April 2020, SIBR Eblast #18
 


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Greetings fellow Soroptimist!
I like to begin with a quote I send in an email to all of our club Members!
Tough Times will never last, but tough People do. - by Robert Schuller
And a bunch of tough Soroptimist we are!!
As all other clubs SIBR has canceled all meetings. We are starting off with our first all ZOOM board meeting this week. Hopefully followed by a club ZOOM meeting. I sure would love to see everyone's faces.
The DIBI Sessions have been postponed for now until we know what the schools will plan.

SI Bidwell Rancho had an Awards Dinner planned, honoring our Live your Dream winner, Scholarship awardee and Focus group Awardees. We made sure Awardees received their checks and we are looking forward celebrating them all at a later date!
I want to thank the LYD committee, Focus group committee and special event committee for their hard work and preparation. You all ROCK! 

These are uncertain times and it is easy to get caught up in all the media feeds.
More than ever I want to encourage everyone to add some extra time for stress relief. Limit your exposure to the media coverage and try to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Walking, bike riding and maybe trying an exercise class online. Connect with family and friends through the internet, calls or texting.


I am looking forward seeing you all, hopefully very soon, again.
until then stay safe and be well
with much love and appreciation 
Babette
 
Soroptimist Sierra Nevada Region News

Regional Governor: Lane Parks
http://www.soroptimistsnr.org

Messages from Governor Lane and Governor- elect Sarah

 
As I write this, our world is in an unprecedented moment. We are living in unique times and navigating a lot of unknowns. These are the times when we rely on each other most. Our Soroptimist community can be a real asset for us. We communicate our fears, open our hearts with compassion and find resilience in the face of adversity. I recently read “It is our chosen response to this event that will determine our experience of it”. How true is that? I encourage us to learn from this time, learn how to let go, accept and walk on bravely into the unknown. What stories we will have to tell, right?
 
So much has changed in the last week, I wanted to give you an update on what we are working on:
 
Conference – Please see Governor Elect Sarah’s article below on the status of conference. Lots to know and lots still uncertain!
 
Elections – Here is the timeline for elections, which we will hold electronically:
1) As our governing documents outline, each club has 3 votes, the president and 2 delegates. Credential Coordinator Kay Dunham sent an eblast to all club presidents last week asking for email addresses for 2 delegates from each club. If your club has co-presidents, you will need to decide who is going to receive the ballot. Those email addresses should be sent to Kay at credentials@soroptimistsnr.org by March 25.
 
2)     Please read the attached “Report of the Nominating Committee”. When elections are done at conference, there is always an opportunity for ‘nominations from the floor’. There will still be that opportunity in this election as well, only it will be done electronically. Please see the Nomination Form. If you wish to nominate anyone at this time for any region board position, please use this form and send it to Jenny Knisley, elections coordinator, at electioncoord@soroptimistsnr.org by March 29, 2020.
 
3)     All current candidates have been asked to have their videos to Sharon Warner, Nominating Committee Coordinator, at nomcommittee@soroptimistsnr.org by March 31. Any ‘nominations from the floor’ will need to comply with this date as well.
 
4)     All videos should be up on our region website, SoroptimistSNR.org, along with resumes, by early April. This will give all delegates the opportunity to ‘meet’ the candidates to make their choice. Their videos will be a maximum of 2 minutes, as that’s how long they would have had to address the membership at conference.
 
5)     Ballots should be sent to all delegates by April 6.
6)     Voting will close on April 20.
7)     Results will be verified by the elections committee and results will be posted by April 25, our original election day.
 
Club Meetings – All members should have received an email from Elizabeth Lucas form headquarters stating that club events should not be held until after May 11 (we were previously told April 15). I know this is a difficult time, as many clubs were planning major fundraisers. But it is important that we comply for the safety of our members and supporters. Your Region Board of directors will probably be holding its last board meeting virtually, rather than in person due to this mandate. As I stated last week, this is an opportunity to figure out how to hold virtual meetings via video, etc. I have also seen several very creative letters appealing to supporters of various non-profits that many of our clubs' support. You could consider some of these as fundraisers as well: A virtual ‘tea’ asking for a donation while they have a cup of tea at home (in isolation), or letters asking for donations for your fundraiser even if you can’t hold it. You could also just write letters asking for donations directly, whether you were having a fundraiser or not. Individuals could donate directly to those organizations that might have benefited from your fundraiser or that help women in this difficult time. Women in domestic violence situations could be much more at risk during this time of isolation! We must keep them in mind…. There might be creative things your club could do to help the women in your communities that are vulnerable. Inquire locally for what ‘hands on’ projects that might be possible!
 
