Toni enjoying the beach on horseback with her husband, a very supportive “Soroptimister.”
Member Profile: Toni ZacheryAny time you see a beautifully designed club flyer promoting a fundraiser, it is the result of Toni Zachery’s creative talents.
Toni’s Soroptimist Story is that when she moved to Loomis in 2008, she wanted to get involved with the community. “I met a couple of current members and was invited to a meeting,” said Toni. “Right off the bat, I liked everyone and their outward enthusiasm for the Soroptimist mission. It was clear to me that these gals cared about others and giving back was not a chore, it was a blessing. I still feel this way about this wonderful group of ladies; I have maintained friendships and business relationships to this day.”
In addition to providing her graphic skills to many committees, Toni has been part of many other projects. “I look back at past Eggplant Festivals and remember having to make change at the local bank right in the middle of my shift,” said Toni. “I had tons of $20 dollar bills in my apron and ran like crazy to Wells Fargo. Coming back to the beer booth was even funnier, since I now had far more bills in denominations of $1, $5 and $10. But I realized how great a place like Loomis was with its small town charm and friendliness. No one bothered me, the bank didn’t flinch about making change and everyone got their beers on time! SILB has funded a lot of projects through a thirsty public.”
“But seriously, there are so many projects that I’ve witnessed that touch others’ lives. And the creativity of club members in realizing ideas that truly work in both times of prosperity and trying times such as those we live in today … THAT is very special.”
Toni has been a freelance graphic designer for over 30 years. “I started Smithtonian Graphic Design in 1992, working three part time jobs until I could fly on my own,” said Toni. “These jobs were 1) pouring wine at an Amador winery, 2) marketing for a traffic control firm and even doing occasional traffic control and 3) helping to produce a monthly horse magazine. I have many successful, great clients and love the ability to work on my own. Those of you who own businesses understand that we make it or break it. It’s all up to us. And after a long career, I am now looking forward to slowing down as I head towards retirement.”
Toni says that what she likes best about being a member of the club is “helping others who haven’t had an easy road in life. I’m so happy that I married my husband and landed in Loomis, and I feel we should all give back when we can. The interaction with members and the community is icing on the cake. We really do live in Mayberry!” |
