Soropti- ScoopScoop A Communique by women dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls in local communities and throughout the world. Vol. 11, Issue 7 Soroptimist International of Sequim January 2008 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Officers 2007 - 2008 Dear Emerging Butterflies! President: Kathy Purcell When you hear ‘sixty four’ what comes to mind? Perhaps it brings up the year you, a President-Elect: child or grandchild was born; or the year you graduated from school; or maybe the song Kathleen DeJong “When I’m Sixty Four” by the Beatles. Secretary: Heather Cerutti What’s in a word? Equal and Even may seem like they are the same, but I would rather Treasurer: get equal, than get even. Ruth Bebermeyer tells us in prose: “Words are windows, or Sandy Reed they’re walls, they sentence us, or set us free.”
Assistant Treasurer: Terry Coe Words can be hurting or healing. Words that hurt might be considered violent; words that heal are non-violent. I bring this up now because we are embarking on another Season Directors: 2 year (one year remaining) for Nonviolence. It begins January 30 – the death of Mahatma Gandhi, and ends April 4 Rose Jaeger – the death of Martin Luther King Jr. Both men were proponents of nonviolence.
Directors: 2 year Willadee Tallman A Season for Nonviolence is a global grassroots campaign dedicated to raising awareness about the healing and transforming power of nonviolence. This 64-day event Directors: 1 year began in 1997. It has grown into an important educational and media opportunity to bring Jan Chapman communities together, empowering them to envision and help create a nonviolent world, Directors: 1 year one heart and one day at a time. Kate Creasey
Past President: In this issue of the Soropti-Scoop (page 8), you will find a brief history of A Season for Colleen Blazier Nonviolence, as well as 64 affirmations, one for each day of this special season. You Newsletter Staff may want to print out the 64 Ways in 64 Days Daily Commitments to Live By and Kathy Purcell keep it handy. Colleen Blazier Sally Sue Barry Heather Cerutti The Beatles were not my favorite group, but I’ve put together a medley of sorts, with the titles of some of their songs – there are 64 words...
Do You Want to Know a Secret? I Want to Tell You, I’ve Got a Feeling, It’s Only Love, From Me to You. Along the Long and Winding Road, Come Together, Because, I Need You. Don’t Pass Me By, or be a Fool on the Hill. It’s a Good Day Sunshine. Come and Get It. The Inner Light, In My Life, Let it Be.
May the Season for Nonviolence begin NOW and may it continue beyond 64 days.
“The world is not a problem; Wishing you Peaceful Awakenings! the problem is your un- President Kathy awareness” ~ Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh “That’s all nonviolence is – organized love.” ~ Joan Baez
SI Sequim -1 Letter from the Editor CALENDAR Dear Friends,
It’s a new year – a time to look forward. The key word here is look...It’s JANUARY, 2008 been dark when Abby and I have gone for our walks these winter days. 4 BOARD MEETING One morning the dirt driveway was a bit crunchy. Jack Frost was nipping at 9 Business Meeting the ground as well as my nose. GOM Dec & Jan 11 Soroptimist Stop As we crossed the street I almost slid, the pavement was slick. I gingerly Trafficking Launched placed one foot in front of the other. The asphalt along the local stretch of in USA the Discover Way Trail was slick as well. Abby and I walked in the grass 22 Program Meeting along the side of the trail. We picked up a little speed there, because we had *27 Evening Social easier footing. Our normal walk takes us over two short bridges. FEBRUARY Stepping onto the first bridge I started to 8 BOARD MEETING slide. Whoa! It was time to slow it down 12 Business Meeting again. We continued our turtle pace (slow GOM Feb & Mar and steady wins the race), traversing the 26 Program Meeting bridge and the short distance to the second overpass. This one is over water, so I expected it to be even more slippery. However, to my surprise, the second bridge wasn’t slick at all! It was at that * EVENING MEETING time that I noticed how bright it was around me; the moon was not full, but very nearly so. I found myself staring up at it in wonderment, as we headed on to the end of that leg of the trail.
