Past-President Cheri's Blog

Connecting Girls, Inspiring Futures

2012-02-23T08:10:00.000-08:00

March 8, 2012, marks the 101st anniversary of International Women’s Day, a day which marks the economic, political, and social achievements of women. I am in awe of the women who came together in 1910 – at a time when women did not have the right to vote or to hold public office – to press for this day of recognition.

Per InternationalWomensDay.com, “In 1910, an … International Conference of Working Women was held in Copenhagen. A woman named a Clara Zetkin (Leader of the 'Women's Office' for the Social Democratic Party in Germany) tabled the idea of an International Women's Day. She proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day - a Women's Day - to press for their demands. The conference of over 100 women from 17 countries, representing unions, socialist parties, working women's clubs, and including the first three women elected to the Finnish parliament, greeted Zetkin's suggestion with unanimous approval and thus International Women's Day was the result. Following the decision agreed at Copenhagen in 1911, International Women's Day (IWD) was honored the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on 19 March. More than one million women and men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women's rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination.”

In Salt Lake City we are honored to have Former Utah Governor Olene Walker as the keynote speaker for our International Women’s Day luncheon. Ms. Walker was the first, and to date, the only female governor of Utah. We expect to be inspired by her insights. Go to http://www.sislc.org/ for information.

The 2012 theme for International Women’s Day is “Connecting Girls, Inspiring Futures.” Just think - if every International Women's Day event held in 2012 includes girls in some way, then thousands of minds will be inspired globally. This is especially relevant, as March 12, 2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Girl Scouts. More about the Girl Scouts in a near-future post.

Wear Red for Women’s Heart Health

2012-02-02T07:36:00.000-08:00

Friday, February 3, is National Wear Red Day. Put on your red shirt, your red sweater, or, if it’s casual Friday where you work, your red hoodie – but wear red! Friday is the day we call attention to women’s heart health.

Did you know? Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in women worldwide, causing 8.6 million deaths annually? In the United States, heart disease and stroke cause nearly twice as many deaths for women than those caused by all cancers combined, including breast cancer.

Did you know? Women’s Heart Disease is not as predictable as men’s.
Research by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) indicates that women often experience new or different physical symptoms as long as a month or more before experiencing heart attacks. Surprisingly, fewer than 30% reported having chest pain or discomfort prior to their heart attacks, and 43% reported have no chest pain during any phase of the attack. According to NIH research, women's major symptoms prior to heart attack include unusual fatigue, sleep disturbance, shortness of breath, indigestion, and anxiety. Major symptoms during the heart attack include shortness of breath, weakness, unusual fatigue, cold sweat and dizziness.

If you have any of these signs, don’t wait more than five minutes before calling for help. Call 9-1-1...Get to a hospital right away.

Learn More! Go to http://www.goredforwomen.org/index.aspx for lifestyle tips that can keep your heart healthy.

Soroptimists Stop Trafficking

2012-01-11T10:59:00.000-08:00

Soroptimist International of Salt Lake recognizes today, January 11, as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.

In establishing this day, the U.S. Senate acknowledged that the techniques used by traffickers to keep their victims enslaved severely limits self-reporting, thereby acknowledging the imperative for increased public awareness and advocacy on behalf of the voiceless women and girls being held captive.

Statistics

• Human rights groups estimate that anywhere from 12.3 to 27 million people are currently living as slaves.

• The UN estimates the total market value of exploitation of humans to be $32 billion, with about $10 billion from the initial sale of individuals.

• Each year, between 800,000 and 900,000 people are trafficked across international borders.

• 75 percent of those trafficked are trafficked into the commercial sex industry.

• 80 percent of trafficking victims are women and children trafficked for sexual exploitation

Soroptimist Website

The Soroptimist website at www.soroptimist.org provides an abundance of information about sexual trafficking and what individuals can do to stop it. Information includes a white paper on sexual trafficking, frequently asked questions, and a document called “What I Can Do to Stop Sexual Slavery.”

Change for a Dollar

2011-12-28T10:30:00.000-08:00

A dear Soroptimist friend of more than 20 years sent me the link to a short film, written and directed by Sharon Wright, titled Change for a Dollar. As I watched the film, tears filled my eyes multiple times as a homeless man made a difference the lives of several people – with less than a dollar.

http://www.flickspire.com/m/Share_This/changeforadollar?lsid=161f9da9b7692b6854ca64548e80ab61

I was not surprised that the woman who sent this wonderfully inspiring video to me is a Soroptimist. As Soroptimists, we work hard to make a difference in the lives of women and girls, and we are fortunate enough to have resources available to do this work. Yet even without significant financial resources, people can – and do – make a difference for the good in the lives of others.

“We can do no great things; only small things with great love”

Mother Teresa

As we approach a new year, let us gratefully continue to do the small things that make a difference. Happy New Year!

Angels in Santa Hats

2011-12-03T11:39:00.001-08:00

Single Mom’s Breakfast with Santa is one of the most heartwarming service projects I have ever had the opportunity to work on. The Salt Lake Soroptimist Club’s fifth annual Breakfast with Santa was held this morning.

Breakfast with Santa is not your usual sub-for-Santa program. The single moms must be invited to participate, and to be invited they must be doing something that will improve their lives and the lives of their children. Some of the women are finishing high school or attending college. Some have left abusive relationships – or are working to stop substance abuse. Some have obtained better jobs or better housing.

This morning, when the mothers arrived with their children, they were served a hot breakfast. Then the children visited with – and were photographed with Santa. After the photo, the children go with volunteers to select and wrap gifts for their mothers; while the mothers go to “Santa’s Secret Workshop.”When a single mom is accepted into the program, she provides a list of warm clothing that her children need. Volunteer shoppers then shop for the clothing and bring it to the event in a plain sack. In Santa’s Workshop, volunteers help the mother find her bag of clothing, help her select toys for her children, and help her take her packages out to her car. Then, she rejoins her children and picks up her photo.

Volunteer “angels” – both Soroptimist members and other community volunteers, spend hundreds of hours fundraising for this event, shopping for the mothers, securing toy donations, and working at the event. Smiles, laughter, and even tears of joy were everywhere as these mothers knew the relief of being able to provide a modest Christmas for their children.

Over 100 angels earned their wings today. The Christmas season has officially begun.

Allergic to Algebra?

2011-10-31T10:27:00.001-07:00

My good friend Nancy emailed me just a few moments ago with this message:

"Just last week, retailer Forever 21 began offering for sale a shirt for girls emblazoned with the slogan "Allergic to Algebra." And a few weeks ago, JC Penney offered similar girls' shirts with the slogan "I'm too pretty to do homework, so my brother has to do it for me."

Sexist slogans like these play into and perpetuate the offensive stereotype that women are innately bad at math or that being pretty is more important than being smart. By selling these shirts, the stores give their implicit support of these efforts to convince girls that, to be stylish and fit in, they must be bad at math or less interested than boys in academic achievement.

