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Working to Fulfill Dreams of Women and Girls
Dec/Jan 2018 Vol. 9, Issue 3
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 Wed., Feb. 7 11:30-1:00pm DAY MEETING at Taix French Restaurant: Dr. Carrie Saetermoe on Women's Sport
Wed., Feb. 21: Membership Event at Charlotte Lerchenmuller's home
Wed., Mar. 7 6-8pm at Taix French Restaurant: Planning Meeting for Fundraising Event
Fri., Mar. 16 11-2pm at The California Club: Annual Gala Fundraising and Awards Luncheon
Wed., Mar. 21 11:30-1:00pm DAY MEETING: at Taix French Restaurant: Speaker from Friends of Griffith Park
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 Dear Jessica,
First, Happy New Year to all.
2018 is starting out as a very exciting year. We are happy to say we have four new members with tremendous skills to ensure our success in 2018.
We are looking forward to celebrating our 95th year throughout the year with special activities and communications with many clubs throughout the world.
We are initiating a Friendship with the club in Turkey who are celebrating their 70th year. It is so good to see the longevity of Soroptimist. What we now need to do is make sure that we have a strong brand that is recognized wherever we go.
I encourage each of you to mention SILA and the accomplishments of our club, as well as Soroptimist as a whole when you are with others who may not know about us.
We have a goal this year of making sure we work on more press releases and announcements in the downtown papers so that we "get the word out" to the downtown community especially.
Thank each of you for your support in 2017. Watch for the invitations for our 95th celebration in March. Get your names, addresses and emails to Amy so that we can have a full house on the 16th as a bang-up celebration with St Patrick's Day.
Regards,
President Jessica
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IN THIS ISSUE:
- Status of Women & Girls in California
- Cooking for Homeless Women
- In Kind Contributions
- What is Human Trafficking?
- Christmas Joy at 1736
- ...Followed by Lunch at El Chollo
- Meet Our New Members
- From the Past
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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STATUS OF WOMEN & GIRLS IN CALIFORNIA by Joyce Jacob
 Sherrill Bennett Herring, Associate Director of the Da Camera Society of Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles, was SILA’s speaker on November 1.
Sherri presented some interesting statistics from the 2017 Report of the Status of Women and Girls in California.
Do you know what percentage of the 400 largest companies headquartered in California have a woman serving as CEO? What's the life expectancy of women in California? What percentage of women are obese? What percentage of women in the U.S. get the recommended amount of physical activity per day?
For answers to these and other interesting findings, click here to see an easy-to-read overview of the report.
This is 7th year that MSMU has produced this report. Thank you, Sherri, for some vital information and a great question/answer session.
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COOKING FOR HOMELESS WOMEN by Sheila Tatum
 Once again, early Saturday morning on November 18, members of SILA met at the Downtown Women's Center in downtown Los Angeles to cook a healthy breakfast for dozens of homeless women who rely on DWC for a hot meal.
On the menu: Quiche Lorraine, hash browns, orange slices, coffee and tea.
Members may have enjoyed the task as much as the women appreciated and enjoyed the meal.
Here members Charlotte Lerchenmullen and Ginger Cole prepare a few dozen(!) eggs for the quiche.
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IN KIND CONTRIBUTIONS by Bev Johnson
Both Downtown Women’s Center and Clothes the Deal were beneficiaries of multiple donations of clothes and toiletries from SILA members.
Bev Johnson made sure the numerous boxes of toothpaste, brushes, and shampoo and bags of clothes were delivered to these organizations.
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WHAT IS HUMAN TRAFFICKING? by Joyce Jacob
 Rena Shahandeh, Deputy City Attorney, with the Anti-Sex and Labor Trafficking Program, Safe Neighborhoods and Gang Division of the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office spoke at the Dec. 6th Program Meeting.
What is Human Trafficking? Human Trafficking is the deprivation or violation of the personal liberty of another with the intent to obtain forced labor or service. This can include substantial and sustained restriction of liberty through force, fear, fraud, deceit, coercion, violence, duress, menace, or credible threat of unlawful injury to the victim or another person.
Los Angeles has a serious trafficking issue because we have a close proximity to ports and major transportation hubs, an international border, a large population and economy, and industries that attract forced labor such as agriculture, tourism and the garment industry.
 Rena explained that the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office is presenting a more positive “victim-centered approach” to the issue. It focuses on the victims with the development of a unit in LAPD to rescue juveniles and get them off the street.
But it has also developed a “John School”, which is an eight-hour educational course for the purchasers of sex.
Rena feels her department is supported by raising awareness, including posting hotlines and educating employees, volunteers, students and the public.
