LOCAL SOROPTIMISTS KEEP A FULL AGENDA TO HELP WOMEN

Soroptimist is an international organization for business and professional women who work to improve the lives of women and girls, in local communities and throughout the world. Almost 95,000 Soroptimists in about 120 countries and territories contribute time and financial support to community–based and international projects that benefit women and girls.

As part of a project to visit and document the activities of local service clubs in Chino Hills and Chino, I recently sat through a meeting of the Soroptimist International of Chino Hills / Inland Empire. They meet on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Thursdays of the month from 6:30 to 7:30 P.M. at Chancellor's Place Assisted Living Center, 6500 Butterfield Ranch Road in Butterfield Ranch. (By the way, the night I met with them they changed their venue to the city recreational center near Butterfield Ranch Elementary on Mystic Canyon.).

Soroptimist members belong to local clubs, which determine the focus of volunteer work to their communities. The local club projects that I heard about in just this one night ranged from providing presents for two children of a local mom in need, to providing a high quality speaker to talk about relationships between moms and their daughters for Ayala and Chino Hills High School girls. The group also provides assistance to "Caring for the Hills", a local group that assists the elderly in Chino Hills. Current President, JoAnn Seel, presided over the meeting. For a club that only began in July of 2005, they have a full agenda. I was so impressed that I had to write a story just on them. The sixteen or so members of the club that attended this night included professional women from the legal field to nursing to education, and even the owner of a local auto repair shop.

TRANSPORTATION FOR MOMS IN NEED

After tackling a few administrative issues these women got down to work and began to review the success of their recent "Charity Car Campaign". This was a very creative idea where the Soroptimists teamed up with 1 800 Charity Cars, Star Auto Parts, the Auto Value Bumper to Bumper Parts / Service Center located in Chino, and many others to identify thirteen local woman in need of dependable cars. Many of these women came from abusive relationships and it surprised me to hear that between them, these women were caring for thirty-six children! These are women who really needed some help. By convincing local families to donate their used cars rather than trading them in or selling them the Soroptimists were able to provide transportation for these families. Two local charities, The House of Ruth and The Sheepfold , helped Soroptimists to identify these women in need. Local car repair shops, including Autotech in Chino, Jesse's Pit Stop, R Rated Motorsports, Import Automotive, Back's Automotive, Palmer Automotive, Carriage Motorhouse, Red Top, A Plus Smog, and Kims Master provided the repairs. The auto club provided needed car seats. Even smog certificates were arranged for. An event was held and the cars awarded at The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum by the Los Angeles County Fairplex in Pomona. The event was sponsored by the Automobile Club of Southern California.

PROVIDING FOR EDUCATION ON RELATIONSHIPS FOR YOUNG WOMEN

Schools provide learning on math, science, and history, but often are lacking in the abstract understandings about life and relationships. The Soroptimists recently provided the funds for Tyler Durman to visit both Chino Hills and Ayala High Schools. Mr. Durman has a well recognized program in place on mother / daughter relationships and self esteem. After hearing about how much is involved in arranging for this special speaker and making the program possible, I realized that it would be highly unlikely for the schools to do this on their own.

HELPING WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD

Soroptimist International sponsors a program once each year, in cooperation with the United Nations to help women around the world. Many of the projects they work on are things that we would take for granted in the United States. In prior years, they provided mosquito nets to families in Africa to reduce mosquito born illnesses. In another year they provided funds to organizations dedicated to stop the human trafficking of women around the world. This year, they are working to build support for places like Village Desta Mender in Ethiopia that provides a home and dignity for women with "Obstetric Fistula" who cannot be completely cured and need ongoing medical help. Obstetric Fistula's can occur after a difficult childbirth and in many countries, the women who this happens to become ostracized from their communities. So by each member of Soroptimists making just a small personal sacrifice, they are hoping to make a huge difference to these women and the organizations around the world who are helping them.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION FOR WOMEN WHO ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE

The Soroptimists recognize local women who are making a difference to others and offer motivation for women to improve their own lives and the lives of their families. One example is the "Women's Opportunity Award", which is given to women who are heads of their households and who are going back to school to improve their lives and the lives of their families. They also have a "Violet Richardson Volunteer Action Award" for young women who have significant accomplishments as volunteers. Violet Richardson was the President of the first Soroptimist Club in 1921. At this meeting, they nominated a local women for their "Making a Difference for Women Award". This prominent local woman started a girls orphanage in Africa and will soon receive some recognition for her philanthropy from the Soroptimists of Chino Hills.

RAISING FUNDS TO HELP WOMEN IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE WORLD

The Chino Hills Soroptimists raise funds in many ways. Each year, they hold a Murder Mystery Dinner, they participate in an Annual All Service Club Bingo Night, and they brainstorm as I saw tonight, to come up with creative ideas that help women of all ages to improve their lives. I didn't think I was going to have all this to write about but I can't say enough about how much do. We are fortunate to have a group like these women working in our community. The Board of Directors serving in 2007-2008 are JoAnn Seel, President; Lorraine Morris, President-Elect; Cheryl Gilbert, Vice President; Jan O'Neill, Treasurer; and MJ de la Pena, Secretary. They can be reached at (909) 597-0218 or online at www.sichie.org.