Hello and welcome to my on-line column. I will be using this space to discuss the challenges facing women throughout the world and the progress we are making as an organization toward helping women and girls to lead better lives. From time to time I will be inviting guest columnists to share their views as well. I look forward to sharing with you! Please check back often and I look forward to sharing with you!
President Sharon
The recent flooding in Pakistan has posed the same challenges for women and girls as have other natural disasters. Reports are already coming in about increased human trafficking, lack of privacy for bathing and personal care, lack of resources to respond to the special nutritional and medical needs of pregnant women, increased exposure to violence, rape, and other injustices. And because the American public seems to have associated Pakistan with terrorism and Muslim extremism, donations to help have been significantly lower than for other disasters elswhere in the world.
But Soroptimists have a special reason to care about Pakistan–because 4 years ago we helped fund the construction of 13 schools there, in an effort to increase access to education for girls. The flooding was particularly fierce in Rajanpur, where 8 of these schools are located. Fortunately, Soroptimist International has just received a report from Oxfam about the status of the schools. Three of the schools are unscathed, two of the schools are partially affected, and three of the schools have been badly affected. The school in Raham Shah still had 5-6 feet of water in it after 2 weeks. According to the Oxfam report, “The impact of the floods on the schools would have been worse had it not been for the strong structures put in place within the construction work at these schools.”
Immediately after the disaster I contacted SIGBI President Jackie Mosedale to express our concerns and support not only for the Soroptimist members in Pakistan, but also for the schools we helped construct through Project Punjab. President Jackie says that once they have done a complete assessment, they will advise of specific projects to help women and girls impacted by this disaster. Once specific needs are known, the SIA Board will likely consider making a donation through the SIA Disaster Recovery Fund, just as we did through SI Europe in response to the Haiti earthquake. In the meantime, please keep the women and girls of Pakistan in your thoughts and prayers.
Donations to the SIA Disaster Recovery Fund support women/girl focused projects in areas affected by manmade or natural disasters. Visit http://www.soroptimist.org/donate/donate.html to find out more.
My time as SIA President is quickly coming to an end, and I can’t believe how fast the year has flown! Many of you have asked me about “what’s next” for me in my Soroptimist journey. The simple truth is that my immediate plans are to do less (!) and invest more energy in the activities of my club, SI of Garden Grove. I also need to reconnect with my husband and wonder dog, Buddy—and tackle the numerous home improvement projects we have put off this past year.
In addition, it’s time for me to focus on my career again in my new role as a local government consultant. I took a big risk a year ago, quitting my full time to job to live this Soroptimist dream. The enormity of this pretty big life change finally hit me the week before the San Francisco convention. But I have no regrets—and I am pleased that Management Partners, the firm I have been working for is interested in increasing my workload. This is a very challenging time for cities, counties and special districts, and I am eager to use my expertise to help them.
“To everything there is a season,” and our Soroptimist journey is no different. We never know what new opportunity may be around the bend. With each new leadership role we have an opportunity to learn something new. But right now, I’m not looking for my next Soroptimist leadership role. I’m content to focus more attention on other things and transition back to being a “regular member,” just like most of you. I’ve learned that sometimes, the best test of a leader is to know when to follow—and I’m getting ready to follow for a change.
What have you learned from your Soroptimist journey this past year–and how is it shaping what you plan to do next?
This week I received a letter from ASAE, the American Society of Association Executives, announcing that our Executive Director Leigh Wintz has again been awarded the Certified Association Executive (CAE) Credential. You may have noticed that Leigh includes the initials “CAE” after her name on official correspondence.
Here’s what ASAE had to say about her in their letter:
The CAE is the highest professional credential in the association industry and is NCCA accredited. Less than five percent of all association professionals have achieved this mark of excellence. Certified Association Executives have demonstrated a high level of knowledge, ethical fitness, and leadership in the field of association management. Your organization is to be complimented for having a professional of that caliber on your staff.
