Friday, December 6, 2013

DECEMBER FUND RAISING AND ACTIVIES

Members have been great in supporting our biggest fund raiser of the year - Wreath & Greenery Sale.  A number of helpful suggestions went to members this year to maximize our efforts on this project. 

This is one project where every member can help out by just buying a wreath or basket for their own personal use.   

The fun started with the delivery of 260 items by Ms. Engle of Engel's Evergreens.  As the photo above shows, the truck was nearly half full with just our order.  

Fortunately on the day of the delivery help was on hand to move the items from the truck to the staging area in President Evie's back yard.  Granddaughter Desi took several loads to the destination at the "studio plaza" for members to pick up their orders.

Babs has plans to be our top seller next year, but for this year our top three member sellers were:

President Evie (90+)
Member Babs (30+)
Vice President Carole  (30+)

Thank You! to all the members who took part in our biggest annual fund raiser and made it successful!  When everyone helps out it makes a big project much easier.

Thursday, November 28, 2013

SUPPORTING MEALS ON WHEELS

SIPN supports the Meals on Wheels program in N. Portland by member volunteers driving meals to seniors and shut-ins every Tuesday.  

Vice President Carole has been closely involved with this effort for several years.  As with many other programs, funding is always a challenge and MOW is no different.  

To raise money for the local operation a Spaghetti Dinner fund raiser was held at the center.  Several of our SIPN members supported the dinner as shown here.  

Monday, November 11, 2013

NOVEMBER NEWS

Have a look at the Friendship Link page to see the letter, at the bottom of the page, we received from our friends in Toyama, Japan.  They included pictures of their recent concert fund raiser that made possible a project of renovating two pianos that were given to a school, in the disaster area.

Our Wreath and Greenery fund raiser has ended with a total of 236 pieces being sold this year!  Items will be delivered to the my house on November 25th for members to pick up and distribute to their individual customers.  

The Silpada Party hosted by Margaret was a success as members and friends chose fashion jewelry while enjoying light refreshments.  Thanks to each of you that supported this fund raiser!

Your support of these activities are the reason we can fund the club's outreach programs to the many needy and deserving women and girls in our community. 

Thanks SIPN Members for all your hard work in these fund raisers, and your individual club tasks, over the past few months. Working together we will make a difference!

 - President Evie

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

IT'S BETTER AT THE BEACH !

          The District 2 Meeting at Lincoln City is but a memory now.  Our Delegate, Sharon will be updating members at the November Business Meeting on the 13th.  Attending this year were Barbara,  Evie, Heidi, Rebecca, and Sharon.  

The Oregon Coast weather cooperated and we enjoyed some sunny skies and very little wind.  Accommodations were at the Chinook Winds Hotel, (formerly a Shilo Inn) and within walking distance of the casino and meeting rooms.  See the picture page for a few snapshots.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

HEALTH INSURANCE UPDATE

The October speaker was  Dr. Matt Reid, a member of the Oregon Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP) who spoke about how new Oregon Healthcare laws and programs are Saving Lives and Saving Money.   

This was a very informative meeting, especially since mandatory health insurance starts in 2014.  

Doctor Reid practices at the Kaiser Permanente facility on North Interstate and gave attending members an overview of the new laws and how they affect everyone.  Following his presentation, he answered individual questions from the members, and continued to be available following the meeting for additional help to our members.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Tell & Sell at the Beach

UPDATE
Oct 24,2013

The Beanies in the photo are packing up and getting ready for their trip to Lincoln City and the District 2 annual meeting. 

They will be introduced at our Tell & Sell table.  Each of these has been hand decorated in blue and gold to maximize their appeal.  The heart shaped ear tags read "I Love SIA" with the District 2 meeting below. 

So far, people cannot resist picking them up!  Also at our table will be some hats, beautiful gold floral designed SIA pins and our Raffle Basket filled with yummy chocolate and select wines.  Many thanks to Evie, Carole, Heidi and Leslie for the work in creating the fun costumes for each Beanie Baby!  

Saturday, October 12, 2013

WREATHS & HOLIDAY GREENERY

Our biggest fundraiser of the year has kicked off for 2013 !  Each year SIPN Members reach out to friends, relatives, business associates, stores where you shop, and those names on your email list that send you jokes all the time.  Everyone of those people would like to know if they could help support SIPN this year by purchasing some of our 6 offerings this year.  

Be sure to remind your contacts that if they would like to make a gift of a 24 inch diameter wreath to one of their friends, neighbors, relatives - we can arrange for delivery. The wreath will contain a 20 word (maximum) greeting and red bow.  Details are on the wreath & holiday greenery page. The deadline for all our orders is November 6.  

Each SIPN Member was emailed a copy of our brochure for ease of sending these out by email to your contact list.  Additional printed brochures are available from Evie.  In addition, our wreath & greenery page ( right side --> ) has a copy plus all the details members may need to answer most all questions.  

NEW MEMBERS TO SIPN

Kathy (L) & President Evie
Three additional members have been added to our club this year, the latest addition is Kathy D.  She was formerly inducted to the club on October 9, 2013 just in time to join our Wreath and Greenery fund raiser for this year.  Kathy became interested in Soroptimists after coming to our Kenton garage sale event and speaking to our members working the sale.  She and her husband have recently moved into N. Portland from Maine.

Barbara E. transferred her membership from the Gresham club to SIPN this past summer and will be attending the Regional Meeting later this month in Lincoln City.  Babs A. also joined SIPN this summer.  Babs has been very active in all things St. Johns and brings a wealth of knowledge of networking there.

Welcome to all our new members !! 

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Annual Awards Programs

The club is beginning to reach out to our community to find applicants for the Violet Richardson Award and the Woman of Opportunity Award.  Over the years the club has been fortunate to find very deserving applicants that can use the cash awards to give them an assist in their endeavors.  


