Soroptimist International of Los Angeles
ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS
April/May 2016                                                                   Vol. 7, Issue 5

Time to Celebrate

May 4: 
Program Meeting: Meet Andrea Davis, PhD @ Taix French Restaurant, 6 P.M.

May 13-15: CRR Spring Conference @ Pasadena Hilton, including Ginger Cole's installation as Governor Saturday, May 14. Come party!

July 20-23: SIA 44th Biennial Convention @ Orlando, Florida
 
President Joyce JacobDear <<First Name>>,

SILA is in the spotlight!
 
During the Camino Real Region Spring Conference at the Pasadena Hilton from May 13-15, our own SILA Member, Ginger Cole, will become Governor of Camino Real Region!
 
There have been extensive preparations. SILA Member Sheila Tatum is Conference Coordinator and SILA Members Amy Poulos and Lessie Caballero are part of the Arrangements Committee.  All the deadlines for submissions have been met: Distinguished Soroptimist Award, Governor Award, Purse Drawing Donation Confirmation, Memorial Program Form (we submitted for Dr. Karen Johnson and LeRoy Smith, who was a strong SILA Member supporter.) We participated in the goodie bag by Lessie Caballero supplying Welch’s packaged fruit snacks with labels submitted by Sheila Tatum.
 
We have 13 SILA members attending the Conference and four SILA members will be volunteering. During the Conference, there will be the election of CRR officers for 2016-18: Governor Elect, Treasurer, Secretary, and District 1,2,3 and 4 Directors. The correct credential forms have been submitted and the delegates are: Joyce Jacob, Lessie Caballero, and Amy Poulos and Jessica Washington is the alternate delegate.
 
There is a great program with Leadership Academy and Workshops and of course you can shop till you drop with excellent vendors. Did I mention the food?! The hotel offers an excellent menu.
 
On Friday night is the “Dreams on Parade” for which each Club designed a banner (tri–fold board) and the Club Presidents will parade their banner. We are a winner! We worked very hard on the display (thanks to everyone who came before program meetings to work on it!) Bev Johnson made the flag banner and Amy Poulos provided the flag material (our Soroptimist emblem and SILA skyline).
 
Saturday evening is the Installation Dinner of SILA Member, Governor Ginger Cole. This is a party! The statement is: put on your mask, throw on your beads and grab your umbrella and join in the Mardi Gras Parade in celebrating Governor Ginger Cole and her 2016-2018 Board. SILA is very proud to have the leadership of Ginger Cole as Camino Real Region Governor! 

President Joyce
 
 
IN THIS ISSUE:

- Gala Luncheon a Success
- Live Your Dream Recipient Honored
- Fellowship Winner 2016
- Heart of Art: Passion for Life
- Amy's Amazing Grandma


QUICK LINKS:
SILA's Website
Camino Real Region
Federation (SIA)
International (SI)

 
2015-16 BOARD:
President: Joyce Jacob
1st VP: Carole Oglesby
2nd VP: Daphyne Howell
Secretary: Bev Johnson
Treasurer: Jeri Durham
Director 2014-16: Barbara Jury
Director 2015-17: Diane Vernon



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

President Joyce Jacob at joyceajacob@aol.com or 626-222-9316

Editor Janet Elliott at jvelliott88@gmail.com or 310-809-2438

Webmistress Ann Read at annr@earthlink.net or 626-919-9202

 
 

GALA LUNCHEON A SUCCESS
 
Achieving Your Dream
Another highly enjoyable, inspiring, and successful Awards Luncheon was hosted by Soroptimist International of Los Angeles on Saturday, March 19 at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. The afternoon featured a beautifully arranged silent auction, gorgeous table arrangements, talented entertainment and three wonderful award recipients.


Ron Troupe & Dr. Amy HumphreyThe Community Hero Award was awarded to 1736 Family Crisis Center for their outstanding work in support of women who are victims of domestic violence. The award was accepted by Dr. Amy Humphrey on behalf of 1736 Family Crisis Center. Dr. Humphrey is the Clinical/Quality Assurance Supervisor for 1736 overseeing all of their clinical staff and interns. She has been with 1736 for over 20 years. Also attending was Ron Troupe, 1736 Board Member.

