Soroptimist International of Los Angeles
ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS
December 2015/January 2016                                                                   Vol. 7, Issue 3

Calendar of Events
January 6: 
Business meeting @ Taix French Restaurant, 6 P.M.

January 20, February 4, February 18:
Program meetings @ Taix French Restaurant, 6 P.M.

March 19: Annual Awards/Fund Raising Luncheon Achieving Your Dream @ The LA Athletic Club

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

At this time of year, my thoughts include our Invocation that all SILA Members express at the beginning of our meetings.
        For the bread upon the board,
Each of us are so blessed that we are able to give to others
         Make us truly thankful Lord
        for each one meeting here,

I know that each SILA Member expresses the compassion and joy of participating in the mission of Soroptimist which is to improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment. That is the purpose of our meeting together.
         Whom our hearts hold close and dear,
SILA Members have close and dear friendships that are demonstrated in each social and planned activity.
          For this day, O Lord above, now accept
         our grateful love.

We have shared our love with others through the projects and programs of SILA.

A very busy start of the club 2015-2016 year gave us excellent programs with speakers on global understanding, human trafficking, FGM, breast cancer, domestic violence, heart disease in women and our own Daphyne Howell giving her background for joining SILA and her strong support to members and our projects.

We are able to demonstrate our love to others by our projects: Dream It, Be It, cooking breakfast at the Downtown Women’s Center, donations to Clothes the Deal, selecting a Live Your Dream winner, and our highlight: the 1736 Christmas Party.
 
I extend my love and gratitude for all the support everyone gives to SILA. You are deeply loved. Have a wonderful holiday!

President Joyce


Happy New Year 2016

 
 
IN THIS ISSUE:

- Elves Descend on 1736
- So Glad I Joined You at 1736!
- How I Came To Be a Soroptimist
- Go to Florida in 2016
- Donations Delivered
- "Dream It, Be It" Is Underway
- Member News

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

 
 
SILA at 1736

ELVES DESCEND ON 1736 by Joyce Jacob and Bev Johnson

SetupWe had the best party!
 
Twelve SILA members (aka elves) gathered at 1736 Domestic Violence Shelter Saturday morning, December 19, for our annual Christmas Event for the children to select and wrap gifts for their mothers.

Thank you organizer Jeri Durham, Lessie Caballero, Ginger Cole, Joyce Jacob, Barbara Jury, Bev Johnson, Daphyne Howell, Carole Oglesby, Amy Poulos, Pam Smith, Diane Vernon and Jessica Washington.

 
WrappingThank you special guests Dr. Nina Smart, activist for FGM (member of SI Downey) and Naomi Carmona-Morshead, CRR Pink and Purple Chair, for being part of our event.
 
Wrapping giftsAs Dr. Smart said later, “It made me so happy to see the surprise on the faces of the children as they picked up presents for their mothers.”
 
And what a selection of presents, thanks to Jeri (who knows how to shop!) Everyone brought the wrapping supplies. Pam put together individual gift bags that each child received after wrapping gifts for their mother. Bev made individual pumpkin bread for the working elves and Joyce brought See's candy for the 1736 employees who were the support system.
 
The best part is when Jeri took a picture of each child in front of the Christmas tree. The framed picture and the wrapped gifts were placed in a large Christmas bag for each mother. The bags were then put away until Christmas morning when they are given to the mothers.
 
Then off to El Cholo for the members’ luncheon and gift exchange.
 
Thanks again for another SILA feel good day.

 

SO GLAD I JOINED YOU AT 1736!  by Dr. Nina Smart
 

Naomi, Nina, Carole
So glad I joined you at 1736 on Saturday!

 

Thank you for having me participate on Saturday.  Your service project brought so much joy to the hearts of many and it made me so happy to see the surprise on the faces of the children as they picked up presents for their mothers.

 

The friendly ladies working there have such positive attitudes!  I am even more inspired to continue my mission to build a second safe house in Sierra Leone. The kind donation SILA made to SWF will go towards the existing safe house - perhaps we could bring smiles on the young women's faces during this Christmas.

 

Thank You so much!

 

Merry Christmas to You!

