President Paula welcomed everyone to our meeting this week. We are all so excited as this Sunday is our Tea Party and the OPENING of the ONLINE AUCTION! Don't forget, our auction closes on Friday, May 12, at 5 PM and that's the same time we draw our RAFFLE WINNERS!

We welcomed guests Julie and Janet! Lovely having you join us again today.

Invocation - Another inspired piece by Lydia Rogers thanks to the amazing lesson she learned from her dear Nonna. She shared a story about a time when her grandmother was recovering from a surgery and the many people who loved her shared their feelings with wonderful food, flowers, cards, and even a beautiful nightgown to enjoy during her recovery. Lydia's Nonna didn't want to wear the nightgown as it was such a special item that warranted a special time. It was put delicately away and discovered again on her passing years later. The lesson from this is that EVERYDAY is a special day and that all of us should put our best selves forward, enjoy our beautiful items, and even spritz on perfumes even if it's to go to the market. Thank you Nonna.

Sunshine goes out to ladies we mentioned this morning. Our prayers for healing and comfort are with you and all in your lives. We learned today that a dear friend of Tahoe, Jay Conroy passed away. He's been battling cancer and our hearts go out to his children. He and his JoJo are once again dancing together and even throwing a party in Heaven. A "Happy Birthday" Sunshine to our own Nancy. Thank you for the extra work you've provided our club this past year lady!

Today's topic is seen spread across the news and we do want it to stop. Human Trafficking and Slavery exists throughout our communities, our country, our world. It effects us ALL even if we aren't seeing it with our own eyes. The biggest cost is in human lives, but what exactly is it and how can we end it, was the topic of today's meeting.

Our speaker was absolutely amazing and frankly, we could have asked her questions for days. Erika Gonzalez, a STHS Graduate and Tahoe resident. She graduated from the University of Pacific, McGeorge School of Law and the University of California, Berkeley. Erika is currently a fellow for the New Leaders Council, Class of 2021. 

She is a Training and Technical Assistance Managing Attorney at the Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking (CAST), in Los Angeles CA. Erika is a national expert in legal remedies access for survivors of all forms of human trafficking. She co-founded and continues to lead the Office for Victims of Crime’s first training and technical assistance program dedicated to legal remedies for trafficking survivors at CAST. Through this program, she trains attorneys and social service providers across the U.S. on issues of immigration, victims’ rights, criminal record relief and ethical considerations. At Opening Doors, Inc. in Sacramento, CA, Erika assumed the low-bono immigration program focused on assisting victims of crime with immigration relief.

As a staff attorney at CAST and Opening Doors, she represents crime victims in immigration, criminal victims’ rights, and criminal record relief matters. She is the co-author of several advisories on T- visas and other forms of relief.

Human trafficking is the exploitation of any human being through force, fraud, or coercion for the purposes of commercial sex or forced labor. In Los Angeles last year, CAST served 1,625 survivors and family members, had 2,210 hotline calls, and trained 14,091 people on human trafficking. While these stats are in LA, our community has the same needs but we don't have the services available as what is needed in Lake Tahoe is an attorney to carry out that portion of this important work.

The topic of human trafficking and slavery is huge and eliminating it from society is seen from two different angles: a system which provides "Direct Services" or one that takes the "End Demand" approach. Her work, and one she believes gets to the heart of the ability to exploit others, would be to provide direct services and to end the elements which make victims vulnerable in the first place through strategies which ensure human rights is the key to preventing it in the first place. Prevention by way of education and advocacy is the way to see real change. There was a great story written explaining this further in SouthTahoeNow and can help the reader to broaden their understanding here.

CAST's 2022 Impact Report is very comprehensive and it explores systemic issues that make people susceptible and vulnerable which leads to exploitation. Preventing conditions where someone is vulnerable is key and this can only be done through human rights for all. Homelessness makes people vulnerable to human trafficking. Not having enough food, not being able to work, etc. are all ways in which someone becomes vulnerable. Addressing those issues in every community is a way in which individuals can become empowered and redirect their lives.

The survivors they work with come mostly from domestic servitude, hospitality, and construction jobs. These individuals come from other countries on H-2B Visas and can be very vulnerable with unscrupulous employers, often times holding back wages and taking legal documents from the individual as these visas are tied directly to the employer. The employer, having control, can exploit the individual.

How can we be a part of the solution? First, get educated on what leads to slavery and human trafficking and educate our youth adults as well. Begin by reading both the article and impact report and then discuss it with others. Perhaps even make it a part of your next book club and spread the word.

SITS Member Items & Our Projects

Info for Challenge Day volunteers at Middle School: We have one all-day program day on Wednesday, May 3rd which will host 100 youth, mostly 7th graders, and an assembly for all 7th and 8th graders on Thursday, May 4th. Please volunteer so that all 100 kids can get this amazing opportunity.

