It’s almost time … it’s almost time for our Annual Shopping Spree at the Silver Queen.  Tuesday, November 24^th at 5:30 you can arrive and start shopping.  Check out all the great deals the Silver Queen offers and the ‘special deals’ Pat is offering all of us on that night only!!!!!  Bring cash, check books and credit cards and let’s get an early start on our Christmas shopping.  And Pat … thanks so much for doing this for us, year after year – we love you!!!! 

Our meeting will follow appetizers and wine while we shop, then a pizza dinner.  It won’t be long, I promise, no guest speaker this month – so we have more time to shop.  Your telephone committee will be calling so please RSVP YES and we will see you all on the 24^th.

 Susan

 P.S.  Please review Minutes from the October meeting and the Treasurer’s Report which are attached.    

5^th Annual Be More Awards sponsored by WEDU

For the fifth year, WEDU is calling for applications to recognize and honor nonprofit organizations, individual chapters of national nonprofits, and dedicated volunteers within the WEDU coverage area. For the first time, Soroptimist International of Tampa has submitted an entry in the Be More Knowledgeable category for Educational Outreach: the organization strives to educate the community through guidance, knowledge, emotional or physical support, and/or a mentor-ship program. We feel our Women’s Opportunity Award is an excellent mentorship program. Judging will take place between November 13, 2009, and December 18, 2009.

Organizations which win a WEDU Be More Award will not only receive the award title, but also awareness for their organization through extensive WEDU public relations and media campaigns, and an on-air interview on the Be More Inspired one-hour primetime televised special, which will air to an audience of over 1.7 million viewers in west central Florida! In addition, one organization will receive the coveted designation of Nonprofit Organization of the Year and will receive a $1,000 cash award – which can make a real difference in these challenging times.

There is also a Be More Humble category, which is a People’s Choice Award. This online poll is driven by votes from the general public in the WEDU viewing area. The poll will include a listing of all organizations that submit an application, regardless of category. The WEDU Be More People’s Choice Poll will be open from November 13, 2009, through December 18, 2009. This prestigious award exhibits the connection and relationship the organization has with the community and the people the organization serves. It allows area citizens to honor the nonprofit that they feel most exemplifies the spirit of the community.

In addition, the Mason Dixon Be More Involved Award for Volunteerism is an online poll driven by votes from the general public in the WEDU viewing area to recognize an individual volunteer. Mason Dixon, community philanthropist and WRBQ radio personality, will present the award to the volunteer who received the majority of online votes.

Please visit WEDU.org between November 13, 2009, through December 18, 2009, and vote for our sister club and their volunteer!

Below you will find our Calendar, Lists of our Officers, Committees and Members, Some Committee Reports, Birthdays and other Current Announcements.

At the very bottom of this page are Current SIA and SI International Projects.  There are live links to SIA for more info.  "Live your Dreams" and "Disaster Funds" have been updated.   Please page down to read. 

Previous meeting minutes and the treasurer's report will be attachments on the email that brought you the link  to this page.

Officers 2009-2010
President:  Susan Kinney Lowell, 
Vice Pres- Phyllis Cloman, 
Secretary- Patricia L. Arbutine
Treasurer – Linda Taminini,  
Director -  Marsha  McGrath   Director- Mel Chase
Delegate -Terry Sue Turner, 
Delegate-Karen Curry

District II Meeting Minutes:

Meeting was Hosted By Soroptimist International of Holiday Isles and District II Director Betsi Lewis
Friday afternoon October 16, 2009 ~

Governor Nidia and Team presented the following Leadership Development Topics:

·       How to involve members in club management,

·       Team Work,

·       Delegation,

·       Motivation,

·       Communication,

·       Recruitment and Retention,

·       Club Projects

·       Networking 

5:30-8:00 p.m.: Friendship Dinner at Middle Grounds Grill, Treasure Island. 

 Saturday, October 17, 2009

President’s Round Table with Governor Nidia, Membership & Recruitment Update with Governor-Elect Priscilla Tatarsky; Southern Region Proposed Bylaws Revisions with Region Parliamentarian Mary Jo Horton, What’s New - Soroptimist International - Governor Nidia and Recruitment and Retention Round Table Discussions rounded out the morning.  These discussions were fast moving and very well presented. 

 Governor’s Service Project Presentations:

SI Holiday Isles ~ Mentoring project with “Girls Inc of Pinellas”

SI Upper Pinellas ~ St. Petersburg College “Women on the Way” project

SI Tampa THE WINNING PROJECT ~ Distribution of Teen Dating Bookmarks

 Guest Speaker – Sandra Lyth, Director Hispanic Outreach Center gave a great presentation on Human Trafficking.  Sandra along with Clearwater Task Force Project Manager teaches this topic as an 8 hour credit course, St. Petersburg College Regional Community Policing Institute. 

 Fundraising Chair Theresia Carrington presented “How do you select a Project?” 

last three years the project had been for each club to donate $50 toward a Women’s Opportunity Award to be given by a new club in a developing country.  DECISION: Go back to original concept of Host Club requesting attendees to bring items. 

Cynthia Cummings came all the way from Boca to present “SAVE THE DATE for the 2010 Southern Region Conference “S. S. Leg A Sea” hosted by SI Boca Raton/Deerfield Beach from April 29-May 2, 2010.   

Adjournment was very touching with all holding hands for the Soroptimist Pledge. 

Thanks to SI Largo for sending the minutes to us.

Three Day Breast Cancer Walk

You will remember our club voted to send $50 to support Julie Anastasia in her Three Day Breast Cancer Walk. Julie is a breast cancer survivor and a member of the SI Orlando club.Along with her huge “Thank You,” she has sent some great pictures of her and her team participating in the walk. To see her pictures just click on the following link:

Commission on the Status of Women

 Calendar2009 -2010