FALL WORKSHOP IN ALHAMBRA

 

The Camino Real Region Fall Workshop on Saturday, October 1, hosted by SI Alhambra/San Gabriel/San Marino was attended by SILA members Carole Oglesby, Joyce Jacob, Amy Poulos, President Daphyne, Charlotte Lerchenmuller, and Julie Mairs. Of course, SILA’s own Ginger Cole was there as Governor of CRR.

Patterned after the recent SIA Convention in Orlando, the focus of the Workshop was on creating our “Soroptimist Story” in order to Catch the Dream – One Mission/One Message. Soroptimist is a “Glocal” organization (global and local). We are one Region with 719 wonderful members doing the work of SIA along with more than 30,000 other members in the 20 countries that comprise our Federation (SIA). Globally, we are one Region, part of an international body of 80,000 members in 132 countries and territories around the world all working to improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment.

 

 

On Saturday, October 15th, SILA returned to the Downtown Women's Center to cook breakfast.
 
We made quiche, potatoes, oatmeal, and sliced bananas for around 100 homeless women who come to DWC daily for healthy, hot meals.
 
Our group of cookers included President Daphyne Howell, Pam Smith, Bev Johnson, Joyce Jacob, Lessie Caballero, Amy Poulos, Daphyne's friend Cathy, Joyce's daughter-in-law Kim,and Amy's friend Monica.







 

BARBARA JURY HONORED BY USC by Joyce Jacob

On October 18^th, Barbara Jury received the Half Century Trojans Annual Hall of Fame Award at a USC campus luncheon held at the Town and Gown.
 
What a star! As introduced by Dean Marilyn Flynn, USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, Barbara captured the spirit of the Half Century Trojans Award which is awarded to outstanding alumni who earned a bachelor’s degree at least 50 years ago. And Barbara won the hearts of everyone present with her acceptance speech of stories from the past and the present.
 
In 1950, Barbara graduated from California Hospital and USC with her BS in Nursing. During her 46 year tenure at California Hospital, she served several positions from Director of Nursing to newborn nursery, but her favorite was the being the first Director of Risk Management.
 
She is a devote Trojan and has supported several programs: USC Trojan Marching Band, the USC Song Girls and Yell Leaders, USC Athletics, and USC Department of Nursing, where she served on its Board of Counselors.
 
She also volunteered at Classical KUSC from 1997 to 2012. She has given her time to many organizations: Soroptimist Region Governor from 1988 to 1990 and a member of SILA for 49 years. Currently a member of the board of California Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Association, former member of the board of the California Hospital Legacy Foundation, supporter of the DaCamera Society, Downtown Women’s Shelter, 1736 Family Crisis Center and Barlow’s Respiratory Hospital.  At present, she is President of the Board for Hollenbeck Retirement Home.
 
Her honor will be extended to future nurses by the USC Barbara Jury Nursing Scholarship, under the leadership of the USC School of Social Work.  Any donation gifts can be made to: USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, 1149 South Hill Street, Suite H575, Los Angeles, CA 90015, c/o Kathleen Lago, Director, Advancement (please indicate on memo: for Barbara Jury Nursing Scholarship.
 
FIGHT ON!
 

 

Lola Abrahamian was our guest speaker at the September 21 program meeting.
 
As the Camino Real Region Director for District 2, to which SILA belongs, Lola provided updates on regional plans for 2016-2018. 

 
SILA member Jeri Durham was the expert speaker on at the October 5th program meeting. She spoke about the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Kids Count Data Center.
 
The Kids Count Data Center provides state legislators, public officials and child advocates with the reliable data, policy recommendations and tools needed to advance sound policies that benefit children and families.
 
Did you know that Jeri was a math teacher and loves numbers? This was demonstrated during her presentation. She provided data on the Kids Count State Ranking from 2014 (the latest year for which data is available).
 
Overall, California ranks 36 out of 50. In four specific areas, here are California’s rankings: 1) economic well-being: 47;   2) Education: 35;   3) Health: 11;   4) Family and Community: 41. Can you guess who number 1 was? Click here to find out: http://datacenter.kidscount.org/rankings  
 
An excellent discussion followed with all members participating. SILA would highly recommend Jeri do a presentation at the CRR Spring Conference!

Jay McDonald was the exceptional speaker at the October 19th program meeting. Jay is the Community and Corporate Engagement Coordinator for the Downtown Women’s Center.
 
Jay moved here with her husband from England. She started volunteering at DWC and became employed six months ago. She is clearly an asset to their organization.
 

She updated SILA members on the statistics of DWC. There are over 119 residents, 97% of residents stayed housed permanently, 30 veterans are housed and over 102 veterans accessed supportive services with DWC. The Day Center provides 108,422 meals, 11,203 one-on-one care management sessions and 23,156 showers. (Keep saving toilet articles when you travel, so they can be donated to DWC!)
 
Health and wellness is an important part of DWC’s services. 1,044 women accessed their Health Center services including 256 mammograms, 598 mental health counseling sessions, and 194 health and wellness workshops. There were 963 women who accessed vocational and educational services, 388 had individualized employment counseling sessions and 12,319 MADE by DWC products have been produced and sold.
 
DWC is a great organization helping the homeless women of downtown Los Angeles and we thank Jay for presenting at our Program Meeting.
  

LOSS OF A GREAT MEMBER

Dr. Joan D. Johnson (1929-2016), professor, administrator and coach at California State University, Los Angeles, devoted her career to developing women’s intercollegiate tennis.
 
Joan earned a BS from the University of Wisconsin in 1951, an MS from USC (including an outstanding thesis award) in 1955, and her PhD from USC in 1965.
 
She joined the Cal State LA faculty in 1955 and soon helped to pioneer the Southern California Women’s Intercollegiate Tennis League. In 1957 she became coach of the first women’s tennis team at Cal State; her players included, among others, the legendary Billie Jean King, several national collegiate champions as well as many state and regional champions.
 
An experienced tournament player, Joan competed in three of the four Grand Slam events – the championships of England, Australia and the U.S. – and she also won an amazing 18 national Public parks titles.
 
She served as Tournament coordinator, Ojai Valley, California Intercollegiate Tennis Tournament (116th annual in 2016) since 1978.
 
In 1985 Joan became a charter member of the Cal State-LA Athletic hall of Fame and in 1996 was inducted into the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s Women’s Hall of Fame. In 2013, Joan was awarded the Joe Shapiro Award which recognizes individuals who display exemplary characteristics of humanitarianism, leadership, and vision.
 
Joan was a 38 year member of Soroptimist International of Los Angeles. For many years, she chaired the SILA Graduate Fellowship Award. She was also a long time holder of Los Angeles Philharmonic tickets.
 
Billie Jean King opened her annual event on October 22 with a moving tribute to her former Cal State LA coach and longtime friend, Joan Johnson: “She was really a special human being,” King told the more than 500 people who filled the Langham Huntington Hotel in Pasadena just eight days after Joan’s passing.

 

MEMBER NEWS
 

LeRoy Smith, husband of long-time SILA member Pam Smith and long-time friend and supporter of SILA, was honored by the Glendale Police Department for his 13 years of service as a volunteer with the GPD.
 
LeRoy passed away in October 2015.







GEM (Governor Ever More) Barbara Jury was unable to attend the Fall Workshop where former Governors of Camino Real Region were honored.
 
So Joyce Jacob made sure she was presented with her tiara and appropriately honored by SILA at its meeting on October 5.

Barbara was CRR Governor from 1988-1990.