Dream Dinners

Once again we are holding our Dream Dinners Fund Raiser. Dream Dinners supplies all of the ingredients and recipes for making delicious healthy dinners you can pull out of the freezer and have prepared in 30 minutes or less.

The fundraiser is the night of May 12 starting at 6:00 pm. If you would like to join us, all you have to do is fill out the May menu letting Helaine know by e.mail (Helaine.Bowles@ci.benicia.ca.us) which dinners you would like and how many.  For a copy of the menu visit the Dream Dinner site at http://dreamdinners.com/main.php?page=order_menu_combo.us> . You can order as few as 1 dinner or as many as you want.  Dinners serve 3 or 6 people depending on which ones you order. You need to give Helaine your menu by May 3 to participate and give her a check at that time made payable to Dream Dinners or you can wait and pay that night.

The night of the event we'll meet at Dream Dinners (which is located at the CVS shopping center on Columbus Parkway at the end of Rose Drive) We'll put together our dinners, drink some wine and have a great time. Soroptimist make 15% on the total proceeds.

Award Winners

Soroptimist International of Benicia is pleased to announce the winners of The Violet Richardson and Women’s Opportunity Awards for 2010.

Florenza Plung is the winner of the Violet Richardson Award.  The award recognizes a young woman who is caring, compassionate, creative and, most of all, committed to making the world a better place.  Ms Plung, a senior at Benicia High School, is president of Benicia High School’s Interact Club and treasurer of Benicia High School’s Red Cross Club.  In addition, she participates as a youth commissioner in the Benicia Community Service Division, tutors for the California Scholarship Federation, participates in the Christian Club and teaches at Kid Zone of Northgate Christian Church.  Ms Plung will receive a $500 award and has designated the Interact Club at Benicia High School to receive a donation of $500 in her name.  “As a volunteer,” Ms Plung says,” I learned how important it is to cherish all the things I have in life…to share what I have, and to do as much as I can.”

The winner of the Women’s Opportunity Award is Kristen Cote.  This program was created in 1972 to help women improve their ability to provide for their families.  It targets women who serve as the primary wage earners for the families and provides them with the financial resources to offset costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education or additional skills and training.  Ms Cote is a resident of Benicia with her two daughters, ages 4 and 7.  She is a licensed Esthetician but her main career goal is to work with foster and underprivileged children.  To that end, Ms Cote is enrolled in the Early Childhood Education program at Solano Community College.  She will use the $1500 award to finish her AA degree in Early Childhood Education and then transfer to John F Kennedy University to obtain a bachelors degree in Psychology. “My goal,” she says,” is to work with children to open their minds to how valuable they are to our world and to manifest each of their personal gifts.”

Soroptimist International of Benicia is part of Soroptimist International of the Americans.  Benicia members join with almost 100,000 Soroptimists in about 120 countries and territories to contribute time and financial support to community-based projects benefiting women.  In addition to participating in the Violet Richardson and Women’s Opportunity Award program, Soroptimist International of Benicia provides local scholarships, supports women recovering from drug and alcohol abuse, and contributes to other many other local and national causes.  For more information about how Soroptimist improves the lives of women and girls, call Frances Harkins at 745-8756.

Onward into 2010

Soroptimist International of Benicia has a full year ahead, and we want YOU to join us. You don't even have to be a member, and we would love to have you join our friendly group. Our events are fund raisers. Proceeds are used to donate to local women's resources and to support our awards programs.


March 27 - Luna Fest - Luna Bars sponsors an annual international competition for women directors and then creates a program made of the winner’s works. On March 27 Soroptimist International of Benicia will be screening these short films at the Benicia High School Hayley Horn Auditorium at 7 PM (doors open at 6 PM.

In Keeping with the Soroptimist goal of making the world better for women and girls, proceeds will go to Safequest Solano, battered and abuse victim shelter and the Breast Cancer Fund.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door.

Tickets are available at BENICIA MAIN STREET. BOOKSHOP BENICIA or by calling 707-746-4358.