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CHRISTMAS JOY AT 1736 by Jeri Durham
 SILA members gathered at the second-step domestic violence shelter run by 1736 Family Crisis Center to bring Christmas joy to the mothers and children staying there.
This year's activity on Saturday, Dec. 16, focused on five families. There were 12 children, ages 1-15.
The children put together gift bags for their moms that included pajamas, robe, sweater, pants, shawl, wallet, jewelry, toiletries, nail polish, lipstick and a $100 Target gift card. The bags were placed under the tree to be opened on Christmas.
But the prized gift in each bag was sure to be a framed picture of the mom’s children in front of the tree.
Members present included new member Mansi Mehri, Bev Johnson, Pam Smith, Sheila Tatum, Jeri Durham, Joyce Jacob, Daphyne Howell, Jessica Washington, Amy Poulos, and Julie Mairs.
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...FOLLOWED BY LUNCH AT EL CHOLO! by Jeri Durham
After their work at 1736, members and guests continued their Holiday Spirit with a luncheon at El Cholo Mexican Restaurant.
They were joined by Amy Poulos’s parents, Ginger Cole and Nina Smart for great food and an exchange of gift.
A great time was had by all!
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MEET OUR NEW MEMBERS
SILA welcomed two more new members in December.
 Margaret Peterson began her career as a registered nurse. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Cardiovascular Nursing from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and her Doctor of Philosophy in Administration from Miami University in Ohio.
She served in executive leadership roles for hospitals in Louisiana and Maryland, and in California in Simi Valley and Victorville before becoming President of Dignity Health – California Hospital Medical Center in downtown Los Angeles in 2014.
She is married to an anesthesiologist and has two adult sons. She enjoys traveling, sports and theater.
Margaret was honored as SILA’s Community Hero at our Awards Luncheon in March 2017. Although she may not be able to attend many meetings because of her busy schedule, she has been very supportive of SILA’s activities and we are pleased to welcome her as a new member.
 Carol Stein was born in LA, went to John Burrows JHS and LA High, before getting a BA in music theory from UCLA and almost (one course short!) a Masters from USC.
She married her husband, an anthropology professor at Pierce College in 1965, worked as an opera workshop accompanist and then was a stay at home Mom, raising fellow SILA member, Amy Poulos and her younger daughter Becky until a tragic car accident ended her hopes of ever playing piano professionally again.
But at the suggestion of her Occupational Therapist, she got a BA and Masters from USC in Occupational Therapy. This led to a career in OT, working many years as an OT Educator and then chief of OT Education at the consolidated Veterans Administration of Greater LA until she retired in 2011.
She spent the first five years of retirement volunteering for the Tai Chi for Veterans program through the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service at the VA doing the clinical component of the program (patient eligibility for and safety in the program). "One of the most satisfying experiences of my life," she says. Vets made incredible improvement practicing Tai Chi.
An avid knitter, reader, and swimmer, Carol has heard a lot about SILA from daughter Amy and mother Margaret Freed, our 100 year old member who was an active member before she died in 2017. Carol is already helping Amy with the Graduate Fellowship Award!
Welcome Carol!
NEXT ISSUE: Meet new member Mansi Merhi
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FROM THE PAST by Joyce Jacob
SILA Service Projects for 1966-67:
Soroptimist Houses is a continuing project in which the Soroptimist Club of Los Angeles provides low-cost housing for 20 girls attending the University of Southern California. About 50% of the residents are students from foreign countries. The Soroptimist Houses have been in operation since 1947.
The Soroptimist Club of Los Angeles donated $10,000 for construction of a therapeutic swimming pool at Camp Palvika, where 102 handicapped children may attend for two-week periods during the summer months. The pool was donated to the Crippled Children’s Society of Los Angeles in June, 1967.
Fellowship Awards is a continuing project of the Club. In 1967, a total of $4000 was awarded to college women for continuation of their advanced studies. One award was a fellowship, and the other a grant-in-aid.
Other projects of 1966-67
Support of educational TV, grant to Channel 28 KCET $3000
L.A. Zoo Association $200
Five camperships $125
Grants-in-aid to girls attending high school or college $600
L.A. Music Award $375
Taken from THE SOROPTIMIST CLUB OF LOS ANGELES PUBLICITY BOOK
Tournament of Roses Parade Float - 2003
Did you know Soroptimist International had a float in the Rose Parade in 2003?
The theme of the float was “Dare to Dream” and was a salute to women who broke the barriers of flight, Amelia Earhart and Sally Ride.
"Dreams can come true for those who are prepared to fly above ANY obstacles!" said TV announcers as the float passed by.
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