Soroptimist International Loomis Basin News
April 2021
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Congratulations to the Incoming Board
By club election, we selected our incoming board for next year. The position of president-elect is still open. If you are curious about saying yes to this opportunity, talk to Karen or other club past-presidents. The beauty of the elect position is that you have a year to learn more about how the club runs.
Former Club president Nancy Hogan said: "I was relatively new to the Club and was a nervous wreck about taking on the role of president. But, no worries! Everyone pitched in and made my job so easy….especially, Jenny!"
Rhonda Morillas has been president several times and said: “Being president with 45 members was both challenging and rewarding. It was really gratifying to look back over the year and see what the club accomplished.”
Eileen Elder said: "When I was President, I rediscovered what an amazing group of women there was in the club -- all with their unique talents and gifts coming together to make a difference. I could turn over important projects or events to them and let them run with them. I was never disappointed. I'm very proud of SILB!"
Congratulations to the following members who will lead our club starting July 1, 2021 through June 2022:
- President - Rae DeGabriele
- Secretary - Sharon O'Donnell
- Treasurer - Shari Lynn Goodwin
- One Year Delegate - Cyndie Whitefoot
- Two Year Delegate - Jenny Knisley
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 In-Person Meetings to Resume in May
The club will be resuming face-to-face regularly scheduled club meetings effective May 1, 2021. On April 8, 2021, the SIA board of directors approved a modified temporary pause that allows in-person club meetings. This modification also allows events including non-members with declaration and insurance forms sent to SIA in advance. In addition, the club will follow local guidelines from Placer County and the State of California. We look forward to seeing members in person!
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Easter Fundraiser Filled our Basket
The new Easter Fundraiser was a success. Thank you to the members who baked, decorated and packaged cookies, filled the carrot shaped bags of treats, put together the bunny boxes and promoted the fundraiser. The club is especially grateful to lead cookie decorators Rae and Peggy as well as Chris & Ashley of Hebard Insurance Solutions, where people picked up their boxes.
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Happy Birthday to our club
Our club birthday was April 16. According to charter member, Rhonda Morillas, our club was originally SI Rocklin Loomis and was chartered in 1974 with help from the SI Roseville club. “The charter celebration was a gala affair,” said Rhonda. “We all dressed up in long dresses and it was a lot of fun.”
In the early years, the club held rummage sales and car washes as well as an enchilada Mexican dinner that was the precursor of Tostado Bingo fundraiser. “The club helped fund the purchase of the first ‘jaws of life’ for our volunteer fire department,” said Rhonda. “In 1975-76 when Marianne Glover was president, we got help from the Placer Adult School to establish the Senior LIFE Center. We also purchased the children’s furniture for both the Rocklin and Loomis libraries as well as play equipment for the old Rocklin park.”
Later, our club chartered the South Placer SI club in Rocklin and changed our name to SI Loomis Basin. Hundreds of women have been members and contributed to improving the lives of women and girls in our local and global community over the past 47 years.
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Past Presidents of SI Loomis Basin--thank you for your contributions!
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Thank You to Our Business Supporters
Since our club has not been able to do many of our usual fundraising events, club members reached out to their colleagues at local businesses asking them for contributions to support our efforts. A special thank you to the following individuals and companies that responded to our request with generous donations--over $3000 has been donated so far!
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New donations from:
Henley Homes, Inc.
Huber Property Management
and thank you again to previous donors:
Anonymous
B&B Real Estate
Boberg Hardwood Floors
Dee & Brian Ash
Hebard Insurance Solutions
Jeanne Holt
Kathleen Foley
Motion Pro
RuffStuff Specialties
Star Acquisitions/Carl’s Jr.
West Pacific Cabinets
Western Engineering Contractors
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Get to Know Peggy
Peggy Word credits SILB member Cindy Dietz with introducing her to the Loomis Basin Soroptimist club. “We became friends at Placer Elementary School where her kids and my grandkids went to school,” said Peggy. “She told me about this great club and asked if I wanted to come to a meeting. When I did, I was hooked!”
