Plan to join us in celebrating this year’s accomplishments and for the installation of our club’s 2021-22 officers on Wednesday, June 16 at 5:30 PM at La Fornaretta in Newcastle. The invitation will be coming soon.

Congratulations to the following members who will lead our club starting July 1, 2021 through June 2022:

• President – Rae DeGabriele
• Secretary – Sharon O’Donnell
• Treasurer – Shari Lynn Goodwin
• One Year Delegate – Cyndie Whitefoot
• Two Year Delegate – Jenny Knisley

We are so excited that we can once again gather and share Soroptimist with friends, neighbors and community members. Let the women in your life know that we invite them to the mixer on June 30 from 6-7 PM to get acquainted with the club. For the evening, Shari Lynn has organized award-winning wines paired with light appetizers. This is a chance to share our passion and encourage others to join us in taking action to support women and girls locally and globally. RSVP to Shari Lynn by June 23 at (916) 660-6482 or email.

Fulfilling our mission of empowering women economically through education, our club recognized Annamarie Coronel, a single mother of a four year old, who enrolled in the Testlio Ignite software testing training program. With support from Acres of Hope, she is turning her life around and the club’s Soroptimist Live Your Dream $1000 scholarship will help her further her education. Coronel shared her personal journey and the steps she is making to “keep choosing the right thing.”

The club also recognized Rhonda Morillas for her long standing leadership as a founding member of the club and impact on the community. Member Jenny Knisley indicated Rhonda was a woman ahead of her time during the heartfelt presentation of plaques from the club and elected officials.

“As a many term council member and mayor, Rhonda created a foundation for our community that we all benefit from today, such as saving the library,” said Knisley.

Mechelle Bertolucci-Sanchez introduced Allison Gorman, Project Coordinator, Koinonia Group Home for Teens, recipient of the Soroptimist Ruby Award for Women Helping Women.  “Allison connects with the girls, administers the program and is a great liaison with the club,” said Bertolucci-Sanchez.  Gorman shared examples of how much our clubs efforts mean to the Koinonia girls and change lives.

The committee had to modify the event by holding it outdoors and gave an update on the Del Oro Community Service scholarship winner as well as provided personal comments about how grateful the teachers were for the grants.

Club president Karen Fraser-Middleton recognized the members of the Awards Committee — Sharon O’Donnell, Karin Williams, Cyndie Whitefoot and Alaire Outlaw. “I’m filled with gratitude that our members have been so innovative in developing and supporting new fundraisers this year so we could still give out these awards, despite COVID,” said Fraser-Middleton. “The committee members did an outstanding job identifying recipients, adapting to pandemic restrictions and recognizing the awardees.”

Because of COVID, some awards were delivered personally rather than at a large ceremony. The Del Oro Community Service Award went to Marena Feickert, Del Oro High School senior.  She demonstrated her leadership in community service through the raising funds for the Jump In campaign for the Del Oro Pool, training a dog with Canine Companions for Independence, volunteering at UC Davis Hospital and creating a closet of interview appropriate clothes for Taylor House residents

The Loomis Soroptimist Teacher Grants are awarded to K-8 teachers in the Loomis Union School District to fund projects that can positively impact students for multiple years. Due to COVID, the club distributed teacher grants directly to the teachers this year.

One teacher wrote: “I am so grateful for the grant I won this year!  My 4th graders returned to my classroom this fall.  However, the circumstances were very different compared to my previous 32 years of teaching.  Though extremely happy to be in class, my little ones had to learn from behind a 3′ partition.  I watched as they squirmed around trying to adjust to see me as I taught.  In the past, I could walk around my class, yet having learners on-line prevented that.  Your generous gift allowed me to purchase a 48″ tall table and a rolling chair.  This allowed me to see all of my 27 students even if they were four rows back.  Thank you for helping my class get through pandemic teaching!”

To expand our program with Koinonia Group Homes, Cyndie Whitefoot and Mechelle Bertolucci-Sanchez wrote a grant application to the Sierra Nevada Region. Our club won a $500 Youth Grant Award to develop an extended vision board project that will provide the girls more time to contemplate their personal and career dreams and how to take action. This will complement Soroptimist Dream It Be It career program by inspiring the girls to create their own future possibilities.

Members of our club worked for two years sewing and compiling the many components of the Days for Girls reusable sanitary kits. The club recently completed the last step of assembling the kits.

These sustainable kits prevent girls from missing school when they have their period. The kits include waterproof pads, panties, soap and other items in fabric carry bags.

Under president-elect Rae’s leadership, 205 kits were completed and given to the Days for Girls organization to distribute worldwide with educational materials. Thank you to the club members who contributed to this international project that empowers girls to access education.

Since our club has not been able to do many of our usual fundraising events, club members reached out to their colleagues at local businesses asking them for contributions to support our efforts. A special thank you to the following individuals and companies that responded to our request with generous donations–over $3700 has been donated so far!

Cyndie Whitefoot was involved in the community for many years through her daughters’ school and sports activities.  “Once they left the nest, I was looking for an opportunity to continue to contribute,” said Whitefoot. “I was attracted to Soroptimist International Loomis Basin because I heard that it was a fun club and I liked the community services that members supported.”

She enjoyed a career with flexible hours supporting the manufacturers’ representative business selling natural gas products, founded by her husband and two partners. “I was responsible for accounts receivable,” said Whitefoot. “I was able to work from home — evening hours, morning hours and pajama hours. The schedule enabled me to be home with our daughters and participate in their school activities.”

“This was a blessing that I have always tried to pay forward and Soroptimist, in part, makes that possible.”

Whitefoot has been involved in many Soroptimist committees including Tostado Bingo, It’s in the Bag, Eggplant Festival and mask making.  “Those fundraisers allow our club to give back to so many,” said Whitefoot. “I so enjoy being part of the awards committee. It is such a pleasure to see how appreciative teachers in our district are to receive grants and to recognize amazing women in our community with the Ruby Award.”

Whitefoot indicated that she feels the greatest satisfaction in awarding the Live Your Dream Award.  “I’ve been on the awards committee since I joined the club and the Live Your Dream Award is always the most heartwarming,” said Whitefoot. “I love that we can support women who are struggling to improve their lives and the lives of their children.”

One of the benefits of being in the club is learning about organizations that the club partners with to make a difference, according to Whitefoot. “I had no idea of all the social service agencies in our area and Soroptimist made me aware of them,” said Whitefoot. “I’m happy that I can contribute to these local services such as Stand Up Placer, Placer Food Bank, Senior LIFE Center, Loomis Christmas Basket and others through the club.”

Most of all, Whitefoot says she appreciates the people she has met by being involved in our club. “I love the friendships I’ve made through Soroptimist,” said Whitefoot.

Calendar

Our club meets on the first and third Wednesday evening of every month except in July and August.

• June 16 — Installation of New Officers 5:30 PM
• June 14 – July 2nd – Deadline for discounted rate of $40 for Soroptimist 100 Year Celebration
• June 23 – RSVP deadline for Mixer on June 30
• June 30 — New member mixer
• July 10-11 – Sierra Nevada Region Development Retreat
• July 27-29, 2023 — SI International Convention in Dublin, Ireland