Sierra Nevada Region E-Blast
Soroptimist International

E-Blast Digest

February 15th, 2025

Hello Soroptimist Int'l,


Please take the time to read this week's E-Blast so you can stay up-to-date on happenings around the Region and Federation.


NOTE: When you see at the bottom of this eblast "message clipped view entire message" click on it to see the complete eblast.

February

February 21 - Official notifications sent to club officers for 2024/25 SIA President-elect ballot 

February 23 - Electronic ballot for SIA 2024/25 President-elect opens; official ballot link sent to club email address 


March - DEADLINE:

  • Applications for Soroptimist Club Grants due to SIA

April - DEADLINE:

  • SNR Endowment Grant April 1
  • SNR Ruby Award: Women Helping Women – April 1
  • SNR 5 Star Public Awareness Awards April 1
  • SNR S.O.L.T./Evelyn Holland Award – April 1


If you need assistance with any of the submissions, please reach out to your Sierra Nevada Region District Directors and they can put you in touch with their coordinator for each of these awards or grants.
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Governor Stacey's Message

Hello Sierra Nevada Region Members, Friends and Sponsors!


LOVE is in the air and Southern Nevada is finally getting its first significant rainfall in

214 days!! Our Region is busy as ever getting items lined out for our June Conference.

We hope to open our registration early! We are just putting the finishing touches on

everything.


A little reminder from SIA as we recognize the month of February as Teen Dating

Violence Month. For many romantics, February means sweethearts, candy and

Valentine’s. But did you know it is also Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month? It’s a

time to reflect on what makes a healthy and loving relationship, while raising awareness

about teen dating violence and working toward a solution. Check out our latest blog for

tips on how to raise awareness.


Kudos go out to Gov Elect Kathy who is tirelessly working on our Conference. She has

put together a great team and we are looking forward to having an amazing June

Conference.


Another Kudos goes out to Live Your Dream Coordinator Billie Arazia who is going

above and beyond to make sure we are getting all those Live Your Dream applications

submitted and new is our Region Live Your Dream judging! I can’t wait to celebrate

these amazing applicants this June!


Had a great call with our Federation Fundraising Chairs Ann Bryant and Emily Ziser

about shaking things up a bit for Fundraising for our Region. Look for those

announcements down the line.


Our District Directors are busy with their Leadership/Winter Meetings that are taking

place for the rest of this month and into March. We are also preparing for our March 15 th

Region Board Meeting that will be virtual.


Many of our Region Coordinators are so busy getting ready for those award

submissions from clubs as deadlines are coming up fast. Please be sure to check the

“Time is Ticking” reminder. If you need any assistance with any of these, please feel free

to reach out to the coordinators or even your district directors.


I would be remiss if I didn’t say how heartbroken I am to learn of the passing of one of

our most beloved Governors Jo Ann Roberts. Celebration of Life at Conference is going

to be a tough one for me this year as I’m sure it will be for others. Hugs and Love go out

to her club SI Truckee Meadows as well as her family and friends during this most

difficult of times. I believe a service is planned for Feb. 28 th in Reno, NV.



With gratitude and love


Stacey Jensen

Sierra Nevada Region Governor 2024-2026

SNR Board Meeting

03/15/25 10:00am

Zoom Meeting

https://registration.soroptimistsnr.org/events/board-2025-03/

District 1 and 2

03/08/25 9:30am -2:30pm

The Happy Viking” Restaurant. 741 Plumas Street, Yuba City 95991

https://registration.soroptimistsnr.org/events/2025-d12-winter/

District 3

03/01/25 9:30am - 12pm

Rancho Cordova City Hall Boardroom, 2725 Prospect Park Dr, Rancho Cordova, 95670

https://registration.soroptimistsnr.org/events/2025-d3-winter/

District 4

03/01/25 8:30am - 2pm

Timbers Lodge, 7050 Del Webb Blvd., Roseville

https://registration.soroptimistsnr.org/events/2025-d4-winter/

District 5

03/08/25 10:30am - 3pm

Sierra View Library, 4001 South Virginia St. Reno, NV 89502

https://registration.soroptimistsnr.org/events/2025-d5-winter/





Greetings Fantastic Members of the Sierra Nevada Region!


Thank you first up, for reading this note!!


We need your help!


After crunching the numbers more than a few times, it is imperative that we have

sponsors to help defray the costs for Conference 2025. It is important for you all,

especially the new members, to experience what goes on at Region and Federation

levels and we want it to be as affordable as possible. The committee has revamped the

levels as you will see this in the attached.


