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SOROPTIMISTS |
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Tickets on sale for Saturday's St. Patrick's Dinner and Auctionposted 03/10/2010
The menu is traditional corn beef and cabbage; however a vegetarian option is also available. 'To Go Dinners' available for pickup 4:30 pm to 5:30 p.m. Event Tickets are $20 Adults, $15 Seniors (65+), $10 Children (under 10 yrs) and the 'To Go Dinner's are $12 each. All tickets are available from The Toy Box, from Soroptimists this Friday at Kings and Market Place or at the event, although pre-sold tickets help the Chef. Recently Soroptimist awarded the Violet Richardson award to young Diana Eisenhauer for her outstanding volunteer services in her community. Soroptimist also gave Angela Bolger the Women's Opportunity Award of $2500 to continue her education to become a nurse. And the most recently, the Ruby Award went to Kitty Sorgen and her daughter Jill Urbach for their work at making a difference in the lives of women in Kenya through their quilting project. This fundraiser provides all the monies for the club's various projects and awards. Soroptimist means 'best for women' and that is just what this local Friday Harbor club does; helps women and girls. The volunteers need your support so they can get things done. Please call Marie DiCristina 378-7595 or visit www.sifri.org" events for more information about the event. Soroptimist pass 100 member markBy Lori Stokes
Photo by Marie DiCristina posted 02/23/2010
This month, the Friday Harbor Soroptimists passed the 100-member mark, with five women (pictured) being inducted as new members. This makes the group the largest of the island's four service clubs, as well as the second largest in Soroptimist International of the Americas Federation (which includes Canada, North & South America, Japan, Guam and the Philippines.) SI of Chico, California is the only club larger than Friday Harbor's. What an accomplishment, given the relatively small community in which the club operates! The name Soroptimist means “best for women,” and that's what the organization strives to achieve. Soroptimists are women (and a few men!) at their best, working to help other women be their best. Club members share their time, talents and financial resources to enrich the island community through a variety of service projects, awards, and scholarships. In addition to the club's commitment to the island community, members also contribute to projects around the country and the world through the Soroptimist International organization. During the last year and a half, the club put over $35,000 back into our community with donations to over 20 different organizations/activities. The largest single amount was the $18,500 the club spent purchasing ferry tickets for cancer patients going to the mainland for treatment. For more information about the Soroptimists of Friday Harbor, check out www.sifri.org Soroptimists soar with enthusiasm
Pictured from left to right seated are: Outgoing President Ellen Roberts, incoming President Debbi Staehlin and Board members. Seated is Nancy DeVaux and standing left to right Patty Brightman, Marty Huleatte, Carol Capps, Shelley Alan, Sharon Pigman and Phyllis Davis. posted 06/17/2008
They installed their new officers on June 8 at a private party at Vinnie’s Restaurant. The club membership began the year with 65 members in July 2007, ended with 88 members in June 2008. To become a member or for more information please visit www.sifri.org Soroptimists select Robin Freeman for Women's Opportunity Award
Pictured from left: Robin Freeman, Soroptimist member Kristine Ogle and Soroptimist President Ellen Roberts. posted 03/05/2008 Soroptimist International’s major service project, The Women’s Opportunity Award, was established in 1972 and designated in 1997 as the program that best exemplifies the aims of the organization. The award is designed to assist women who are the primary wage earner for their family and seek to improve their economic status by gaining additional skills, training, and education. Award winners may use the cash award for any costs associated with obtaining their education, including: tuition, books, supplies, childcare and automotive care. Each year more than $800,000 is awarded by Soroptimist through the Women’s Opportunity Award. The word Soroptimist means "Best for Women" and for more information visit the local club’s Web site at http://www.sifri.org. Also please remember the upcoming St. Patrick’s Extravaganza Dinner and Auction on March 15 at the San Juan Island Yacht Club. This primary fundraiser supports the Women’s Opportunity Award along with the many other projects and services the club provides. For Dinner tickets please contact Debbie Staehlin 378-7232 or purchase at The Toy Box, The Garuda & I or at Pat Hansen’s office. Soroptimists Awards to Outstanding Women and Teensposted 02/26/2007
The "Making A Difference Award" this year went to Lainey Volk, for her leadership on the Every 15 Minutes program. Lainey put together the program with massive coordination involving 27 organizations, 14 grants and over 200 volunteers. The program simulated a fatal car accident involving teens and alcohol, and involved mock rescue, medical, law enforcement, media, legal, court and funeral proceedings. Students are still talking about the event and according to some, "we know there are young women who have made positive choices as a result." Lainey’s compassion and organizational skills have truly made a difference here in our community. The "Women’s Opportunity Award" goes to a woman in San Juan County who is the primary wage earner in her family and is working to improve her economic status. This year the award went to Amy Johnson of Orcas Island. Amy is the mother of three, works full time as office manager at the Orcas Family Health Center, and is working on her Bachelors degree. Amy will be present at the March 14th Notable Women’s Luncheon to receive her award. Violet Richardson Awards A teenager’s life is busy – going to school; completing homework; often working part-time; and participating in sports, music, or other school activities. Despite these demands, many of our islands’ teenagers are setting aside time for volunteering, determined to make a difference in their community. One such inspiring volunteer is Tara Melborne, a senior at Spring Street International School, who has been selected by the Soroptimists of Friday Harbor to receive the club’s 2007 Violet Richardson Award. This award, which comes with a $750 cash stipend, honors Tara’s volunteer work for the ESL Child Enrichment Program. For two evenings each week, Tara works with the children of Spanish-speaking adults who are learning English through Skagit Valley Community College’s ESL (English as a Second Language) program. While the adults are busy honing their language skills, Tara helps their children with homework, sets up art projects, reads books with them, and stimulates conversations in English. Rita Ament, who works with Tara in the program, observes, "I love her. She has become a very inspirational young woman. It’s rare that someone her age really cares for an individual and gives all of herself to them. Tara brings magic to the program." Three other young women, who all attend Friday Harbor High School, were selected as runners-up for the award. Wynn Barnard traveled to the Peruvian Amazon last summer, and was inspired to begin developing a project that will send art supplies to children in a little village there and will then sell their artwork here in Friday Harbor, using the proceeds to purchase and send educational supplies to their village. Sarah Heeren is being honored for her work with Island Rec, coaching teams for both basketball and volleyball, as well as putting together and running a very successful volleyball camp last summer. Katie Schmidt, who lives on Shaw Island, has been writing and publishing a monthly newsletter in Spanish, as a way to reach out to the vibrant - but often ignored - Latino community on the island; she is currently in Ecuador, working on improving her Spanish-language skills during a six-month exchange trip. Kate Hunter receives Violet Richardson award
Kate Hunter and Soroptimist Nancy Hanson posted 2/7/2006
The Violet Richardson Award is offered annually by Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor to a young woman between the ages of 14 and 17 who volunteers in our community or school. The Award was designed to honor Violet Richardson who was President of the first Soroptimist club in 1921. Her motto was "It's what you do that counts". If you have any questions regarding the Violet Richardson Award or Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor you can call Vicky Thalacker at 378-2300 or leave a message at 378-4578. |
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