Soroptimist Clubs of the Coast
It will soon be a year since everyone had to make huge changes in our lives due to the global pandemic. In our small community that relies so much on tourism there are two different things happening.
There are a lot of people coming to the Mendocino Coast and enjoying the beaches and forests. The motels and restaurants are doing the best they can. But the service clubs are having a hard time because of the shutdown, and missing all the activities, including many produced by our coast service clubs such as the parades, and the Whale Festivals, and the Salmon Barbeque. The service clubs have also missed out on doing their fundraisers that we and those that visit our area enjoy.
The Soroptimist International of Fort Bragg canceled their Craft Fair and Whale Run last year. The Noyo Sunrise of Soroptimist International had to do their collaborative Quilt Show outside and was not able to charge for admission and were not able to do their chocolate Easter Egg sales.
For the coming year, the Soroptimist Fort Bragg club is planning to cancel their Craft Fair on Labor Day but will be looking to moving the Whale Run from March to July. And that will all depend on what will be allowed at that time.
In the meantime, both clubs are trying to come up with new ideas for fundraising. Soroptimist Noyo Sunrise had a mask contest last fall. Soroptimist Fort Bragg had a raffle. These efforts have not come close to what our normal fundraisers bring in, so we are having to adjust the amounts we can give as scholarships.
It has not stopped us though. Soroptimist Fort Bragg has chosen Veronica Stevenson for the “Live Your Dream Award.”
The “Live Your Dream Award” is a unique education award for women who provide the primary financial support for their families. The award gives women the resources they need to improve their education, skills and employment prospects.
Daniella Aguirre Puerto was chosen for the “Violet Richardson Award.” The “Violet Richardson Award” honors young women between the ages of 14 and 18 for volunteer action such as fighting drugs, crime and violence, cleaning up the environment and working to end discrimination and poverty.
We have sent them their checks. We will also be choosing winners for three more scholarships in March. Soroptimist Noyo Sunrise is finalizing their winners and will announce them all in April, as they have similar awards. The clubs are planning a joint virtual awards ceremony coming at the end of April.
“Dream It Be It” for high school girls
SI Fort Bragg is planning a “Dream It Be It” program for a group of High School Girls. The Program helps with career opportunities, setting and achieving goals, overcoming obstacles to success, moving forward after setbacks or failures, and much more. We are looking for high school girls that would be interested in doing this program in the spring. It will be done virtually and will be free to those that are interested.
Earth Day and Easter
Noyo Sunrise has just launched a spring mask contest in honor of Earth Day. For information on rules and how to enter, go to http://www.sinoyosunrise.org/Home.html. Also, the members are selling clever ear savers for face mask wearers and taking online orders for their virtual Easter Candy store. See these and other creative fundraising projects at http://www.si-noyosunrise.org/Fundraising.html
March 23 Guest Speaker
SI Noyo Sunrise Club will have Dr. Jennifer Kreger as their guest speaker via Zoom, 8-9 a.m, March 23. She will be talking about her involvement in the newly-launched grassroots project “Hubs & Routes” and the public is invited. To request a Zoom Link, send an email before the meeting date to SINoyoSunrise@Soroptimist.net.
To be part of the action, contact one of the SI Clubs here on the Mendocino North Coast. Soroptimist clubs now meet virtually via Zoom. Each club is always welcoming new members to join them.
To contact the Soroptimist International of Fort Bragg, Noon Club, go to soroptimistfortbraggca.org.
For contact information for Soroptimist International of Noyo Sunrise, morning club, go to si-noyosunrise.org.