There will be a VIP reception at 6 PM with preferred seating. These tickets are $25 advanced sales only and are available at BENICIA MAIN STREET or by calling 707-746-4358.

April 30 - Soroptimist Conference in Hawaii
May 22 - Relay for Life
June 19 - Chocolate Wine & Fashion - You've GOT to come to this one, it's great
July 7-10 - SIA Convention in San Francisco
TBA - Spring Fling - A dance party and general celebration for members of our community who are developmentally disabled, this one will touch your heart.

Please Join Us!

Benicia Holiday Parlor Tour

The Benicia Historical Society and the Soroptimists International of Benicia cordially invite you to the 2009 Holiday Parlor Tour, Saturday, December 5 from 1pm to 5pm.  This year's tour includes seven historic homes in Benicia.  Six of the sites are private residences decorated for the holiday season.  The seventh site is the Commanding Officer's Quarters in the historic Arsenal.

The Commanding Officer's Quarters will be the location of a very special part of the event.  The Commanding Officer's Quarters will host the holiday offerings sponsored by our community non-profit organizations.   Your $25 Holiday Parlor Tour ticket provides you entrée to the newly refurbished Commanding Officer's Quarters where you may stroll from room to room and appreciate the city's careful renovation of our antebellum gem.  Various local non-profit organizations have adopted rooms and with the help of local merchants, artists and restaurateurs will provide an array of holiday offerings.  The Commanding Officer's Quarters will remain open until 7pm, an additional two hours after close of the Homes.  Come welcome in the Holidays in Historic Benicia.

Admission is by ticket only.  There are a limited number of tickets and they must be purchased in advance. Tickets are on sale at: Bookshop Benicia, the Camellia Tea Room, the Benicia Chamber of Commerce and Benicia Main Street.  There are stairs at every site.  Please wear soft-soled shoes. No Children on the tour, no backpacks, baby carriers, strollers or photos permitted in the homes.  For further information please call: 707-745-3551.

Committee Chairs

Soroptimists are a very busy group. Here are the committee chairs who can answer your questions about our functions & activities:

Ways & Means - Libby McKendry
Finance - Karen Hubbard
Programs - Helaine Bowles
Membership - Frances Harkins
Retention & Buddy Program - Bonnie Silveria
S-Club - Helaine Bowles

Programs

Soroptimists support many programs to benefit women. We invite you to explore the programs below to see if there is one that can benefit you or other women you know. For application documents for any of these programs, E.Mail the Benicia Soroptimists at benicia.soroptimist@g.mail.com.

Violet Richardson Award

Are you a young woman between the ages of 14 and 17 who volunteers in your community or school? Do you see challengers instead of obstacles? Hope instead of despair? If you are a young woman who believes in the power of volunteer action, then you may be eligible to win a Violet Richardson Award.

This award recognizes young women who make the community and world a better place through volunteer efforts such as: fighting drugs, fighting drugs, crime and violence; cleaning up the environment; and working to end discrimination and poverty. Volunteer actions that benefit women or girls are particularly encouraged.

Soroptimist International of Benicia offers a cash award or $500 for the winner and the charitable organization of her choice. The deadline for application is December 1. For more information and application form, please email Leslie Lessenger at benicia.soroptimist@gmail.com.

The Women's Opportunity Award

This program provides cash grants to women who are working to better their lives through additional skills training and education. Soroptimist International of Benicia will award $1500 to the winner. Deadline for application if December 15, 2009.

You are eligible to apply if you are:

• A woman with primary financial responsibility for yourself and your dependants
• Attending an undergraduate degree program or a vocational skills training program
• Have financial need

For more information and the application form, email Leslie Lessenger at benicia.soroptimist@gmail.com.

Meeting Sites

We are looking for the PERFECT meeting site. The criteria are:
Site supports easy group communication and presenter access
Comfortable for all members
Food available for a moderate price

If you know of any place in Benicia that meets these criteria, please e.mail Linda@LifeDancing.com and put Soroptimists in the subject line.

Thank You
Linda