Soroptimist Loomis – Newsletter

Soroptimist International of Loomis Basin
December 2022

Stephanie (L) and Joelle (R) were inducted into the club on December 7.

Welcome New Members!

Please welcome our new members, Stephanie and Joelle.

Stephanie grew up in Penryn and presently lives in Loomis. Many of you know her as a classmate of your youngsters from the Loomis Union School District. She presently works for the Department of Water Resources and is newly elected to the Loomis Town Council. In her spare time, Stephanie enjoys hanging out with her friends and family, fishing with her dad, and watching baseball. She also likes classic cars.

Joelle graduated in France as a Registered Nurse in 1985. She moved to the Loomis area in 2002. She is an Emergency Room Case Manager at Sutter Roseville Hospital. Her sons are out on their own now, so Joelle decided it's "time to get involved in more than herself and her family, and give back to the community." She's friends with several of our members and knew Soroptimist is where she wants to focus her efforts. When not working, Joelle enjoys snow skiing, walking, hiking, reading, knitting and travel.

Thanks to Terry and Frank (L) for providing the mandarins. Karen picking up mandarins (R).

Mandarins Are Ready!

Terry says their mandarins will only be available for another week or two due to the incoming rainstorms. The money earned from sale of the mandarins comes directly to SILB. Thank you, Terry and Frank!

If you want to order mandarins, please text Terry. A bag of 7-8 pounds is $15. A small post office priority box is $18 and contains about 10 pounds of mandarins. Buyers pay for their own postage and take their boxes to the post office. Pay by Venmo, Zeffy or check to SILB.

(LtoR) Miss Greater Teen Placer County Allyson Gerlach, Ms. Classic Greater Placer County Kathleen Gerlach and President Rae showing toys for Stand Up Placer families.

Club Buys Toys for Stand Up Placer Clients

The club voted in December to fund $300 in educational toys for children of families escaping domestic violence and who had to leave their homes with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Thanks so much to several club members who contributed $450 in additional funding so the club was able to make a real impact on the families served by Stand Up Placer.

Thank you to President Rae who led this effort with help from Carol in shopping for educational toys. They selected books, puzzles, cards, dominos, board games, art supplies and other items sure to brighten the children's holidays. This is the second time the club has partnered with Ms. Classic Greater Placer County Kathleen Gerlach to support Stand Up Placer.

Thanks to President Rae and Carol for shopping for educational toys for the children.

Members Karen, Sheila, Dottie, Jenny, Peggy, Marilyn, and Becky and son serving in past.

Club to Serve Senior Holiday Lunch on December 15

The Senior LIFE Center Holiday Lunch is scheduled for this Thursday, December 15th. If you can help, please call or text Jenny.

9-11am: Helping Peggy with food prep
12 noon: Meal Service
12.30-1:30pm: Cleanup

President Rae with Mariam (R), CEO, LEOA Foundation

Speakers Highlight LEOA and Dream It Be It

During the club program meeting in November, guest Jim Gilbert stepped in for Mariam Ryder, 16-year-old founder of the Loomis-based LEOA Foundation (Love Each 0ther Always) and club member Mechelle presented on the Soroptimist Dream It Be It program.

LEOA Foundation
Club members were impressed with Mariam, a high school student, who leads LEOA and presented at the club December Business meeting. The LEOA foundation gives food, clothes, toys and education to people in need. "In 2020, we distributed over $2.4 million in groceries here in Loomis," said Mariam. "There were 160 people in line at the distribution site on King Road and Sierra College this past Thursday." The foundation has plans to expand into educational programs to help clients connect with services and gain skills so they can help themselves. The club will be exploring how we can support LEOA, especially through education.

Mechelle (center) explains club's Dream It Be It projects

Dream It Be It
In October, the club sponsored an Angel Walk Workshop, created by Mechelle, for the girls at Koinonia Group Homes. (See article in Soroptimist Loomis – Newsletter – November 2022). In the spring, the club hopes to deliver the Soroptimist International Dream It Be It curriculum that leads girls through multiple sessions:

Discovering your Dreams
Exploring Careers
Creating achievable Goals
Rising Above Obstacles
Turning Failure into Success
Balancing Your Stress
Putting Dreams into Actions

There will be opportunity for many women in the club to volunteer to lead these sessions, following the curriculum, with other club members helping. The girls respond when we share our authentic stories of overcoming obstacles and finding rewarding career paths. They also benefit from exposure to the wide range of highly paid, in-demand careers. To get involved, talk to Mechelle, Shari or Ardella who are spearheading this club project.

President's Message

With the holidays upon us, this is such a busy time of the year for our families as well as our club. I always find that I tend to get a little stressed, and of course with that comes not taking good care of yourself and taking on more activities than you should. With all the happenings, be sure to choose which are the most important so you are not overwhelmed.

Our support for Stand Up Placer Toy Drive was amazing. Families will have a Merrier Christmas because of Soroptimist International of Loomis Basin's generosity. Toys purchased were educational, with a strong emphasis on FUN. Additional funds donated by members increased the set amount voted on by the club enabling us to purchase a wide variety of toys from 0-18 years. Thank you to those who added to the toy drive.

Next year will be amazing as well, as we all share the same mission, Investing in Dreams.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
President Rae

Club Members Participate in the Loomis Thanksgiving Parade

The Loomis Day Before Thanksgiving Parade was fun for those of us that were able to be there. We had lots of candy to pass out and two decorated golf carts identifying us as SILB. Toys were also collected for children in need.