Click here to volunteer- Middle School Challenge Day Sign Up

MEMBERS PLEASE READ: Please take a look at the auction website www.sitsfundraiser.org and verify that all the donations you have received are input correctly. If you have any donation forms that have not been turned in, please give paperwork (in person or via email) to Laurie Flesher, gift cards can go to Laurie or Lisa. If you have a physical item, please hold on to it for now. If it needs to be "basketized" please give it to Cookie. AUCTION GOES LIVE this SUNDAY! Whoohoo!

YES Committee: For years, our club has been hosting the reception for the Senior Projects with homemade cookies and we're back at it again! The reception will be on June 6 but cookies need to get to Shelly by June 5. We also want to be sure that some of our members are present on the 6th so please coordinate with Shelly. STHS is still in need of Senior Project Judges and this is such a great thing to participate in. If you are interested, please email Ashley Aminian at aaminian@ltusd.org. (Note: school is on break this week!)

For your calendars

• SITS Installation: Mark your calendars now for June 22! This is such a fun event. No one does a better job at thanking their current Board and welcoming in their new one. It's always entertaining!
• SNR Conference: June 2 - 4, 2023 in Reno. Pres. Paula will send out information but this is not only a vital point of learning about Soroptimist and all that we do, but it's a load of fun as well. Remember ladies, it is our Happy Dollars (funds from our members each week) that we are able to budget funds to attend this conference.
• Mt. Tallac Prom: Our students at Mt. Tallac will be having their Prom on June 3. Stand by for help they may need with decorating! And thank you to our friend Keith Rogers, whose beautiful art that was auctioned off last year, is providing the funds for this wonderful occasion. We miss both our dear Sandy and Keith each day and appreciate their love.

2023 FUNdraiser has so much to choose from!

Our Mad Hatter event is this SUNDAY and it's also the day our ONLINE Auction OPENS! Register to bid and begin to do your shopping! Items for yourself, or someone else are all at your fingertips thanks to our generous community! www.sitsfundraiser.org Our auction closes on Friday, May 12th at 5 PM! We will also draw our raffle winners at the same time!

We are still selling RAFFLE tickets so purchase yours and start packing! We have two (yes two) raffles for exciting vacation destinations. One is a week's stay in a 2 bedroom Kihei, Maui condo, and the other is a week's stay at a timeshare anywhere in the world!

Your odds of winning are amazing ! Just 200 tickets will be sold for each vacation location! Tickets are $50 each and include six nights and seven days of accommodations (no airfare). To purchase raffle tickets, please email us at raffle@sitahoesierra.org. Winners will be drawn at 5 p.m. on May 12, 2023. No need to be present to win, and the club's president will call the winners that night!

SITS is now a part of NASCAR'S DAY We are excited to be joining @The NASCAR Foundation for the NASCAR Day Giveathon! Created in honor of #NASCAR's 75th Anniversary, the NASCAR Day Giveathon is a joint effort of the NASCAR industry to provide much needed funds to communities across the country.

Starting May 16 at 5pm EST, you can help our organization by donating to us, or sharing our fundraiser during the 75-hour period: WWW.SITSFundraiser.org

#NASCARdayGiveathon #NASCAR75 #TheNASCARFoundation

GIVEATHON!

Click here for details - more updates to come!!

NON-SITS Fun and Opportunities in Tahoe

SISLT SOFTBALL FIELD WORKDAY

SATURDAY, MAY 6^th 12:30PM-4PM

Please join Soroptimist International of South Lake Tahoe volunteers to help clean up the softball field Soroptimist Stadium: Home of Girls Softball at the South Lake Tahoe Middle School 1066 Lyons Avenue on Saturday, May 6th from 12:30-4PM.

An assessment will be made as we get closer to determine what needs to be done. Odds are that we will finish earlier than 4PM (many hands make light work), but we are not sure yet what we have in store for us until we can see the field and surrounding property. Generally speaking, the job includes picking up trash and pinecones, raking and bagging needles, removal of weeds and graffiti, cleaning the bleachers, and possibly filling in gopher holes. You will need to bring work gloves and possibly some tools (rakes, brooms, weed trimmers, cleaning rags, etc. if you own them). More information will follow.

If you can help out, please let Rose Marie Ottman (rose.ottman@att.net) know you are available and provide your name and contact details. She will email volunteers closer to the workday with additional information.

May 6, Nationally, is Wildfire Preparedness Day: What You Do Makes a Difference.

Recreation Center, 11-3 PM and ALL of Tahoe is invited! More details to follow but get this on your calendar! For details to here.

TECH TREK - STEM CAMP APPLICATIONS

Nominations for seventh grade girls interested in STEM camp. The date for camp at UC Davis is July 9-15 this summer. Any girls now in 7th grade, granddaughters, parents of girls to inform, please spread the word and have them contact Jan directly and she will see about getting them applications. Contact details below.

Jan Lynds

Tech Trek coordinator for SLT branch of AAUW

jklynds@gmail.com 530 318-5903

Click here for full flyer

Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless seeks community support in keeping people warm this winter

Our South Shore community has been able to sleep better knowing that our homeless population has an indoor option. This winter season marks 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 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

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

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.