S.I.G.

Soroptimusings
January 2014
Soroptimist International of Glendale
P.O. Box 826 - Glendale, CA 91209
www.soroptimistglendale.org
Chartered April 16, 1943 - Club # 112411
S.I.G.
“Working to improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment.”
2013-2014 OFFICERS
PRESIDENT
Susan Hunt
818-240-0897
siglendale@soroptimist.net
PRESIDENT-ELECT
Paula Devine
1st VICE PRESIDENT
(Programs)
Carol Ann Burton
Margo Bottcher, Assistant
2nd VICE PRESIDENT
(Fundraising)
Kathy Lefkovits
Lola Abrahamian, Assistant
3rd VICE PRESIDENT
(Membership)
Sandy Doughty
Leila Otey, Assistant
RECORDING SECRETARY
Lola Abrahamian
Mary Lotz, Assistant
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY
Jill Lewis
Sue Wilder, Assistant
TREASURER
Denise Michele
Gayle Craig, Assistant
2 YEAR DIRECTOR
Kathy Lefkovits
(Vacant), Alternate
1 YEAR DIRECTOR
Margo Bottcher
Mona Marcos, Alternate
IMMEDIATE
PAST PRESIDENT
Gayle Craig
“Women — Our History and Our Future”
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
As I write this on a beautiful New Year’s Eve morning,
I am reminded of the most amazing year coming to an
end. My grandson came to live with me, my mother
made a successful transition to retirement living, my
son got married and bought a house, my grandchildren
are healthy and well, my daughter moved to Eureka,
and therefore I spent Christmas there – away for the
first time in 18 years! AND… the added bonus of
Soroptimist activities all year!
The Service Grants luncheon was outstanding – my
favorite activity is giving away all the money we work
so hard to raise each spring. Our recipients gave us many wonderful moments to
help us appreciate the impact we have on their programs. I especially loved the
comment from the Girl Scout about seeing all the stars at camp, because in Glendale
“we only have 5 stars.” So cute! Thanks to Janet Hamilton and her committee for a
great event, and to GEM Sandy for an outstanding Service Committee – making all
those hard decisions.
The Old Fashioned Christmas at the Smoke House was such fun! A perfect place for
a holiday party. Thank you to Lou Rhodes and her committee. We had a great time!
2014 brings many more opportunities for us. Food drive in February, followed
immediately by PJ Day on March 1… so keep SIG in mind as you shop… and of
course Bras for a Cause coming in April.
I’m proud of all we do, proud to be your President.
Happy New Year!
— President Susan
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Happy New Year! 2014 looks bright for SI Glendale.
We closed 2013 on a high note with our Grants
Presentation Luncheon. We begin 2014 looking
forward to our Salvation Army SIG Can Help food
drive, our popular PJ Day where we collect donations
of pajamas for women and children, our
heartwarming Accolades luncheon celebrating special
women with our Ruby Award, Violet Richardson
Award, and Women’s Opportunity Award, and our
signature SIG FUNdraising event “Bras for a Cause.”
Along the way, not only will we endeavor to “improve
the lives of women and girls through programs
leading to social and economic empowerment” as is
the Soroptimist mission, but we will recognize and
celebrate women in history. Women truly are “Our
history and our future” … President Susan’s theme.
Soroptimusings looks forward to highlighting SI
Glendale’s achievements, the impact we have in the
community and beyond, and the fun we have in the
process. As always, your photos, recipes, ideas and
contributions to the newsletter are always welcomed.
— Debbie Mallon
A Look Back on Heroic Women
Making History in 2013
Here is bing.com’s list of heroic women of 2013. I am
sure you will find some of your favorites listed!
Malala Yousafzai who is heralded for taking a
stand on education for women and girls.
She
survived an assassination attempt, arose stronger
than ever and vowed to continue her efforts with
renewed resolve. Malala was named one of Time’s
“100 Most Influential People” in 2013, a year in which
she addressed the United Nations and became the
youngest woman nominee (at the age of 16) for a
Nobel Peace Prize.
Serving Up Some Fun
and Dinner at Ascencia
SI Glendale members have for years invited their
family, friends and co-workers to join them in
providing dinner one night a month at Ascencia.
Through Ascencia’s Guest
Chef Program, volunteers
prepare and serve hot
meals to homeless families
and adults participating in
the Emergency Housing
program.