Mixer Collects $10,000 for Loomis Christmas Basket

On December 1, the club co-hosted the Loomis Chamber of Commerce Mixer supporting Loomis Christmas Basket. The program collects, assembles and distributes food baskets, clothing, toys and gift cards to over 350 local families.

Thank you to Peggy for cooking delicious pork tenderloin, mac and cheese, and ham sliders with Dijon. We appreciate all the club members who provided appetizers, helped in the kitchen and supported our participation. Some were lucky winners at the event. The club thanks Jenny and Ashley who chaired this event as well as members who supported it – President Rae, Peggy, Bev, Chris, Dottie, Jackie, Julie B., Julie H., Julie M., Karen, Pam, Sharla, Sheila, Stephanie and Terry.

Celebrate the Holidays with the Club

The club will celebrate the holiday season on TUESDAY, Dec. 20 at the Blue Goose Annex from 5:30-7:30. The theme is Heartfelt Holidays and will celebrate friendships with games and laughs.

Even if you can't attend, send a favorite holiday recipe to chairs, Heather and Lori D.

For the gift exchange, please bring something valued at $20 or less, that has a special meaning or reminds you of something/someone special. A personal note about why this gift is heartfelt to you for the receiver to read would be a nice touch.

Please RSVP by Dec. 17.

Club Joins Loomis Family Tree Lighting Festivities

Thanks to Jenny for organizing the club's participation in the Loomis Family Tree Lighting held on Tuesday, December 6. President Rae and members Toni, Jenny, Stephanie and Karen gave out free cookies to attendees. Sheila dressed up as an elf to help with Santa photos. Everyone enjoyed the festive live music and joined with other community groups to make the Tree Lighting memorable.

Our Biggest Fundraiser is January 18

As of our deadline, over 200 out of 250 It's in the Bag Designer Purse event tickets have been sold!

It will be held on January 18 at the Blue Goose in Loomis. Guests will enjoy door prizes, a chance to win gorgeous designer purses, playing Left-Right-Center at their table and the fun of connecting and laughing with friends.

Volunteers are needed to help with all aspects of the event. And members are asked to provide two $20 gift cards for the table games. Don't miss out on being a part of this event that supports the club's education projects and awards. Thank you to Chris for chairing this fundraiser.

SAVE the DATE: Awards Night Feb. 15

All of our fundraising efforts culminate in the joyful distribution of awards to worthy students, teachers and community members at the Loomis Soroptimist Award Night on February 15.

The stories of overcoming obstacles and being innovative in making a difference will warm your heart. Not only does the club distribute Live Your Dream awards to women who are heads of their households and pursuing education to support their families, the club acknowledges their courage and commitment to changing their lives. The Del Oro student volunteer efforts and teachers education projects are inspiring. Thanks to Cyndie and the Awards committee for leading this project.

SOLT Moment -- The Beginning of Soroptimist

Soroptimist Orientation and Leadership Training (SOLT) helps members learn more about the Soroptimist Organization. Did you ever wonder how Soroptimist got started?

Soroptimist International started when Stuart Morrow met with Adelaide Goddard and Mabel Parker who owned Parker‐Goddard Secretarial School in Oakland, CA and they remarked that they'd join a service club if it was open to women. With his service club experience, he helped the two women who became charter members of the first Soroptimist club. The new club looked for members working in a high‐ranking position in their field, and gathered to learn about each other's professions and businesses, and be of a service to their fellow members and their community.
(Source: Soroptimist and More SI History)

Club In the News:
Loomis tree lighting ceremony a success Gold Country Media (12-8-22)

Calendar

Dec 15 (Thurs) Senior L.I.F.E. Center Holiday Dinner
Dec 20 (Tues.) Soroptimist Holiday Party at the Blue Goose Annex

Jan 2 (Mon) Board Meeting at 5:15 PM, Raley's Café
Jan 4 (Wed)  Business Meeting at Loomis Round Table, 5:30 – 7:00 PM
Jan 18 (Wed)  “It’s in the Bag” Purse event fundraiser at Blue Goose 5:30 PM
Jan 30 (Mon) Board Meeting at 5:15 PM, Raley's Café

Feb 1 (Wed) Business Meeting at Loomis Round Table, 5:30 – 7:00 PM
Feb 15Wed) Club Awards Presentation
Feb 25 (Sat)  Soroptimist Hosting Community Meeting on Human Trafficking
Feb 27 (Mon) Board Meeting at 5:15 PM, Raley's Café

March 1 (Wed) Business Meeting at Loomis Round Table, 5:30 - 7:00 PM
March 15 (Wed) Program Meeting
March 16 (Thurs) Cook for Loomis Senior L.I.F.E. St. Patrick's Meal
March 29 (Wed) White Elephant party to raise Delegate Funds

Websites:

Loomis Basin Club
Sierra Nevada Region
Soroptimist International of the Americas

Facebook: @SILoomis
Instagram: @SILoomis

Officers:
Rae DeGabriele, President
Bev Proctor, Treasurer
Julie Bruce, Secretary
Jenny Knisley, One-Year Delegate
Ralene Metcalf, Two-Year Delegate

Newsletter editors: Submit your news items to Carol, Karen or Alaire

Loomis Soroptimist Website

Copyright © 2022 Soroptimist International Loomis Basin,
All rights reserved.
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Our mailing address is:
P. O. Box 1141, Loomis CA 95650

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