Low Tech Solitaire

I spent Memorial Day Weekend at a resort condo with my husband and daughter, three brothers and their families, and my parents. During a down moment I had found a deck of cards and was playing a hand of solitaire. My 19 year old nephew watched me for a minute, and when it dawned on him what I was doing he asked me “how do you know how many cards you put in each pile?”

I laughed because I thought, “Everyone knows how many cards you put in each pile,” but then stopped short as I realized that he didn’t know. The only way he had ever played solitaire was on a computer (thank you, Bill Gates?). Lesson learned – I can’t assume everyone knows what I know – about anything!

I take this lesson seriously as I think about the many new members our club has recruited. Our club, like many Soroptimist Clubs, has a culture of its own that our new members need to learn, in addition to the Soroptimist culture. I can’t – we can’t – expect our new members to understand everything and need to make a concerted effort to tell them.

The Gift of a Child

SIA Convention is over – and I have to leave the convention hotel as soon after 5:00 PM as possible to catch a 7:25 PM flight to Las Vegas for a work conference. In hindsight this was not smart. I was running – literally – to take down our Breakfast with Santa display, grab my suitcase from the room, return my key card to Marilyn, check out (oops – forgot to do that), and get to the BART station and on the train.

So picture me, walking down the streets of San Francisco, past all the smarter Soroptimists who are lined up in front of the hotel to catch cabs, lugging my overstuffed suitcase, my laptop, and a bag of large poster boards almost as tall as me. This works fine until I try to get through the gates to the trains. You put your ticket in, it comes out another slot, and you have nanoseconds to get through the gate before it closes again. Well, between the poster boards and the overstuffed suitcase, I didn’t make it. I had to go to the agent, who reprinted my ticket, took pity on me, and let me through a handicapped gate.

So I’m finally on the platform, totally stressed, waiting for the train, when a Chinese woman approached and in halting English, asked me which train to take to the airport. Their 10 year old daughter, who had been studying English in school for many years, translated, and we got to chatting. They helped me haul my belongings both on and off the train AND up the stairs to my terminal. They provided an attitude adjustment that I really needed, and I am forever grateful.

The little girl, Sunny, promised to email me. Today there are no Soroptimist clubs in mainland China, but it is my sincere hope that by the time Sunny is old enough to be a Soroptimist, we will be there for her.

Are we having fun yet?

The Keynote Speaker for the closing day of convention was Cynthia, D’Amour, author of The Lazy Leader’s Guide to Outrageous Results. The message I heard loud and clear from Cynthia was: if you’re doing all the work, you’re not having any fun. Share the work – share the joy – share the credit – share the fun! I’m hoping to bring her ideas back to our club so we can have more fun than ever before.

You probably already know the three main reasons people join service organizations.
1. For personal and professional development
2. To contribute to the greater good
3. To become involved in the community and get to know people.

Perhaps you joined for one of these reasons; perhaps for a combination. I’ve always felt that Soroptimist International of Salt Lake provides opportunities in all three areas. I’d like your feedback on how we’re doing, and especially if we can do better.

Cynthia is a long-time blogger. Catch her blog at http://cynthiadamour.com/

Action Speaks Louder than Words

Soroptimist International President Hanne Jensbro (SI Aarhus, Denmark) shared her theme, Action Speaks Louder than Words, in her remarks to the convention. She shared that, “We deserve to be recognized as THE organization improving the lives of women and girls.” SI is embarking on a partnership with the Worldwide Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).

President Hanne reported that The International Soroptimist Magazine is going digital for the first time – in response to the high costs of publication coupled with a reduced number of subscriptions. You can read the first electronic version at http://content.yudu.com/A1o42z/TIS2/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.soroptimistinternational.org%2F

The proposed Bylaws revision passed in convention and will be sent to the clubs for ratification. The changes were intended to simplify the Bylaws by referring to the SI Constitution for higher points of law and to the SIA Procedures for specifics. Points I found interesting:
- The enabling of Sponsored Organizations (Venture Clubs, S-Clubs, Sigma Societies) and the procedures for Governors Round table were moved to the SIA Procedures.
- The prohibition of attendance requirements for clubs was moved to the Bylaws.

Resolved: Soroptimists condemn prostitution as violence against women

Keynote speaker Victor Malarek, author of The Johns – Sex for Sale and the Men Who Buy It, shared information on the demand side of sex trafficking. Following his presentation, Resolution 1, resolving that Soroptimist clubs condemn prostitution as violence against women, was passed by the delegates and will go to the clubs for ratification.

Immediately following the passage of Resolution 1, SIA President-elect Sharon Fisher and Victor Malarek held a press conference on the steps of CraigsList headquarters, to announce Soroptimist’s position against prostitution – the world’s oldest oppression. Here’s the link to one of the stories:

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leading-human-rights-groups-to-protest-at-craigslists-hq-on-70810-97638304.html

SIA 41st Biennial Convention

Convention officially opened last night with the Friendship Dinner – always a celebration of the diversity of Soroptimist International of the Americas. The parade of countries featured the 19 countries within SIA, representing North and South America, the Phillipines, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. The presidents of the three other Federations that make up Soroptimist International were also represented, as was SI President Hanne Jennsbo, who hails from Aarhus, Denmark. Her introduction brought a tear to my eyes; I have relatives in Aarhus.

With sincere thanks to Karen, Kay, Gaby and Carma, our display on Breakfast with Santa stands proudly in the Soroptimist Celebrating Success Lounge. It turned out quite eye-catching with its red background and Santa hats. Great work, ladies.

Independence Day

Independence Day – the celebrations, the fireworks, barbecues with friends and family – what a fabulous reminder of this great country we call home! As I see the flags flying, I am filled with pride for our nation and gratitude for the freedom we have. I hope to never take for granted the freedom I have as a woman in the United States of America. Improving the lives of women and girls in our communities starts here. And we do it because we have the ability, the resources, the freedom, but most of all the conviction that it’s the right thing to do.

We owe a debt of gratitude to those who have fought through the years to keep our land free, and to those who serve today in our nation’s military. One of our own, Major Jewel Naffziger, U.S. Army Reserves, is now serving our country in Iraq. Jewel, we salute you! On this Independence Day, and every day, our thoughts and prayers go with you.