After backlash from outraged customers, the both shirts were pulled from the shelves and online stores. But how did the sexist shirts get there in the first place? Clearly, something is totally broken within the corporate culture of these retailers. There is no effective review process for the clothing sold at JC Penney and Forever 21 if offensive clothing that demeans young girls makes it to their shelves.

Tell the CEOs of JC Penny and Forever 21 that you will hold them accountable for the clothing that is sold in their stores. Demand they make a public commitment to keep sexist clothing for girls from making it to their shelves in the future.

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/sexist_shirts/?r_by=-2914404-JOB0jsx&rc=mailto1"

If you click on the link you'll find an email petition that can be sent to the respective CEOs.

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month

2011-10-13T11:59:00.000-07:00

Cyber Security – it’s not just about keeping your credit card information safe.

According to MTV’s A Thin Line Campaign, “The Web and cell phones help us communicate, connect and learn in ways we never could before, but they've also forever changed how we interact with others. Things we used to share in person – and in private – can now be broadcast to thousands, instantly. Sometimes we type things we would never say to someone's face. As a result, new issues like forced sexting, textual harassment and cyberbullyiing have emerged, which now affect a majority of young people in the U.S.”

A new Associated Press-MTV poll of youth in their teens and early 20s finds that most of them - 56 percent - have been the target of some type of online taunting, harassment or bullying, a slight increase over just two years ago. A third say they've been involved in "sexting," the sharing of naked photos or videos of sexual activity. Among those in a relationship, 4 out of 10 say their partners have used computers or cellphones to abuse or control them.

While the AP-MTV poll results I was able to view did not break down the data by gender, we can assume that at least half of the people affected by cyberbullying, sexting, or textual harassment are women and girls.

A Thin Line goes on to recommend to teens and young adults that the best defense is a good offense.
o Keep your personal information private. Names, addresses, license plate numbers, where you work, your date of birth, your social security number—nobody online needs these. Zip it. Know Your Privacy Rights
o Keep your passwords in lockdown. Tell No One. That way you'll never have to try and remember who you gave it to when something bad happens. If you feel the need to share your password with someone, try a parent or a trusted adult.
o Trust your gut. If you don't like or feel threatened by something in a text or IM, or anywhere online, tell someone who can help you.
o Report it. Threats, harassment, hate... reporting to site admins or the police is 100% the right thing to do.
o Communicate. If you don't like what's going down online or in IMs or texts, talk to your partner about which behaviors are bugging you.
o Draw your line. No need to settle for relationships or friendships that don't give you any breathing room. If your inboxes are overflowing with unwanted messages, take control! Delete, de-friend, and defend your domain.

You can learn more at http://www.athinline.org/about#research

By Presidential Proclamation

2011-10-05T03:53:00.000-07:00

By Presidential Proclamation, October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. My friend Jewel, a Major in the US Army Reserve, sent me a copy of the proclamation. Here is the full text:

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release October 3, 2011
NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, 2011
- - - - - - -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION

During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we recognize the significant achievements we have made in reducing domestic violence in America, and we recommit ourselves to the important work still before us. Despite tremendous progress, an average of three women in America die as a result of domestic violence each day. One in four women and one in thirteen men will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. These statistics are even more sobering when we consider that domestic violence often goes unreported.

The ramifications of domestic violence are staggering. Young women are among the most vulnerable, suffering the highest rates of intimate partner violence. Exposure to domestic violence puts our young men and women in danger of long-term physical, psychological, and emotional harm. Children who experience domestic violence are at a higher risk for failure in school, emotional disorders, and substance abuse, and are more likely to perpetuate the cycle of violence themselves later in life.

My Administration is working not only to curb domestic violence, but to bring it to an end. Last year, we announced an unprecedented coordinated strategy across Federal agencies to prevent and stop violence against women. We are empowering survivors to break the cycle of abuse with programs to help them become financially independent. We have prevented victims of domestic violence from being evicted or denied assisted housing after abuse. And we are promoting tools for better enforcement of protective orders, while helping survivors gain access to legal representation.

In addition, as part of the Affordable Care Act, the Department of Health and Human Services announced historic new guidelines that will ensure women receive preventive health services without additional cost, including domestic violence screening and counseling. The Affordable Care Act also ensures that insurance companies can no longer classify domestic violence as a pre-existing condition.

Last December, I reauthorized the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, giving communities life-saving tools to help identify and treat child abuse or neglect. It also supports shelters, service programs, and the National Domestic Violence Hotline, linking tens of thousands of victims every month to the resources needed to reach safety. I encourage victims, their loved ones, and concerned citizens to use this hotline for more information at 1-800-799-SAFE or visit www.TheHotline.org.

This is not just a job for government; it is a job for all of us. Vice President Joe Biden's "1is2many" initiative reminds us that everyone has a part to play in ending violence against youth. By engaging men and women, mothers and fathers, and schools and universities in the fight, we can teach our children about healthy relationships. We are asking everyone to play an active role in preventing and ending domestic violence, by stepping up to stop violence when they see it. During National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we recommit to making sure that no one suffers alone, and to assisting those who need help in reaching a safer tomorrow.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2011 as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I call on all Americans to speak out against domestic violence and support local efforts to assist victims of these crimes in finding the help and healing they need.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
third day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.

BARACK OBAMA
# # #

Grant of Friendship Opportunity - Rocky Mountain Region - SIA

2011-09-26T08:20:00.000-07:00

Rocky Mountain Region is offering a Grant of Friendship for one Soroptimist and companion or two Soroptimists traveling together, for a period of two to three weeks in the Spring of 2012 to include the Rocky Mountain Regional Conference to be held at Scottsbluff/Gering, Nebraska on April 27 – 29, 2012.

Rocky Mountain Region is a part of Soroptimist International of the Americas and has 25 clubs in Colorado, Idaho, Nebraska, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming. Recipients are responsible for their own travel expenses to Salt Lake City, Utah, the first host club, and return to their home from Denver, Colorado. Recipients are also responsible for securing necessary passports and visas, and are expected to have medical and travel insurance. Spoken English is required. Most lodging, hospitality, meals, and ground transportation between the clubs will be provided by the Region.

Your application of no more than 500 words, preferably typewritten, should be in English and give details of your Soroptimist Service, occupation and interests, brief personal and professional information, and reasons for applying. Preference will be given to those who have not received a previous Grant of Friendship. Please include your full name, address, telephone and email, and attach a recent photograph.
Applications must be received by October 31, 2011 in order to have time to obtain visas.

Applications should be emailed to Jan Fitts, Rocky Mountain Region Governor, at jansirmr@gmail.com. Please include the letters “GOF” in the subject line.

Soroptimist Magic

2011-09-03T16:29:00.000-07:00

Move over, Harry Potter. Two Soroptimists are making magic in the art world.

When designer Cathy Stevens (SI of Salt Lake) met artist Terry Willis (SI of Price), she was so impressed with her work that she knew it had to have a broader audience.

