Soroptimist History
The
first Soroptimist Club was organized by Stuart Morrow, a multi-talented professional organizer, who saw a need for businesswomen
to have a service organization. The idea spread from the first club, Soroptimist
Club of Alameda County, 1921, to where it is today, around the world as Soroptimist International, bringing professional and
business women together internationally.
Soroptimist
International of Susanville (SIS) was chartered June 17, 1950, by SI Oroville. Tillie
Brodie was the president, with 28 charter members. The club has grown to 50 members today, and developed a reputation in the area as a hard working, reliable source for community
service.
The
first service project was a resuscitator for the local hospital. During that
first year, projects included: Children’s Theater, Safety Patrol uniforms, Health & Safety Survey, Community Service
Council, Lassen County Industrial Survey, Little League uniforms, Bluebirds, and a Youth Center, among other projects. Today the club continues to work on such projects as college and high school scholarships,
park playground equipment, Camp Ronald McDonald needs, Christmas baskets, and a special long-term project called "Baby Think
It Over" (a program established in local high schools to discourage teen pregnancies).
Soroptimist
members join together to share the work on these projects because women and children are the focus of Soroptimist service. Over the years, such service has been funded by fashion shows, rummage sales, pie
sales, beer sales at the county fair, golf tournaments, catering dinners for other organizations, and member and community
generosity.
During
the years, SIS has created friendship links with and received visitors from SI clubs in England, Sweden, Canada, and New Zealand.
Our members have also visited these clubs and made lasting friendships by attending conferences and conventions that put us
in touch with members around the world. SIS also participates in international
projects: water development projects in Nepal, funds for clearing land mines and supplying artificial limbs for land mine
victims. Recently, SIS donated funds to send girls to school in Nepal, where
passable roads and transportation are almost non-existent for mountain villages.
The history of Soroptimist International of Susanville is one of continuing involvement in our community,
and that of service locally and internationally.
