beginning of Soroptimist*

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Jeannie G. Todd, Alameda County charter member, and first Southwestern regional director. Hotel Oakland - location of the first west coast meeting of Soroptimist clubs on August 25, 1926. Violet Richardson (Ward) represented Stuart Morrow. Helena M. Gamble, field organizer and organization secretary Eloise B. Cushing, Alameda County, chaired committee to contact and poll clubs regarding the purchase of the name "Soroptimist".

The First Regions

As more clubs were organized on the west coast, there grew a need to meet jointly and develop programs that pertained to all clubs. Up to this time, each had operated independently. Keen interest also was developing in Mr. Morrow's early "visions"! The time was nearing for considering federating into a State, National and International congress of Soroptimist clubs. For the best interests of the members and of the individual groups, he was petitioned by several of the clubs to call a convention for that purpose. Through a circular letter and questionnaire, combined with a pre-holiday "Season's Greetings", the keenest interest was found to be among the west coast clubs.

Therefore, with the consent of Mr. Morrow, the first called west coast meeting of Soroptimist clubs was held at Hotel Oakland, California, on August 25, 1926. It opened with Dr. Luella Swauger, president of the "Mother" club, in the chair. Mr. Morrow was not present, although he had been expected to attend. He asked that Violet Richardson Ward represent him in the meeting.

(Another interesting sidelight, a direct quote from the letter dated June 24, 1926, from field organizer Helena Gamble to Stuart Morrow, in Detroit, Michigan, in which was enclosed a letter for his approval, which he gave, calling the conference in Oakland on August 25, 1926 at 11 o'clock.

"Violet was married last Wednesday, June 16th, and has gone to the High Sierras for her honeymoon. Her sister, the widow, was married the same night ... Does it not seem funny, the first president of the Mother Club, the first president of Los Angeles Club and the first president of San Jose Club have all married this year?")

Clubs on the Pacific coast, in order of their chartering, were Alameda County, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Long Beach, San Jose, all in California; Seattle, Washington; Portland, Oregon; Spokane, Washington and Vancouver, British Columbia. Minutes show 20 delegates representing 700 members in these 10 clubs.

Discussion at this first meeting centered on:

1. The need for a federation.
2. The International nature of the organization.
3. The desire to own the name "Soroptimist".
4. Miscellaneous club problems, such as classifications and types of memberships, payment of dues, need for a parliamentarian, proposed support of a National Girls' Week.

Five major committees were appointed: Mae Carvell, Los Angeles, was named chairman of a committee to obtain from Mr. Morrow a proposition designating the amount of money he would accept to give up all rights to Soroptimist clubs. Violet Richardson Ward, as his representative, was asked to communicate with him to secure a definite proposition and to report it to the committee.

Eloise B. Cushing, Alameda County, was to chair the committee to contact all clubs and obtain an expression of their sentiments over purchase of the name "Soroptimist".

Mrs. G.M. Starr, Portland, Oregon , was to head a committee on constitution and bylaws.

Mrs. Ruby Barnham, Long Beach, was to chair a committee to determine costs (ways and means) and check back with the clubs.

Northern, Central and Southern area representatives Iris Lutz, Portland; Mrs. Earle, Sacramento; and Gertrude Maynard, Los Angeles, were selected to arrange for and carry out the second conference (actually a continuation of this meeting) early in 1927 and to select the time and place. Mary Dry Boldemann and Florence Curry, of San Francisco and San Jose respectively, were unanimously authorized to continue in their present capacities of chairman and secretary and to open the 1927 conference.

At this second conference, held in San Francisco June 28-30, 1927, Mae Carvell, charter member of the Soroptimist Club of Los Angeles, moved that ...

"For the purpose of the election of a regional director at this convention, the geographical divisions be specified in the tentative constitution and code, i.e.,: Northwestern, Southwestern, North Central, South Central, Southern, North Atlantic, South Atlantic, and New England."

Thus, with unanimous approval, southwestern Region was formed, along with the seven others that were specific by name and by the states that would comprise them.

Minutes of this 1927 meeting further report that Jennie Todd, Alameda County charter member, was elected the first Southwestern regional director.

These and other actions were unanimously approved by the International Federation of Soroptimist Clubs, as it became known, due to one club being in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

The basic principles of regional structure and the comprehensive laws written at that first meeting are the foundation of what Soroptimism is today, the largest International classified service organization for women in the world.

* 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".