Cathy arranged to show Terry Willis' art at Wohler’s Art (8800 So. 1300 E. in Sandy). I stopped by the gallery last week. Terry’s work is amazing. Her bio, on display at Wohler’s, reads in part:

Terry brings a passion for place to her paintings. Moved by what she sees, she captures a moment as light and shadow play across canyons, rivers, and ridges. In each creation she strives to immortalize the feeling of being alone and at peace in an incredible but real place. Viewing her paintings is like a little respite in the wilderness. Terry also views her work as preserving a piece of remote, wild, and little known landscapes. Many of her paintings are in areas under threat of development

You can view Terry’s work at www.willisworksstudio.com.

How far will the magic extend? I guess we’ll have to wait and see. Want to make some magic of your own for women and girls? Consider joining a Soroptimist club. Find a club near you at www.soroptimist.org.

International Peace Garden Festival

2011-08-22T11:03:00.000-07:00

The Salt Lake Council of Women hosted it's annual International Peace Garden Festival at Jordan Park on Saturday. I arrived in time to see the Greek Dancers on stage, but the park's beautiful gardens were teeming with both international dancers in colorful costumes and those of us who came to watch the dancing, sample the various cuisines, and just enjoy the day.

As I walked through the gardens it struck me once again just how fortunate I am to be a part of an international organization with a mission of improving the lives of women and girls in our communities and around the world. While I am so very proud of the work that Soroptimist International of Salt Lake does locally, I couldn't be prouder of the work we are doing internationally as we combine the voice and the passion of tens of thousands of women. Over the years I've been a member, Soroptimists have brought drinking water to Senegal, homes and jobs skills to Sierra Leone, and prosthetic limbs to war-torn eastern Europe. We sent malaria nets to Central Africa. We established a micro-lending program we called "Project Independence" to help women survivors of war. And these are only a few. You can learn more about the programme (British spelling intentional) of Soroptimist International at http://soroptimistinternational.org.

The Salt Lake Council of Women is 100 year old this year, and SI SLC's own Cathy Stevens has the honor of serving as Council President during their Centennial year. SI SLC has been a member of the Salt Lake Council for many years - actually I'm hoping it's 80, which is the birthday we celebrate this year.

Congratulations to SLCW for a fabulous event, and good luck, Cathy, in your year as President! We're cheering for you!

Be Inspired to Live Each Day to the Fullest

2011-07-30T18:12:00.000-07:00

My manager writes a blog. Her inspiration of last week is worthy of sharing.

To live life to the fullest is to make a choice to seize the moment…every single moment…of each day. And, to live your life with passion, allows you to experience everything that this amazing world has to offer. Don’t go through life starving, when there is a feast beyond imagination right in front of you—and remember, inspiration is all around us!

Once you decide that you will not spend your life just going through the motions, it needs an ongoing commitment to develop your ability to live life with gusto.

*******
Live each day to the fullest
Get the most from each hour, each day and each age of your lifeThen you can look forward with confidence and back without regret

Be yourself, but be your best self
Dare to be different and to follow your own star
And don't be afraid to be happy

Enjoy what is beautiful
Love with all your heart and soul
Believe that those you love, love you

Forget what you have done for your friends
and remember what they have done for you
Disregard what the world owes you and
concentrate on what you owe the world

When you are faced with a decision, make the decision
as wisely as possible, then forget it
The moment of absolute certainty never arrives

Blessed is the generation in which the old listen to the young
And double blessed is the generation in which the young listen to the old.
-Author unknown

Treasure Hunt – Searching for Rubies

2011-07-22T14:46:00.001-07:00

The July birthstone is the ruby, so it is truly fitting that Soroptimist International of the Americas announced their federation-level Ruby Award winner this month.

She is Margarita Guille Tomayo, who began the first women’s shelter for abused women in Mexico. Today she is the director of the National Network of Shelters in Mexico. Her work continues; domestic violence continues to rise in Mexico, where six out of 10 women suffer some form of abuse inflicted by spouses or partners.

Formerly the Soroptimist Making a Difference for Women Award, the Soroptimist Ruby Award for Women Helping Women recognizes and honors the first federation president, Ruby Lee Minar. A ruby is also a deep red gemstone associated with wisdom, importance, vitality, strength, vivacity, power and love: all words embodying the strong and compassionate women who are our award recipients. The Soroptimist Ruby Award honors women who have worked to improve the lives of women and girls through their professional and/or volunteer work.

Before Margarita was awarded the Federation Level Ruby Award, she was first identified by a Soroptimist Club in Mexico City. Every year, local clubs have the opportunity to nominate a local treasure – a woman who is devoted to helping other women and girls. Last year our club nominated Ronda Miller Ernest, a nurse whose humanitarian work has helped hundreds of women and children.

So now we’re Searching in Salt Lake (not to be confused with Sleepless in Seattle). Do you know a woman who is doing something wonderful for women and girls? Email me at info@sislc.org. Who knows – maybe the next SIA Ruby Award Winner will hail from Salt Lake County.

Angels in Training

2011-06-23T10:06:00.001-07:00

Last night I officially passed the gavel to President Gabrielle. Gaby announced that her theme for the 2011 – 2012 club year would be “Angels”, and that,

Everyone entrusted with a mission is an Angel…

And the love for our mission is how we earn our wings.

This is beautiful – as is the angel pin Gaby gave to each of us to remind us of our mission – improving the lives of women and girls in local communities and throughout the world.

The Salt Lake Soroptimists have experienced first-hand Gaby’s depth of passion and her depth of compassion. We now get to experience the depth of her leadership as she takes us into the 2011 – 2012 club year.

Congratulations, Gaby, on your election! I wish you the best for your presidency, and can’t wait to start earning my wings.

Vitamins for Children of Peace

2011-06-17T14:34:00.000-07:00

Children of Peace International (COPI) is a humanitarian organization dedicated to helping the people of Vietnam develop the capability to help themselves. Through the financial and material support of orphanages, hospitals, and clinics, as well as two medical missions each year, COPI offers hope, and help, to women and children in Vietnam. Soroptimists in the Rocky Mountain region have supported COPI for several years now. You can learn more about COPI at http://www.childrenofpeace.org/.

Just prior to our Region Conference, Director binh asked the clubs to bring vitamins to be taken to Vietnam on their July medical mission trip. Of course, being the compulsive over-achievers that we are, SI of Salt Lake stepped up and volunteered not only to collect the vitamins, but to host a “Soroptimist After Hours” event to package the vitamins in preparation for the trip.

Let me say, once again, that Soroptimists all over the region are very generous. We had well over 100 bottles of various vitamins for children and adults. With anywhere from 100 to 500 tablets per bottle needing to be packaged in 30-day supply bags, the 13 Soroptimists and friends handled close to 50,000 vitamins – give or take a few. Thanks to Jodi for remembering the disposable gloves! We worked for over four hours, ran out of snack-size Ziploc bags twice, and turned over a huge tote filled with packaged and labeled vitamins.

