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Enhancing the lives of women and youth

in our community and the world.


crocuses_in_spring.jpg


President Shelly opened this morning's meeting in the Aspen Room at the Rec Center.



Invocation -Lydia's Invocation was all about spring fever and the call of all those bedding plants coming into the nurseries and stores around Tahoe. We are powerless to resist the allure of those lovely flowers, even though we know the snow and freezing temperatures are still with us. The results of our addiction is usually resigning the dead plants to the compost pile. However, "To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow" -Audrey Hepburn. So we do.


Our speaker today was David Ruf from Greenhouse Garden Center in Carson City. David gave us excellent information on everything from planting to vole deterrents to watering advice. Here are some of his tips:


Our soil in Tahoe is not very rich in nutrients, mostly DG, so it is necessary to add amendments when you are planting trees, shrubs, flowers or vegetables. David suggested organic fertilizer because it contains the organisms that produce humic acid which is a potent growth stimulator. When planting, lightly score the root ball on two edges to stimulate root growth. Don't plant your plants too deep (except tomatoes) or they may get a fungus on the stem. When choosing plants for spring planting, try to buy plants that are appropriate for the season. These come from northern nurseries and are not as far along, usually just beginning to bud rather than in full bloom. When digging a hole for trees and larger shrubs, you must call 811 before you dig a hole deeper than one foot. They will come out and mark your water, gas, sewer and electric lines to prevent a rupture. In order to promote better root growth and stronger trees, add a new dripper every other year 2 feet out from the previous one. Chipmunks and Quail like cool season crops. In order to keep them at bay, use a hot pepper wax spray repellent. Also, buy bigger plants so that they will not kill your baby plant with two bites! When you buy 6-packs (like petunias), pinch off all the flowers and buds on four of the plants, and leave the flowers on two of the plants, then score the root ball so the roots spread out. Yellow jacket traps should be put out now to catch the queens. Dress lawns with compost before you aerate. When you rake up the plugs, the compost will fill up the holes. Ultrasonic vole/mole deterrents do not work very well in granular soil, but if you do use them start by placing them close to the house, then place more farther out every few days. Use a "Wall of Water" product to protect fragile plants (like tomatoes) from frost and cold down to 18 degrees.

Greenhouse Garden Center is having their annual sale this weekend, April 27 and 28. Call or email for more information: 775-882-8600 or info@greenhousegardencenter.com.

Our Online Auction, Mad Hatter Tea Tickets, (only 10 left!) and Destination Raffle Tickets Information can all be found at www.SITS2024.com !

Last year's Maui Raffle winner posted this picture of the sunset from her condo. She is there right now! Get your chance to win this view by emailing Raffle@sitahoesierra.org.

These are just a few of the creatures you will encounter on your Maui Vacation. Raffle@sitahoesierra.org for a chance to win a trip to Maui or RCI vacation anywhere in the world!

SITS Member Items & Our Projects

Dream It Be It career support for girls to be held on May 13, 2024 at Valhalla Grand Hall.

Please email or call Shelly Martinez for more information or to register. shellymartinez@sitahoesierra.org or 530-208-8870

All Members and Friends Welcome


We will be having a decorating party on Monday, April 29 from 4pm-8pm at STHS. The S Club at the high school will be helping us out and dinner will be served for all who attend. Join us for a fun evening of Mad Hatter decorations. Many hands make light work. For more information contact shellymartinez@sitahoesierra.org.

Challenge Day Essays to be Presented at LTUSD Board Meeting


Student winners of the SITS sponsored Challenge Day essay and poster contest were invited to present their work at the LTUSD School Board meeting tonight, April 25. The Middle School Project Committee not only helped to bring Challenge Day to Lake Tahoe, but they also gave students the opportunity to write about their experiences and complete for a cash award. We are so proud of our students and our members who developed this extra "challenge".

There's a New Club at LTCC


President Shelly met with with eight young women at Lake Tahoe Community College to form a new service club--SITSters. They will be affiliated with SI Tahoe Sierra. More information to follow.

MEMBER Weekly Contribution or Quarterly Contribution can be paid online here! It's fast and easy! It can go through your Paypal or Credit Card. Get er dun!

From our TECH Committee!

If you need tech help, contact: techhelp@sitahoesierra.org

OUR Fundraising Efforts!

Our MAD HATTER event at Valhalla! Several committees need several ladies.

  • Mad Hatter Kitchen Crews. Contact Jeanne P at jeanneprestella@sitahoesierra.org directly to sign up. A zoom meeting is planned on May 7th.
  • Decorations. Contact Amy Simons directly at amysimons@sitahoesierra.org to sign up. There are things you will do as a group and also things you can do at home on your own schedule.
  • Table Hostesses. These are the ladies who ADOPT a table at the event. All quite fun and you get to visit with those party goers at your table as you are their server! Let your inner decorator come out in style! To sign up for your table, contact Lisa Cali directly at lisacali@sitahoesierra.org
  • Online Auction! Thanks to our Sponsors/Donors and community who purchase our items, we are able to do a lot to enhance the lives of others here and around the world. We are a hands-on club but we also provide financial support throughout. How does this happen? WE secure items and support for our ONLINE Auction. Please add your name to the listing and Lisa H will create individualized letters that you can print out at home. Secure those donations ASAP to ensure that those generous people get all the recognition they deserve on the auction site, on Facebook and on Instagram! Send any auction paperwork to Laurie Flesher so that she has time to upload the items on our auction site. laurieflesher@sitahoesierra.org Direct all your friends to our fundraiser site www.Sits2024.com . Donation letters are also available here. on our club website.

