Welcome back to all!

President Lisa Cali opened today's meeting at the beautiful Lisa Maloff University Center at LTCC! We are so happy to have the use of this meeting space. It's centralized, beautiful, and has the technology we enjoy having. Thank you to LTCC for including us. We also hope that LTCC ladies might consider visiting our club and consider joining us as you're already where you need to be!

And as a reminder to all, we can bring our own coffee/tea into the center, so grab your favorite mug and libation next week as you leave your home. We will have limited coffee for our guests.

Today's beautiful invocation by Lydia shared John Muir's quote from My First Summer in the Sierra, "Another glorious day, the air as delicious to the lungs as nectar to the tongue; indeed the body seems one palate, and tingles equally throughout." Let's all remember how lucky we are to live in this spectacular area ALL YEAR LONG, so let's all be patient with crowds and construction. Go outside, look to the sky, and breathe.

Sunshine goes out to: Hellen and her family as they continue life's journey. Todd and Ashley Hall as Todd's recovery continues. To Felix and Kelly -Brosch and family. There is a squad of women who are at the ready for all of you, so just reach out.

Correspondence was received from our fellow SITSter Roberta Mason with a kind note and donation honoring our special SITSter Teryuo (Teri) Kunibe, who we recently lost. Thank you Roberta. It's women like you and Teri who both clubs owe a debt of gratitude for chartering our clubs so many years ago.

We then had the privilege of a special guest drop in!

Special Drop in Guest Speaker today was Tawni Janvin of Petal Kindness! What a wonderful "infomercial" on your amazing idea!

Petal Kindness transforms once-used florals into bouquets to bring happiness to hospital patrons, nursing homes, shelters, mental health facilities, youth performances, educators, non-profit organizations fundraisers, church needs, celebration-of-life events, and community-focused events.

This endeavor addresses our amazing community! Events are held year round here and what happens to those beautiful flowers? They end up trashed! Tawni, an event planner herself decided enough was enough. She developed Petal Kindness to address the waste, and to provide flowers to so many who need a "flower bombing!" What started as a small idea is BLOOMING like mad and we hope just continues to GROW.

Petal Kindness needs donations of flowers from events, vases that are simply hanging out in your crowded cupboards, and VOLUNTEERS to create beautiful flower bouquets and deliveries (main days are Friday - Sunday). There is something for everyone and her website can point you in the right direction!

There you can schedule a pick-up with a tax-deductible donation of $100 to help cover expenses and receive:

• all the great feelings knowing you are spreading kindness within our local community while also diverting green-compostable waste from the landfill.
• a tax-deductible receipt for your taxes.
• a digital “I Petaled Kindness” badge that we hope you share on Social Media to foster a kindness & composting movement.

Volunteers are needed to take the donated flowers and then repurpose them! This is not only fun and relaxing, but research shows that when you surround yourself with beauty, you benefit physically and emotionally as well! Thank you to Barton who is temporarily providing a location to do this work (Tawni is looking for another location for the future!) and to the STHS Students who are delivering these gems. Learn more about this amazing movement here and get involved!

Today's Business Meeting continued with:

1. Our club's fundraising efforts. A questionnaire was sent to all members. Please complete the survey by Aug. 18 so we will have it ready to discuss at our Retreat on the 24th.
2. Club Retreat will be at the home of Cookie Rork from 8:30 - 1:30 PM. Please sign up for an item to share with your fellow SITSters. Here's the link! If you're bringing a breakfast treat, please arrive before 8:30!
3. Formation of Club Committees. President Lisa will email membership a description of our DRAFT descriptions for this year's efforts. Please review all information and if you are interested in being a CHAIR, please contact her right away. Members will be signing up for their preferred interest shortly and groups will meet. The finance committee needs all budget requests at the end of the month.
4. Jeanne P has sent a copy of our Fundraising Budget efforts this past year, so give it a good lookover.
5. Also, be on the lookout for an additional survey from President Lisa regarding Retreat. She wants to be sure that members have an opportunity to bring up Retreat items as well.

Thank you again to our fantastic Board for their extra time and efforts in guiding our club! We continue to be a hard working group of women who get amazing things done!

SITS Member Items & Our Projects

SNR Soroptimist Development Retreat is Aug 17 & 18! Details are here! Let President Lisa know if you will be participating asap! She and Jeanne P are attending and it's going to be fun.

Retreat is a fabulous way to gain all the tools and resources you need to assist you as an individual, a Soroptimist, and a new club officer AND you'll have a blast at the Atlantis in Reno. And don't forget, our club's Happy Dollars are what support our members participating at conferences!

SAVE THE DATE

SITS Annual Retreat will be held August 24, from 9am to 1:30pm. This is where we have a bit of fun and Fellowship along with discussing our goals and planning the coming year. If you haven't chosen, or are thinking about switching committees, this would be the time to find out more information. We will be DARK (no meeting) on August 22 due to the Saturday meeting.

SAVE the DATE! Sierra Nevada Region's FALL DISTRICT MEETING will be on September 21st, 2024. More Details to follow soon here!

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!

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! Our Committee Signup portal will be ready shortly but our Newsletter Team sign ups are here and all are welcome to learn a new skill and join in!

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!

