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Working to Fulfill Dreams of Women and Girls
Oct/Nov 2017 Vol. 9, Issue 2
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Wed., Nov. 15, 6-8pm: SILA Board/Business Meeting at Taix French Restaurant
Wed., Nov. 15: Due date for Live Your Dream applications
Sat., Nov. 18: Cooking at Downtown Women's Center
Wed., Dec. 6 6-8pm: Speaker: Rena Shahandeh, LA Deputy City Attorney, on Human Rights
Fri., Dec. 15: Due date for Joan Johnson Fellowship Award applications
Sat., Dec. 16: 1736 Holiday Event
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 Dear <<First Name>>,
As we enter the holiday season, SILA is embarking on a new endeavor: to expand the brand recognition of Soroptimist and SILA.
We will be sending out information to an expanded list via email and mail to re-energize our base of contributors and educate others on the benefits of supporting SILA to reach more women and girls.
We encourage all of our current and former members to let your friends and family know of the wonderful things SILA has done over the years and the goals we have for 2018. As part of that expanded visibility of the brand, SILA will be launching a fresh new website by mid November.
We will be encouraging all individuals that are solicited for donations to go to the website to see the things SILA has done over the years and also have the opportunity to send donations via the website.
We are also expanding our membership and are excited by our new members’ enthusiasm to work "for the benefit of women and girls."
We also want to thank all of you who have continued to support SILA with your contributions, involvement in our 1736 Holiday Event, and preparing meals at the Downtown Women Center. The positive feedback we receive from the women and girls who have been helped by grants and activities tells us that SILA is doing well.
We wish each of you a very happy Thanksgiving and be on the lookout for our letter that you can share with others.
President Jessica
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IN THIS ISSUE:
- Regional Guidance Welcomed
- Teaming Up with the Girl Scouts
- What is Founders Day and Founders Pennies?
- Meet Our New Members
- CRR Fall Workshop: Working As One
- Live Your Dream Applications Due 11/15
- A Piece of History
- Dream It, Be It!
- Battle of the Sexes
QUICK LINKS:
SILA's Website
Camino Real Region
Federation (SIA)
International (SI)
2017-18 BOARD:
President: Jessica Washington
1st VP: Joyce Jacob
2nd VP: Amy Poulos
Secretary: Lessie Caballero
Treasurer: Jeri Durham
Director 2016-18: Daphyne Howell
Director 2017-19: Bev Johnson
CONTACT INFORMATION:
For more information about SILA or this Newsletter, please contact:
President Jessica Washington at jessicalou817@gmail.com or 310-292-1602
Editor Janet Elliott at jvelliott88@gmail.com or 310-809-2438
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REGIONAL GUIDANCE WELCOMED by Joyce Jacob
 Amy Corneau, Camino Real Region Co-Chair, Dream It, Be It, spoke at our SILA Program Meeting on September 20. She provided a clear concept of the Soroptimist Dream It, Be It program.
Amy encouraged us to work by grade level with the girls and have a limit of 50 to start. We need to provide a safe environment and break down barriers by having a key note speaker; have supplies ready, set goals, and follow the curriculum set up by SIA Dream It, Be It guidelines. It is important to explore different careers by providing rotating speakers at the lunch tables. We want to show that the girls that their dreams can be put into action. It was suggested to have someone from financial aid to provide information.
We are grateful to Amy, member of SI Simi Valley, for coming to our meeting and providing clear direction and support for our big day on October 28.
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TEAMING UP WITH THE GIRL SCOUTS by Joyce Jacob
 Elizabeth Chadwick, Girls Scouts of America, was our speaker at the SILA Program Meeting on October 4. SILA will be working with GSA when we do our Dream It, Be It program later this month.
Yes, Girl Scouts is 104 years old but it is evolving and willing to change with the times. They believe strongly that girls should empower themselves to live their own lives; to think, learn, and receive the support and skills to get to that level. What a perfect fit, since this is the same concept of Soroptimist’s Dream It, Be It program!
As Elizabeth says, it is not always about the cookies, but that does give girls skills in leadership to work with their community. A strong point made is that the girls are doing “take action projects” which means working “with” the community as a partner.
