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Soroptimist International of Hanford PO Box 192

Hanford, CA 93232

www.sihanford.org User name: member #

Password: Given #

Meetings Tuesdays 12 Noon

Comfort Inn

Sierra Pacific Region www.sierrapacificregion.org

User name: SPR Password: 4Uonly!

Soroptimist International of the Americas

www.soroptimist.org

Soroptimist Pillars Membership Fundraising Programs

Public Awareness

Improving the Lives of Women and Girls

Soroptimist International of Hanford

April, May, June 2017

Soroptimissle

April, May, June 2017

President Maureen’s Last Message to You

ABOUT PRIDE

I have been reflecting on the past year, my term as your president. I vividly recall my anxiety in assuming the responsibility. I was fearful that I did not know enough, that I was not up to the task, and that I would let you down. How, I thought, would I be able to face you if I failed. Little did I appreciate at the time, that I had at my side a posse, a gang, a gaggle of women so experienced and so talented, who always had my back. You coached me, advised me and yes, even criticized me when necessary. All of this was to my benefit, but more importantly to the mission we cherish, i.e., providing vital resources and support for women and girls. Just look at what you accomplished this year with respect to fundraising and programs. Starting off with Child Spree, which challenged you to work around an obstacle. Check. Festival of Trees, where you raised the most funds ever in the history of the event. Check. The “S” Club advisors mentored volunteer students who also earned much needed tuition awards, then achieved regional awards. Check. Dream It Be It Career Support for Girls where you provided students with tools and information on shaping their future. Check. You helped women in our own community with support of Rock the Purple, Pursuing Liberty: Breaking the Chains, Hannah’s House, Barbara Saville Shelter; and most spectacularly with Amanda’s Home; where you championed the project, brought a wealth of resources to the project, and garnered financial support from SIA. Check. Live Your Dreams Awards where you hosted and celebrated women and girls who go to extraordinary efforts to make a difference. Check. You collaborated with and coached Business Technology Center students, encouraged them to dream. Check. You helped the unfortunate at Project Homeless Connect by sharing personal items with homeless women. Check. And you participated in a myriad of other acts of charity for women and girls including Royal Family Kids Campership, United Way Day of Caring, Links for Life, Think Pink, Salvation Army Campership, Kings Art Center Campership, Kings County Academic Decathlon, California Scholarship Federation, Miss Kings County Scholarships, Angel Trees/Halloween Baskets/Easter Baskets, and International Goodwill. Check. Check. Check. You also recruited more members than any other club in the entire Sierra Pacific Region, and capped that off with a uniquely festive event at the Fox theater. Check. With respect to our public relations and finances, you kept us visible and relevant in the social media community, fiscally sound and balanced financially. Double check. Finally, you took a leap of faith in the Board’s Annual Club Giving contribution proposal by doubling the contribution to benefit women. That’s a significantly BIG CHECK. Your passion and charity was not overlooked, as SI Hanford members took home a slew of Certificates of Appreciation and Recognition at the Sierra Pacific Region Conference. For all the above, I was so misguided in thinking that the world would fall upon my own shoulders, that I would bear the weight alone. You did it! You are the reason that SI Hanford flourishes these many years. I can never repay or express my gratitude sufficiently. You are the Best of Women, who are the Best for Women, and who are without doubt a reflection of the sentiments in the enclosed poem What is a Soroptimist? Be proud Soroptimists, you earned the right.

Maureen Larkin, President 2016-2017

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Greetings from Governor Tana

