" below and at the bottom of the
page. The following information is from the Soroptimists International of America Webstie. To read more info, Just click here.." Despite much progress during the last century, women and girls throughout the world continue to face serious challenges. While they represent about one-half of the world's population, women suffer disproportionately from many social problems. Approximately 70 percent of the 1.3 billion people who live on $1 a day are women. More women between the ages of 15 and 44 die due to gender-based violence than cancer, malaria, car accidents and war combined. About 90 million girls around the world are deprived of primary education. These are but a few statistics illuminating the obstacles facing women and girls around the world. Soroptimist created the Live Your Dream campaign to raise awareness about these challenges and inspire women from all walks of life to realize their full potential. |
This newsletter is made from a template. You will find the meeting announcements always in the same place.
Copyright 2005. Soroptimist International of Upper Pinellas County