Live Your Dream and other awardees - Many of your clubs were just having their awards events when things got ‘shut down’. Your clubs should make their own decisions on how you should honor these women, i.e. if you should wait to give them their monetary awards or not. Your region board and Live Your Dream coordinator will be deciding this soon, with regards to the region winners as well. I wish all of our awardees good health and congratulations on earning this award. We need to honor them at some point, as we have learned that our faith in them achieving their dreams is just as meaningful to them as the monetary assistance.
 
It seems like whatever the disaster, people always pull together. I remember when this was done, but check out this video from 1985: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AjkUyX0rVw.
 
Stay safe and healthy! Let’s make the best of these times and we will come out the other end even stronger!
 
Governor Lane
Hello to all,
 
Here is the current scoop on Conference. We are working with the Atlantis to see if we can secure the needed space to do a combined event “Conference” and “SDR”. The Atlantis’ said they would do everything they could to get us what we need. As you all know, the states have taken action to protect their citizens, in Nevada that included closing of gaming venues. On March 17th the Atlantis suspended operations for 30 days.
 
I expect to resume my conversations with the Atlantis on April 17th.
 
The GREAT NEWS: All sponsors have agreed to continue their sponsorship to a new Conference date.  WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT OF THOSE SPONSORS.
 
Please be patient until we confirm that the Atlantis can accommodate our needs on the above referenced dates. If you have already registered for conference, please sit tight for a little while longer. Once we finalize arrangements with the Atlantis, we will notify everyone. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to reach out to me directly, email snrgovelect@soroptimistsnr.org.
 
Keep safe, smile and laugh a lot.
 
Best,
Sarah, Conference Coordinator/Governor-Elect
 
   
 


Soroptimist International of the Americas News

President: Elizabeth Di Geronimo
http://www.soroptimist.org/
 

SIA Updated Statement Regarding Coronavirus

March 19, 2020
Philadelphia, PA

Dear SIA Members in the United States and Canada, 

Thank you for your continued outreach for guidance during the COVID-19 public health crisis.

Last Thursday, March 12, I wrote you: In view of the seriousness and risks associated with coronavirus (COVID-19) infection—if you are in North America, Japan and Korea, you must postpone or cancel all club events through at least April 15. You should reassess this timing based on your local health and governmental authorities' recommendations.

In the United States, Sunday night, March 15, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reassessed this timing for us. The CDC recommends organizers postpone or cancel events of 50 or more people for the next eight weeks (estimated through May 11). The CDC defines gatherings as conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings and other types of assemblies.

U.S. President Trump is calling for all gatherings of 10 or more to cease. Some areas of the U.S. are moving to sheltering in place. In fact, any organization involved in delivering its services through public gatherings are suspending operations.

Because of these health and government recommendations, this communication supersedes my March 12 communication. April 15 is now May 11 until further notice. However, given today’s latest information from our U.S. public health officials, I would plan an additional three weeks for good measure ... so June 1.

Here are some important points to be aware of:

  • If you are with a club located in the US or Canada, our club and region liability coverage does not cover communicable diseases. Holding an event of any size given the current circumstances will be considered negligent, placing great risk upon the club, its members, the region and SIA headquarters (SIAHQ). You must postpone or cancel all club events at least through May 11th; June 1st for good measure.
  • Your region leadership has received guidance from our General Legal Counsel regarding written agreements for region events and the use of “force majeure.” If your club is having challenges canceling or postponing an event due to the venue, contact your region leadership for assistance and guidance prior to investing in legal representation regarding your club contracts.
  • Currently 20 of our 29 regions have canceled their region conferences and have been able to do so with the cooperation of their venue.
  • Region leadership have received virtual options for sharing important information covered in their planned region conference.
  • The timing of the 46th Biennial Convention in Bellevue, WA, is being evaluated. The health and safety of all our convention attendees is our highest priority. Please keep checking the convention webpage for the most recent updates.
  • SIAHQ employees have been outfitted to work remotely until further notice. While the situation continues to evolve, you can count on the fact we will continue to do our very best to support you during this time. 