Our volunteer for managing the Violet Richardson Award this year is Babs.  


Managing the Woman of Opportunity Award this year is Barbara.  

Both our project managers are new to SIPN this year!  

If you have information that would be helpful to either project, please contact our responsible manager and let them know.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Garage Sale Success

Rebecca's back yard before the sale
Members did a terrific job in finding things in their homes and from friends to completely fill the backyard at Rebecca's.  The night before the sale we had a surprise rain shower and Rebecca ran out to cover the items with drop cloths and tarps.
Our main entrance with flags

  While we were setting up on Saturday, some early shoppers came by to check out the bargains and at 9am we were in full swing with a driveway full of buyers.  More showers came and the tarps went back over everything again, but some hardy customers lifted each tarp looking for their items.  
Our happy cashiers

Fortunately, our cashiers were well protected under the tent where we sold bottled water and Mexican Coca Cola. At the end of the day approximately half the volume of goods had been sold.  The rest will be donated to a charity that will pick up everything.  Our supply of men's suits will go to the Salvation Army's "Dress for Success" program that provides free clothing for clients having interviews.
President Evie helps close a sale




Friday, August 16, 2013

BARGAINS GALORE - Garage Sale

AUGUST 24 !!!
        It's almost time for our first Garage Sale at Rebecca's house in Kenton.  Joining more than 30 other households in the Kenton Neighborhood, SIPN will be selling everything from books to mens suits with a telescope and weiner warmer thrown in.
        President Evie went to Ocean Shores, WA to pick up a load of items donated by one of her friends   and neighbors.  More items are filling up Margaret and Joe's garage, all of which is moving to the sales location at 1839 N. Terry.  There will be approximately 3 times as many items as you see filling Mike's pick up above.  All items will be arriving at Rebecca's house on Wednesday the 21st for sorting, pricing and pre-staging.  If you have items that you have not yet taken to Margaret & Joe's or Carole, you should bring them to Rebecca's on Wednesday.
        Sharon and Babs are the go-to people if you have items to donate, to move, to work at the sale or to just help in some other way.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

New Page !

It seems we are usually trying to figure out what the addresses are on the web for various kinds of things we work with or need information from.  Club members are encouraged to send me an email with links you would like to share on our new Links page.

Here is the first one!


Dear Mike 

The final 2013 issue of  Best for Women  magazine is now available at: http://www.magcloud.com/webviewer/605887?__r=336310&s=w  ! 

The digital issue includes a print-on-demand option:   http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/605887

and features the same great content as past issues. Your Board of Directors directed staff to investigate this new method of producing the magazine due to spiraling print and postage costs.

Beginning in the 2013-2014 club year,  Best for Women  will have a new look as it transforms into a six-panel newsletter. It will still include information important to members: president’s message, executive director’s column, Women’s Opportunity Awards recipient stories and great club projects. Longer articles and other information will be available on the Soroptimist website. This new piece will be delivered to each member in her own language, twice a year!

Please share this with other members in your club who may not receive email communications. We look forward to providing a new and informative newsletter to all of our members, in all of our federation languages!

Sincerely,
Soroptimist Headquarters

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

FIREWORKS !

Roosevelt High School Booster John Teuscher again operated 3 TNT Fireworks booths as a Optimist Club Fund Raiser for the RHS athletics and scholarship programs.

SIPN was invited to participate again this year and earn a portion of the sales proceeds for our club.  We chose to help operate the tree lot location, along with other non-profit local entities including PAC, Holy Cross, RHS soccer and football.  


Primary set up of the site was handled by Mike and Evie, operational and sales were managed by:  Carole,  Faye, Heidi, Kristine, Rebecca, and Sharon.  Special thanks to these members who braved the warm weather and gave generously of their time. The SIPN portion of the earnings will be announced here soon.
Finding the right item was sometimes a daunting task
 

Monday, July 15, 2013

Festive Installation !

        June 20th saw the arrival of many SIPN Members for a very festive outdoor installation and luncheon party.

       Our hostess Kristine, opened her recently reorganized backyard for the event. Her husband Kevin's garden, with its many potted trees and flowers was carefully arranged to provide a wonderful setting for the attending members. 

      The warm weather required additional umbrellas, provided by member Heidi, to shade those enjoying a wonderful potluck luncheon featuring several special dishes. The main course was Bar B Que ribs that had been slow cooked overnight in a special sauce created by the 3rd place winner of a national competition for Bar B Que sauce.

      Installation of officers for the 2013-2014 year was adeptly handled by SIPN Member Tina Kotek, Speaker of the Oregon House  of Representatives.


President Evie is re-elected to a second year
A garden setting for the 2013-14 Installation of Officers

  
Hostess Kristine worked hard to make a successful event


Tina Kotek reminds officers of responsibilities

Thursday, July 11, 2013

YUM - STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKES

Club members gave great support to the annual Strawberry Shortcake fund raiser this year.  Despite some issues regarding the date change from years previous, the club worked this two day event at the New Seasons stores in the metro and Vancouver Washington area.  Helping out with promoting the event in the stores this year was:  Carole Martin, who organized the event and promoted it within the club, Evie Salvo, Faye Palmerton, Rebecca Liu (two shifts!), Babs Adamski, Kristine Clarke, Mariah Taylor, Louise Scott and Tina Kotek.

The money raised at all the stores is put into a single pot and divided among several worthy charitable organizations benefiting women and children.  This year the event made $8640 and awards of $1440 each were given to:

Bradley Angle

Clackamas Women & Children's Services

Domestic Violence Resource Center

Raphael House of Portland

The Salvation Army West Women's Shelter

YWCA Clark County SafeChoice Shelter