President Lisa Cali opened our meeting with her usual smile and graciousness.

Invocation by Lydia centered on the expectation to have hope rekindled. Each day gives us the opportunity for something positive to come our way, but it also gives us the power to change and make it happen.

Sunshine: Our thoughts and hugs are with Lisa H on the passing of her dad and best bud. Shelly asked for prayers for everyone who was in the path of Hurricane Helene and let us know her daughter, Ali, who lives in Asheville, NC is ok but was definitely affected. Her power has been restored but has no water and spotty cell service.

Jeanne said her daughter lives near Asheville and also felt the power of the hurricane. Obviously, we are thinking of both of them and thankful they are safe! Prayers to the family of longtime STHS English teacher Janna Gard who passed away this past week from a very aggressive cancer.

Today's meeting was a robust discussion on our fundraising events for 2024-25. May 18 is the date for the 3rd Mad Hatter at Valhalla. There were many thoughts about the online auction, when should it begin and end, and how do we optimize it to obtain the best benefits? We decided to open the online auction May 16 and close May 30. Mad Hatter will be a good way to promote the auction. There was discussion centered on items for the online auction, and we will look to obtain more experiences and hopefully restaurant coupons (send any ideas/suggestions to President Lisa). Most potential donors won't receive a request until January, with a few "strategic solicitations" going out prior to end of this year (those businesses that set their donation giving budgets for the following year before end of this year). If we are fortunate to have the condo/timeshare raffle again, that will begin April 1 and close the same day as the online auction, May 30. This discussion related to our fundraising events will be continued at next week's Business Meeting.

SITS Member Items & Our Projects

Please share this opportunity with anyone you know who might be eligible. Our club has budgeted $6000 towards this program to help women with their educational goals. For further information or questions contact SITS member Nancy Muller.

nancymuller@sitahoesierra.org

The Youth, Enrichment and Scholarship Committee is pleased to honor Mt. Tallac's Super Star Student for September, Izaac Green. The staff gave glowing comments about Izaac's hard work and commitment to school. Congratulations, Izaac!

Shelly and Andie from Dream It, Be It Committee joined STHS

S Club members who helped make Halloween surprises for Meals on Wheels. Pictured below are Amarette and Yaretzi

SITS Committee Happenings!

Reminder: When hosting an event/meeting, please forward a photo and paragraph to techhelp@sitahoesierra.org so we can add it to our website and social calendar.

Healthy Women/Healthy World Committee invite all members to play!

YOGA with Susan Glasson is on Wednesday, October 9, 5:30 - 7 PM at the South Tahoe Association of Realtors, 2307 James Avenue. This is going to be a wonderful way for us and other ladies to gather to enrich our own lives, and also the lives of others All donations will go towards needed supplies for her sponsored schools in Cambodia. Questions? Contact Kim Valverde.

HWHW is also heading up a volunteer opportunity on Saturday, Oct. 19, from about 10:00-2:00 to help NAMI with their walk for mental health. They are requesting help handing out tee shirts, and directing walkers. It is an opportunity to wear our SITS branded clothing and help out another important non-profit organization. See Kim for details.

Recruitment & Retention

Wendy David is opening her home to us once again for a Recruitment Social on Thursday, Oct. 17, 7 - 9 PM. Bring a friend and enjoy the camaraderie and relearning of all things Soroptimist.

Technical Committee

The Tech Committee is holding its 2nd Tech Cafe training for committee chairs, and anyone else who would like to attend, on October 22, 4-6 p.m. at Andrea Solis' home.

Topics covered will include: how to schedule committee meetings on the calendar, how to start up a Zoom meeting, how to use Google drive for your committee, overview of Tech manual, review your committee content to update.

Menstruation Punctuation

Theresa is in communication with our schools. State mandate requires the district to provide supplies for grades 6 - 12. SITS, with a targeted grant will provide for grades 4 - 5 and other areas in our community such as the Boys & Girls Club, the College, etc. More 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!

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 is ready for members to sign up on! Simply click here! 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!

Time is running out to join the Tahoe women's Community Fund for the 2024 year. For as little as $125 donation, you can direct your contribution to a wide variety of community needs by joining and voting. Click here for the 2024 Impact Report to see how this organization supports our community, then click "Membership" to join!

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.

Join us for this free lecture. More information here.

TAHOE ARTS PROJECT announces its 2024 Dancing with the Tahoe Stars lineup for Oct. 12, 2024

For more information click here.

For tickets go to tahoeartsproject.org. Tap uses the money raised from Dancing with the Tahoe Stars to provide free performing arts programs to the schools and community. Take a look at the 2024-2025 season to come! It's quite an amazing list of events for our youth and community, don't you think?

SOROPTIMIST INT'L OF SOUTH LAKE TAHOE

Softball Field Workday:

Sat., Oct. 12, 2-5 p.m.

South Tahoe Midde School field, 1066 Lyons Ave.

Please bring work gloves. RSVP to Rose Marie Ottman at rose.ottman@att.net if you will attend.

City of South Lake Tahoe

FLOATING PUMPKIN PATCH SPLASH, Oct. 13 at Recreation Center Pool. For tickets and more information click here

Join SISLT for

Diamonds& Denim

on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 from 6 - 9 PM.

Purchase your tickets now by scanning the QR code and get ready for a wonderful evening.

There are South Lake Tahoe Community Blood Drives, available for you to participate in, 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

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 about TASK click here.

For TASK's September campaign to keep kids safe, 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:

·       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

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!