The Salt Lake Soroptimists were joined by Michelle, a nursing student at SUU who will be going on the COPI Medical Mission, and Dawn, a Soroptimist from Cody, WY who gave up a nice dinner downtown to work with us. When a brand new member – Karma – arrived, Anita greeted her with a resounding, “You’re going to love us.”

Salt Lake Soroptimists share the love with Children of Peace International! We wish COPI the very best on their July medical mission.

All Good Things

2011-05-30T07:45:00.000-07:00

This will be my last post on “President Cheri’s Blog.” On June 22, 2011, I will officially pass the gavel to Gaby, and on July 1, 2011 I will assume my new position as Immediate Past President.

It has often been quoted, “all good things must come to an end.” Has this blog been a good thing? I hope it has. I know it has been a good thing for me. It’s enabled me to communicate thoughts that deserved more than an email. It enabled me to share the ups and downs of being the President of a Soroptimist club. It’s enabled me to practice my art – the art of the written word. Even if no one ever read it but me, it was good for me to write it.

This blog has enabled me to consistently reflect on my year as Soroptimist President. Yes, it’s been a good year. Our club has accomplished so very much. The credit goes to the club members who have pushed us to do more and then followed through and done everything we set out to do. And I have grown – as a person, as a leader, as a writer.

So while this is my last post as President Cheri, I will reframe this blog and continue posting on behalf of Soroptimist International of Salt Lake. For those of you who would like to know when I’ve posted something new (or for those of you who can only handle me in small doses), you can follow me on Twitter: @cheri0429.

To my club members, my friends, my sisters – I thank you most humbly for the honor of leading SI of Salt Lake.

Modern-Day Abolitionists

2011-05-27T13:01:00.001-07:00

“Our history teachers lied to us – they told us that slavery has been abolished,” Dana Vaughn-Mgunda, director of the Gender Violence Education and Support Services program at the University of Denver, told us during her presentation on Human Trafficking at the Regional Conference in Price.

During Dana’s four-hour workshop we learned that human trafficking is the third largest activity of organized crime, behind drugs and guns. That it’s not always about sex – many trafficking victims are forced to work for low or no wages in poor working conditions. And yes, it happens in the United States. And yes, it happens in Utah. And yes, women can be traffickers.

It is often difficult for law enforcement to identify trafficking victims. Dana reminded us of how controversial trafficking can be. Think about it – a prostitute is a criminal, but a person forced into prostitution is a victim. We frown upon illegal immigrants – but what about “immigrants” who were brought here against their will?

Dana offered some concrete suggestions as to how one person can make a difference. Look for hotels that have anti-trafficking policies. Buy from companies that have – and enforce – policies against forced labor. How do you find them? Look at http://free2work.org , a web site that grades (A,B,C,D, & F) US companies on their policies regarding slave labor. I was shocked at some of the U.S. companies that have failing grades because they do not insist that their suppliers have policies against forced labor. I may never eat chocolate again! OK – that’s a bit rash – found a couple of chocolatiers that made the grade.

Soroptimists all over the world are rallying around the cause of human trafficking, and the SIA web site offers white papers and program information. But to really make a difference, Dana suggested that “change starts with the woman in the mirror.” Are we ready to abolish this new wave of slavery?

A Sea of Pink

2011-05-14T12:08:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, May 7, thousands of men and women gathered in various shades of pink to run/walk in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. And while this wasn’t an “official” Soroptimist event, four Salt Lake Soroptimists participated. “Some angels have wings, some have sneakers” was printed on the bright pink T-shirts Lisa had made for the event, and yes, the men in our group wore the pink T-shirts as well. One of the most awe-inspiring moments of the race was turning around and looking back up the hill to see the sea of pink moving down 300 West Street.

Later that afternoon, the Salt Lake Bees held their “Pink the Park” event, where, once again, looking across the field, we saw a sea of pink. The Bees theme was “Hitting Cancer Out of the Park.” In the movie, A League of Their Own, Tom Hanks tells his team, “There’s no crying in baseball.” Sorry, Tom – there was crying in baseball at this game. Throughout the game, interviews with courageous women facing – and beating – cancer were played on the video scoreboard.

Both events serve as a strong reminder of the power we have to do something about the causes that impact our lives. We are the cure – not only for breast cancer, but for heart disease and domestic violence as well. I am proud to count myself among the sea of blue and yellow that makes up the 95,000+ Soroptimists in our world. We ARE the cure.

Embracing Change

2011-04-30T17:16:00.000-07:00

At our Rocky Mountain Region Spring Conference, our official visitor from Soroptimist International of the Americas, Federation Director Connie Desko, spoke to us about embracing change.

Change is all around us. Look at the differences in the way we communicate – even from 10 years ago. Who would have thought that social networking would make such a difference in the way we reach out to one another? Our world is becoming more and more accessible through the internet. It’s changed the way we market products, the way we work together as teams, even the way we reach out to our friends.

Change keeps us alive. Change brings growth. Change brings progress. And change scares us to death. But, as Connie continued, women are wired to architect change. Soroptimist as an organization must change with the times. At the SIA level, changes planned are to update and simplify the bylaws, encourage friendships, and totally eliminate attendance requirements. I actually thought they had already eliminated attendance requirements – we eliminated them in our club years ago. SIA plans to continue the Renaissance campaign, with goals set year by year. As a reminder, the 2011 Renaissance Campaign goal encourages happy, healthy clubs where members enjoy being Soroptimists.

Are there changes we should be making as a club? What is working? How can we do more of it? Is there a new project we’d like to try? Is there something we should “tweak” on any of our current projects? What changes do we need so we can move more women out of poverty, abuse, or homelessness? We are the conduits of positive change for the women and girls we serve.

Hug a Tree Today

2011-04-22T08:13:00.000-07:00

Today is Earth Day. Earth Day is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's natural environment. It was founded by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in first held on April 22, 1970. While the first Earth Day was focused on the United States, Denis Hayes, who was the original national coordinator in 1970, took it international in 1990 and organized events in 141 nations. Earth Day is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network, and is celebrated in more than 175 countries every year. April 22 corresponds to spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. Numerous communities celebrate Earth Week, an entire week of activities focused on environmental issues. In 2009, the United Nations designated April 22 International Mother Earth Day.

One of Soroptimist International’s Programme Focus Objectives is all about saving our planet:
#6 - Mitigate the effects of climate change and integrate sustainability into personal choices and government policies and programmes. Don’t you love the British spelling? Go to http://www.soroptimistinternational.org/assets/media/documents/joint_ngo_statement_-_the_green_economy_-_a_gender_perspective_feb_2011.pdf to read a Soroptimist-partnered statement, “A Gender Perspective on the Green Economy.”

So hug a tree – or plant a tree – today. Put a reusable bag in the trunk of your car. Recycle that can or water bottle. And whatever you do, don’t print this blog post. Happy Earth Day!

