General Archives - Soroptimist International of Ventura

Soroptimist of Ventura Donates More Stethoscopes to VC Nursing Students

In the fall of 2015, after much thought and consideration, the Soroptimist Club of Ventura (SI Ventura) decided to commit funds to donate quality stethoscopes to nursing students at Ventura College. Stethoscopes are an important, necessary and expensive part of a nurse’s arsenal of equipment.

Since that first fall semester in 2015, SI Ventura has handed out more than 30 stethoscopes, engraved with the Soroptimist logo, to Ventura College students. SI Ventura is confident that the recipients are off to a good start in their nursing education and will be able to use the stethoscopes throughout their nursing careers.

On Wednesday, February 8 a group of Soroptimist club members met the newest recipients of the stethoscopes, and were delighted to hear from the women and men themselves about what a valuable addition the donation has made to their education. Many of the students are returning to school and are on a very tight budget. They expressed such gratitude at having this necessary, high quality item provided for them by the Soroptimist Club of Ventura.

Soroptimist is a national and international service club for business and professional women with a focus on improving the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment. For more information about Soroptimist and the Ventura Club please visit their web site at www.soroptimistventura.org or contact Sandra Masiel at 805-278-3607.

2016 Violet Richardson Award Winner, Fidelity Ballmer, to Speak at August 24 Program Meeting

web_Fidelity-Ballmer Fidelity Ballmer graduated from Foothill Technology High School as the Class of 2016 Valedictorian. Throughout high school, Fidelity served women and girls through founding and leading a Girl Up club at Foothill.

Girl Up, a campaign of the United Nations, works to prioritize the health, safety, leadership and education of girls in developing countries. Fidelity’s club raised awareness and funds through campaigns, movie screenings, fundraisers; advocacy with members of Congress; guest speakers; and initiating a campus conversation on women’s empowerment.

Don’t miss out on meeting our Violet Richardson Award winner, Fidelity Ballmer and hearing her speak on the Girl Up campaign. If you are interested in attending this meeting please call Sandy Masiel at 805-278-3607 to RSVP by Monday, August 22. The cost is $15.

SI Ventura Installs Officers and Directors For 2016-2017 Club Year

Soroptimist.Ventura.new.board.june.8.2016 — (L to R) Sherri Tarpchinoff Bennett, President Elect; Trevor Summerlin, 1 year Director; Kellye Edwards Patterson, Recording Secretary; Shirley Lorraine, Vice President; Ann Hewitt, President; Kay Armstrong, Corresponding Secretary; Pamela Pecarich, Treasurer; Cindy Daly, 1 year Director. Missing – Cyndi Damron, 2 Year Director and Sandra Masiel, 2 Year Director.

The Soroptimist Club of Ventura installed new Officers and Directors in June. The Incoming President, Ann Hewitt, thanked outgoing President Kay Armstrong for her service this past year. She welcomed the incoming Officers and Directors and expressed her appreciation for their willingness to serve. She announced a club theme for the year of “It starts with us!”

The installation of the new Officers and Directors was conducted by Sherry Cash, District 1 Director of the Camino Real Region of Soroptimist International. Officers and Directors include: Ann Hewitt as President, Sherri Tarpchinoff Bennett as President Elect, Shirley Lorraine as Vice President, and Kellye Patterson as Recording Secretary, Kay Armstrong as Corresponding Secretary, Pam Pecarich as Treasurer, Cyndi Damron and Sandra Masiel as Two-Year Directors, Cindy Daly and Trevor Summerlin as One-Year Directors – all of Ventura.

Soroptimist International is a part of the world’s largest classified service organization for executive and professional women. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, SI has more than 100,000 members in 1,500 clubs in 21 countries. In addition to supporting international projects, Soroptimist clubs accomplish their service goals based on individual community needs. The mission of the Soroptimist Club is to improve the lives of women and girls in their community and through out the world. For more information about Soroptimist of Ventura go to www.soroptimistventura.org. To find out how you can become a member, please call Sandra Masiel at (805) 278-3607 or email [email protected].

