President Lisa opened today's meeting with a smile, as always.

Our Invocation today was read by President Lisa (written by Lydia)

Sunshine goes out to: Rick and Colleen Pence for Rick's quick recovery.

Reminders to all members: Quarterly Member Dues are due April 1. These funds are how we pay for our overhead expenses so they are very important. Happy Dollars can be paid directly on line as well on our website www.sitahoesierra.org on the Donate button.

Auction Donations are being recorded this week by Lisa Huard. Please get your information to her. We want our donors to get as much advertisement as possible.

A huge Thank you goes out to Andie for her hard work on posters!

Celebrating International Women's Day All Month Long

March is Women’s History Month, which celebrates women's contributions to history, culture and society. As Soroptimists we give so much to the women and girls we serve, dedicating our time, mentorship and gifts. Not only is this a time to celebrate women, but to celebrate SITS—our strong, passionate and devoted members—as well. Thank you for all you do!   

Susan Glasson joined us today to talk about her Karmic Yoga Retreat in Cambodia!

Today's speaker was Susan Glasson. Most recently retired from teaching Yoga, Susan has been organizing and participating in Karmic Yoga Retreats for several years. This year she organized a trip for 15 locals to Cambodia. She'll be going again in 2027 if you are interested in going.

The group brought along donations for the non-profits they support. Some of the items they carried in extra suitcases include: 8 refurbished laptops, 22 children's tablets, 5 i-pads, art and craft supplies, soccer balls, basic hygiene, school supplies and 45 amazing bags of period supplies (helped along by Margie K and Jeanne P.) We take so many conveniences for granted!

Their first stop was at Kep Children's fund. This group offers after school care including lessons and help with hygiene and self-care. Susan's group brought a painting project (from the dollar store), Spiderman and Disney princess paint by numbers. These children were entranced and spent a happy hour painting what will most likely decorate their wall for years to come.

The group then toured a Mangrove forest and helped to plant small trees.

They started each day with a group Yoga class, led by Susan. Yoga helped the volunteers to come together as a community before they stepped out for the day. They enjoyed many different foods and found the accommodations to be very comfortable and inexpensive.

The children were amazed to find out that many of the volunteers were so "old". Life expectancy in Cambodia is 68 for men and 71 for Women. The Cambodia population is fairly young due in large part to the genocide perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge. A tour of one of the 300 "Killing fields" used between 1975-1979 was a sobering experience, but one necessary to understanding the culture.

Phnom Penh was visited next for 2 days. A donation yoga class was held for 25 people to help fund karma yoga projects. While there, the group visited the National Museum, the Central Market (where many insects are sold as a reasonable protein source), Temples Angkor Wat, Ta Prahm and Angkor Thom.

The highlight was their visit to drop off all the electronics and supplies to the JWOK Better Futures students. JWOC has empowered over 2000 Cambodian youth to complete their education and become socially responsible, engaged and employed. While there they participated with the teens by teaching Yoga, CPR, did some dancing and played games. Susan's husband started what he calls the "Wilson project" where he brings soccer balls and distributes them to kids that need them. If you have any questions about this trip, or would like to join her next year, call Susan Glasson or PM her on Facebook.

We thank Susan for sharing with us all the fantastic work she and her fellow volunteers did. Helping youth around the world is so important!

Let's Celebrate!

March 4, 1977 was the day that Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra was Chartered. Thank you to the many women who came before us who made this happen. Our club is officially 48 years old and we're going strong! Happy Birthday to us!

On 8 March 2025, join us to celebrate International Women’s Day under the theme, “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”

This year’s theme calls for action that can unlock equal rights, power and opportunities for all and a feminist future where no one is left behind. Central to this vision is empowering the next generation—youth, particularly young women and adolescent girls—as catalysts for lasting change.

Each month SITS, working with Mt. Tallac High School, identifies and gives a gift certificate to a student who is making great progress. May we present : February student of the month from Mt. Tallac. Fatima Bravo. Congratulations!

Be a part of our Spring Fundraisers!

Our Online Auction opens Friday, May 16 and closes on Friday, May 30, 2024 at 5:00 PM.

Club Sponsor & Event Sponsor; For community business leaders or anyone who wants to go that extra mile in supporting our efforts! This is a position which helps us all year long to enhance the lives of others. Please go to SITS2025.org for details and sign up now!

Donations for our online auction are gratefully accepted here! You don't have to be a business to help out. Think of a creative experience you can provide, a prepared gourmet meal, boating trip on Lake Tahoe, guided fishing experience, Troop Masters - yard clean up by the troop!, any kind of treat you can provide. We all can make a difference in the lives of others, together!

Mad Hatter Tickets are on sale NOW! Go here to purchase yours! Only 120 tickets will be sold and you can also select your hostess!

Vacation Raffle Tickets on sale NOW run through May 30th or until they are sold out!. Tickets will be $50 each and only 200 per trip will be sold. You can purchase tickets for a week in a 2 bedroom Maui condo, or a week anywhere in the world in a timeshare. Information on how to order your tickets is on our FUNdraiser website at www.SITS2025.org OR just email us at raffle@sitahoesierra.org to get the ball rolling! OR see a member to purchase yours in person.

Specifically SITS Members

Members, mark your calendars for our upcoming Fundraising events: Signups will be happening shortly. Kudos to Jean B and Laurie F for getting the signup.com prepared.

• Online Auction, May 16 - 30, 2025.
• Vacation Raffle Ticket Sales, NOW - May 30 or until sold out.
• Mad Hatter Tea at Valhalla, May 18, 2025
• Celebrity Tournament, July 9-13, 2025

We are a hands on club, and we need all hands on these important projects to raise funds for our community.

SAVE THE DATES:

March 20, Awards Celebration - sign up to bring food

April 17, Scholarship Celebration

April 19th Earth Day and Snowshoe Thompson event at the museum. Volunteers are needed! Please email Paula

May 15, Challenge Day Essay & Art Celebration

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.

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!

YES Committee: Scholarship applications will be read on Monday, March 10 at the Coldwell Banker Select Real Estate building. Please email Wendy with questions. 188 Highway 50, Stateline, NV 89449. Thank you to the CB team for their continued support of our club.

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! Paying quarterly? Due dates are every 01/01, and 4/01, 7/01, 10/01. These funds pay for the business of SITS.

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!

Use the QR code below to purchase Knight Monster tickets and help support Encompass Youth. March 28th.

This organization provides women with exceptional professional and leadership opportunities to empower careers as well as personal growth and well being.

On March 6, to celebrate International Women's Day, Cospire is sponsoring a workshop "Healthy Hustle: How High Achieving Teams Innovate" from 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Edgewood Tahoe Resort-The Lodge. For more information about speakers and tickets click here.

Volunteer NOW for the 22nd Annual Drug Store Project on April 1, 2025 here! The event will be held at LTCC and will not only change the life of a child, but yours as well. Learn more about the project at www.drugstoreproject.org Drug Store is supported by SITS financially and with our amazing volunteers. Calling all Service Clubs in our area....Join our efforts now!

Zephyr Cove Library's latest programs for adults

Our friends at Optimist have activities to calendar! Details are on their website at https://southlaketahoeoptimist.com/

Easter Egg Hunt April 19^th

Sawmill Pond Fishing Derby June 7th, and the

Day In Paradise is July 19th 

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 Did You Know? 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 now



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!