It is indeed an honor that Soroptimist, a volunteer organization for business and professional women, is being run on a day-to-day basis by such a professional woman. Let’s all extend our congratulations to Executive Director Leigh for continuing to meet the rigorous requirements of a CAE credential—and for having again passed the exam that allows her to use those three letters with pride.
Never underestimate the power of being with other Soroptimists to motivate, inspire, and re-energize you. I’ve just spent the last 24 hours in Modesto, California participating in the Sierra Pacific Region Leadership Summit. Governor Sherry Pearson and her wonderful team put together a terrific program for new (and not so new) club leaders. It was an honor for me to lead two workshops—one on the new SIA strategic plan, and one on leading change in a changing world.
I confess, when I returned from London and the SI Board meeting three days ago, I was not terribly excited about getting on a plane again. But the members I met here are so dedicated, so positive, so energized about being Soroptimists that I found my jet lag fading away pretty quickly.
While waiting in the Modesto airport for my flight home (darn flight delays), I’ve been reminiscing about each of the Regions I have visited over the past two years. Each one is unique, and each one has been filled with members who have been charming and very, very gracious.
Attending the Sierra Pacific Leadership Summit was my last “official” appearance as the 2009-2010 President of SIA. In just a few days (10 to be exact), I will go back to being a regular Soroptimist. I confess that after all of the travelling I’ve done over the past 24 months, I’m ready to put the suitcases in storage and stay home for awhile.I have so many incredible memories of my Soroptimist experience from this past year.
When you look back at the last 12 months, what has been your favorite Soroptimist experience?
”Key Garden” at Kensington Palace
I’m in London, UK for the Soroptimist International Board meeting, which starts this weekend. The meeting is being held at the Sheraton Skyline Hotel at London/Heathrow airport. Those of you who have been to London before know that Heathrow is not anywhere near central London—so I arrived here a few days early to take advantage of the opportunity to re-visit one of my favorite cities in the world.
I’ve been staying at the Soroptimist Residential House, commonly referred to as “No. 63,” because of its address—63 Bayswater Road. 63 is in a lovely, central location, directly across the street from Hyde Park, and very near Kensington Gardens and Palace. One of the best things about 63 is that Soroptimists receive discounted room rates. It’s a special “membershp benefit” that many Soroptimists surprisingly don’t know about. I’m paying £100 per night (about $179 USD) for a clean, comfortable safe room, in a fabulous environment, including breakfast. There are many other really posh hotels in the area, where room rates are well over £300 per night. Consequently, it’s a pretty popular place for Soroptimists who are travelling to or through London.
Walking through Hyde Park, visiting Kensington Gardens and the Palace, stopping at Harrod’s for lunch, and exploring the streets and shops of London. Not a bad way to prepare for what is likely to be a prepare for what is likely to be a busy next few days. I’ve learned this past year to enjoy every opportunity to see things that bring joy. Being in central London, even if only for a few days, is one of those joyful things for me.
This weekend Elena Kagan was sworn in as the 112th justice and fourth woman ever to serve on the United States Supreme Court. The first woman Supreme Court Justice was Sandra Day O’Connor—who also was a Soroptimist at one time. Kagan’s seating marks the first time in history there have been three women on the Supreme Court bench.
Having more women Supreme Court justices may not change rulings too much, except for rulings involving sexual discrimination. According to the Associated Press, “Academic studies have found just one area, sex discrimination lawsuits, in which the presence of a woman on a panel of federal appeals court judges appears to make a difference.” The article goes on to state, “ Adding another woman might not change the outcome of cases, but it could affect how the court goes about its business, law professor Tracey George said. She cited social science research that suggests the presence of a woman in a decision-making group influences the behavior of other group members.”
That’s why women need to be on the Supreme Court. That’s why women also need to be at the peace table, and in leadership positions in every government and judicial system in the world.
Congratulations to Justice Elena Kagan!
Sometimes I experience music that reminds me of Soroptimist and our mission. Last Thursday my husband treated me to a concert at a nearby blues club. The headliner was a musician named Paul Thorn, and I was moved by most of his songs. One of them in particular made me think about our Soroptimist Women’s Opportunity Award and how Soroptimists help women rise up to achieve their dreams. It’s called “Rise Up,” and the lyrics go something like this.