My gaze was still fixed on the disk in the sky when we turned to make our return trek. All was going fine; we passed over the second bridge without incident. But when we got to the first bridge I slid again. Whoa!
For some reason my thoughts went to comments about keeping your head up – look up and experience life, not down and miss it. I laughed inside, thinking that certainly did not work for me this time. Abby and I made it home safely, no worse for wear. You don't want to miss this!
The next morning, remnants of Jack Frost’s visit were all around. It didn’t REGIONAL CONFERENCE bother me though, as I had been through this the previous morning. My April, 2008 wonderful four-legged friend and I made our way to the first bridge. Coeur d'Alene, ID But as I stepped on it, I got a surprise. It was NOT slippery! We breezed over it and when we got to the second bridge, there was another surprise. Today it was slippery!
In the course of 24 hours, the two bridges had swapped properties. During the rest of our walk that second day, I reflected on what the bridges were telling me. It is easy to think we know how things are, and to perhaps make a judgment. But what worked yesterday, may not work today, or tomorrow.
That brought to mind Soroptimist and the importance of staying aware of what is working and what is not working within our club. Existing ideas may be outdated – or not. Ideas we tried before that didn’t work, might work now. It is a new year, a time to look forward and let the past bridge “Breath is the bridge which our success, as we remain open to discover the unlimited possibilities and connects life to consciousness, continue Awakening the Dream. which unites your body to your thoughts.” ~ Thick Nhat Hanh With Gratitude and Love, Kathy Purcell, Editor
SI Sequim - 2 The 10th Annual Gala Celebrate Life! Garden Show BIRTHDAYS March 15 -16, 2008
JANUARY OUR CORE COMMITTEE 3 Nan Cramer Co-Chairman Jane Manzer & Jan Chapman 6 Rose Jaeger 10 Kate Creasey Distribution Kathleen DeJong 15 Alana Schmicker Advertising/Marketing Sandy Reed &Kate Creaesy 21 Dovie Carson Raffle Mayme Faulk & Janet Wicker FEBRUARY Corporate Sponsors Jan Chapman & Jane Manzer 8 Deborth Grooesbeck 11 Missy Church-Smtih Food Concessions Sherry Schubert & Heather Cerutti 22 Jan Chapman Speakers Rose Jaeger Vendor Manager Philippa Manley-Piper Vendor Support Penny Mulcay Treasurer Leah Tuttle Set-up/Tear-down Peg Rinker (mostly tear-down) Rover Kathy Purcell Note the phone number for our Parking & Transportation Pam Caldero MEDICAL LOAN CLOSET Soropitimist Table OPEN 504-0231 We are still loooking for a volunteer to chair the Soroptimist Table Sub-Committee. If you are interested in heading up this sub-committee, please let Jan or Jane know.
AREA MEETING SAVE April 12, 2008 THIS DATE Sponsored by SI Olympic Rain Forest
Back in March, Kate Creasey gifted me with a book titled Women Who Dare. It is a book of postcards celebrating women – some already passed into history, other still with us – who defied expectations. In this year of Awakening the Dream, it seems appropriate to share some of these with you. ~kp
Sojourner Truth (1797 – 1883) was a feminist in a male-dominated abolitionist movement and an ex-slave activist for African American rights in a suffragist movement dominated by middle-class white women. Her powerful presence and unyielding determination carried her to the moment of her “Ain’t I a Woman” speech, which electrified the 1851 national Women’s Convention, and beyond. Sojourner Truth SI Sequim - 3 Violet Richardson Award Taking Women’s Health to Heart
This year’s Violet Richardson Award winners at the club Friday, February 1, 2008, is National Wear Red Day—a level have been chosen. You can meet them at our day when Americans nationwide will take women’s health February 26th Program Meeting. to heart by wearing red to show their support for women’s heart disease awareness. Last year’s winner at the Region level was Dallas National Wear Red Day is an annual event held on the Jessup who received special recognition from CNN. first Friday in February. On this day, women and men across the country will wear red to unite in the national CNN names Soroptimist Violet Richardson Award movement to give women a personal and urgent wake-up recipient Heroes finalist call about their risk of heart disease.