The volunteer
“Guest Chefs” donate the
food, their time and energy.
Those members who have
participated in the past
have said it is a very rewarding experience. Recently
SI Glendale member Kathy Lefkovits enlisted the
help of her Soroptimister
Bill and her co-workers
from
Keller
Williams
Realty to be “guest chefs.”
The meal they chose to
prepare
consisted
of
chicken,
broccoli
(a
surprising hit among the
adults
and
children!),
macaroni and cheese, a
salad, and dessert of ice
cream sandwiches (yum!).
However, they served up more than food, providing a
little musical entertainment as well! The residents of
the program were most appreciative.
Lisa Raggio is currently the SIG Chair for the
Ascencia Guest Chef Program. If you are interested
in more details or in participating, please contact her.
Margaret Thatcher, to date the only female prime
minister of Great Britain, passed away in 2013. She
was known as the “Iron Lady” for her uncompromising
style in politics and leadership as she paved the way
for women to lead in the highest offices of the world.
Continued on page 7 ...
January 2014
Page 2
2013 SERVICE GRANT RECIPIENTS
American Association of University Women (AAUW)
Tech Trek science summer camp for girls
Ark Family Center
Grant recipients Melina Sardar (representing Ark Family Center)
and Soroptimist District 2 Director Liz Mirzaian (representing SIA
Club Giving) with SI Glendale member Margo Bottcher.
“Tis the Season of Service”
SI Glendale’s Annual
Service Grants Luncheon
SI Glendale members, guests and grant recipients
gathered on December 19, 2013 at the Embassy
Suites in Glendale for the annual Grant Presentation
Luncheon celebrating $47,000 in SIG grants made to
various organizations.
President Susan Hunt
welcomed a room full of festive attendees. Greetings
from the City of Glendale were provided by
Councilmember Laura Friedman, an ardent supporter
of SIG and many community organizations and
programs that serve women and girls.
Following a delicious lunch, GEM Sandy Schultz
gave an introduction of the awards explaining the
function of the Service Grants Committee and the
selection process. Presentation to grant recipients,
listed at right, was provided by SI Glendale members
Joan Allan, Margo Bottcher, Carol Ann Burton, Paula
Devine, Sandy Doughty and Val Douglas. Grateful
grant recipients provided a description of their
programs as well as heartwarming stories.
Special thanks to the Service Grants Committee
(President Susan Hunt, Co-Chair Sandy Schultz, CoChair Janet Hamilton, Joan Allen, Margo Bottcher,
Bobbie Brundige, Carol Ann Burton, Paula Devine,
Sandy Doughty, Val Douglas, Michele Flynn and
Denise Michele) as well as the Luncheon Committee
(Chair Janet Hamilton, Julie Beers, Bobbie Brundige,
Val Douglas, Lou Rhodes and Sandy Schultz). Job
well done!
January 2014
“Create Freedom and Awareness” seminar for girls
Ascencia
Taking Care of the Caretakers:
Basic needs for women and girls
Commission on the Status of Women
Funding for Camp Rosie 2014
Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services
“Teen Health Information Nurtures Choices” program
Door of Hope
Women’s Empowerment Life Skills classes
GAR Services
Flu shots for female clients
Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles
Camperships for low income girls
Girls on the Run of Los Angeles County
After school program for girls ages 8 to 12
Glendale Healthy Kids
Mental health and prescriptions for young women
Glendale Unified School District
Elementary and middle school spelling bees
SIA Club Giving
Empowering Women & Girls to Live Their Dreams
YWCA of Glendale
Support for Domestic Violence Shelter clients
Page 3
Photos from the Grant Presentation Luncheon
President Susan Hunt with Elizabeth Sadlon of GOTR
Tim Peters of Door of Hope
District 2 Director Liz Mirzaian, Val Douglas, Paula Devine
and GEM Sandy Schultz
Joan Allan and Liz Mirzaian
Sharon Townsend of Glendale Healthy Kids
and Carol Ann Burton
Miryam Finkelberg, Denise Miller (Chair of the Commission on
the Status of Women) and Lynne Raggio
January 2014
Sandy Doughty
Val Douglas and Lisa Raggio
Page 4
Old Fashioned Christmas Party
It was an “Old Fashioned Christmas” at the Smoke House restaurant in Burbank for about forty members,
Soroptimisters and guests of SI Glendale on Sunday, December 15th. The long tables were set with holiday
garland, candles and a selection of snowmen and Santas. Partygoers mingled and conversed before dinner over
cocktails.