With that said, we propose that each club try to find $400.00 or more in sponsorships,

preferably from businesses outside your clubs. This is a win-win because it spreads

more awareness and takes the load off the members already spending their monies on

other budgeted items. Appeal to the donors’ sensibilities by describing the importance of

Conference to our members, our Live Your Dream program and the women it serves.


Click here for the Sponsorship Information


Please contact Sheryl Longsworth 916-833-1218, Cheryl Foley 916-203-8204 or me

415-518-5483 with any questions.


We appreciate any input by early April.


Best to all of you!


Yours,

Kathy Dunbar

Things to Know 




  • Does your club need financial support for your Big Goal-focused projects? The deadline for Soroptimist Club Grant applications is March 1. View the application and prepare here. Email program@soroptimist.org with questions. 



  • The Dream It, Be It reporting deadline is June 30 but it’s never too early to report your project. Report your hard work so it can count toward our Big Goal progress! 


  • Tax season is fast approaching! United States members, get the documentation you need to file your 2024 tax return. 


  • Important reminder: Please send all mailed payments to Soroptimist International of the Americas, Inc., PO Box 95000 – 2553, Philadelphia, PA 19195-0001.


  • If you missed our Planned Giving webinar or want to view it again, watch it here.


SAVE THE DATES!


SIA Headquarters office closed (President’s Day Feb 17)


Walk for Women Campaign kicks off March 1

March 10, 8-9 p.m. (ET)

Fourth Annual International Women's Day Tea Party

Register here.


 June 24, 6-9 p.m. (ET)

2025 Leadership Round Table

Registration coming soon!


 June 28, 1-4 p.m. (ET)

2025-2026 Soroptimist Leadership Fellows Program (first

session)

Registration coming soon!

It's that time of the year to start thinking Soroptimist Ruby Award !!!!


The Soroptimist Ruby Award celebrates remarkable women non Soroptimist member whose personal or professional efforts have made an extraordinary difference in the lives of women and girls. These honorees are women who dedicate themselves to uplifting others, creating meaningful change, and inspiring future generations. Their work not only has a profound impact but also serves as a source of encouragement and empowerment for others.


If you know a woman who exemplifies these qualities—or if you yourself do—we invite you to submit a nomination for this special recognition. Please complete the form and essay and return it to me by April 1, 2025. Thank you for helping us honor these incredible women.


Looking for more info about the Ruby Awards or Who was Ruby Lee Minar 

https://si-founderregion.org/ruby-award


Please send nominations to me at rubycoord@soroptimistsnr.org


Click here for the application


Cheryl M. Henning

SNR Ruby Award Coordinator 2025

(775) 934-4660

From SIA: Leadership development is so important! Commit to increasing your leadership bench strength and join us for future events. All members are invited to attend SIA’s virtual Leadership Round Table and invited to apply for the two-year Soroptimist Leadership Fellows Program.


Also, that time of year is almost here. Be thinking about the April 1 deadline for the SOLT_Evelyn Holland award. The application is on the region website. If you have any questions, let me know. 



Sue Chambers 

SOLT Coordinator

775 217-2859

The Sierra Nevada Region Public Awareness Awards Program proudly honors clubs excelling in four distinct categories:

 

★ **Newsletter Star Award**: Recognizing exceptional newsletters that engage and inform members and the community. 

 ★ **Website Star Award**: Celebrating innovative and user-friendly websites that effectively showcase club activities and initiatives. 

 ★ **Social Media Star Award**: Acknowledging creative and impactful social media campaigns that enhance visibility and connect with a broader audience.  

 ★ **Innovative Public Awareness Star Award**: Commending unique and practical strategies that promote awareness of Soroptimist and its vital work. 

 

Clubs are encouraged to submit entries in any or all of these categories by April 1st. Awards will be presented for first and second place in each category, highlighting the impressive achievements across the region. 

 

 Moreover, the club that demonstrates a remarkable ability to integrate all four areas to promote awareness of Soroptimist and its activities will be celebrated with the prestigious:

 *Five Star Award for Best Overall Public Awareness**

 

Submission Process**: To simplify participation and encourage clubs to showcase their talents across multiple areas, all entries for the awards should be submitted to:


Jackie Sillman, Five Star Award Chair at fivestar@soroptimistsnr.org

 

Entries will then be forwarded to the appropriate coordinator for the award judging!

 

ENDOWMENT GRANT 4/1/2025 APPLICATION DEADLINE


Does your club have a great idea for a project or program to make a positive impact in your community, but are short on the funds to fuel it? Help is available! The Sierra Nevada Region has our Endowment Fund available for clubs to apply for financial assistance.

. 

The Endowment Fund is a grant program that will give up to $1000 to qualifying applicants/clubs. Clubs can be eligible for the grant no more than 2 times for the same project. The grant is for a new project or a continued project. The funds for the grant are raised from the raffle ticket sales of gift baskets that are donated from our region clubs and raffled off at the Sierra Nevada Region conference. The application is available on the Sierra Nevada Region website.