Dallas Jessup, 16, of Vancouver, By participating in National Wear Red Washington, and a 2007 Soroptimist Day, we join The Heart Truth. The Violet Richardson Award recipient was Heart Truth is a national awareness one of three honorees named a CNN campaign to alert women about their Heroes finalist in the “Young Wonder” risk for heart disease and motivate category. She made an extraordinary them to take steps to lower their risk. Although significant impact on the lives of others. Jessup, a progress has been made in increasing awareness among tae kwon do black belt with expertise women from 34 percent in 2000 to 57 percent in 2006— in Filipino street fighting, produced most women fail to make the connection between risk “Just Yell Fire.” The video is designed factors and their personal risk of developing heart disease. to teach young women and girls how to escape an attacker. In addition, Jessup speaks at schools, summer The centerpiece of the campaign is the Red Dress—the camps and business luncheons to increase awareness of national symbol for women and heart disease awareness. violence against girls. To learn more about Just Yell Fire What’s a Red Dress got to do with it? A simple Red Dress visit: http://www.justyellfire.com/ works as a visual red alert to get the message heard loud and clear: “Heart Disease Doesn’t Care What You Wear— NEW CLUBS IN It’s the #1 Killer of Women.” Sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood NORTHWESTERN REGION Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Soroptimist International of Gig Harbor, WA Human Services, the campaign is reaching women with Jo Mobley, President important heart health messages in community settings Sponsor: SI/Port Orchard, WA through a diverse network of national and grassroots partner organizations. Soroptimist International of Walla Walla Valley, WA Esther Allred, President Everyone can participate by showing off a favorite red Sponsor: SI/Pasco-Kennewick dress, shirt, or tie, or by wearing the Red Dress Pin (available at www.hearttruth.gov).
Join this national effort by wearing red on February 1, 2008 and encourage your family, friends, and coworkers to do the same. Together we can help spread the word about women and heart disease.
“You need to be aware of what others are doing, applaud their efforts, acknowledge their successes, and encourage them in their pursuits. When we all help one another, everybody wins.” ~ Jim Stovall
SI Sequim - 4 New Quadrennial Project SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF THE AMERICAS LOGO
Project SIerra, the Quadrennial Project needs your help. We are forming a committee to determine how the club wants to educate ourselves and others and how we Soroptimist’s new logo is modern and professional. The would like to raise money to support Project SIerra: A bold, yet graceful “S” is symbolic of the feminine form. Family and a Future. This is the Quadrennial Project for The logo incorporates the tagline “Best for Women,” 2007-2011. It has three components: Young Mother which is the translation of the word “Soroptimist.” The Support, Children Living Alone and Integrated Child and difficulty of Soroptimist’s name is mitigated by having a Family Support. If you are interested in helping, sign up tagline that is the translation of the word. The “Best for at the meetings or email Rose at Women” tagline describes both the qualities of [email protected]. We would like to at least get Soroptimist membership, and the work Soroptimists do on started with some brainstorming of ideas and behalf of other women. Together, the “S” and the tagline possibilities. create the visual element that represent the organization, and distinguish it from other organizations. Thanks. Rose Jaeger The new mission statement reads: “Improving the lives Project SIerra Quadrennial Project Chair of women and girls, in local communities and throughout the world.” This statement best describes what the organization seeks to accomplish.
New Public Awareness Project To brand Soroptimist as an organization that improves the lives of women and girls, SIA regions and clubs should use the new logo, tagline and mission statement on all internal and external materials. It is important to Soroptimist’s branding effort that all levels of the organization use them consistently. It is even more important that clubs and regions embody the brand by being who the organization says it is and doing what the organization says it does.
