OUR CURRENT MEMBERSHIP

Years of Membership Certificates held by Paula Day on the left and Beverly Parsons

We start the 2011-2012 year (August to July) with 35 dedicated members. Many of our ongoing SISD members have been in our club for decades, but stimulating membership keeps us young. Our club attracts caring, dedicated women of all ages, backgrounds and experiences. Our new members consistently report that they immediately feel welcome, and enjoy rapport with women of like intellectual and business minds, and similiar service goals.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the Soroptimist Mission?
Our Mission is to improve the lives of women and girls in local communities, and around the world. 

How much time and effort is involved?
Members are urged to attend as many meetings and to participate in as many club activities as possible. However, SISD recognizes the personal and career responsibilities of our members, and has a ‘no guilt’ attendance policy if circumstances occasionally interfere with attendance. That said, SISD is a busy club, and most members enthusiastically serve on several committees. There is no shortage of interesting ways to participate.

What does active membership include?
The club operates through the committees just mentioned, and active members are asked to participate on one Service Committee: e.g. awards, recognitions, or local/international projects; and one Technical Committee: e.g. newsletter, public relations, hospitality or special events. All active members are expected to participate in a variety of fundraising activities.

What optional activities may club members participate in?

Optional activities include attendance at SISD Board and alternate committee meetings. Attendance at District Meetings, Region Conferences, and Federation and International Conventions is encouraged, especially because they are as much fun as they are inspirational. The level of national and international member participation is an individual choice. SISD member Victoria Hobbs served as SIA Federation President in 2004-2005 and has served at Soroptimist International. In addition SISD members Judi Dunnigan and Helen Baker have served on multiple committees with Desert Coast Region, to which SISD belongs.

SISD members remain widely in touch with what is happening nationally and internationally. Similarily, member social activities include local, district and state wide events. 

What are club meetings like?
The first meeting, a breakfast, is on the first Tuesday of the month. This is a Business Meeting, and it is presided over by the club President. SISD President for 2011-12 is Karen Burrows, and by Soroptimist custom she is addressed using only her first name, as "President Karen". In the business meeting we approve minutes, give Committee Reports, vote on club and Federation issues. New members are always impressed by the amount of business chatter and catchup that is a constant. Committee reports are particularly important in keeping members informed on the many levels our club activities. 

On the third Tuesday of the month SISD holds an evening meeting. This is less formal, and has a variety of uses. We may have guest speakers, or introduce the winners of the various Awards we provide for girls and women. Being an 'after-work' event, the evening meetings are a welcome change from our busy early morning breakfast meetings. 

Pre-meeting catch-up: Pat Robbins, Cathy Hopper, Sandy Luebben, Helene Grant

Vicki Hobbs and Jennifer Keller in serious discussion.

President Karen at the podium. SISD's Award banner in the background.

 

 

What benefits do members receive?
Besides the intangible rewards of friendships and personal fulfillment, members also have an opportunity for leadership development, and networking opportunities at club and district meetings, region conferences, the biennial Soroptimist International of The Americas Federation (SIA) and quadrennial Soroptimist International (SI) conventions. Additionally there are many opportunities to interface with SI members in other clubs in our district and region on special projects.

Can you tell me more about the international clubs?

International Visitors (L to R) Bogusia Kalita from Poland, member Beverly Parsons, Sue Whithead from Australia, member Carol Levy

A Soroptimist can attend meetings with an identical format in any SI club in the world, and find herself welcomed and appreciated. Foreign visitors are not strangers to our SISD club. In recent years we welcomed members from Poland, Australia and Turkey, and SISD members traveled to Taiwan, the UK and Turkey. Soroptimist interaction with clubs worldwide is an on-going reality.

SISD proudly provides ongoing financial support to clubs in Tijuana, Mexico, and Istanbul, Turkey. From humble beginnings we have seen our projects grow to attract government attention, and ultimately, participation. Read exciting details under "Living Our Mission".

Who are the SISD Officers?