Twelve years ago I became a member of SI Hanford. Not once did I see myself in a leadership role until others expressed a belief in me. They saw something I hadn’t realized I possessed. I was content to be a “worker bee.” Tell me what to do and I would accomplish the task given. I was asked to be on a committee or two which later led to being chair of the committee. When invited to go to places I said, “sure why not,” what did I have to lose. The ladies seemed like fun and they were all harmless, right? Next thing you know I was asked to take minutes as a corresponding secretary and then before the year was up I was attending board meetings and taking the official minutes. Funny thing was I really didn’t know what I was doing and was told you will do fine, you will learn as you go. Doesn’t that sound familiar? I enjoyed attending District meetings, Region conferences, attended a few S Club conferences and made it to my first convention. This whole time I kept meeting all these remarkable women that shared many of the same passions, no matter what town I was in. The more active I became the more women I had the opportunity to meet. Some may remember Past Governor Lauren. There is something she said once at a leadership summit that I will never forget. “When given the opportunity to serve, say Yes.” Well I think you know the rest of the story. Those words led me to my current role as Governor. As I was preparing for conference this year I had this feeling that I had finally made it to the top of the mountain. I felt organized, accomplished, I was prepared, ready and the final days had arrived. Well, God certainly reminded me very quickly that he has a sense of humor. Therefore, I quickly relinquished what control I thought I had back over to my higher power and surrendered. That was my ah ha moment. I have always been working towards his divine purpose and that I didn’t need to get in the way. He has been in control this entire time and all I had to do is to enjoy the ride. Everything fell into place, I was calm, Happy, in the moment, and was ready to enjoy the conference that so many worked hard to bring to fruition. With SI Hanford in full force I know everything would fall into place perfectly and it did. I got to see friends once again, make new acquaintances and celebrate all the accomplishments had by all. The highlight for me was when our speaker shared with us how a simple gesture has the power to make someone feel like they matter. That is the story of how my Soroptimist family has made me feel, starting with you. You are a great influence for women that are in our club and to the women we serve. I am proud to say SI Hanford is my home club. I thank you all for bringing me through this journey of a lifetime! Together we have made many dreams come true, mine being one of them. With passion, your fellow Hanford Soroptimist member:

Tana

Soroptimissle April, May, June 2017

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Our local ‘BTC’ (Business Technology Center) is sponsored by Kings Regional Occupational Program through the Kings County Office of Education.

The BTC is a career technical education program focused on clerical and computer training. The students come from all areas of Kings County ranging in ages from high school to adult. One goal they all have in common: preparing for a better future through education.

At the end of the school year, the stu-dents study the fine art of business etiquette which concludes with an ‘end of year’ project – a day sponsoring ‘Good Manners in Minutes’.

A committee is selected to plan invita-tions, decorations, guest speakers, prizes and food for a formal luncheon. SI Hanford partners with the committee to help them plan this special event.

This year the Good Manners event took place on May 5 at the Ag Conference Room and featured Julie Sayles, Fresno Detention Deputy Sheriff, as the guest speaker. SI Committee Members were: Brenda McNary, Pattie Hill, Lin-da Clark, Antoinette Draxler, Deborah Wilson, Leah Forte, Jean Morgan, Maureen Larkin and Linda Silveira. The BTC students described this as a ‘WOW!’ event! Submitted by: Brenda McNary

Good Manners in Minutes

Soroptimist International of Hanford was acknowledged by

Soroptimist International of the Americas

for their generosity.

BTC STUDENT COMMITTEE

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Sierra Pacific Region Conference 2017

Soroptimissle April, May, June 2017

Soroptimist International of Hanford was the host of our Sierra Pacific Regional Conference June

2-4 in Visalia. Our Regional Governor is our very own Tana Elizondo. The conference went smoothly and was very

informative. Much of its success was due to Governor Tana leading the conference on stage and behind the scenes the organized Conference Coordinator was our New President Cheryle Boeve. Many of our members also worked behind the scenes, helping to keep the conference running smoothly and doing our club sales with the proceeds going to help fund members trip to Convention in Yokohama, Japan next summer.

Friday On Friday afternoon Soroptimists arrived to check into their rooms, sign in at the registration table

(manned by our members), shopped in the club sales room, and socialized at 2 events. Friday night’s dinner theme was “Soroptimist Investing in Dreams”. the program for the evening includes Cheryl Zeman giving the Thought for the Evening, our President Maureen Larkin giving the official Welcome, Governor Tana making introductions, Fundraising chair Barbara Giambastini speaking on the theme of the night, District Directors presenting a report of their district clubs’ activities in the form of a slide show. The evening culminated in a very entertaining “Lip Sync Battle” between various clubs. The theme was “Women in Music”. SI Hanford won the battle.

Saturday The Sierra Pacific Annual Business Session was held in the morning. The Credentials Report was

given by Judy Neill, Credentials/Elections Chair, followed by Official Greetings, a review of Parliamentary Procedure, Adoption of Standing Rules, Adoption of the Conference Program, Treasure’s Reports, the Proposed Budget Region Budget 2017-2018 was approved, and the Nominating Committee members was being presented and approved unanimously as there were no nominations from the floor.

Saturday’s Luncheon theme was “Live Your Dreams” where award winners of “Live Your Dream” and “Mary Ellen George Award” were honored. Four of the seven winners of the Mary Ellen George Award were high school students from Hanford. The guest speaker for the luncheon was Carissa Phelps on the topic “Breaking Through Barriers”. She spoke about the many obstacles she faced growing up and how she turned her life around to eventually become a successful attorney.