Soroptimists STOP Trafficking is a public awareness project that will address the widespread epidemic of sex trafficking. We will be getting information “Every human has four endowments – self from Soroptimist Headquarters to help us with increasing awareness, conscience, independent will and public awareness. The primary goal of this project is to creative imagination. These give us the ultimate educate the public as well as ourselves about this human freedom... The power to choose, issue. There is a great article in the Best for Women to respond, to change.” ~ Stephen R. Covey magazine as well. Watch the newsletter for more information as we get involved with the project. ~rj
SI Sequim - 5 The Faces of Christmas
Past President Collen faced it with us!
Thank you to "A Catered Affair" Thank you to The Bell Choir
Thanks to all who made donations for the Kids Kloset! You helped make the holiday a happy one for many! SI Sequim - 6 NEWS FROM SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF THE AMERICAS
Living the Dream Through the "Live Disaster Relief Fund Provides 500 Your Dream Campaign" Women and Their Families With Food
Soroptimist International of the Americas received the Soroptimist International of the Americas presented a MarCom Gold Award for its Live Your Dream website at $20,000 disaster relief grant to its club in Trujillo, Peru, www.liveyourdreamcampaign.org. The website is the to help meet the needs of women displaced by a online home of Soroptimist’s Live Your Dream Campaign, recent earthquake. which inspires women and girls from all walks of life to live their dreams and realize their full potential. The With the grant, Trujillo Soroptimists will provide 500 campaign also encourages women to pass on their good women and their families with enough food for 10 days. fortune to others. The campaign was launched in conjunction with International Women’s Day and is “As a result of the earthquake, many families were left celebrated each year on March 8. without food, shelter, or clothes,” said Trujillo Soroptimist club president, Tania de Calderon. “Under these “LiveYourDreamCampaign.org is a fun and inspirational circumstances, it is necessary to alleviate the critical online community where both Soroptimists members and situation by helping women who are responsible for the the general public can go to celebrate women and the care of their families.” power of their dreams,” stated Soroptimist Executive Director Leigh Wintz. “Whether your dream is to travel the Soroptimist’s disaster relief grants, which range from world or to make the world a better place for other $1,000 to $20,000, assist women who have been victims women, Soroptimist’s Live Your Dream campaign of natural disasters or acts of war. Past Soroptimist relief encourages you to make your dream a reality.” efforts include a $16,000 grant to the Largo Mid-Pinellas County, Florida, club to help Pinellas Village, a housing community for low-income single parents. The funds paid the insurance premiums after a $70,000 increase due to high risk of damage during Florida’s yearly hurricane Soroptimist Receives Seal of season. Without the grant, Pinellas Village would have Excellence Recertification been forced to close, leaving single mothers and their children homeless. Another club in Daet, Philippines, Soroptimist International of the Americas received received $4,000 to help meet the needs of women recertification for its Seal of Excellence by the displaced by recent typhoons. The grant provided them Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations with additional food, clothing, shelter, and helped them (PANO). Soroptimist first received the Seal in find jobs. December 2004 for successfully completing the Standards for Excellence certification program. The recertification “Women and girls are particularly vulnerable during recognizes Soroptimist’s continued exemplary management disasters. They lack mobility and access to resources, and accountability within the nonprofit sector. have increased family responsibilities, and are susceptible to physical danger,” said Soroptimist’s executive director, Soroptimist, whose mission is to improve the lives of Leigh Wintz. “Soroptimist’s disaster relief program women and girls, was one of the first organizations to be mitigates the barriers facing women and girls during certified under the Standards program that began in 2002. disasters, making it easier for them to get the resources they need to survive.” “We are thrilled to receive the Standards for Excellence recertification,” said Leigh Wintz, Soroptimist’s executive director since 1991. “We continue to operate in the most “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what responsible and ethical manner possible, and the Standards makes you come alive, and go do it. Because Committee validated our efforts.” what the world needs is people who have come alive.” ~ Howard Thurman
SI Sequim - 7 History and Origins of The Season for Nonviolence
The year 2007 represented the 10th anniversary of the Season for Nonviolence. In 1998, Dr. Arun Gandhi, grandson of M.K. Gandhi, observed that 1998 represented the 50th and 30th anniversaries, respectively, of the assassinations of M.K. Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., so he proposed observing the 64 days between January 30 and April 4 as a “Season for Nonviolence.”