The Endowment Committee consists of 4 region members who will review the applications for completeness and then vote whether or not to approve the request before submitting the grant applications to the Sierra Nevada Region Board of Directors for final approval. There is still time to get your application in for the April 1st deadline! If you can't get it in by then, still apply to be eligible for the 20/25/2026 deadlines. If you received a previous endowment grant, you must submit an Endowment Grant Impact Report to be eligible to apply for a new grant.


The Endowment Committee and the SNR Board members look forward to dispersing these funds. I encourage all clubs with new programs to apply for this Endowment Grant. If you have further questions, please feel free to contact me at  endowment@soroptimistsnr.org.


Kathy Erickson

SNR Endowment Coordinator

Past Governor Jo Ann Roberts

Click here for the Obituary

TO: Board Members, Directors, Federation Chairs, Committee Coordinators

Past Governors, Club Presidents, Members


FROM: Stacey Jensen, SNR 2024-2026 Region Governor


RE: CALL TO REGION BOARD MEETING


WHEN: Saturday, March 15, 2025


WHERE: This meeting will be held on Zoom.


Click here to register for the meeting.



You will receive a link to the meeting in your registration confirmation email.


Please join the Sierra Nevada Region Board at the third board meeting of the 2024 - 2026 biennium. All

Soroptimists are welcome to this virtual Board Meeting.


ANY ACTION ITEMS for the board meeting must be sent to Governor Stacey, snrgovernor@soroptimistsnr.org


before Saturday, March 1, 2025, in order to be included on the Board Agenda.


Please send all Board Reports to Governor Stacey, and Secretary Maureen by Saturday, March 1, 2025, at

snrgovernor@soroptimistsnr.org and snrsecretary@soroptimistsnr.org.


Feel free to contact Governor Stacey if you have questions.


Looking forward to seeing you all, yours in Soroptimist,


Stacey Jensen

2024-2026 Sierra Nevada Region Governor

Call to District 1& District 2


Winter Leadership Summit 2025


“Soaring to New Heights-Together” 

      


To:  District 1 & District 2 Club Officers, Members, Potential Members, SNR Region Governor, SNR Region Board Members, Committee Chairs and Representatives, SNR Federation Chairs and SNR Past Governors.


From: Teresa Armstrong, District 1 Director

Jenn Young, District 2 Director


Host Clubs:  SI Chico & SI Marysville-Yuba City


When: March 8, 2025


Time:  9:30 am-2:30pm. Registration opens at 9:30, meeting is 10 am- 2:30 pm


Where: “The Happy Viking” Restaurant. 741 Plumas Street, Yuba City 95991. 



Costs: $ 45.00, includes lunch. 


Registration Link:  https://registration.soroptimistsnr.org/events/2025-d12-winter/


What: An afternoon of fun and socializing to collaborate with District 1 & District 2

members to share best practices, ideas and dreams for promoting the 

mission of Soroptimist in our local communities and beyond. 


Click here for the tentative Agenda

Official Call to District 3 Winter Leadership Roundtable


MARCH 1, 2025


To: District 3 Club Presidents, Vice Presidents, President-Elects, and Officer


From: Sheryl Longsworth, District 3 Director


When: Saturday, March 1, 2025. Registration opens at 9:15. Meeting is 9:30 am to 12 pm

Where: Rancho Cordova City Hall Boardroom, 2725 Prospect Park Dr, Rancho Cordova, 95670


Theme: “UpliftHER with Civility”


Cost: $15, includes continental breakfast

Optional lunch afterward: At the brand new and delicious woman-owned Stick & Roll Vietnamese Street Food Restaurant in the new SF Market Food Court, 2738 Sunrise Blvd,

Rancho Cordova


Registration Link: https://registration.soroptimistsnr.org/events/2025-d3-winter/



Click here for the Call

District 4 Leadership Summit


March 1, 2025



8:30am – 2:00pm


Timbers Lodge, 7050 Del Webb Blvd., Roseville

The Solarium at Timbers Lodge


Our Leadership Summit will focus on enhancing and developing "Leadership Skills" which are

essential for guiding projects to success and inspiring club members. These skills can keep a

group of people motivated and focused on shared goals. No matter what role you see yourself

in your Soroptimist club these skills will inspire you to be successful and engaged.


Cost: $35.00, Light breakfast, lunch


Join us for hands-on FUN and share your challenges and successes with fellow Soroptimist!