SISD Officers for 2011-2012 are as follows:

President: Karen Burrows. Consultant, Management Solutions For In-Home Businesses
First Vice President: Paula Day. Certified Public Accountant 
Second Vice President: Judy Lawton. President, The Lawton Group
Secretary: Barbara Rolando: Realtor
Treasurer: Gina Kakos. Certified Public Accountant

What are member financial obligations?
The new member fee is $75, annual dues are $100. Breakfast and dinner meetings are $17. Your membership pin and portfolio are included in the new member fee. The Soroptimists of The Americans (SIA) Best For Women magazine is included in your annual dues.

Who is eligible for membership?
To qualify for membership a candidate should be working in, or retired from, a profession or business, or an occupation of comparable status or responsibility. The range of what constitutes "business, profession or comparable occupation" is widely interpreted, and consistent with today's multi-faceted world of working women. If you want to be a member of an active women's service club, SISD is perfect for you.

How do I join?
Most prospective members come to one or two meetings to assess if the club is a good fit for them. Your first meeting is complimentary. If we meet your expectations you will need a club sponsor, but any club member will be delighted to sponsor you. Most new members are introduced by a current member.

To join you can contact SISD Recruitment and Retention chair Jennifer Keller at (619) 561-6574. Or, email her at j_keller@cox.net for more informatioin, and/or application forms.

Or, you can print and complete the attached Application For Membership and email it to SISanDiego@soroptimist.net, with a note in the subject line: "Attention: Recruitment & Retention Committee".

SOROPTIMIST PIN The woman in the Soroptimist emblem represents the spirit of womanhood. The leaves and acorns of the oak signify the strength and growth of our organization, and future progress and achievements. The leaves of the laurel symbolize friendship and success. The pin is to be worn, by itself, over your heart.

 

Does Soroptimist have a member installation process?
We have a simple and meaningful installation procedure. A member is chosen to do the installation, and your sponsor stands with you for it. The installer hands you your Soroptimist pin, and reads the description of its details for you to examine. After which you are "pinned" by your sponsor.

Beverly Parsons pins new member Marie Silverman

Rilla Lovell, whose generous estate gift of $48,000 founded the SISD Foundation, Inc.

What is the SISD Foundation?
The SISD Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit charitable organization founded as a result of the gift of $48,000 from the estate of long-time member Rilla Lovell in 1994. Rilla joined the club in 1971 and was President 1975-76. She was a Captain with U.S. Naval Reserve, and a business education specialist for San Diego City Schools. In addition to our club, Rilla was active in the San Diego Chapter of the Freedom's Foundation at Valley Forge. The highlight of her presidency was the presentation and dedication of flags in front of the Aerospace Museum in Balboa Park. With Rilla's generous bequest, the Soroptimist International of San Diego Foundation, Inc. was formed in 1998.

Is membership in the SISD Foundation a part of SISD membership?
Yes. Members of SISD are automatically members of the Foundation. Contributions to the Foundation are optional, and can be made individually, or through The Torrey Society or Torrey Legacy.

Torrey Society Pin

The Torrey Society is the recognition program of the Foundation. It honors financial dedication to the Foundation and its mission. With a minimum donation of $1,000 SISD members can join the Society. All Torrey members are acknowledged with a specially designed Torrey pine tree pin. Diamond contributors of $10,000 or more will receive a Torrey Society pin with a diamond, representing their membership status.

The Torrey Legacy is an additional way to participate in SISD's future, by making estate bequests. By naming the SISD Foundation as a beneficiary in your will or trust you may choose to gift cash, real estate, personal property, life insurance, annuities or deferred annuities.

You can access detailed information on gifting by clicking the attached links, where Torrey Society, Torrey Legacy and Individual Gifting forms are available.

Is there anything else I should know?
Can't think of anything. Just come to meetings and grow along with rest of SISD's members. Being in SISD is definitely a journey. Learning the scope of the organization and carrying out its mission is a kaleidoscope of adventure, ever changing, ever growing, immeasurably rewarding.

Join us, we won't let you be disappointed!