She shared outstanding stories of two young women, one from China and one from India, who became leaders in their homelands. The young woman from China came to Los Angeles when she was 14 years old, joined Girl Scouts of America and in four years, she developed a hand sanitizer program for the medical personnel of her community in China. At present, she is acknowledged for her work and received the National Young Women Distinction Award by the Girl Scouts of America. She plans to go to school in Chicago to become a doctor or work in the field of Public Health.
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WHAT IS FOUNDERS DAY AND FOUNDERS PENNIES?
 FOUNDERS DAY: Soroptimist celebrates Founders Day on October 3, which acknowledges the day in 1921 when the first club in Alameda County, California, called to order its first business meeting.
FOUNDERS PENNIES: The collection of Founders Pennies, an important Soroptimist tradition, is often linked to Founders Day.
Each year, every Soroptimist is offered the opportunity to make a voluntary contribution of six pennies for each year of Soroptimist’s existence. These contributions directly fund SIA’s annual programs such as Live Your Dream, Dream It Be It, and Soroptimist Club Grants.
The Founder Pennies tradition began in World War II as the Madame Noel Fund, which collected one penny for each year of Soroptimist’s existence, and used the money to help re-establish clubs in Europe that had disbanded as a result of pre-war political conditions and the war itself. After World War II, the fund was renamed the Founders Fund and provided international fellowships, scholarships and other awards to improve the status of women.
Although the payment of Founders Pennies is voluntary, every SILA member paid an extra $5.82 with their dues payment for 2017-2018 in honor of 97 years of Soroptimist’s existence. Thank you!
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MEET OUR NEW MEMBERS
SILA welcomed two new member to Soroptimist International of Los Angeles in October.
 SUSAN SHUM was born in Torrance but spent several years in Japan as a child before returning to graduate from San Gabriel Valley High School. She went on to UC Berkeley where she got a BA in English and Religious Studies.
From the beginning of her career, Susan specialized in grant writing and fund raising. She worked for social service agencies in San Francisco and Berkeley then moved back to San Gabriel in 1999. She started work with the California Hospital Medical Center Foundation where she is now Director of Development overseeing events, annual giving and planned giving. CHMC Foundation has raised over $18 million for the Hospital, a critical source of funds for new equipment, programs and community services for a hospital with a low income patient base.
Susan has been married to husband, Sum, since 2000. Her favorite volunteer activity: rescuing rabbits, particularly finding sanctuary homes for pet rabbits and promoting public education to remind parents NOT to give a live bunny to their child for Easter!
 DONNA RUSSELL is a native of Los Angeles. She graduated from Marlborough School and then attended the University of Denver and Chapman College where she earned a degree in English literature.
She spent most of her career in retail and wholesale management, starting with the Antique Guild in the old Helms Bakery. Later, she handled customer services and office management for several manufacturing companies.
Never married, but "still looking" (no longer for Mr. Right but for Mr. Close Enough!), Donna eased into retirement about eight years ago caring for her mom who died at age 96 about six years ago. She now has time to serve on the Alumnae Council of Marlborough School, in the Archives Dept. at California Hospital and as a long-time member of Ebell of Los Angeles, the mid-Wilshire women's club most famous for operating the Wilshire Ebell Theatre since 1927. Donna oversees the Ebell art collection and outside exhibits.
Donna has attended and supported many of SILA's annual luncheons over the years and is delighted to finally be able to be a member.
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CRR ALL WORKSHOP: WORKING AS ONE
The 19th Annual Camino Real Region Fall Workshop was hosted by SI Simi Valley on Saturday, October 14. The theme was "Working As One - investing in dreams".
It was held at the Studio Movie Grill in Simi Valley - a unique but very effective venue for the various presentations.
Led by Governor Ginger Cole, a member of SILA, Soroptimists from throughout the Region met to review Soroptimist Signature Programs ( Live Your Dreams for women; Dream It, Be It for girls), recognize individual club accomplishments and to make and renew friendships with fellow Soroptimists across the Region.