Link for Registration: https://registration.soroptimistsnr.org/2025-d4-winter/

Marketplace Interest, please call or text Rae @916-316-2174



(District 4 Fall Meeting, Sept 2024)

OFFICIAL CALL TO DISTRICT 5 WINTER FORUM

HOSTED BY SI WASHOE COUNTY


WHEN: Saturday, March 8, 2025

10:30 AM – 3:00 PM

WHERE: Sierra View Library


4001 South Virginia St. Reno, NV 89502

Located in the center of Reno Town Mall

within walking distance to Atlantis Resort.


THEME: ‘A Time to Bloom’

SPEAKER: Marie Harger, Ayurvedic Health Medicine Practitioner, ‘A Natural Path to Well-being.’

Ayurveda is an alternative medicine based on the elements found in everything that

exists. Marie will share how the ‘Science of Life’ works with individuals and groups. She

will also educate us on nutritional, life-style and herbal formulas to improve our quality

of life.


OTHER TOPICS: District 5 Director, Susan will share Federation news on the UpliftHer engagement initiative.


Representatives from each District 5 Club will share information on her club’s most

effective service program.


First Time Attendees are encouraged to attend and will receive a welcome gift.


COST: $23.00 includes beverages and a soup, salad, sandwich and dessert lunch.


CONTACT: Susan Horst, snr_district_5@sorotptismistsnr.org, 530.559.2475



REGISTRATION LINK: https://registration.soroptimistsnr.org/events/2025-d5-winter/


A BIG thank you, to all the clubs that participated in the Live Your Dream Awards, and a BIGGER thank you to those who completed the LYD reporting on time. There were 2-steps in the reporting process. Both steps had to be completed for SIA to consider your club as participating. If your club completed both steps (Final Decision Stage on the LYD online portal & the online reporting form) by the required deadline, then your club's first-place awardee will be moved on to the Region level judging with a chance to win a $3,000 - $5,000 LYD award from SNR. The top LYD Awardee at the Region level will move on to the SIA level judging for a chance to win $10,000. 


Don’t forget to print the official Live Your Dream Education and Training Awards for Women Certificate to present to your LYD recipients.


Here is the link: https://soroptimist.imgix.net/05-for-members/Program_Resources/live-your-dream-awards-club-resources/certificate.pdf


Stay tuned for more updates on the Live Your Dream Awards Program and be sure to attend the SNR Conference in June where we honor the Region Level Live Your Dream Recipients. 



With gratitude and appreciation,

Billie


Billie Araiza

Live Your Dream Awards

Sierra Nevada Region Coordinator

2024-2026 Biennium

Sierra Nevada Region

LiveYourDream@Soroptimistsnr.org

Soroptimist International of the Americas

SI Bidwell Rancho


SI Elk Grove

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SI Grass Valley


SI Greater Sacramento



SI Greater Las Vegas

  • Sweet Fantasy 2025 Flyer


SI Lincoln


SI Loomis Basin


SI Mineral County

  • Planet Green Recycle Flyer
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SI Metropolitan Las Vegas

  • LYD Award Luncheon Flyer



SI Rancho Cordova/GR

  • Print cartridge recycling Flyer
  • e-waste recycling Flyer
  • Tru-Earth Eco-products Flyer


SI/Roseville


SI/Placerville

 "A Chocolate Affair" Flyer


SI Sacramento South

  • "Show You're a Soroptimist" Flyer
  • Bunco Flyer


SI Sutter Yuba

  • Mother's Day Brunch and Bingo Flyer

SI Bidwell Rancho

SI Chico

SI Davis

SI Elk Grove

SI Grass Valley

SI Folsom/EDH

SI Lincoln

SI Loomis Basin
Find out what's happening with other SI Clubs in our region.

SI Pahrump Valley

SI Rancho Cordova/ Gold River

SI Sacramento

SI Tahoe Sierra

SI Truckee Meadows

SI Sierra Foothills

SI Woodland
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E-Blast Submission Guidelines

E-Blasts go out the 1st and 15th of each month. Email your articles, flyers or links to blastsnr@soroptimistsnr.org by the 27th of the month for E-Blast going out on the 1st, and by the 12th of the month for the E-Blast going out on the 15th.

A few pointers and notes for a successful E-Blast submission:

  • Submissions should use either Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat or can be typed into an email that I can copy and paste into the E-Blast
  • You may send me a Web Link. Ensure the link you send me works
  • Files can be no larger than 5.0mb. Constant Contact can’t handle it
  • When sending your club's Eblast, please send a direct link or a Pdf file.


I will reply that I received your submission within 48 hours. If you don’t receive my confirmation, check with me. 


Babette Maiss

SNR Eblast Coordinator

Soroptimist International Sierra Nevada Region | 3495 Lakeside Dr. #251 | Reno, NV 89509 US

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