During the afternoon, the group broke out into various workshops: Membership-Thinking Outside the Box, All Things Status Quo, Funding the Dream, Funding Ideas into Reality, Presidents and Treasures “Meet Up”, and Human Trafficking: Survivor Dynamics and Needs. After the workshops, there was a reception for Laurel Society members in Governor Tana’s suite. Many of our members worked to organize and help with this event.

At the Saturday evening dinner, the Guest Speaker was Elizabeth Lucas, Soroptimist International of the Americas CEO and Executive Director whose topic was “Working as One”. She spoke on how we all need work towards one common goal in order to have the greatest impact.

Sunday The Breakfast Meeting began with a “Celebration of Life”, which is a remembrance of members who

have passed away this last year. After this Celebrating Success Awards were given to clubs, reports in the area of our 4 Pillars: Public Awareness, Fundraising, Membership, and Programs were presented. After this, the Shaping the Future Awards were presented. SI Hanford won an award for our work mentoring the Business Training Center students and our club was recognized for having the biggest growth in membership with 14 new members. In the area of Club Giving, we had the distinction of being the only club to give $10,000. Besides this recognition we will also receive $500 to use towards our “Live Your Dream” awards. The Conference wrapped up with an invitation to next year’s Conference in Paso Robles by the host club SI San Francisco. This was followed by various club drawings, and the Governors closing remarks. Submitted by Suzanne Cardoza

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Soroptimissle April, May, June 2017

Registration Table

Lip-sync Group

SI Hanford being Honored

SI Hanford members at SPR Region Conference

Youth Awardees

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Soroptimissle April, May, June 2017

Soroptimissle April, May, June 2017

Soroptimist of the Year 2017 Suzanne Marienau Cardoza has been a member since 1987. Suzanne is an extremely quiet individual

that has the ability to offer guidance that speaks loud & clear. She holds herself to extremely high standards, always focuses on/for the good and never judges anyone. Suzanne has participated on just about every committee club has ever had. Some of them include:

Attendance Committee: 94-95 Gift Wrap Committee: 94-95 Fines/Non-work/Marble Game Chairperson: 94-95 Telephone Chairperson: 97-98, 98-99, 2000-01 Training Awards Program Chairperson: 97-98 International Goodwill & Understanding: 97-98, 08-09, 10-11, 13-14 Women’s Opportunity Chairperson: 98-99, 2000-01, 06-07, 08-09 Friendship Links Chairperson: 98-99

Then with just over a decade of service to our club and the community she took on the task of our club newsletter as Editor for the next decade.

Soroptimissle Editor: 2000-01, 01-02, 04-05, 06-07 Installation Committee: 2000-01, 01-02, 04-05 Laws & Resolutions Chairperson: 2001-02, 04-05, 09-10, Nominating Committee: 2003-05 Leadership Development: 2004-05 Human Rights/Status of Women: 2006-07 Orientation Committee: 2006-07 Club Social Committee: 2006-07, 09-10

Then she found the energy to provide guidance and ensure that our financial contributions would support the funding & building of the Endless Dream Playground for people with wheelchairs, braces and walkers which is still being utilized at Freedom Park in Hanford.

Endless Dream Playground: 2006-07, 08-09, 10-11, 11-1 And just to mention a few other committees she served on were:

Salvation Army Angel Tree project: 2009-10, 10-11, 11-12 United Cerebral Palsy project: 2009-10, 12-13 Misrepresentation of Women & Girls in the Media: 2012-13 Festival of Tree Sponsor since inception in 1998 to present She has served as a Panelist at our new Dream It Be It program.

Suzanne served on our Board as Vice President 1999-2000, President 1990-91 and 2003-04 and Parliamentarian 2006-07, 2008-09. Suzanne has mentored many club members thru challenges and has become a true friend to many of us. She and her

husband opened their home to hold the clubs Christmas Party. She was instrumental in “Soropti-bucks” – a club member moral game. Suzanne is what we describe as the calm in the storm and is capable of bringing everyone back to center. She has quietly & unselfishly volunteered in all of our events with great pride to be a “Soroptimist”.

Suzanne has been a Woman owned business – Suzanne Marienau Cardoza Optometry for twelve years, since buying out her “male” business partner which she joined just after earning her doctorate in l987. She has been married to Michael for 29 years and they have a 18 year old son Alex.