She’s got a sink full of dishes and clothes on the line
She’s got a sweet little baby and a husband she can’t find
She gets a lot of free advice from her family and friends
And it’s getting to the point where she’s got to sink or swim
So she tells herself to
RISE UP
She’s going to find something better
RISE UP
She’s going to get herself together
When life hits you like a truck, you’ve got to RISE UP
She’s got a dead end job but deep down she’s got dreams
So she’s having a yard sale and pawning her wedding ring
She’s got a new attitude, ‘cause she’s sick and tired of crying all night
Come hell or high water, she’s going to start a new brand new life
Sit back and watch that girl RISE UP
(repeat chorus)
A woman’s quest for economic empowement is hard–and takes a lot of courage. I’m glad Soroptimists and the Women’s Opportunity Award make rising up a little easier!
Note: “Rise Up” appears on the Paul Thorn CD Mission Temple Fireworks Stand, which is available at iTunes or www.paulthorn.com.
Even though I’m SIA President, I haven’t stopped being a regular Soroptimist member. I spent yesterday afternoon at the Orange County Fair, staffing a booth to raise awareness of human trafficking in our community. It’s a collaborative project between 5 Soroptimist clubs and the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force.
The five clubs are SI Newport Harbor Area, SI Lake Forest, SI Garden Grove, SI Brea/La Habra, and SI Santa Ana/Tustin—and we’re there from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. every Saturday during the Fair, for a total of 4 weeks. The OC Fair will attract more than half a million people this year, so it’s good exposure for Soroptimist, and a great way to raise public awareness about modern day slavery. In addition to cards with the national human trafficking helpline, we are able to display some of our Soroptimists STOP Trafficking rack cards (while supplies lasted).
The Task Force has produced a 15-minute video which tells the story of a young girl who was rescued a few years ago in Irvine, an upper-middle class community known for its pristine housing and high quality of life. Unfortunately, the quality of life for the 12-year trafficking victim wasn’t so high-quality. She was brought here from Egypt to be an indentured servant for a family, and was forced to sleep in the garage with no heat or ventilation. She wasn’t allowed to go to school. A neighbor noticed she was never in school and decided to call the authorities–and that’s what led to her rescue. The victim is 18 now, and her perpetrators were successfully prosecuted this past year. Her story illustrates that trafficking can be happening anywhere, and it definitely grabbed people’s attention at the booth.
What could have been a daunting time commitment has been very manageable between our 5 Soroptimist clubs. I’m proud of our ongoing support for Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force and its work to end human trafficking in our community, and I had a great time spending the afternoon with Lola Seymour and Eva Lombardo, from SI Santa Ana/Tustin. (That’s them in the photo, courtesy of my phone’s camera!)
Change is hard. In the last two weeks, as I’ve tried to lose the 15 pounds that have somehow crept onto my body during the last year, I have rediscovered that reality once again. (Apparently some lessons have to be re-learned over and over.) The challenges of change confront us every time we try to lose weight, reduce our alcohol consumption, stop biting our fingernails or modify any other strongly ingrained (i.e., traditional) behavior.
Even when we know the change will be “good for us,” we struggle with it. Why? Because change is uncomfortable. And change can be risky. We worry about failing. We worry that other people won’t like us as much. We worry that the outcomes we experience as a result of making the change will be worse than what we experienced before starting the change. So we keep doing the same things the same ways, hoping that something will miraculously be different. And what do we get when we do the same things the same way, year after year? Surprise!!! The same results (or lack thereof)!!
I know that many Soroptimist clubs are spending the months of July and August to plan their year ahead. And there’s a whole group of new club Presidents who are eager to try some new things, in an effort to help their club become even better.
Do them a favor. Let them try out a change or two. Yes, it may be uncomfortable at first—like the first days of starting a new diet, a different or approach or different routine usually is. But with patience and persistence, the change may yield results that work better—and bring your club to a level of success that everyone can celebrate.