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Soroptimist International of Los Angeles

Growing our membership to increase our service

March 2013Vol 4, Issue 5
Greetings!

 

President BevWasn't our Christmas event at 1736 wonderful!  Each year seems more touching than the last. The children were so careful selecting the gifts for their mothers. This year they all wanted to help wrap the gifts too. Jeri, DeAnna and Pam made it happen. To top off the day, we had a great time at lunch and gift exchange at El Cholos.

 

We were very disappointed that we could not hold our Youth Violence Forum. We need to develop a better method to attract participants.

 

We were very encouraged when we entertained eight great women at our membership recruiting event at the Alhambra wine bar.  Guests and members all seemed to enjoy the afternoon. The buzz from all the conversations indicated the success.

 

Now we must focus our full attention on the Awards Luncheon. Invitations are out and everything seems to be falling into place.

 

We salute Carole for her extensive work on the Forum, Emily for a well executed recruiting event and Jessica for her luncheon coordination. Of course each member has done her own important part in our event planning. I am very proud of the women of our club!

 

President Bev

   
Editor's Note

 

Thank you all for your patience! I've been consumed with getting my 91 year old mother through hip replacement surgery in Northern California and unable to get a Newsletter out for either January or February. But Mom made it through the surgery and rehabilitation and is doing well. Hopefully, I'll be able to get back to reporting on club activities. Keep sending me those stories and pictures! I miss you all.

Janet

In This Issue
Save the Date(s)
Check Out SILA's New Website!
Recruitment Event - How Nice Was That!
Vickie Kropenske to be Recognized at Annual Awards Luncheon
Come to Spring Conference
Thank you from Tanya
Quick Links

2012-2013 Board

 

President: Bev Johnson
1st VP (Programs): Joyce Jacob
2nd VP (W&M): Jessica Washington
Secretary: Daphyne Howell
Treasurer: Janet Elliott/Teresa Harvey
Director 2011-13: Joan Johnson
Director 2012-14: Diane Vernon
Contact Information

 

For more information about SILA or this Newsletter, please contact:

 

President Bev Johnson at bevjohnson2001@gmail.com or 818-563-3775.
 
Editor Janet Elliott at jvelliott88@gmail.com or 310-809-2438; Co-Editor Ann Read at annr@earthlink.net or 626-919-9202

Save the Date(s)

 

 

calendarWednesday, March 20, 6pm at Taix Restaurant: Program Meeting: 'The World Status of Women and Girls". Carole Oglesby reporting on her trip to the United Nations.

 

Wednesday, April 3, 6pm at Taix Restaurant: Business Meeting

 

Saturday, April 6, 11am at Los Angeles Athletic Club: Annual Awards Luncheon

 

Wednesday, April 17, 6pm at Taix Restaurant: Program Meeting 

 

Friday-Sunday, April 26-28 at Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach Hotel: Camino Real Region Spring Conference

Check Out SILA's New Website!

 

New websiteHave you checked it out? SILA has a brand new look on our website!
 
Thanks to member Ann Read and our savvy webmaster Donna Skinner (SI Long Beach), SILA now has a much more attractive, descriptive, informative and up-to-date website. Go to www.soroptimist-losangeles.org.
 
Front and center on the home page, you'll see the video by filmmaker and member Emily Dell that describes SILA so well. Plus there are lots of pictures, information about SI, SIA, and SILA history and programs, applications for our annual awards, and a link to all the newsletters under News & Events. There's even a link to the invitation for the April 6th Annual Luncheon on the home page and a donate button. And all of this loads easily even if you open it on your tablet or smart phone.
 
Well done, Ann and Donna!
Recruitment Event - How Nice Was That!                             by Julie Mairs

 

Joyce and guestsFourteen members and eight guests gathered at Vino at Trios wine bar for a lovely afternoon pause that included tasting California reds and whites from Dubost Winery, moderated by Italian vegetable and antipasti filled delicate dough wedges and a plate of delicious shrimp, black kale, beef and a taste of sweet all developed by the Trios chef. 

 

Added elements were the companionship of our known members and the adventure of meeting new potential friends and members who might share our values and aims for women.