She also received the Business Ethics Award of Distinguished Professional from Hanford Noon Rotary Club. The members of Soroptimist International of Hanford are indeed privileged to honor Suzanne Cardoza as our 2016-2017 Soroptimist of the Year. Submitted by Cheryle Boeve

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Soroptimissle April, May, June 2017

Name: Cheryle Boeve Where were you born? Hanford, CA Where did you grow up? Hanford, CA and will probably die here unless I’m lucky enough to be traveling to or from Morro Bay, Yosemite, Colorado or Cabo!!!! What kind of work have you done in the past and what are you doing now? As I refer to “chapters in my life” … I began my working chapter in 1976 after obtaining my AA in business, at an Independent Bank in Hanford, “Citizen’s National Bank”. I worked as an Executive Secretary to the President & Board of Directors for 16 years when it was sold/merged with another independent bank in Visalia. With two babies at home I chose to not take a position in Visalia. That was when I began the most challenging chapter; staying home for four years till both children were in school. I then went to work in Real Estate for my 1

st boss from the Bank and was his Office Manager and did Property

Management during that time. After 11 years my boss was diagnosed with a terminal illness and we closed the office. I had dreamed of retiring at that point but just couldn’t stay home alone. My next chapter took me into Administration at Adventist Health as support staff of the VP of Nursing and then the VP of Construction. After 8 years there my position was eliminated and was replaced with three individuals!!!! I took the next year off, became Grammy to our 1

st grandson,

planned and gave our daughter a wedding and was ready to go to work. My current and hopefully final working chapter for the past 2 years has been with Central Valley Health Transport, transporting patients to and from their medical ap-pointments. My motto would be “I drive around in circles”. What kind of things do you enjoy doing? Being outdoors, snow skiing, listening to the ocean, roller blading, working in my yard. How do you relax and unwind? A GLASS of wine will do fine or being in Cabo. Share something that we don’t know about you? I can be nice!!!! Why did you join Soroptimist? While working at the bank, my boss and I were soliciting a business for their banking relations and the Office Manager suggested I join. That was 30 years ago this October. What aspects and/or activities of Soroptimist do you enjoy? The mission of empowering women and girls through education. Helping them to break the cycle of poverty and to be self-sufficient. I enjoy seeing the faces of Child Spree children as they depart the store with their bag of NEW Clothes. Cheryle’s Officers and Board Vice Presidents Marnie Garcia

Antionette Draxler Secretaries Brenda McNary

Cheril Ray Treasurers Deborah Stemwedel Sharlene Bogan Directors Amory Elizondo Maureen Larkin Parliamentarian Cheryl Zeman Delegates Anita Yager Dalanda McGee Alternate Delegates Karen Puente Suzanne Tabers Submitted by: Suzanne Cardoza

Getting to Know Our 2017-2018 President, Cheryle Boeve

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Getting to Know Your Soroptimist Members

Soroptimissle April, May, June 2017

Name_____Anita Yager____

Where were you born? I was born in Lisbon Portugal.

Where did you grow up?

At the age of three months my parents moved to Luanda in Angola, Africa where I spent the first 5 years of my life. We moved back to Lisbon and I spent the next seven years there. At the age of 12 we immigrated to the United States of America living in Santa Clara CA for two and half years before moving to Hanford and settling here.

Tell us about your family? I’ve been married to my husband Glen for 43 years and we have three children. Joshua 40 that lives in Murrieta (50 miles North East of San Diego) with his daughter Lilley soon to be 10. Jocelyn 37 that lives two houses down from me with her husband Dustin and their three children, Janie 13, D’Angelo 11, and Jensyn 3.Jarrek 34 who lives in Fresno with his wife Laura and their daughter Annabelle that is 2.

What kind of work have you done in the past and what are you doing now? The first 12 years of marriage I was fortunate to be a stay at home mom and loved volunteering at my kids’ school. I worked for Hanford Elementary for 29 years in different positions with the last one as a Bilingual Clerk Typist in the office at Washington School since it first opened in 1990. I cherish the many friendships made with staff and parents. I loved my job and working with kids is when I was the happiest. Retirement was bitter sweet but I can honestly say I have been happily retired for the last 2 years and am watching my 3 year old granddaughter and I occasionally watch my 2 year old granddaughter as well.

What kind of things do you enjoy doing? I enjoy spending time with family and friends and going to my son’s house spending time with my granddaughter that I don’t see as often as I’d like. I love to travel to Europe and visit relatives in Portugal.

How do you relax and unwind?

Relaxing in my backyard in the evening with a glass of wine, weather permitting, and catching up with family and friends on social media are some ways I like to unwind.

Share something that we don’t know about you?