Peggy indicated that her favorite club project is contributing to the Loomis Senior LIFE Center. “I love working with the seniors,” said Peggy. “I really enjoy cooking for them. It is a privilege to serve them and hear their great stories about the interesting lives they have lived. The seniors need us to help them as they helped others in their youth.”
Many of our club members know Peggy for her culinary expertise but she was working as an electrical drafter when she met her husband, Bill, on a construction site. They worked together from 1980 to 1999 until Peggy turned her focus to raising three grandkids.
Peggy indicated that whenever she volunteered at the elementary school, she would always work on anything to do with food. “I’ve been cooking and collecting recipes since I was 12 years old,” said Peggy. “I met my business partner, Lisa, at Placer Elementary where her three daughters were same age as my three grandchildren. We would do breakfasts for teachers and fundraiser dinners together. Finally, we decided to start our own business, P & L Catering. I’m so excited that things are reopening and we can resume catering events.”
To further refine her skills, Peggy decided to go to American River College in 2015. “I found the culinary department and took every class they had,” said Peggy. “I volunteered for catering assignments and the school finally hired me as an Instructional Assistant, which I love very much.”
Peggy indicated that she appreciates that everyone in the club contributes what they can around their work and family commitments. “The women in our club put forth selfless determination to help people everywhere, locally and around the word,” said Peggy. “Through our work and contributions, we empathize with so many others, going above and beyond on international projects. The women in this club make me so proud to say that I’m a member of Soroptimist International Loomis Basin.”
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Days for Girls Project Nearly Complete
Members of our club have supported the Days for Girls project by cutting, ironing and sewing as well as collecting soaps and panties for 200 sanitary kits, working as a club and individually over the past two years. President-elect Rae organized this effort to support the goal of distributing these kits worldwide so that girls don't miss school due to their menstrual cycles. The Days for Girls organization includes educational materials with the reusable sanitary kits. Creating the kits has been labor intensive; they include waterproof pads, panties, soap and other items in fabric carry bags. The club is on the final steps of assembling the kits to complete the project.
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SAVE THE DATE: New member mixer on June 30th!
Invitation coming soon, but please start inviting friends, neighbors, co-workers and colleagues.
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SILB Awards Make an Impact
 
Christine Clark, teacher award winner from Loomis Basin Charter School, purchased a loom for the library/makerspace at the school with her grant. The loom is being used by K-8 students to develop their creativity and curiosity for making things with their hands. At the program meeting on May 18, the Awards committee will be making a presentation. Read about how our club grants were awarded this year in the blog post Education Empowers.
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COMING THIS WEEKEND -- SNR Conference
Our club is part of the Sierra Nevada Region which includes clubs in northern California and Nevada. The 46th Annual Region Conference will be held virtually April 29 - May 1, 2021, rather than in Reno. At the conference, policy votes are conducted, clubs are recognized, Live Your Dream winners are showcased, information from Soroptimist International of the Americas is shared and most of all we enjoy the comradery with other Soroptimist members in California and Nevada. All club members are encouraged to attend; registration is free. Email Alaire for instructions on how to register.
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Calendar
Our club meets on the first and third Wednesday evening of every month except in July and August.
April 2021 and beyond
- April 30-May 2 -- SNR Virtual Conference
- May 3 -- Board Meeting 4 PM
- May 5 -- Business Meeting 5:30 - 7 PM
- May 19 -- Program Meeting 5:30 PM
- June 2 – Business Meeting 5:30 PM
- June 16 -- Installation of New Officers 5:30 PM
- June 30 -- New member mixer
- July 10-11 -- SNR Retreat
- July 27-29, 2023 -- SI International Convention in Dublin, Ireland
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Our theme for 2020-21 is "We'll find a way!"
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Websites:
Loomis Basin Club
Sierra Nevada Region
Soroptimist International of the Americas
Facebook: @SILoomis
Instagram: @SILoomis
Officers:
Karen Fraser-Middleton, President
Rae DeGabriel, President-Elect
Shari Lynn Goodwin, Treasurer
Sharon O’Donnell, Secretary
Cyndie Whitefoot, Two-Year Delegate
Sheila Lee, One-Year Delegate
Newsletter editors: Submit your news items to Alaire and Karen.
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Copyright © 2021 Soroptimist International Loomis Basin, All rights reserved.
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