Join the Marcella Foundation and Mountain House, in partnership with Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra (SITS), for a Back-to-School Drive from August 1-14, 2024.

For over 20 years, SITS members have provided thousands of backpacks and school supplies to children in South Lake Tahoe.

Go here to see the wish list, learn how you can shop on Amazon.com, and drop off points in town. SHARE this with everyone you know and let's get the kiddos all that they need for a great school year!

Hwy 395 Closure for all travelers!

What you need to know: U.S. 395 will fully close for 15 days within the Sonora Junction Shoulders Project while crews install two under-highway wildlife crossings, providing safe and sustainable passage for mule deer and other area wildlife. MONO COUNTY – Beginning Wednesday, September 4, U.S. 395 will fully close between Bridgeport and State Route 108 for 15 days while crews install two wildlife crossings underneath the roadway as part of the Sonora Junction Shoulders Project. The project, which began construction in May, is widening the shoulders of the highway to 8 feet, installing rail-element retaining walls, and stabilizing slopes with anchored mesh in addition to installing the wildlife crossings.

CRAM A FIRE TRUCK with food for South Tahoe kids in need! Saturday, August 10th from 10am - 3pm at the Grocery Outlet, 2358 Lake Tahoe Blvd!. St Theresa's Bread & Broth 4 Kids fills bags with food each week for school kids to have for weekend nourishment. Stop by, shop for yourself and get a WISH LIST of items for the kids! OR donate CASH! It all goes to benefit our kids!

TASTE OF GOLD: Lake Tahoe Community College’s annual fundraiser is August 10^th 6-8pm at the College. Enjoy an evening under the pines on LTCC’s beautiful campus with award-winning California wines, local beers, and a sampling of tasty treats from area restaurants. Proceeds help students by supporting the Lake Tahoe College Promise (free tuition for locals), Student Success Grants, and the emergency book fund. Tickets online for $100 for attendees ages 21 & over until 5pm 8/9 or at the door for $125. See here.

EDCF Nonprofit Volunteer Fair is on August 15 from 5 - 7 PM at the South Tahoe High School Student Union.

Come and learn about the amazing nonprofits in our community and ways in which you can volunteer!

SOUTH TAHOE BREWFEST: Tickets available now for the 7^th Annual South Tahoe Brewfest, Aug 24 11-5 @ Ski Run Blvd. Celebrate all that is special about South Lake Tahoe’s mountain culture: our beer (more than 40 breweries), our crafts, our environment, music, fire dancers, and most of all, our community. We can’t wait to welcome beer lovers from all over the world to enjoy a beautiful day of brew in South Lake Tahoe. See here.

Don't miss out on this fantastic fundraiser on the beautiful shores of Lake Tahoe to benefit TAP!

Music on the Beach Fundraiser

Thursday, August 22, 2024

​6:00pm-9:00pm

930 Bal Bijou Rd. South Lake Tahoe, Lakeshore Lodge and Spa

RENNAISANCE FAIRE: – It’s back(!), August 24-25^th, but in a new location, the Tahoe Valley Campground (1175 Melba Dr). Jousting, pageantry, ale, food, music, crafts, and swordplay on 3 stages. Tickets are going fast so buy online now. See here.

Tahoe is the place to be in the summer and here are more things to check out!

Rotarian Greg Felton has comprised a prenominal listing of things happening throughout the summer. See and print this list for your fridge! Get it here!

There are TWO South Lake Tahoe Community Blood Drives, available for you to participate in, Friday, Sept. 6th and Friday Dec. 6th, 11:30 am - 5:00 PM at the Parks and Rec Center Gym. 1180 Rufus Allen Blvd. To schedule an appointment, call Vitalant at 775-329-6451

Get your tickets now for the October 4-6, 2024 Documentary Film Festival here.

Set amidst the natural beauty of South Lake Tahoe, CA, a captivating Multi-day Documentary Film Festival comes to life. 

We provide a welcoming space for filmmakers, industry professionals, and audiences to connect through screenings, discussions, workshops, and vibrant parties.

Our mission is to entertain, enlighten, and inspire by showcasing remarkable films, building community, and igniting a passion for storytelling that transcends boundaries, empowers, and fosters compassion and awareness.

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

Looking for up to date resources in our community? Barton Health has a list for all of us and it is actively updated! SHARE this link with others!

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)

TASK's mission is to prevent and reduce youth substance use and related harm - Keeping kids safe in collaboration with our community partners.TASK's mission is to prevent and reduce youth substance use and related harm - Keeping kids safe in collaboration with our community partners. For more information click here.

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.

TAHOE LEARNING HAVEN: Are you aware of the FREE monthly educational forums that Kathy Haven has set up for students, parents, and all interested community members? These are great! Most TLH forums are the second Wednesday of the month from 6:45pm-9pm at the Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe! See here or tahoelearninghaven@gmail.com. Mark your calendar:

·       8/14 – Extracurriculars for teens fair

·       9/11 – Adulting 101: Responsibilities and choices

·       10/9 – Student winter job fair

·       11/13 – College application tutorial

·       12/18 – Student/alumni college panel & fair

·       1/8 – Scholarship application tutorial

·       2/12 – The college track: A-G requirements

·       3/12 – Playing at the next level: Athletics after high school

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.

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

More details here

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!