See below for more on Anna Cousins, recipient of the Live Your Dream award and Naomi Ogaldez, recipient of the SILA Graduate Fellowship Award.

Thanks to everyone for their hard work!
 
LIVE YOUR DREAM RECIPIENT HONORED by Carole Oglesby
 
Anna CousinsAnna Cousins was born in San Diego and lived there almost 30 years. Her parents separated and created their own “second families” so Anna did not always receive the support she needed. She was able to complete high school but had her first child when she was only 17. She lived with her partner about 14 years but he became increasingly abusive. After a second child was born, she began to fear for her children and herself. Her older daughter went to live with Anna's mother. Anna's son also moved out of her care and, pregnant with a third child and at a turning point, she ran. She had to get away to save her life.
 
In the Los Angeles area, she was homeless. She spent nights in Union Station. She rode the #20 bus many times all night long just to have a safe place to sleep. At this difficult time, she kept her wits about her and eventually found the Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women and Children. Anna was able to attend parenting classes and employment and self-development workshops. She regained custody of her second child. She was able to gain permanent housing at last and actually entered West Los Angeles Junior College. In her second semester, she is applying for the honors program.
 
She has said "I always wanted to be a doctor but being abused and having children early made it so hard. I am stronger now and I am ready to complete the course of life I should have taken a long time ago."
 
 

FELLOWSHIP WINNER 2016 by Amy Poulos
 

 

Naomi OgaldezWinner of the 2016 SILA Fellowship Award was Naomi Ogaldez.

Naomi is a student at California State University, Northridge.  She is working towards a Master’s of Science in Health Administration, having already earned a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism with a minor in Spanish-Language Journalism. 
 
Naomi’s many volunteer activities have taken her from California to Minnesota to South Africa and Mexico. Naomi has interned as a journalist at NBC, CNN, and the Mayo Clinic.  She has worked as Anchor, Reporter and Producer at both Valley View News and KCSN 88.5.
 
As she stated in her application, “I believe one person can make a change in the world, and I believe I am changing the world, one person at a time.”

Naomi was awarded a $3,500 cash award towards her graduate school tuition and many best wishes for continued success in her career.

 

HEART OF ART: PASSION FOR LIFE by Carole Oglesby

Heart of Art logoSpeakers at the April 20 program meeting were from Heart of Art, a gallery dedicated to creating a brave space for women, queer, and transgender folks to overcome trauma, cultivate skills, and expand consciousness through the arts.

Joyce, Carole, Bell & KeniaIsabela (“Bell”) Diaz is an artist and fierce advocate of women and queer rights. In 2012, she cofounded the Heart of Art, an underground art gallery and advocate for the LGBTQ community in Los Angeles, and has since organized and hosted hundreds of events, many of them wholly benefiting the families of female murder victims (namely the Juarez murders). Under the name of Ms.3, they create art through photography and videos, as well as life size mixed-media sculptures that are made wit
h recycled materials found all throughout the gallery.

 

Kenia Gutierrez is a production manager, performance artist, photography and videographer. Together with her wife, Bell, and Heart of Art, she has followed her passion to use art to “capture life and all of its beauty.” She loves the way pictures make her feel when she looks at them. “One picture has a lifetime of memories and emotions.” She feels she has the power to capture life with just one click of her fingertip. “It’s a magical feeling and if that’s not magic, I don’t know what is.”

AMY'S AMAZING GRANDMA

Margaret Freed

Margaret Freed
, Amy Poulos’s 100 year old grandmother, came to the April 20 meeting with 20 of the dolls which she makes to benefit California Hospital Medical Center. Several were bought by those attending the meeting.

Margaret is a retired RN and founded and ran the Guildhouse, the gift shop at Barlow Respiratory Hospital in Los Angeles, for decades. And she may become a member of SILA soon!