Kudos to SI Bountiful

2011-04-14T08:23:00.001-07:00

Jodi, Carma, Kathy, Marilyn and I were honored to attend SI Bountiful’s Awards Gala on Tuesday, April 12. And wow! These ladies truly embody the vision and mission of Soroptimist International. Just a few highlights on the money they gave away to support women and girls in Davis County and throughout the world:
• Davis County Food Bank
• Operation Smile
• Literacy Awareness Program
• LOVE Project in Ecuador

Their Ruby Award winner this year is a Davis County Commissioner. Their Violet Richardson award winner, who teaches Spanish classes at a local elementary school, was given funds to continue this effort. They sponsored a girl from Woods Cross High and a girl from Viewmont High to Girls State this summer at Utah State University. And they gave not one, not two, not three – but four Women’s Opportunity Awards.

Among the awards to the community, the Bountiful Soroptimists honored one of their own. Kathy’s dear friend Esther was completely surprised to learn that she was this year’s Soroptimist of the Year.

All told, SI Bountiful gave away over $11,000 on Tuesday night. Again I say “Wow,” and congratulations to our Bountiful Soroptimists!

Rise and Shine

2011-03-17T18:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend the YWCA’s Rise and Shine Breakfast. Never having attended one, I didn’t know what to expect, but I definitely didn’t expect the magnitude of the event. There were hundreds of women and men in attendance, and all of us were treated to an inspirational program on what the YWCA does for our community.

The YWCA’s mission statement reads, “The YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.” I did know that the YWCA was over 100 years old, but I didn’t know that it was international, with a presence in 106 countries. The World YWCA was founded in 1894!

In Salt Lake City, the YWCA offers a domestic violence shelter, a children’s advocacy program, a residential self-sufficiency program, wellness education services, services to immigrants and refugees, and many other services directly benefitting women and their children. With apologies to the Village People, it’s probably not “fun” to stay at the YWCA, but for most of the women who stay in the domestic violence shelter or participate in the residential self-sufficiency program, it is life-changing.

Before the presentation, Executive Director Anne approached me and congratulated me on all the wonderful work that Soroptimist is doing here in Salt Lake. “We are sister organizations.” she told me. I agree – we are one in improving the lives of women and girls in our community and throughout the world. My congratulations to the YWCA for a wonderful event.

Making an Impact

2011-03-15T19:00:00.000-07:00

Our Live Your Dream Fashion Show and Silent Auction was a huge success. We had over 100 in attendance, and after expenses our net profit was $8,122! Wow!

One of the most rewarding things about raising money for Soroptimist is the impact the funds we raise have on women and girls in our communities and throughout the world. The following is a exerpt of the message I gave at our fashion show – why we were there:

• Little children dream of sugarplums – especially on Christmas Eve. The single mothers of these little children dream of being able to provide Christmas to their children and still pay their utility bills. Through our Single Moms’ Breakfast with Santa, Salt Lake Soroptimists provide warm clothing and toys to over 100 single moms and over 200 children each year.
• Victims of domestic violence dream of a world where they, and their children, will be safe. Through our Crop ‘til it Stops scrapbooking fundraiser, Salt Lake Soroptimists raised $1700.00 for the Utah Domestic Violence LinkLine – the first contact for domestic violence victims.
• Single women heads-of-household dream of the financial security that an education provides. Through our Women’s Opportunity Award, three women annually are granted cash awards to help them pursue the education that will enable them to support their children.
• Teenage girls – pregnant or with small babies – dream of being able to finish high school, and yes, even to go on to college. Through our Possibilities project with the Horizonte Young Parents Program, Salt Lake Soroptimists provide life skills to these girls and upon graduation will pay for their college books.
• School-age girls in Kenya dream of being able to go to school. Period. Through a recent partnership with Kenya Keys, Salt Lake Soroptimists contributed to the building of a dormitory that will allow 80 girls to go to school.
• Women in war-torn Sierra Leone dream of rebuilding their lives, rebuilding their homes, and providing for their children. Through Soroptimist International’s Project Sierra, Soroptimists all over the world hope to raise 2 million dollars to provide health care, education, small business training, and life skills to these women and children.
• Orphans in Vietnam dream of a caring home where they will be loved and nurtured. Through the Rocky Mountain Region’s support of Children of Peace International, Soroptimists in six western states have built orphanages and schools and continue to provide for women and children in Vietnam.

And WE dream. We dream of making a difference for women and girls. Let’s keep dreaming!

It Was Supposed to be Easy

2011-03-08T19:04:00.000-08:00

Or so we thought when we decided to embrace Governor Jan’s challenge to celebrate International Women’s Day. It was early November, and March 8 was a long way away. We jumped on board at the suggestion to hold a luncheon. We arranged for someone to recruit a speaker. Done. We arranged for someone to book a venue. Done. We were on our way.

Then it was February. Our original speaker canceled, and in the midst of planning two fundraisers, one of them our biggest of the year, we found ourselves scrambling to find another speaker. Somewhere in this time frame we realized (OK, I realized) that it was not just any International Women’s Day. This was the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. Last year’s proclamation from the Mayor of Salt Lake County would not do; we needed a new one.

And to top it all off, we found ourselves in the less-than desirable position of advertising for two events in the same week, taking reservations for two events in the same week, designing and printing programs for two events in the same week. Whew!

So in the end, it wasn’t easy. Most worthwhile endeavors are not. I think of the struggles of the women whom we remember on International Women’s Day. Women who fought to obtain the right to vote, the right to work, the right to hold office. Women who fought against child labor and sweatshops. It wasn’t easy for them, and we are the beneficiaries of their work.

Our luncheon was fabulous. Keynote speaker Karen Shepherd reminded us that, as far as women have come in this past 100 years, we have so much further to go. I hope that our celebration did justice to the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day.

The Leadership Challenge – Encourage the Heart

2011-02-24T19:16:00.000-08:00

As I close out this series on “The Leadership Challenge,” I realize just how grateful I am for the support our club members have shown to me and to all the club leaders throughout this club year. I could easily make this blog post 30 pages long if I were to list out everything club members have done in support of our mission. But I won’t do that.

Instead, let me say, from the bottom of my heart, how much I appreciate the contributions of your hearts. You have donated money and presents. You have invited friends to join; you have invited friends to our fundraisers, you have invited friends to be our speakers and models. You have prepared food and washed dishes. You have sorted clothing and toys. You have wrapped gifts. You have emailed, telephoned, and visited. You have made crafts with the JO&A girls; you have shared a skill with the Horizonte girls. You have had new ideas and made them reality. You have celebrated together a year of amazing accomplishments.

And you have been leaders. Not all leadership comes from position. Much of your leadership has come from seeing a need and filling it.

Our leadership matters – because we matter. As we go forward, let’s continue to focus on what matters. Encourage the heart – because your gratitude matters.

The Leadership Challenge – Enable Others to Act

2011-02-20T10:34:00.000-08:00

I like to think of this concept with an emphasis on the word “enable” – in a good sense. Sometimes it’s not a bad thing to be an enabler. Not when enabling means giving a committee a responsibility and then ensuring that they have everything they need to succeed – no more and no less.