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LIVE YOUR DREAM APPLICATIONS DUE 11/15 by Joyce Jacob
Liz Mirzaian, Camino Real Region Chair for the Live Your Dream program, gave an excellent overview of this signature Soroptimist program in a presentation at the meeting on October 18.
Live Your Dream has impacted the lives of thousands of women and their families. Last year, $1.9 million was given in educational grants to 1,400 women. Many have overcome enormous obstacles including poverty, domestic violence and/or drug and alcohol abuse.
 A potential applicant is eligible if she:
1) is the primary financial provider for herself and dependents; dependents include children, spouse, partner, siblings and/or parents
2) has financial need
3) is enrolled in or has been accepted to a vocational/skills training program or an under graduate degree program
4) is motivated to achieve education and career goals
5) does not have a graduate degree
6) has a social security number or Tax ID number
Live Your Dream strives to provide additional support to shape the future of the winner beyond the cash award. It is important to provide a collective impact by:
1) Mentoring: contact the winner throughout the year; how is she doing
2) Job Support: assist with completing job/school applications; take shopping for interview outfits; have other contacts to help recipient
3) Financial support: on going
4) Working with child: provide child care or night out
5) Membership: provide one year membership to club when she graduates
SILA has supported Live Your Dream every year. This year two educational grants will be given at our Fundraiser on March 16, 2018. Charlotte Lerchenmuller is our Live Your Dream Chair. She has been a strong advocate, reaching out to all resources for applicants. If you know of anyone that qualifies, please contact her. Applications are due November 15, 2017.
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A PIECE OF HISTORY by Joyce Jacob
 Member Charlotte Lerchenmuller, brought a piece of history to the SILA Program Meeting on October 4. She made Justice Mildred L. Lillie’s “famous” chocolate mousse pie!
This is not a simple feat. It takes an hour and a half plus many ingredients: chocolate (always), eggs, sugar, vanilla extract, BRANDY, brewed coffee, whipping cream, maraschino cherries with stems and more BRANDY.
It was served at Taix’s after our meal and it was WONDERFUL!!!!
Who is Justice Mildred L. Lillie?
Mildred Lillie (1/25/15-10/27/02) was a long-time member of SILA and a California judge whom President Nixon seriously considered for the Supreme Court of the United States in 1971.
Although her nomination was ultimately rejected – some think the nation was not yet ready to accept a woman on the Supreme Court – she served with distinction on the Second District Court of Appeal for 44 years until her death in 2002 at the age of 87. She lived to see Sandra Day O’Connor (another Soroptimist from SI Phoenix) become the first female U.S. Supreme Court Justice in 1981.
The Los Angeles County Law Library, at First and Broadway, was name the Mildred L. Lillie Building on November 6, 2003. Many SILA members attended the dedication ceremony.
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DREAM IT, BE IT!
On Saturday, October 28th SILA held its second Dream It Be It event at the Dignity Hospital in Downtown Los Angeles. This was a joint venture with the Los Angeles Girl Scouts.
It was a small group of 15 and 16 year old girls that had an opportunity to share experiences and obtain input on how to be more positive about their career goals and how to reach those goals.
The program was lead by three dynamic young women who have had experiences in the business and entertainment world. They were able to share their obstacles and methods to overcome those obstacles.
Each girl also shared experience in how they are identifying what they desire to do and what planning and education will be necessary.
A large group of SILA members were also in attendance to provide support to the girls as well as to provide information on their careers and what was required to achieve their goals.
Since this was the Halloween weekend, the theme of the event was Halloween with orange and black balloons and party snacks.
Each participant received a certificate of completion and competed a detailed survey of their experiences.
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BATTLE OF THE SEXES
Did you see the movie? Friday, September 22, was the premiere of the movie Battle of the Sexes about the 1973 Billie Jean King/Bobby Riggs tennis match.
Do you remember the match? The hype?
Did you realize how much Billie Jean King did to demand equal pay for women in tennis?
Did you know that Dr. Joan Johnson, a long-time SILA member who died just a year ago, was Billie Jean King’s coach at Cal State LA?
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