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SOROPTIMIST International of Garden Grove

Hits the road for a "Fun"-Raising Good Time!

(When we aren't volunteering to make the world a better place -- we are having FUN)

Saturday, February 4, 2012

8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Join us for the best turnaround to a casino ever!

That's right -- we provide bus transportation, continental breakfast,

a variety of beverages, fun, and frivolity.

All you need to do is sit back, enjoy the ride, and spend the day at

$30 per person, and only pre-registrations will be taken for this trip.

Space is limited! Don't miss this chance for FUN.

For more information contact

Janet Pelayo at 714-741-5215 or Ana Neal at 714-741-5176

Awards Announcement

We have our Women's Opportunity Award and Violet Richardson Award

winners selected!

Francina Anderson, a student at Cypress College is our Women’s Opportunity Award winner. She has one daughter and is raising her two nephews. Her career goal is to obtain a master’s degree in social work and specialize in child welfare.

Leah Cha is our Violet Richardson Award winner. She is 17 years old and a student at Pacifica High School. She is the president for her school’s Red Cross Club. Their first project was called “Letters from Home” where the students wrote more than 100 letters to our soldiers in the war.

These two great ladies will join our Ruby Awardee, Yvette Cabrera, and our Essay contest winners at our “Live Your Dream” event scheduled for the evening of March 8, 2012 at the Marriott Suites in Garden Grove.

Please mark your calendars!

Soroptimist International of Garden Grove

2011-12 Officers!

Incoming President is Mary Ann Hamamura, Retired Housing Authority Manager for the

City of Garden Grove. Mary Ann’s focus this year will be to continue the 7 Habits of Highly

Effective Teens Project with teen mothers, host a community informational meeting on Human
Trafficking, increase SIGG membership, have fun while fundraising, and foster innovation while

completing the Soroptimist mission to improve the lives of women and girls in local communities

and throughout the world.

Other SIGG officers installed were President Elect Connie Margolin, retired; Secretary Ana Ramirez, Administrative Aide, City of Garden Grove; and Treasurer Monica Covarrubias, Administrative Analyst, City of Garden Grove.

Incoming SIGG Board members include: Fundraising Director Janet Pelayo, Community

Services Supervisor, City of Garden Grove; Program Director Lori Smith, Fire Marshal, City of

Santa Ana; and Public Awareness Director Mallory Vega, Executive Director, Acacia Adult Day

Services.

Soroptimist International of Garden Grove develops leadership skills and the knowledge of

the needs of women and children in our world. Friendships and fun while working together for a common cause are also part of the experience of membership. The club meets twice a month. If you are a woman who is looking for opportunities to give back by helping others, engaging in leadership activities, and making personal and business friendships, please call club President Mary Ann Hamamura at (714) 526-7371 or visit www.gardengrovesoroptimist.org. To also find out more information about Soroptimist International of the America’s, please visit www.soroptimist.org.

SIGG ANNOUNCES ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS

“Who is the Superwoman in your live and what are the three ‘super powers’ she uses to make the world a better place?” was the theme of the inaugural essay contest put on by the Garden Grove Soroptimist Club. Keying in on President Erin’s focus this year of celebrating the superwoman in each of us, the Club asked girls from 7 to 14 years of age to participate by writing an essay that described the superwoman in their life.

Twenty six essays were received! Congratulations to our winners: Jenny Lam from Ethan Allen Elementary School and Katherine Bibiano from Izaac Walton Intermediate School. Honorable Mentions were given to Hillary Nguyen from Ethan Allen Elementary School (Special Award for Creativity), Chantelle La Nguyen from Ethan Allen Elementary School, and Monica Elias from Bryant School. Each received an award of a Target gift card.

The Soroptimists asked three professional women writers to be judges for the competition. One of our judges was Mary McDonough, an award winning actress (Erin on the Waltons), writer and director. She has a recurring role on “The New Adventures of Old Christine”. She has just completed a book, “Lessons from the Mountain, What I learned from Erin Walton”, which will be released March 29, 2011. Our second judge was Beverly Nault, who co-authored Mary’s book. Beverly also writes fiction. Fresh Start Summer is the first of a seasonal series of books and will be published this month by Lamp Post Press. Our third judge was Alison Bell, the author of the five-book Zibby Payne series for children as well as 10 nonfiction books for teens. Alison is a regular contributor to the Los Angeles Times as well as an on-line advice columnist. Alison teaches fiction writing to children and is working on finishing a novel for adults.

Some of the favorite quotes from the essays; "...my mom took a picture and we looked like shining diamonds", "And in the evenings, she makes all of us tasty chicken soup. It is so tasty that the flavors seem to dance in my mouth and laugh all the way to my stomach", "She heals wounds with some kind of magic cream", "She [my mom} can be bossy, but that's just because she loves me", "... my mom can be as fun as a day at the beach", "She can come up with many funny jokes and stories to create an enchanted atmosphere" and "When I'm feeling blue, its SuperMom to the rescue".

The awardees were announced at the “Live Your Dream” luncheon hosted by the Soroptimists at the Garden Grove Marriott. The following were also honored: The Ruby Award - Erin Runnion, Founding Director of The Joyful Child Foundation, Women’s Opportunity Award - Wendy Ramirez, a Cypress College student, and the Violet Richardson Award - Lananh Vu, a graduating senior of Rancho Alamitos High School and American Red Cross volunteer.

Congratulations to all!

Please view the event thanks to Channel 3 News and aired on This Week in Garden Grove

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYTDif8oMvE&feature=related

SIGG WELCOMES NEW MEMBER

In this photo (left to right): Cathy Standiford (Recruitment Chairperson), new member Ana Ramirez,

and Raquel Manson (her sponsor, friend and a recently inducted member)

BLOGGING WITH CATHY STANDIFORD, FORMER PRESIDENT OF SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF THE AMERICAS!

We are so proud of your great work on behalf of women and children and the many ways SIA makes a difference in their lives. Cathy now keeps up a Focus on Women blog at http://focus.soroptimist.org. Visit it and see her latest topic!

SI GARDEN GROVE

Soroptimist International is a worldwide organization of women in management and the professions, working through service projects to advance human rights and the status of women.

Founded in 1987, Soroptimist International of Garden Grove (SIGG) is part of Soroptimist International of the Americas (SIA). Its mission is to improve the lives of women and girls, in local communities and throughout the world. Garden Grove members join with almost 95,000 Soroptimists in about 120 countries and territories worldwide, to contribute time and financial support to community-based projects benefiting women. The Garden Grove club helps mentor teenagers in the Garden Grove Unified School District teen mothers program, and works to raise awareness of human trafficking in the local community. For the past three years, SIGG also has helped fund the establishment of orchards for tending by women in Afghanistan. For more information about how Soroptimist International of Garden Grove improves the lives of women and girls, call club President Mary Ann Hamamura at (714) 526-7371 .

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