SI Ventura Donates Stethoscopes to Ventura College Nursing Students

Stethoscopes are an important and expensive part of a nurse’s arsenal of equipment. SIV, after much thought and consideration, committed funds to donate quality stethoscopes to nursing students at Ventura College.

Over the last two semesters, we have handed out 14 stethoscopes engraved with our Soroptimist logo. We have confidence the recipients will be off to a good start in their nursing education and will be able to use their stethoscopes well into their nursing careers.

On Monday, February 8 a group of SIV members met the recipients and were delighted to hear from the women themselves what a valuable addition our donation has made to their education. Many of the women are returning students with families and very tight budgets. They expressed such gratitude at having this necessary item provided for them by our Soroptimist Club.

March 23 Program Speakers are Norbert Tan and Anne Paul King from the Ventura College Foundation

Norbert Tan has served as the Executive Director of the Ventura College Foundation for nearly nine years. Successes include developing the Ventura College Promise program that funds first year fees for every Ventura County high school graduate; growing the scholarship program to nearly $500,000 in annual awards; and building the Textbook Lending Library to serve over 3,000 students annually. Prior to Ventura College, Norbert served as the Managing Director of Rubicon Theatre Company in Ventura, after completing the prestigious Arts Management Fellowship at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Prior to working in the non-profit field, Norbert was an international marketing and advertising professional in the new media, live entertainment, legal, and advertising industries. Norbert volunteers on numerous community boards and committees in Ventura County. Norbert earned his BS from UC Berkeley and his MBA from UCLA, with an emphasis in nonprofit management.

Norbert’s peak experiences at the Ventura College Foundation include moments with a donor, with a past employee, and at the VCF’s annual scholarship gala.

Anne Paul King serves as the Director of Major and Planned Giving for the Ventura College Foundation. Her recent successes at the Foundation include developing and stewarding the corporate donor relationship leading to at $1,000,000 gift to launch the Diesel Technology program at Ventura College; creating the Foundation Ambassador’s program with faculty and classified staff; and securing over $1 million in planned gifts over the past year. Anne has been a fundraising professional for nearly 25 years and has raised over $22 million for both national and local organizations. The scope of her many roles has ranged from the national development consultant to 31 state affiliates at Volunteers of America to the foundling chair of the development committee for the Conejo Schools Foundation Board supporting the local Conejo Unified School District. Anne specializes in major gifts and board management.

Anne’s peak experiences at the Ventura College Foundation include moments with a scholarship recipient, a legacy society member, and a corporate partner.

If you are interested in attending this meeting please call Cindy Daly at 805-701-0882 to RSVP by Monday, March 21. The cost is $15.

STOP Human Trafficking & Sexual Slavery Annual Event – March 9, 2016

Soroptimist International of Ventura joins with Oxnard, Camarillo, The Conejo, Santa Barbara and Simi Valley SI clubs to present the ninth annual Stop Human Trafficking and Sexual Slavery Annual Event on March 9, 2016 at the Ventura County Government Center, 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura. This event includes an Awareness Walk followed by a speaking panel of experts from social service agencies, government, and law enforcement.

The Awareness Walk starts at 4:30 p.m., and the Panel begins at 6:00 p.m. Speakers for the panel include:

Shannon Sergey, Founder of Forever Found
Von Nguyen, Santa Barbara Deputy District Attorney
Judith Porter, Deputy Sheriff, Ventura County Special Unit
Megan Riker-Rhineschild, Santa Barbara Human Trafficking Task Force

This event helps raise awareness about this rapidly growing problem in Ventura County, the state of California, our country and throughout the world. Anyone can be trafficked regardless of race, class, education, gender, age, or citizenship when forcefully coerced or enticed by false promises. We are working on education, advocacy and involvement.

This year’s event is being sponsored by the County Board of Supervisors. For questions about the event please call Debbie Gohlke at 805-320-5215.