I am extremely proud of my heritage. When we moved to the United States I didn’t speak English and I enrolled in 7th grade. At the age of 12 and 13 living in a foreign country and learning English was very challenging. I had learned some French while in school in Portugal but English is a very hard language to learn, not like the Romance languages that are very similar and derive from Latin. Within a couple of years I had become fluent but still continue to learn everyday. I also learned to speak Spanish because of the need to communicate with parents. To this day public speaking is still a very uncomfortable challenge.

Why did you join Soroptimist?

I enjoy volunteering and believe in the mission of empowering young women to excel in life, and…my friend or 37 years, Linda Silveira twisted my arm. (HaHa)

What aspects and/or activities of Soroptimist do you enjoy?

Socializing with so many talented, driven, and compassionate women is one of the aspects I enjoy in being a Soroptimist.

Submitted by: Suzanne Cardoza

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SI Hanford New Member Recruitment Night

As many of you know, on May 20, 2017 we held a new member recruitment night at the historic Fox

Theater in downtown Hanford. Using primarily social media, Hanford Events facebook, our facebook, I nstagram and more, we had approximately 22 prospective members attend our event. The event was a wine and cheese event. The wine was provided by Kendall Fults, Fults Family Vineyards and was served a variety of cheeses and appetizers. Lucky for us Kendall brought his wife to help and she was so impressed with all we do that she has come to a subsequent lunch meeting and hopefully she may be joining us! The night included a power point presentation of what Soroptimist is all about and specifically what we do in our Hanford club. Thank you to President Maureen, Regional Membership Chair Amore and Suzanne Cardoza for each giving a great talk to the potential members about Soroptimist. Hopefully, we will have several new members joining us. I will again be the club membership chair for the 2017-2018 club year, so please let me know any ideas that you have or possible events for recruitment and retention of new members. Thank you. Submitted by: Cheryl Zeman, Membership Chair

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Soroptimissle April, May, June 2017

AMANDA’S HOME, Our Mission in Action

Amanda’s Home opened by Champions, is a new transitional home for women and their children. The women entering Amanda’s Home may be transitioning from a variety of struggles including homelessness, drug or alcohol treatment and abuse. These women have a less restrictive level of care and had no place to go in Kings County. Amanda’s Home has capacity for six (6) women and their children, for a sixty (60) day stay.

Amanda’s Home was named in honor of Amanda Mattos Sharp a

23-year old mother who lost her battle with drug addiction. Her mother, Ana Nicks has worked tirelessly to help other young women in their struggles with addiction. She has worked with Champions to establish a detox room at Hannah’s House in addition to recruiting labor, furniture and donations for Amanda’s Home.

Champions opened Hannah’s House in 2007, the only licensed perinatal residential treatment

facility for women in Kings County. There are 20,000 women between the ages of 20 and 40 years of age living in Kings County. Hannah’s House is a twenty (20) bed treatment facility that is always at full capacity. Hannah’s House serves 200 women and their children annually. Amanda’s home is filling an identified gap in service, for women who do not require intensive treatment or women without substance use and/or mental health issues. Within the first month of operation, there are four (4) women and their children residing at Amanda’s Home.

The goal at Amanda’s Home is for the women to secure permanent housing and employment

while engaging in counseling and parenting and life skills. It is estimated that the new program will benefit one-hundred (100) women and their families annually.

Amanda’s Home is a perfect opportunity for members SI Hanford to put our mission in to

action. In March, SI Hanford held a furniture drive. Members and the community rallied to furnish the six-bedroom home. Establishing a safe and welcoming environment is an important beginning for the women entering the program. At the recent Sierra Pacific Region Conference SI clubs attending donated bags of personal items, toiletries and books for use by residents of Amanda’s Home .The need for member support will continue through workshops in grooming, resume writing and interview skills. Occasionally there may be additional participation or donations based on the women’s needs.

In June, SI Hanford received the wonderful news that a Soroptimist Club Grant was awarded

in the amount of $8,000.to benefit Amanda’s Home. The grant will be funded in July or August. The funds will be used for remaining necessities including appliances, trundle beds, baby cribs, kitchen table and patio furniture.

We expect that residents at Amanda’s Home could be great candidates for

future Live Your Dream Awards as well. We realize that the work is not done…Amanda’s Home is an on-going project for SI Hanford and has been included in 2017 Budget and Committee plans. As members, we should be extremely proud of our accomplishments so far. Submitted by Sharlene Bogan

Soroptimissle April, May, June 2017

Amanda’s House

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Soroptimissle April, May, June 2017