SITS COMMITTEE Signup Portal!

This is how we get things done.

Our SITS club and all that we do are driven by the committees that we maintain. All members are asked to join at least ONE Service Committee and ONE Technical Committee. Service is what we do and Technical is how we roll! Please signup for your committees here. And remember, you are not limited to participating in any of the fun. YOU can attend any committee meeting or event!

NON-SITS Fun and Opportunities in Tahoe

There's actually so much going on so you're going to want to check out the EVENTS tab on www.southtahoenow.com, but here's a few to get you started!

Want to get ride of those sensitive documents? Saint Theresa's church is holding their annual document shred day. Bring your stuff and let them take care of it. For more information click here.

Marcella Foundation Partners with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Offer FREE books to Local Children

Marcella Foundation is thrilled to announce the launch of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in El Dorado County. Each month, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library will provide an age-appropriate book for each registered child, absolutely free to the family. All 8,000 children ages 0 to their 5th birthday living in El Dorado County can enroll now to receive a free monthly book. Any child in the home can register, and books are available in both English and Spanish. In a show of support for early literacy for all children in our region, First 5 El Dorado, El Dorado County Library, Friends of the Library, El Dorado Community Foundation partnered with Marcella Foundation to help launch Imagination Library. Additionally, United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra is providing the initial funding to bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to each of the communities surrounding Lake Tahoe. 

Committed to FEED, READ, and LEAD


Click here for details on how to enroll your child

Greg Felton newsletter - a great run down of the month's activities around Tahoe. Email him directly to be added to his list to receive his monthly emails click here for April newsletter

ALL YEAR LONG!

LTCC Basic Needs Center is looking for food donations. A variety of foods and basic need items are on the list. Click here for full list and drop off details


If you'd like to donate through our club, please bring your donations to the monthly business meeting and Lisa C. or Andie will make sure they are delivered to the college. Please include an estimate on the value as LTCC needs to keep records of that information.

Important information for your family from TASK (Tahoe Alliance for Safe Kids)


A Guide to Healthy and Responsible Practices for Families During the Holidays.

This month TASK www.tahoesafekids.com has collaborated with our partners at Barton Health to share a guide for responsible holiday practices around substances. Aislynn Soave, the Substance Use Navigator at Barton, has put together some tips for parents and children to remember during this holiday season.

Click here for the full article

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue has a quarterly newsletter to keep us all updated on fire safety info. Their goal is to help people learn about the fuels reduction products they are working on, seasonal fire safety info and other fire dept related news. Click here to sign up for the newsletter

Saint Joseph Community Land Trust has changed their Motel to Home (MTH) program from a loan program to a grant program and we're hoping this will attract families living in substandard housing, who would like to live in a more permanent and adequate home. Please click here for more details

Tahoe Learning Haven - Click here for all their information and a link to each month's newsletter.

League to Save Lake Tahoe's Keep Tahoe Blue Volunteer Portal!

For all of those who want to help keep our Lake Tahoe prestene, here's a portal which you can now see the events and programs which are available to volunteer for! SHARE this with your family and friends! Portal here!

Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless seeks community support in keeping people cared for.

Our South Shore community has been able to sleep better knowing that our homeless population has an indoor option. This winter season marked the seventh anniversary of the Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless (TCH) providing warm beds to the most vulnerable in our community.

They are also in great need for warm clothing items and will accept donations at their office

The office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 12-4 at the Red Lodge, 1137 Emerald Bay Rd.

More details here

Bread and Broth needs volunteers for Mondays and Fridays:

 Thank you so much for your current or past involvement with the Bread & Broth organization. Without you, our food outreach services which help ease hunger for hundreds of our community neighbors would not be possible.

Currently, Bread & Broth needs individuals who would be interested in assuming leadership roles in the organization.

Bread & Broth’s Advisory Board is seeking an individual for the position of board Secretary. B&B’s Advisory Board meets quarterly, and the Secretary is responsible for recording the meeting minutes and ensuring that all documentation from the meeting is compiled and filed with the meeting minutes. 

Bread & Broth’s Second Serving (weekly Friday meals served at the LT Community Presbyterian Church) serves a simple entrée and a hot soup which are provided by various local community restaurants. Currently B&B is seeking 2 to 3 individuals to coordinate and pickup soups from restaurants and deliver them to the Presbyterian Church on Fridays. The soup coordinator is responsible for interfacing with the existing list of restaurant soup providers to schedule soup donations and drivers are needed to go on Fridays and pick up soup from the week’s designated soup provider. 