No more – because that would be taking away their creativity and their ability to make a project their own. But certainly no less or they may struggle, may not enjoy the project, and may not have the growth experience the individual members are seeking.

This is harder than it sounds. As we seek to collaborate in our committees, it is often a lot more work to teach a member what she needs to know so she can successfully take on a responsibility. It’s much easier to just do it ourselves. (Guilty as charged.) But teach her we must – our success and growth as a club depends on it. Our ability to succeed as a club depends on our ability to foster collaboration and strengthen each other as we accomplish our mission – improving the lives of women and girls.

By enabling others to act, we give them the gift of our trust and our confidence in their ability to succeed – both for themselves and for the club. Enable others to act – because your gift matters.

The Leadership Challenge – Challenge the Process

2011-02-11T07:12:00.000-08:00

It’s true – great leaders have been known to “rock the boat.” Great leaders search for opportunities, experiment, and take risks.

At the SIA convention I had the opportunity to chat with a wonderful woman from Raleigh, North Carolina. Her club was so passionate about sex trafficking of women and children that they took the risk of engaging first responders, law enforcement, human services and legal services to bring the topic to light. They produced a training video for law enforcement and held a public screening of a documentary on girls who had been trafficked. Not exactly the picture you get when you hear of a woman’s club in the South; but these women followed their passion and successfully brought the issue into the living rooms of Raleigh.

And while it’s not been on quite as grand a scale, our club has seized opportunities, led from within. Capitalizing on the fact that we live in the “Scrapbooking Capital of the World,” Pat organized our first ever “Crop ‘til it Stops” event, raising over $1,000 for the UDVC LINKLine. Acknowledging that women’s heart health is one of Soroptimists focus areas, Lisa encouraged us to support the Heart Walk, where we were the second highest fundraiser of the community teams. We’ve never had an International Women’s Day luncheon before – but that’s not stopping us from inviting women all over Salt Lake and beyond to celebrate the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day.

Challenging the process doesn’t mean giving up time-honored traditions – unless they really should be given up. Let’s continue to challenge the process – because our actions matter.

The Leadership Challenge – Inspire a Shared Vision

2011-02-04T12:23:00.000-08:00

Inspire a shared vision – this one should be easy. After all, we’re Soroptimists. Our vision is a better world for women and girls.

OK – so what does this look like? I’m sure if I asked five Soroptimists this question, I’d get five different answers – all valid. A world where there is no intimate partner violence. A world where there is no poverty. A world where all girls have access to education. A world where women have equal opportunities for employment. A world where human trafficking does not exist.

Worldwide, Soroptimists are doing great things toward achieving the better world we all envision. As club leaders, we need to define our part of this grand vision and focus our club around achieving it. Visioning is not my strongest point. I look to Gaby for this. Those of us who will serve on her board next year will find her to be not only visionary, but able to envision the path that will take us to the next level.

What is your vision for our club? I challenge you to inspire a shared vision – because your voice matters.

The Leadership Challenge - Model the Way

2011-01-29T09:57:00.000-08:00

Leading a volunteer organization is truly leading. Think about it – you don’t have paychecks, benefits, or mortgages to hold over the heads of your members. Volunteers participate because they are following their hearts. As a leader, your heart needs to be out front as you model the way.

Modeling the way is all about leading by example. It’s about “walking the talk”, or as author Robert Thompson would say, “Connect your hips to your lips.” Walking what talk? The values of Soroptimist International. Our core values are:

• the belief that all women deserve to lead full and productive lives;
• women helping women; and
• international diversity and fellowship.

It’s easy to think of the many leaders who have gone before us in Soroptimist – all modeling the way for us to make a difference for women and girls. These women lead with integrity and lead with their hearts.

Model the way- with your integrity right out front, because your credibility matters.

The Leadership Challenge - Soroptimist Style

2011-01-18T13:23:00.001-08:00

While Soroptimist International does not explicitly refer to itself as a leadership development organization, many of us who are members have proven to be leaders and have learned leadership from being a part of Soroptimist.

Author Robert Thompson once said, “Leadership is a choice about creating open, honest and authentic relationships that urge others to want to discover their power and focus on what matters to them and their community.” All of us have been called to leadership at some point in our lives. Those of us who own businesses are called upon to lead every day. Those of us who work for corporate America often know first-hand that not all leaders have titles or direct reports.

In this and the next five blog posts I’ll be sharing thoughts from The Leadership Challenge, by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner. Kouzes and Posner documented the five practices of leadership:
• Model the Way
• Inspire a Shared Vision
• Challenge the Process
• Enable Others to Act
• Encourage the Heart

Sometimes when we’re looking for leadership, the first place we should look is in the mirror. As you review this series of blogs, please reflect on your own personal leadership skills and how you might share those skills you have and pick up a few skills through leadership in Soroptimist.

Half the Way There

2011-01-01T12:48:00.001-08:00

It’s New Year’s Day, and today marks the halfway point of my term as President. As I reflect on how the first half of our club year has gone, a few thoughts come to mind.
1. We are having fun. Yes, we are working hard, and yes, we are making a huge difference to the women and girls we serve, but we are having fun doing so.
2. We really care about one another. I hear many of us tell how they were sick and a Soroptimist brought them soup, or they needed a lift and a Soroptimist called just in time. We’re bringing meals to members; we’re sending care packages to Jewel in Iraq; we’re offering rides, we’re making hospital visits.
3. We really support one another, and we really support our leadership. Every time I even think about falling, a member is there to catch me. As I ventured into uncharted territory, the members have my back. If a Board member can’t make it to an event, another member covers her. And the list goes on…
As we start our new calendar year and the second half of our club year, I am grateful for the caring, the generosity, and the work ethic of our members. Together we will make great things happen in 2011. Happy New Year!

An Eight-Minute Mile

2010-12-27T07:26:00.001-08:00

In an attempt to be efficient, I’ve already made my New Year’s Resolution. I resolve to train to be able to run a mile in 8 minutes. Some of you may think that this is pretty slow. If you think that, you are much younger than I am. According to the stats of the only timed race I ran last year (some of you may remember that Lisa beat me by two seconds in this race), if I can make an eight minute mile I have a good shot at placing in my age division.

I’m currently running a mile in 8 minutes, 49 seconds. So how do I plan to pare those seconds down? Seven seconds at a time. If I run three weeks at each new (faster) speed, I should be running 8 minute miles starting the second week of June.

So I guess this is more a goal than a resolution. I’ve set a goal and established milestones to help me achieve it. It’s classic goal setting – the type that we teach the Horizonte Young Parents and the girls at JO&A. It’s classic because it works.

At the beginning of the year our club set three goals. How are we doing?
- Membership Goal: 65 members. When we set this goal we had 42 members. We’re now at 52!
- Fundraising Goal: $20,000. So far, with two fund raisers done and two to go, we’ve raised $4,800.
- Program Goal: Domestic Violence and Refugees. We had a great presentation in November on empowering women refugees. We donated many of the leftover toys and clothing from Breakfast with Santa to the refugees, and we assisted 6 refugee children with new clothing to attend their mother’s funeral. We have “Crop ‘Til It Stops” coming up in January, with proceeds designated for a domestic violence project to be determined by the Service Committee.