 

From the heart,

Nina Smart


 


HOW I CAME TO BE A SOROPTIMIST by Daphyne Howell
 
Daphyne Howell{Daphyne Howell is the Director of Administration and Human Resources at 1736 Family Crisis Center and a Soroptimist since 2011. At the December 2 program meeting, she was asked to share how she came to join SILA. Here's an excerpt of her talk in her own words.}

I was introduced to SILA by Deanna Blaylock through my employer 1736 Family Crisis Center. Deanna was a board member of 1736 and a SILA member. I was invited to SILA program meetings to provide updated information on the domestic violence shelter supported by SILA and also invited to many SILA fundraiser luncheons.
 
I enjoyed learning about SILA and what SILA stands for, and thought one day I would like to become a member of SILA. Well, that opportunity presented itself in 2011, when I was asked by than incoming president Ginger Cole if I was interested in joining this wonderful organization.
 
After much thought, I accepted the offer of becoming part of such a wonderful group of ladies who are dedicated and loyal to the cause of empowering women and girls.  It has been my pleasure to work with, laugh with, and learn the true meaning of fellowship.
 
GO TO FLORIDA IN 2016!

44th Biennial ConventionThe Soroptimist of the Americas (SIA) 44th Biennial Convention will be held in Orlando, Florida in 2016.

Join Soroptimists from across North and South America, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines in Orlando to celebrate our Soroptimist Story, July 20-23.

Registration will open in January, so keep an eye out for the email announcement! To view the latest convention information, make your hotel reservations at the Walt Disney World Dolphin resort and sign up to volunteer, visit
http://www.soroptimist.org/members/meetings/meetings.html.


 
Clothes the Deal logo

DONATION DELIVERED

Clothes the Deal donationCongratulations ladies on the amount of your donation to Clothes the Deal. Rather than driving to Downey, organizer Bev Johnson was able to deliver the bags of clothes to the Round the Clock Cleaners in Pasadena. They are a collection center for Clothes the Deal.

Thanks for making this program a success again this year.

"DREAM IT, BE IT" IS UNDERWAY   By Jessica Washington

Dream It Be It logoSILA’s DREAM IT, BE IT program is underway for a group of unwed teenage girls at the Thomas Riley High School for pregnant minors, which is part of the LA City School District. Jessica Washington, Joyce Jacob, and Jeri Durham are delivering the program every other Monday. It started in October and will complete early February.
 
The most important goal is providing these girls the opportunity to understand that they can be anything they desire if they are willing to do the work, especially graduating. One of the girls did graduate this December. Their repeated mantra is “dream it, be it!”
 
The highlight of their Christmas meeting was that each girl was given one of the handmade dolls made by Amy Poulos’s 100 year-old grandmother, as well as an opportunity to “shop” (a la the Christmas event at 1736) from a variety of baby things selected by Jeri. The girls had a ball selecting gifts for their babies.

Amy's grandmother's dollsBaby gifts
 

MEMBER NEWS: DR. KAREN JOHNSON (1938-2015)

Karen JohnsonBorn in Buhl, Idaho, Karen Johnson graduated from Buhl High School where she was granted a scholarship to the College of Idaho, Caldwell, ID.  She earned her BA and then came to California for a junior high school teaching job in Los Angeles County. She then obtained her Master's degree followed by a Doctorate from the University of Southern California.
 
During the 1970’s she took a leave from teaching to live and work in Washington DC as an active force for passage of Title IX enabling equality and financial assistance in Girls' and Women's sports.
 
Moving back to Los Angeles, Karen taught in the Kinesiology and Physical Education Department at California State University at Los Angeles where she also coached women's basketball.  For several years before she retired, Karen was Associate Dean of the School of Health and Human Sciences at California State Los Angeles.
 
Also, during this time and for many years, Karen served on the National Olympic Volleyball Committee.  Attending the opening ceremonies for the Olympic Games in Greece was a treasured memory for hers.
 
Karen was an active member of Western Society for Physical Education of College Women, a professional organization of women teaching and working in physical education at community colleges and four year institutions. She held numerous positions leadership positions within the organization, including President, and continued to serve the organization after her retirement.
 
After retirement she became a member of SILA and supported many projects for the community. Her family has extended special thanks to 50-year friend and fellow Soroptimist, Ann Read.