Soroptimists Summer

Summer is quickly fading into the sunset but looking on the horizon here's an update on what's unfolding. We're meeting to the Left of City Hall at Noon every Thursday until we resume our regular meetings. President Libbey reminds us to bring a hat and sunscreen with our lunch. Here is more from Libbey.

"Mark your calendars! This year we will be holding a planning workshop for the out-going and in-coming board and all the members are invited. It will be Thursday August 5^th from 6-9 PM in the Dona Benicia Room at the Library. Come help us make plans for the coming year and beyond.  I will be providing a salmon salad dinner so let me know if you can come.

Also, mark your calendars for Thursday August 26^th. We will be holding our end of the summer potluck at Kathy Griffin’s house at 297 St Augustine Dr.at 6 PM. It is a fun time to catch up before we start our regular meetings in September.

For correspondence this week we received a thank you letter from Benicia Grad Night for the donation of $200. The letter was signed by our member Lisa McVeigh as a member of the Grad Night committee. We also received an invitation to SI Napa’s annual Lobster Dinner Fundraiser on Nov 13. I hear it is an experience!  Further correspondence was from the trust of Elvira E. Appe who died on June 31, 2010. Some of you long time members may remember her. Please share your memories with the rest of us. Elvira named the Benicia Soroptimist Scholarship Fund in her trust. It may be some time before we know if there is any money that will come to the club as Elvira became ill and spent most of her savings paying for her care.  

That is all for now,

Pres Libbey"

Be colorful and enjoy the sunshine!

June and More

Hi all,

How time flies!!! It's June and we are about to enter our lazy days of summer. Yesterday we had our last business meeting until next September when our new board steps up to the plate. Debbie, Thank You for all of your hard work as President!!!

For those of you new to Benicia Soroptimists, we go dark, or don't meet, during July and August, that is officially. Unofficially members gather at a local park or lovely outside venue and chat and share news and updates over a brown bag lunch. Here's our schedule for June, July and August.

June 10 - Secret Pals will be revealed. All Secret Pal participants bring your final gift to the meeting.*

June 17 - Sharon Petreleese will talk about the Benicia Human Services and Arts Board.*

June 23 - Installation of new members at the Benicia Yacht Club.

* Meet at the Commandant's Residence - E.Mail Heather if you're going to have lunch.

July 2 - There was talk of meeting at the Soroptimist Grove at Matthew Turner Park. I'm told there are signs directing you there. There was also discussion of a potluck as well. I HIGHLY recommend checking with another member (see board names below) if you're not sure what to do. After this meeting folks chose a sitting area between city hall and the post office. Check with Heather if you can't find it.

Next Official Meeting September 2. Location to be announced.

Have a glorious summer. Remember our great events listed to the right. I'm off to Boston pretty much through the middle of July so will miss them and look forward to great pictures.

Warmly

Linda

May Program Update

Hi all,

At the May Business Meeting we welcomed back our Board Members who have returned from Hawaii. Yes, you too can visit a wonderful destination site when you become a Soroptimist Board Member and go to the Annual Conference!

Here's an update on what's coming up for those of us who are not in Hawaii.

Monthly Programs*

May 13 - No clue I must have been sipping my iced tea but it will be at Mike and Gayles in the Southampton Shopping Center and don't you love surprises?
May 20 - A field trip to the Soroptimist Grove in Benicia at the Community Park off of Rose Drive.
May 27 - Book Talk - Our own Helaine Bowles will entertain us with a presentation of the books recently read by library book groups. She'll bring books to purchase if one catches your fancy.
June 3 - Business Meeting
June 10 - Secret Pals will be revealed. All Secret Pal participants bring your final gift to the meeting.
June 17 - Sharon Petreleese will talk about the Benicia Human Services and Arts Board.
June 23 - Installation of new members at the Benicia Yacht Club.

* Unless noted otherwise meetings are held at Mike and Gayles in the Southampton Shopping Center. A buffet lunch is offered for $15. When you get the e.mail notice, let them know if you will be having lunch so they can plan on how many to feed.

Chocolate Wine & Fashion
Pick up your raffle tickets at the next meeting to sell to friends, family, and anyone you think would be interested in winning in a wonderful gift. I've seen the raffle prizes and any one of them is a real find.

Scholarships
Lisa McVeiw has reviewed many applications and the final three winners will be presented with their scholarships May 18.

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.