The sit down dinner featured a choice of either filet mignon, salmon or vegetarian entrees. All were quite tasty, but
raves about the perfectly cooked filet mignon topped with a hefty onion ring were
often heard. The baskets of cheesy garlic bread were also a huge hit. The dinner
tables were festooned with “Christmas Crackers” which Jackie Hawley explained
were popular in Britain as party noisemakers. Guests had fun popping their
noisemakers and sharing the silly jokes and riddles contained inside.
Steve Wilder was the night’s auctioneer for a featured selection of homemade items
and goodies popular at past parties — holiday necklaces,
Filet mignon entree
fruitcakes, cookies, a succulent container garden, and
limoncello. The live auction raised some money for the club and bidders went home happy
with their purchases. Everyone seemed to have a good time!
Thanks to Lou Rhodes and her holiday party committee of Lola Abrahamian, Julie Beers,
Carol Ann Burton, Jacky Hawley, Debbie Mallon and Val Douglas. Special thanks also to
the club members that donated the live auction items (Joan Allan, Janet Hamilton, Susan
Hunt, Debbie Mallon and Sue Wilder) and to our Soroptimister Auctioneer — Steve Wilder.
Pres. Susan’s cookies
January 2014
Page 5
DAY OF ACTION!
Human Trafficking: What Can I Do?
Sponsored by:
Synod of Southern California and Hawaii
Presbyterian Women
Soroptimist
and
FAN
Saturday, January 11, 2014
1:00 – 5:00 PM
Westminster Gardens
1420 Santo Domingo, Duarte, CA 91010
Keynote Speaker
Sandra Morgan, RN, MA
Director of Vanguard University’s
Global Center for Women and Justice
And
Body and Sold
Deborah Lake Fortson’s
Documentary Play
Directed by Dave Jorgensen
$5.00 Door Fee
At the Grant Presentation Luncheon in December,
grant recipient Shelly Blechman of the Girls Scouts of
Greater Los Angeles, revealed that she was inspired
to join Soroptimist after attending some of our past
luncheons. She is a member
of Soroptimist Covina/West
Covina. She saw her work with
the Girl Scouts and Soroptimist
as being complementary. It
was so nice to hear her story
and that SI Glendale had
played a role in her decision to
become a Soroptimist member!
January 2014
Sour Cream Lemon Pancakes
Submitted by Debbie Mallon
Once I had lemon pancakes at the Torrey Pines
Lodge in La Jolla and I was bound and
determined to make them at home. I found a
recipe in one of Art Smith’s cookbooks. These
pancakes are now a breakfast staple in our
home. We serve them with aebleskiver sauce,
powdered sugar and fresh berries. Enjoy!
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon melted butter
1 large egg
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup milk
1 cup self rising flour
2 tablespoons sugar
Combine sour cream, melted butter, egg, lemon
zest, lemon juice and milk in a bowl and beat
well. Add the flour and sugar. Stir carefully, but
do not overmix. Add more milk if needed. Drop
by spoonful on a preheated (350 degree) lightly
greased griddle. Turn pancakes when most of
the air bubbles have come to the surface and
burst, being careful not to overcook.
Top the pancakes fresh off the griddle with
warmed aebleskiver (raspberry jam) sauce. We
run up to Solvang, CA to get jars to keep in stock
in our pantry. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and
top with fresh berries of your choice (optional).
Sour cream lemon pancakes topped with aebleskiver sauce,
powdered sugar, sliced strawberries and whole blackberries.
Page 6
Continued from page 2 (A Look Back on Heroic Women of 2013)
Adrianne Haslet-Davis, the 32 year old competitive
dancer and Arthur Murray Studio dance teacher,
inspires with her will to dance again after losing her
lower leg in the Boston Marathon bombing.
Additionally she has vowed to run in the 2014 Boston
Marathon on a prosthetic leg.
Gabrielle “Gabby” Giffords, who resigned from
her congressional seat after suffering a gunshot
wound to the head, returned in 2013 to make an
inspirational statement to Congress in the Sandy
Hook hearings.