 

Wine tasting mixerClub members spoke to the value of membership and of small experiences that gave additional meaning to their experience in the club. After a spirited round of Soroptimist Bingo, we settled in for a quick review of our services, structure and an orientation to our club membership obligations and opportunities.

 

The environment was modern but not cold, calming and comfortable. So in other words it was an event enjoyed by those who had experienced the sincerity of our friendship before, and those who were taking a sip of our culture for the first time.

 

Thank you to the event chair, Emily Dell, to all of the members who gave some of their time and got a rejuvenating experience in return, and to all our guests who got some insight into Soroptimist International of Los Angeles.

Vickie Kropenske to be Recognized at  Annual Awards Luncheon

  

2013-invitation

Women in our Community - the Hope for our Future is the theme for this year's SILA Awards Luncheon on Saturday, April 6 at the Los Angeles Athletic Club.

 

Vickie Kropenske, Director of the Hope Street Family Center, will be honored as SILA's 2013 Ruby Award Winner along with three other outstanding winners of the SILA Graduate Fellowship Award, Soroptimist Women's Opportunity Award, and Soroptimist Violet Richardson Award.

 

Vickie Kropenske

Vickie Kropenske has truly made a difference in the lives of families, women and children in Los Angeles. Starting 20 years ago, Vickie was Director of a research and model demonstration program through the UCLA School of Medicine serving children from the age of birth to five years old who were affected by alcohol and other drugs.

 

Today, Vickie is Director of Hope Street Family Center, a community outreach benefit program of California Hospital Medical Center that provides in-home and on-site educational, health wellness, behavioral health, developmental, and social services that support children and families.

  

Talk about a woman making a difference! Click here to view and print the Invitation to the Luncheon. Tickets are $75 and reservations should be mailed to Teresa Harvey by March 23. Don't forget to support the Silent Auction!

 

Click on the 8-minute video below to learn more about Hope Street Family Center.

 

 

Hope Street Family Center 1992-2012
Hope Street Family Center 1992-2012

 

 

 

Come to Spring Conference

 

CAMINO REAL REGION

SPRING CONFERENCE 2013

Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach Hotel

April 26-28, 2013 

 

 

Attention all Soroptimists! Whether you're brand new, fairly new, or a long-time member, plan on attending the Camino Real Region Spring Conference Friday, April 26 through Sunday, April 28, at the beautiful Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach Hotel in Ventura.

 

Check out the Call to Conference for details about the many activities planned, including the Governor's High Tea to report on the state of the Region, the Leadership Academy which provides education and inspiration and training for current and future leadership roles, events to recognize outstanding clubs and the winners of our signature Soroptimist awards, a Trade Fair, and much more.

 

Come support SILA's own Sheila Tatum, Conference Coordinator, and Ginger Cole, CRR Secretary.

 

Contact President Bev if you have not yet registered.

Thank you from Tanya                                     by Joyce Jacob and Ann Read

 

Tayna YbarraTanya Ybarra, Child Life Specialist at Calfornia Hospital and Medical Center, spoke at the December program meeting.

 

"Child life services" at the hospital includes fostering positive coping skills for children and their families and providing therapeutic interventions to help children and families understand the medical process.

 

Tanya demonstrated one of her major services, that of preparing a child before, during and after a stressful event, like self or parent medical intervention. She showed examples of drawings before, during and after the event. In one example, a child had drawn himself as a very small stick figure in the corner of the sheet. After the event, with CLS help, his drawing showed himself much larger in the center of the sheet. 

 

Members donated coloring books and crayons and some handmade dolls made by a friend of Barbara Jury's to the program and received the following thank you from Tanya:

 

 

rag dolls "Thank you so much for all the gifts that you donated to the children in our hospital. You donated over 80 coloring books and almost 50 boxes of crayons-WOW!!! The children have loved being able to choose a coloring book (choices help children to feel more in control) and the coloring books and crayons have proved to be a wonderful distraction from either their pain or boredom of being in the hospital.

 

Also thank you for the beautiful hand-made dolls, bunnies and little purses - they are the perfect size for the little ones and are very safe since they do not have button eyes. These special gifts are truly a treasure."