District I
Chrisann Nicholson, Director
District I is really hopping! (Just in time for the Spring bunny season.) The new Fremont Club will charter with 24 members on February 23rd. Now Livermore Sunrise will no longer be the baby club in Founder Region.
There are a variety of fundraisers and worthy service projects within our district, but I am most proud of S.O.S. For Kids. This is our district wide project, "Soroptimists Organizing Suitcases for Kids". This on-going project will be the collection of small suitcases, backpacks, diaper bags, etc. for foster children in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. Jane Bartke, President of El Cerrito, is spearheading the project in Contra Costa County. Jane came up with the idea when she became aware that foster children carry their belongings in garbage bags. In Alameda we will need 70 suitcases a month. In addition to the suitcases we will be collecting small stuffed animals to put in each pack. The project is in the planning stage now, but we hope to begin by mid-April. Happy Spring!
District III
Lee Ray McDoniels, Director
I am very pleased and proud to say that District III is in fine shape!
- We now have the three largest clubs in all of Founder Region: Dixon and Vallejo at 59 and Napa at 58.
- We have no clubs in jeopardy.
- One of our clubs is pouring its heart and soul into sponsoring a new Central Solano County club and that effort will come to its fruition when the new club is not only viable, but hearty and health -- just like the rest of the clubs in our district.
- We took a leap of faith and made Soroptimist history when we made a "hormonally challenged" member a district director.
- Our district project (Cell-to-Cell) was the first ever in the region (and maybe the federation) and was so successful we put ourselves out of business in the first year.
- We had two of the best attended district meetings ever and we raised more money for Founder Region Fellowship at each of those meetings than was raised at any other district meeting.
- We have clubs helping other clubs with hands-on projects and fund raising efforts.
- We have 100% representation at President's Round Tables and "the good, the bad, and the ugly" portions of those meetings produce astounding ideas, thoughts, and expressions of support and friendship.
- The members of District III embody integrity and leadership as well as the Soroptimist ideals stated in the Soroptimist pledge.
- Two clubs in the district combine in one fund raiser to raise more money in a single evening than is raised by some regions in year-round efforts.
- In every official visit made by your District Director to every club, the following themes occur: friendly, members really like each other, SoroptiSmart, able to balance serious business with fun, energetic, clarity of thought, willing volunteers, clear goals and paths towards those goals, ideas discussed with mutual respect.
Finally, when one seeks the definition of esprit de corps, i.e. a common spirit of enthusiasm and devotion to a cause among the members of a group, one sees Founder Region District III as a prime example.
District IV
Kay Barrett-Ritter, Director
The clubs in District IV are making their communities safer and healthier through their efforts to educate women and children about fire safety and earthquake preparedness, health fairs, women's wellness center programs, and domestic violence prevention. Members provide clothing, personal articles, bedding, and furnishings for rooms at women's safe houses and family support shelters, mentor children and adults in literacy programs, and work with environmental groups to educate the public on managing resources and safeguarding the environment.
SI of Ukiah purchased and donated a specially designed Fire Safety Trailer to the Mendocino County Fire Chiefs' Association and SI of Santa Rosa donated their second Fire Safety Trailer to the Sonoma County Fire Chiefs' Association. these child sized homes on wheels are equipped with special devices used to teach children how to avoid fire hazards in their home and how to safely escape should a fire erupt. These "homes" are also equipped with earthquake simulators and are towed by the firefighters to elementary schools and exhibitions in both counties.
Soroptimist members in District IV are preparing to charter a new club in Petaluma and Windsor and are establishing two new S Clubs in local high schools. Members are including these young girls in hands-on service to their communities: collecting, wrapping, and distributing gifts to economically challenged families and their children at Christmas.
Four other Soroptimist clubs in District IV joined together with Soroptimists of Sonoma Valley who sponsored a daylong seminar, Hit the Road, Jane, to teach life skills to graduating seniors from four separate high schools. This outstanding program was presented at the Doubletree Hotel in Rohnert Park and included breakfast and lunch served on white linen in the banquet room. Workshops were conducted by professionals from business, banking, employment agencies, law enforcement, practicing attorneys and dieticians promising information on finding and keeping jobs, establishing credit, buying your first car, selecting a roommate, dating, and personal safety. The motivational speaker generated such enthusiasm that the girls danced in the aisles. Then she became a serious mentor to these young women asking, "What are your goals and what do you need to do to achieve them?" All of the topics brought awareness to the hazards that can befall the inexperienced and these are summarized in the Hit the Road booklets that are available to all clubs who wish to sponsor this program.
District V
Sue Finch, Director
District V is the second most widespread geographically contiguous district in Founder Region. The district includes 12 clubs, based in three northern California counties: Humboldt, Del Norte and Mendocino, and covering an area from Willits north to Crescent City and Willow Creek west to Mendocino and Fort Bragg. The rural nature of many northern California communities means that some Soroptimist members drive up to 30 minutes to attend their club meetings. Dedicated presidents can drive as long as 3-hours to attend a round table and participating in region activities requires driving over 600 miles round trip.
Recruitment and retention, a challenge facing all service clubs, is augmented by the population of the three counties and communities from which the clubs in District V attract (haul, drag, pull or tug) their members. Humboldt County has the largest population 150,000 followed by Mendocino at 87,000 and Del Norte at 30,538. SI of The Redwoods in Garberville and SI Big Foot Country in Willowcreek have about 1,400 - 2,800 people living within a 30-minute drive.
District V Soroptimists remind me of the bumblebee. According to the rules of aerodynamics the bumblebee cannot fly. The bumblebee didn't get the message so it flies! If you tell District V Soroptimists something cannot be done - they will show you a way it can BEE!
This year the district had 100% participation in the Women Opportunity Awards, contributing $11,000 to women in transition. The district winner is from Eel River Valley. Willits' Violet Richardson Award applicant is the district finalist selected from the nine clubs that submitted applications.
Thirty-five girls from eleven area high schools attended the Teen Leadership Conference in November, which included workshops on leadership, volunteer opportunities, managing stress, journaling, cultural awareness, learning to dress for success and a challenge course. This District V project won a "Soroptimist Celebrating Success" Award from SIA.
McKinleyville's project: North Star Quest Summer Camp For Girls, was honored with a "Best Practice" award and featured on the cover of the December 2001 issue of The International Soroptimist. McKinleyville is the newest club in the district.
Unique fundraisers such as Crescent City's "Cow Chip Bingo", Big Foot Country's "Chinese Auction", Fort Bragg's Quilt show and auction, Mendocino's Whale Run, Humboldt Bay's "Rags To Riches Party", "The Redwood Circus" in which The Redwoods participates, the "Scholarship Tea" hosted by Arcata and the "who dun it" mystery dinners performed by Noyo Sunrise are just a few of the creative events highlighting District V.
Many of the clubs in this district can thank Eureka for their existence. The club chartered May 28, 1938 and has received honors for numerous projects including "The Women's Health Fair", "Women In Construction" and the Redwood Memorial Grove.
It is a privilege and honor to be Director of District V. I believe these women exemplify the "Bumblebee Creed" Bee Happy, Bee Innovative, Bee Yourself and Bee Buzzin!!!
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