Help came from the Association for Global New Thought to develop an educational, media and grassroots campaign dedicated to create an awareness of nonviolent principles and practices as a way to transform, heal and empower lives and communities.
In 1998, the 64-day “Season” (from Jan 30-April 4) was launched nationally with opening ceremonies at the United Nations. Task forces in 115 U.S. cities in 40 states and 10 countries initiated a powerful grassroots campaign to bring to life the spirit and practice of nonviolence as a powerful way to heal, transform and empower individuals and communities.
Over 350 major peace organizations, religious, business, arts and learning institutions have elected themselves as official co- sponsors of the Season for Nonviolence. Fifty percent of our U.S. governors and many mayors issued official proclamations for the 64-day period, and over 300 unique events were developed and carried out at the local level during the Season.
Every year since then the Season has grown, with task forces continuing to grow in new communities. The 1999 Season was again launched nationally at the UN and in 2000 it was simultaneously launched at the UN and with an all-day Youth seminar in Littleton, CO focusing on violence in schools. This was attended by over 400 youths from all over the country, especially from schools that have been affected by violence.
The national 2000 closing ceremonies were held at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA where a week-long calendar of events culminated in the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Chapel on the grounds.
A Season for Nonviolence - 64 Ways in 64 Days Daily Commitments to Live By http://www.64-days.org/64dailyparctice.htm
1 — Today, I will reflect on what peace means to me. 13 — Today, I will live in the present moment and release 2 — Today, I will look at opportunities to be a peacemaker. the past. 3 — Today, I will practice nonviolence and respect for 14 — Today, I will silently acknowledge all the leaders Mother Earth by making good use of her resources. throughout the world. 4 — Today, I will take time to admire and 15 — Today, I will speak with kindness, respect, and appreciate nature. patience to every person that I talk with on the telephone. 5 — Today, I will plant seeds—plants or constructive ideas. 16 — Today, I will affirm my value and worth with positive 6 — Today, I will hold a vision of plenty for all the world’s “self talk” and refuse to put myself down. hungry and be open to guidance as to how I can help 17 — Today, I will tell the truth and speak honestly from alleviate some of that hunger. the heart. 7 — Today, I will acknowledge every human being’s 18 — Today, I will cause a ripple effect of good by an act fundamental right to justice, equity, and equality. of kindness toward another. 8 — Today, I will appreciate the earth’s bounty and all of 19 — Today, I will choose to use my talents to serve those who work to make my food available (i.e., grower, others by volunteering a portion of my time. trucker, grocery clerk, cook, waitress, etc.) 20 — Today, I will say a blessing for greater understanding 9 — Today, I will work to understand and respect whenever I see evidence of crime, vandalism, or graffiti. another culture. 21 — Today, I will say “No” to ideas or actions that violate 10 — Today, I will oppose injustice, not people. me or others. 11 — Today, I will look beyond stereotypes 22 — Today, I will turn off anything that portrays or supports and prejudices. violence whether on television, in the movies, or on 12 — Today, I will choose to be aware of what I talk about the Internet. and I will refuse to gossip. SI Sequim - 8 64 Ways in 64 Days Daily Commitments to Live By (continued)
23 — Today, I will greet this day—everyone and 44 — Today, I will see my co-workers in a new light—with everything—with openness and acceptance as if I were understanding andcompassion. encountering them for the first time. 45 — Today, I will be open to other ways of thinking and 24 — Today, I will drive with tolerance and patience. acting that are different from my own. 25 — Today, I will constructively channel my anger, 46 — Today, I will think of at least three alternate ways I can frustration, or jealousy into healthy physical activities (i.e., handle a situation when confronted with conflict. doing sit-ups, picking up trash, taking a walk, etc). 47 — Today, I will work to help others resolve differences. 26 — Today, I will take time to appreciate the people who 48 — Today, I will express my feeling honestly and provide me with challenges in my life, especially those nonviolently with respect for myself and others. who make me angry or frustrated. 