Second Serving is also looking for assistant cooks to support the Lead Cooks at their Friday meals from approximately 2 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. once a month. The meals are simple entrées like meatloaf, pasta dishes, and sloppy Joes.

For those of you with leadership skills, B&B is looking for individuals to train as Lead Assistants for the Monday Meal dinner (2:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.) and the B&B 4 Kids program (Thursdays from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.) Training is provided and you will be assisting the Team Leads in overseeing and managing the duties of the team volunteers. Lead Assistants are assigned to a Team that volunteers once per month.

If you are interested any of the volunteer positions mentioned above, please contact Carol Gerard at 310-256-1019 or carolsgerard@aol.com


Blood Donations are Needed!


Our Nation continues to have a blood shortage everywhere. Giving blood is giving life. So GIVE!


Vitalant Blood Donations. Click here to find a blood draw near you!


Wed - Mon Carson City Vitalent Donation Center

256 Winnie Lane, Carson City, NV.


Click here to find more dates and locations in other areas


Between Horses and Humans continues to grow! If you're a lover of youth and a lover of horses, this is a program for you! You can keep up on their information by reading their newsletters here! Volunteers and donations are always needed. BHH Update-they are soon relocating to the Amacker Ranch!

Food Assistance Guide for So. Lake Tahoe. If you know of anyone in need, please share this information. Click and print!

Medical Equipment needed - Rotary's David Kurtzman is heading a new program for our community. Free, used, in home medical equipment, like shower chairs, wheelchairs, walkers etc.
He can be contacted directly, 530-545-3283 to request items or donate.
New website puts all Lake Tahoe road, weather, traffic information in one spot - click here to go to the site

Join us at the SLT Rec Center, Aspen Room Thursdays,

7:30 - 8:30 AM for information, friends, fun and a cup of coffee!


Want to know about our Speakers ? 

Click through here to our website to see our full calendar!


Click here to get a copy of our weekly newsletter sent straight to your email!

Thank you to our

2024 CLUB SPONSORS

This is a full year of fun!

Learn more here.

Thank you to our 2024 CLUB DONORS!


Barton Health

Online publication from Soroptimist International of the Americas
Are you taking care of your personal
business?

We're all guilty of putting off some of the most important things that take care of our family and ourselves.


Where are you at on emergency preparedness and providing that your estate is taken care of should something happen to you?


The only way to complete these tasks is to begin. Start with these links.


EVACUATION MAPS and More Specific to South Lake Tahoe!


Emergency Notifications


Emergency Planning

City of SLT Information


Grab and Go Emergency Bag List


Will or Trust?


More information helpful to you and your family!


AirMedCare Network

Quick Links

Did you miss a recent week's news?

No problem!


Feb. 15

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Dec. 28

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Oct. 26

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Sept. 28

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Aug. 31

Aug. 24

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Aug. 3

July 27

July 20

July 13

July 6


Wishing a very happy April birthday month to our SITSters!

1-Apr- Carol Gerard

24-Apr- JULIE NELSON

27-Apr- NANCY MULLER


Our age is merely the number of years the world has been enjoying us!


Thought for the Day:


The best way to garden is to put on a wide-brimmed straw hat and some old clothes. And with a hoe in one hand and a cold drink in the other, tell somebody else where to dig.

--Texas Bix Bender

Consider beginning your Thursday with us!

We will start meeting in the Aspen Room next week at 7:30 a.m. - don't forget! The Aspen Room is at the Recreation Center close to where we've been meeting. Will will return to the South Lake Tahoe Senior Center on Thursday, April 18 for the Scholarship Breakfast.

2023-2024 Board of Directors



  • President-Shelly Martinez
  • President Elect-Lisa Cali
  • 2yr Treasurer-Andrea Solis
  • 1yr Treasurer-Jeanne Prestella
  • Recording Secretary-Nancy Muller
  • Corresponding Secretary-Jackie Kerby
  • 2yr Delegate-Laurie Flesher
  • 1yr Delegate-Amy Simons
  • 2yr Director-Theresa Papandrea
  • 1yr Director-Margie Kovarik-Maxhimer
  • Past President-Paula Peterson


Learn more about our club on our website at www.sitahoesierra.org

Laurel Society Members

  • Norma Poole (in memory)
  • Irene Morris (In memory)
  • Irene Radford (2006)
  • Lucille Holmlund (In memory)
  • Joanne Shope
  • Dilys Evans (in memory)
  • Kathy Southern
  • Teruyo (Terry) Kunibe
  • Marilyn Milholland
  • Doris Groelz (2011)
  • Wendy David (2012)
  • Pat Papp (2013)
  • Lydia Rogers (2014)
  • Trudy Mills (2015)
  • Cookie Rork (2015)
  • Diane Imbach (2016)
  • Lisa Huard (2017)
  • Nancy Muller (2023)

What is the Laurel Society? Go here to learn about it!


Post Office Box 18727,
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96151

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