We have accomplished much the first half of the year. Yes, we have more work to do, but the finish line is in sight, and we will cross together.

Practicing Christmas

2010-12-17T14:16:00.000-08:00

Growing up, my brothers and I would practice Christmas morning. Not sure what motivated us to do this – I can’t imagine any child forgetting how to do it – but just to be sure, we would practice. The rules were:
1. First one up wakes everybody up.
2. Get Mom and Dad up.
3. Rip ‘em apart.
We’d run through the drill several times in the days leading up to Christmas morning. And sure enough, when the big day came, we were perfect.

It’s true – we do get better at the things we practice. So I sometimes wonder why we don’t practice Christmas all year. At Christmas, we take treats to our neighbors and send cards to faraway friends. At Christmas, we give to the hungry and to the homeless. At Christmas, we make sure that all children have warm clothing to wear and toys to play with. At Christmas we make it a point to spend time with our families. And at Christmas we tend to focus more on our blessings and less on our troubles.

I am honored to be of service to SI of Salt Lake – whose members truly practice Christmas year round. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The Miracle of Breakfast with Santa

2010-12-04T11:59:00.001-08:00

Last year, as we were unpacking Mother’s gifts for the 2009 Breakfast with Santa, Karen’s daughter Allison commented, “We get a loaves and fishes miracle every year.” This year we quite literally got loaves – through a generous donation from a foundation who wished to remain anonymous. This foundation donated $1000 toward the breakfast, significantly easing the burden on Café Madrid.

Then there were toys and mothers gifts. We received hundreds of jewelry items, along with cosmetics, clothing, even crock pots. The toys that were piled on tables in Santa’s Secret Workshop came from individuals and businesses. We had games, stuffed animals, trucks – even a bike – all donated. And when I checked the sign-in list last, we had 156 volunteers – not counting the Soroptimists.

We even managed to pull together Christmas items for a needy family who didn’t qualify for Breakfast with Santa but still needed help. The support of our members and our community for the Single Moms’ Breakfast with Santa is truly amazing.

And those of us who looked at the smiles on the faces of the children as they visited with Santa and as they wrapped gifts for their moms, or saw the relief and gratitude on the faces of the mothers as they received warm clothing for their children – can say for certain that they witnessed the miracle of Breakfast with Santa.

Christmas season has now arrived.

Traditions

2010-11-25T09:12:00.000-08:00

I love the line from the musical Fiddler on the Roof - “Without our traditions, life would be as shaky as, as a fiddler on the roof.” The line was spoken by Tevye very early in the play to introduce life in Anatevka, the small Russian village where the play is set. In many aspects of life, traditions give us a way to bond, a way to establish a common culture.

Take our Soroptimist clubs, for example. Most of us know that “Founders Pennies” started after WWII as a way to help our European clubs rebuild. This has become a lasting tradition among Soroptimists. Many of our local clubs, including Salt Lake, began well before WWII. Imagine the pride our members must have felt knowing that they were helping Soroptimist across the ocean; and imagine how they might feel now – knowing that this tradition lived on.

As we think about Breakfast with Santa, one of our purposes in providing Christmas as a reward to our single moms is to take away the stress of Christmas and give them an opportunity to create their own family traditions. As we think about the Christmas program at Horizonte, one of the highlights is the opportunity we have to share Christmas traditions with these young parents.

It is the traditions we remember – long after the gifts are used, worn out, discarded or “re-gifted.” Our traditions give us lasting memories. Our traditions become a part of who we are. As we celebrate Thanksgiving and look toward Christmas, may we be mindful of just how meaningful our traditions can be. Happy Thanksgiving!

Celebrating our Diversity

2010-11-21T10:13:00.000-08:00

Our club members, or their ancestors, are from America (native American) Brazil, China, Denmark, England, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lebanon, the Phillipines, Peru, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Venezuela, Vietnam, Wales...I’ve probably missed a few. We came here on boats and airplanes. Our ancestors came across the oceans, and they came across the plains. And that’s just the members who attended our November meeting focused on International Goodwill and Understanding.

It is our diversity that makes us interesting. It is our diversity that makes us fun! It is our diversity that gives us the breadth of experience and ideas needed to creatively address the issues we have chosen to tackle.

But it is our unity that makes us successful as a club. I want to share a 3 minute video on the lessons we can learn from geese (inspired from the words of Milton Olson and first shared with me in another Sherrie’s blog). It’s a great message on teamwork. I’ve seen this message shared in many written forms, however, a visual does it best. Just copy the text below into your browser. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdEjL9bVcCM

A Window for Awareness

2010-11-02T09:47:00.000-07:00

Another confession – yes, I am an avid scrapbooker. If someone had told me 10 years ago that I’d be saving memorabilia, cropping, paper shopping, and PhotoShopping for fun, I’d have found myself rolling on the floor laughing. That’s ROFL to the instant messagers out there 

So I was thrilled to hear that the scrapping contingent of our club has been working to put on a scrapbooking event. They’ve found a location where we can bring in food, they’ve set a date (January 29, 2011), they’ve even arranged for a PhotoShop class.

So when I asked Pat if they’d decided on a theme for the event, she told me, “Crop ‘til it Stops” and that it would be a fundraiser and awareness raiser for Domestic Violence Prevention.

A scrapbooking event focused on domestic violence prevention? What a great way to increase awareness while raising funds to support the ideas our service committee is working on. What a great way to kick off our service project for domestic violence prevention as well as to partner with organizations that focus on this mission.

Thank you Pat, Rita, and Barbara – for the idea, for the event, and for your initiative in seeing it through. I am thoroughly excited about the possibilities.

Living Our Dreams

2010-10-19T11:52:00.001-07:00

OK – I admit it – I’m secretly somewhat of a ham. Well, maybe not so secretly. I tried theatre in high school, where I learned I couldn’t act. I could sing, though, and chorus parts were plentiful. So I absolutely loved it when I was asked to sing with the band at Market Street. Actually, I think Kathy’s daughter Therese was really the one asked to sing with the band, but since I happened to be there with her, I got to chime in, too. Sing with a band – one more checkmark on my “bucket list.”

Our brief program at our Market Street Event focused on young women living their dreams. Our Women’s Opportunity Award winner shared how much our award had helped her to continue her education. A Horizonte graduate shared how the Young Parents Program helped her step up out of an abusive relationship and how our support with books has helped her achieve her Associate Degree and move on to University.

We had a special guest – a single mother who, in addition to raising four daughters and continuing her own education, started a school in Kenya so hundreds of other children could achieve their dreams of an education.

The money we raised at Market Street will go a long way to help our club continue to help women and girls to live their dreams. Kudos, Soroptimists, for a wonderful event!

Who's Minding the Zoo?

