Soroptimist in the 1950s*

home  about SIFR  Founder Region History1950's

1950-1952

Director: Ruth G. White, M.D. Whittier
Secretary: Marguerite Blanchard, San Marion-South Pasadena
Treasurer: Sally Nelson, Albany
Board of Directors: Jo Deterding, Sacramento
Mary Ellen Pangle, Riverside

During this biennium the Regional "Eye Bank" was established. The president of the Phoenix club, who had willed her eyes, passed on. The necessary operation was successfully performed and another saw after 28 years of blindness.

The first club in Mexico was chartered. Dr. Ruth Thomas, a past regional director, speaking in Spanish, presented the charter to the new Soroptimist Club of Tijuana. Three clubs were chartered this biennium.

Other accomplishments this biennium were: each of the four district directors had visited clubs in her district at least once; 96 club bulletins were published; 108 clubs had corresponded with overseas clubs; all clubs joined the United Nations; and clubs contributed $7,485.55 to the Women's Medical college, a federation project.

Southwestern region became a smaller region in April 1952 - the Northern part of the region retaining the name Southwestern and the southern part became Pacific region. At this conference two slates of officers had to be elected.

* reprinted from Southwestern Region's history book entitled "Out Where It All Began" written and compiled for a celebration of Soroptimist's 50th anniversary in 1971 and updated and reprinted in 1996 for the celebration of Soroptimist's 75th anniversary, prepared by the Founder Region 75th Anniversary Committee and entitled Founder Region "The Way It Was".