She has gone on to use her
experience to fight for improved gun safety
regulations.
Dianna Nyad who, after four failed attempts, went
on at the age of 64 to be the first person to swim from
Havana to Key West unassisted and without a shark
cage, completing her long held dream and serving as
an inspiration to “never give up.”
Janet Yellen is celebrated for shattering the “glass
ceiling” when President Barack Obama nominated her
to be the first woman to be the Chair of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve.
Antoinette Tuff, an elementary school bookkeeper,
showed incredible courage by talking down the
gunman who entered Ronald E. McNair Discovery
Learning Academy. With quick thinking, she used her
words of compassion to talk the gunman into
peacefully surrendering thus averting potential
tragedy and saving hundreds of lives.
Angela Merkel led her party to a historic third term
in 2013 German elections. She is the first woman to
hold the offices of Chancellor and leader of Christian
Democratic Union.
Edith Windsor is heralded for her long fought
victory for equality. She is one of Time’s “People of
the Year” and her Supreme Court victory in United
States v. Windsor was hailed as a landmark milestone
in marriage equality.
Deb Cohan put a face on hope when, facing a
double mastectomy, she held a joyous dance party, in
her hospital gown, with the surgical team, in the
operating room, just prior to her surgery! The video of
the party went viral giving hope and courage to others
facing cancer.
January 2014
Life is a Cabernet
Wine Tasting Party
SI Glendale held their annual wine tasting event at
Rosso’s Wine Bar on Wednesday, November 20th. SI
club members provided delectable appetizers to
accompany the wine offerings. It was a drizzly day,
however that did not deter about two and a half dozen
from attending. A great time was had by all and the
proprietor was available to answer any questions
about wines, which was a bonus! Thanks to event
Chair Sue Wilder for a great party!
Page 7
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
SIG CAN HELP
JANUARY:
Reminder to bring your canned goods to
the Business Meeting on February 6th
for our annual food drive to benefit the
local Salvation Army.
For further details,
contact GEM Sandy
Schultz.
6 - Ascencia Guest Chef Program
Ascencia at 5:30 p.m.
8 - Service Committee Meeting
Home of Sandy Schultz at 6:00 p.m.
9 - Business Meeting
Clancy’s Crab Broiler at 12:00 p.m.
9 - Fundraising Committee Meeting
Glendale Police Dept. at 6:00 p.m.
11 - National Day of Human Trafficking Awareness
16 - Program Meeting
Clancy’s Crab Broiler at 12:00 p.m.
23 - Board Meeting
Glendale Unified School District at 6:00 p.m.
FEBRUARY:
3 - Ascencia Guest Chef Program
Ascencia at 5:30 p.m.
6 - Business Meeting
Clancy’s Crab Broiler at 12:00 p.m.
12 - Service Committee Meeting
Home of Sandy Schultz at 6:00 p.m.
13 - Fundraising Committee Meeting
Glendale Police Dept. at 6:00 p.m.
20 - Program Meeting
Clancy’s Crab Broiler at 12:00 p.m.
27 - Board Meeting
Glendale Unified School District at 6:00 p.m.
SIG’s
Saturday of
Service
PJ Day
Saturday,
MARCH:
March 1, 2014 at 9:00 a.m.
Home of Janet Hamilton
Bring your donations of new pajamas!
SI GLENDALE
Membership Meetings
1st and 3rd Thursdays
12:00 noon
Clancy’s Crab Broiler
219 N. Central Ave., Glendale, CA
(free parking in rear)
R.S.V.P.
Mary Lotz
818-863-1326
mlotz@glenoaksescrow.com
January 2014
1 - PJ Day
Home of Janet Hamilton at 9:00 a.m.
3 - Ascencia Guest Chef Program
Ascencia at 5:30 p.m.
Soroptimusings
Editor
Debbie Mallon
661-254-8482
AhwahneeDM@aol.com
Assistant Editor
Julie G. Beers
JGBeers@aol.com
Publication Schedule
September; November;
January; March; May.
Printed on recycled paper
For further information
about Soroptimist go to:
Soroptimist International of Glendale:
www.soroptimistglendale.org
Camino Real Region:
www.caminorealregion.org
Soroptimist International of
the Americas:
www.soroptimist.org
Soroptimist International:
www.soroptimistinternational.org
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