FounderLink

September 2002 Volume 2, Number 1

Meet Your Region Officers

Governor
Mary Ann Redden

Governor Mary Ann Redden brings a wealth of experience to her new office. In February 1984, Governor Mary Ann joined Soroptimist International of Antioch. She has been assistant treasurer, treasurer, director, vice-president, and president at the club level. At the Region level, she has also been District II Director, Fellowship Director, Secretary, Governor-elect, and is currently the new Governor of Founder Region. She has also chaired the Foundation and Legislative Advocacy Committees as well as serving as delegate to district meetings, conferences, and conventions.

Governor Mary Ann was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Her father was a coal miner, steel worker, and milkman. Her mother raised her, her two sisters, and three brothers, who all live now in Virginia. She married her husband in 1968 in Mineral Wells, Texas, where he was stationed in the Army and undergoing helicopter training. She has a daughter, a son-in-law, and a two-year-old granddaughter.

Mary Ann owns Rightway Construction, Inc. She is a licensed general contractor, as well as a painting and drywall contractor. Her husband is the estimator and sales representative and her daughter is the office manager, while her son-in-law is becoming a taper. Their goal is to retire and let the "kids" continue the business.

She believes that Soroptimist is THE service organization to belong to, for it holds everything that a person could want. "We really make a difference by working for the advancement of the status of women and girls, because life is improved for all as women are no longer treated as property or even worse, nothing. Soroptimist also makes a difference in our own lives as we gain strength from each other, establish friendships, and bring out the talents and skills that were hidden. "

Governor-Elect
Cathy Mitchell

Governor-elect Cathy Mitchell was born in San Francisco, CA and moved to Ukiah when she was 11 years old. For 35 years, she has been married to her best friend. They have two sons and four grandchildren; two grandsons and two granddaughters.

Cathy is a member of Soroptimist International of Cloverdale and has been since 1990. She currently is employed full-time at DenBeste Yard & Garden, Inc. as the General Manager and Accountant. In addition, she also has a bookkeeping business, which she plans to close at the end of the year.

Her college studies have primarily been in accounting and at one time she was a licensed tax preparer.

Cathy loves the rain and cold weather and during the winter her favorite pastime is to sit in front of the fire in her sweats and read.

Cathy says, "Becoming a Soroptimist has changed my life. Not only have I had the opportunity to meet so many diverse people, but it has given me the strength to face some difficult situations. I am so excited to belong to an organization that can and has made life better for so many people. Someday, I hope my granddaughters will join me in becoming a Soroptimist."

Secretary
Sue Finch

Taking on a challenge is nothing new for Region Secretary Sue Finch. With her degree in Communications, she has worked in government, in marketing and public relations, and in the private sector.

Sue has chaired many committees and held offices, including President, in the Eel River Valley Club. She just finished her two year office as District V Director. She was quoted in the past as saying that she would be proud to serve at the Region level in any office except Treasurer. She got her wish. She was elected Secretary.

Sue says that the best thing about being a Soroptimist is, "the work we do to help women and children and the assistance we give our communities." She also finds it a good way to meet and know dynamic, caring, and energetic women throughout her community and beyond.

She is married to a wildlife artist and is the mother of three daughters and a son who is deceased. When she has extra time, she sews, collects dolls and salt and pepper shakers, and loves to read.

Treasurer
Joyce Strand

Joyce Strand has been a Soroptimist for 18 years and now is a member of the newly chartered Fremont Club. Previously, she was a member of Soroptimist International of the East Bay. She held every office in that club during her membership there.

Joyce's favorite duty for her club was always being a delegate, and she has attended every Region Conference since 1985 and all but 2 SIA Conventions. She has attended Soroptimist International conventions in Japan, San Francisco, and Finland. She is planning on going to Australia and Guam, 2004.

Just before becoming Founder Region Treasurer, Joyce completed serving two years as the District One Director for Fellowship, and has also been Treasurer of Fellowship.

She is a mortgage broker, and she has worked in some sort of finance-related work for the past 30 years.

In addition to her busy club and business life, she is the proud mother of two grown daughters, a stepdaughter, and five grandchildren.

When asked if she had any sort of officer's report for FounderLink, she replied, "As far as a treasurer's report, I would like to thank all the clubs who have submitted their dues and paper work, and give a gentle reminder to those who still need to do so."

Parliamentarian
Lorraine Humphrey

Regional Parliamentarian Lorraine has been a member of Soroptimist International of Cloverdale since she was inducted in 1984. She has held several offices in that club including secretary and a two-term presidency.

A graduate of Lewiston (Idaho) High School, Lorraine is married and has five grown children "all out on their own and doing well."

Lorraine has served on numerous regional committees over the years and was Founder Region Secretary from 1990 to 1992. She was a four time attendee at the former Legislative Workshop in Sacramento, California.

She was in the banking industry before becoming a bookkeeper in the hardware business with her husband. In a third career, she retired from handking her husband's business affairs in the box making for wineries industry in Sonoma County, California after twenty-five years.

Lorraine is an avid golfer and spends as much time as she can on the course. She also devotes a great deal of time studying "Roberts Rules of Order" and texts and materials provided by the National Association of Parliamentarians.

She attended Federation Conventions in Toronto, Canada and Kyoto, Japan. She was a silent observer at the International Convention in Sacramento.