We encourage you to continue to educate yourself on the facts using recognized experts such as Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, and local and national governmental official requirements.

We encourage you to take precautions with social distancing and good hygiene.

We encourage you to create new ways to communicate with your club members, your community, and your supporters. It is imperative our mission continues, and our communities and supporters know our Dream Programs will continue to provide the services they have come to expect and treasure. 

We encourage you to rethink your club year in 2020use this time to take planned activities in April, May and June and move them further out to a time when it becomes apparent group gatherings are allowed in our respective areas.

We are grateful for your continued demonstration of professionalism, dedication, and compassion as we work through these challenges together.

Continued best wishes to you, your families, and your communities for good health and resilience in the weeks to come.

With care and concern for you,

 

 

Elizabeth M. Lucas
Executive Director & CEO
Soroptimist International of the Americas, Inc.


President: Sharon Fisher
http://www.soroptimistinternational.org/

Soroptimist International News

Lots of information, articles, reports and resources now available on the SI website, and incase you missed it - here is the link to the latest SI Global Voice Newsletter packed with news and advocacy updates! All your SI news in one place. Visit the link here: https://bit.ly/2x4c9hD #SIMakingChange

SI Bidwell Rancho took part in the #EachforEqual movement at this month's Business Meeting.


Haven't used ZOOM before
Here is how: Click this link
And another link for some tips
 

Upcoming Events

Board Meeting
April 7th, 2020
5:45pm
via ZOOM


Business Meeting
April 14th, 2020
5:30pm - 7pm
with



Speaker Meeting
April 28th, 2020
5:30pm - 7:00pm
with


 


 










All Dream it, Be it Sessions have been canceled at this time!
We will reevaluate after Fairview is back in session.
No matter what , the class we started on March11th, is going to receive their goody bag and Tshirts.


 
Soroptimist International of Bidwell Rancho's Calendar
Every month we will introduce a Member!
Meet Celeste Garcia, Dental Hygenist
 
   I joined Soroptimist International Bidwell Rancho in 2006 with the encouragement of our Life Member Venita Tutor and former member Barbara Heidinger. Both women shared their involvement in the club, which peaked my interest . I was attracted to the goals of Soroptimist because I was looking for an avenue to help women and girls.
  Volunteering has followed me in various communities that I have lived. It began in college when I attended University of California at Santa Cruz,  pursuing my degree in Biology. In that community I volunteered at a veterinary hospital, a zoo, a raptor breeding program and a Youth Science Institute. My communities changed as I followed my husband Dave’s career as a California State Park Ranger, which brought us to Butte County. 
   After settling here I entered Sacramento City College and became a Dental Hygienist in 1989. I’ve volunteered in my professional capacity at the Dental Hygiene State Board Examination process. I also recently volunteered in the Health Fair that took place last year at the Butte County Fairgrounds.  I was also able to assist with the  food preparation for the Campfire victims and First Responders needs. I was touched by the outpouring of our community’s generosity, support and volunteerism. I enjoy the wonderful  synergistic  affect a group of volunteers creates.
  When I’m not spending my free  time volunteering I enjoy gardening, hiking, birding, kayaking, fishing and travel. We live on 4 acres in the foothills which keeps me busy and allows me to enjoy the nature around me.
 
Soroptimist Orientation and Leadership Training
Dash of SOLT.......


Ever wondered what the Policy for the use of SIA Registered Marks are?
Click below for the answer

SIA Registered Marks Policy

Notes from the Editor

Articles and Committee updates are due the last week of the month.
Thank you!
Happy Birthday!
                                               

          04/09 Dawn McDonald
04/17 Judi Merlo
      04/19 Babette Maiss
  
                         



              


 
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Helpful Links
Soroptimist Sierra Nevada Region: https://www.soroptimistsnr.org/
Soroptimist International of the America: https://www.soroptimist.org/
Live Your Dream Award: Club Resources
Dream it, Be it: Club Resources
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