49 — Today, I will sit down with my family for one meal. 27 — Today, I will talk less and listen more. 50 — Today, I will set an example of a peacemaker by 28 — Today, I will notice the peacefulness in the world promoting nonviolent responses. around me. 51 — Today, I will use no violent language. 29 — Today, I will recognize that my actions directly 52 — Today, I will pause for reflection. affect others. 53 — Today, I will hold no one hostage to the past, seeing 30 — Today, I will take time to tell a family member or each-as I see myself-as a work in progress. friend how much they mean to me. 54 — Today, I will make a conscious effort to smile at 31 — Today, I will acknowledge and thank someone for someone whom I have held a grudge against in the past. acting kindly. 55 — Today, I will practice compassion and forgiveness by 32 — Today, I will send a kind, anonymous message apologizing to someone whom I have hurt in the past. to someone. 56 — Today, I will reflect on whom I need to forgive and 33 — Today, I will identify something special in everyone take at least one step in that direction. I meet. 57 — Today, I will forgive myself. 34 — Today, I will discuss ideas about nonviolence with a 58 — Today, I will embrace the spiritual belief of my heart in friend to gain new perspectives. my own personal and reflective way. 35 — Today, I will practice praise rather than criticism. 59 — Today, I will enlarge my capacity to embrace 36 — Today, I will strive to learn from my mistakes. differences and appreciate the value of every 37 — Today, I will tell at least one person they are special human being. and important. 60 — Today, I will be compassionate in my thoughts, 38 — Today, I will hold children tenderly in thought words, and actions. and/or action. 61 — Today, I will cultivate my moral strength and courage 39 — Today, I will listen without defending and speak through education and creative nonviolent action. without judgment. 62 — Today, I will practice compassion and forgiveness for 40 — Today, I will help someone in trouble. myself and others. 41 — Today, I will listen with an open heart to at least 63 — Today, I will use my talents to serve others as well one person. as myself. 42 — Today, I will treat the elderly I encounter with respect 64 — Today, I will serve humanity by dedicating myself to a and dignity. vision greater than myself. 43 — Today, I will treat the children I encounter with respect and care, knowing that I serve as a model to them. “Nonviolence means avoiding not only external “We may never be strong enough to be entirely physical violence but also internal violence of nonviolent in thought, word and deed. But we spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but must keep nonviolence as our goal and make you refuse to hate him.” strong progress towards it.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr. ~ Mahatma Gandhi
SI Sequim - 9 January 2008
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
Cervical Cancer National Eye Care Month 1 2 3 4 5 Awareness Month New Year’s Day Nanette Cramer BOARD MEETING
6 7 8 9 10 11 Stop Trafficking 12 Rose Jaeger Business Meeting Kate Creasey Launches in USA
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Martin Luther King, Jr. Alana Schmicker Day
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Dovie Carson Program Meeting
27 28 29 30 31 Evening Social February 2008
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
American Heart Month 1 2 National Wear RED Day
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Ash Wednesday BOARD MEETING Deborah Groesbeck
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Missy Church-Smith Business Meeting Valentine’s Day (GOM Feb & Mar)
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Presidents’ Day Jan Chapman
24 25 26 27 28 29 Program Meeting Violet Richardson Award Winners All You Need is Love by: The Beatles
Love, love, love, Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love . there’s nothing you can do that can’t be done. All you need is love, Nothing you can sing that can’t be sung, all you need is love, nothing you can say but you can learn all you need is love, love, how the play the game, love is all you need. it’s easy. There’s nothing you can know that isn’t known, There’s nothing you can make that can’t be made, nothing you can see that isn’t shown no one you can save that can’t be saved. Nowhere you can be that isn’t Nothing you can do but you can where you’re meant to be, learn how to be you in time, it’s easy. It’s easy. All you need is love, All you need is love, all you need is love, all you need is love, all you need is love, love, all you need is love, love, love is all you need. love is all you need
Soroptimist International of Sequim P.O. Box 126 Sequim, WA 98382
improving the lives of women and girls in local communities and throughout the world. To A Woman Making A Difference For Women