2010-10-03T06:16:00.000-07:00

At our District I / II Fall Meeting in Blackfoot, Idaho, Sarah Ochoa, Child Development Program Director of the Community Action Partnership of Western Nebraska, had us take a brief assessment to determine our “inner animal” personality. Were we Beavers? Otters? Lions? Golden Retrievers?

The results were both amusing and telling. Members who had taken the assessment previously knew before we started what my dominant animal would be. But it seemed most of us were pretty well rounded in our animal personalities. And Sarah went on to share with us that we can learn to call upon our less dominant animals in times of need. So when I need to be exact, I call on my inner Beaver. When I need to be fun, I call on my inner Otter. When I need to make sure everyone else is OK, I call on my inner Golden Retriever. And finally, when I need to be forceful or to confront, I call on my inner Lion.

I won’t tell too much more because we are hoping to bring this exercise to the club. It will be fun to learn the makeup of the “zoo” we call SI of Salt Lake.

I'm Going to College

2010-09-28T15:48:00.000-07:00

I may be President, but there are times when I’m just not in charge. In preparation for my Introduction to Soroptimist for our Horizonte Young Parents Program, I reviewed the slides this morning and found to my horror that text was missing on nearly every slide! While cursing Bill Gates under my breath I fixed every slide and saved the presentation to my laptop. Whew – my public speaking security blanket was intact.

I leave my house in plenty of time to reach Horizonte – except for the fact that there is a lane closure at 2700 South on I-15. So instead of taking 20 minutes, it took 50 minutes. Ouch. I went to the Young Parents’ classroom. It is empty. Ouch. Life: 2; Cheri: 0.
I do finally find the classroom, and learn that my laptop can’t be hooked to the projector. A problem I can solve – break out the thumb drive. Transfer the presentation to the thumb drive. Plug in the thumb drive. Open the presentation. It won’t read. Ouch. Try again. Presentation still won’t read. Ouch. Thumb Drive: 2; Cheri: 0.

So with whiteboard at back and marker in hand, I proceed to tell these beautiful young women who Soroptimists are and what we do. And I proceed to tell them what we hope to accomplish with them this year. And I tell them to start planning to go to college – for themselves and for their children. And I ask them to say out loud “I’m going to college.” And I hear them say it, loud and clear, not once but twice: I’M GOING TO COLLEGE!

And all is right with the world.

The Power of One – Just One Time This Year

2010-09-21T08:43:00.001-07:00

The First Commandment of volunteering is (or, if it isn’t, it should be) “Thou shalt not sign up for everything. Be selective with your volunteer time lest ye become burned out.” And while this is sound advice, we may be missing out on some wonderful experiences by not working on some of this year’s projects. This isn’t my idea (the Eighth Commandment is “Thou shalt not take credit for the ideas of others), but I would like to make it my challenge to our members this year. Just one time this year, participate in a project you haven’t worked on yet. Visit Horizonte or JO&A. Work on a membership event. Chair a new service project. Try it – just one time this year. You could be amazed at the possibilities.

The Power of One – One Can Make a Difference

2010-08-26T16:22:00.000-07:00

My father was always active in local politics. He served several terms on the City Council of our small town, and many years later was elected County Surveyor. But my strongest memory of his political activity was the one election he lost.

He was running for a position on the County School Board. He campaigned hard, but his opponent campaigned equally hard, and when the counting was done, Dad has lost by three votes. Yes, three votes. And after he conceded the election, many of his friends told him, “If I had known it would be this close, I’d have voted.” Can one vote make a difference? You bet it can. Can one person make a difference? You bet she can!

By the way, 90 years ago today, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution affirmed the right of all American women to vote in all public elections. By Presidential Proclamation, today is Women’s Equality Day, celebrated annually in recognition of both the anniversary of women’s suffrage and of women’s continued efforts toward equal rights in the United States. As Soroptimists, this is still our cause, and yes, every one of us can make a difference.

The Power of One – Dream One Size Bigger

2010-08-22T16:15:00.000-07:00

High school football season has started all over the country, and while I don’t expect to set foot in a high school stadium any time soon, I can still hear the cheers of the students as they rally their team: “We’re number one!”

Number one. Top of the heap. Leader of the pack. Everyone wants to be number one – including Soroptimist International of Salt Lake. There is nothing I would like better than to see our club recognized as the number one club in the world at making a difference for women and girls.

If we were the number one club in the world, what would that look like? How much bigger would we need to be? How much better recognized in the community would we need to be? And – how can we get started now? Our Program and Service Committees will meet on September 8 to begin planning for how we will improve the lives of women and girls in our community and around the world. Let’s challenge ourselves to dream one size bigger – and then to determine the actions we will need to take to make our dreams come true.

A Soldier's Story

2010-08-04T15:46:00.000-07:00

As the flight from Atlanta to Salt Lake City taxied to the gate, the captain made the announcement that there was a soldier on board, a young woman who was currently serving in Afghanistan. She was home on a short leave. Would we kindly stay in our seats and allow her to deplane first. Of course, we did. As she gathered her belonging and walked down the center aisle, everyone on board applauded. Tears came to my eyes, and I thought of Jewel.

Jewel should have been President of Soroptimist International of Salt Lake this year. After all, she served all of 2009-2010 as our President-elect. Only one problem – it’s difficult to lead a Soroptimist club when one is in Iraq commanding a unit of soldiers. It’s true – Jewel, a Major in the U.S. Army, and the redhead at the bottom right of this photo, was notified of her deployment this past spring. Her parting gift to me – she installed me as President for 2010-2011.

Jewel, I salute you and the fine women and men you command. Your club wishes you and your unit success and safety as you complete your mission in Iraq, and a safe return home.

Low Tech Solitaire

2010-07-23T07:55:00.001-07:00

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

2010-07-12T13:35:00.000-07:00

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?

2010-07-11T11:19:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-10T05:45:00.001-07:00

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

2010-07-09T06:39:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-08T05:33:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-04T14:48:00.000-07:00

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.

I’m President. Now what do I do?

2010-06-25T18:12:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my blog!

I was installed as President of Soroptimist International of Salt Lake on June 23, 2010. I’m hoping to share my experiences with my club and all Soroptimists who either are Presidents, have been Presidents, aspire to be Presidents, and never in their lifetimes want to be Presidents.

After the euphoria of my installation wore off, I was reminded of a time, many years ago, as a university student embarking on a social work degree. I was assigned a practicum at the Idaho State Hospital, where I would shadow social workers and eventually have my own small case load.

I had been introduced to the staff and to my supervisor and given a key to the locked ward where I would work. And I distinctly remember hearing the click of the key in the door, locking me in, and everything I had ever known about Psychiatric Social work flying out of my head!

Thankfully, my knowledge of, and love for Soroptimist has not left my head – at least, not yet! I expect to learn much more on this year-long adventure!

Under Construction

2010-06-21T18:50:00.000-07:00

My blog is currently under construction. Watch for the first real post on July 1, 2010.