Soroptimist Club

Heather Sumner-BBBS Bowl for Kids Sake 2019 Fall Meeting Members with Awards Breast Cancer Quilt -Ruslyn Hermanson, Cathy Cole, Nancy Taylor Soroptimist Christmas 2010 Donation to NERA, left Tom Short and right Dorothy Deway

A global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. Story Contributed by Kathy Tippin

In 1921, one year after women won the right to vote, the first Soroptimist club was founded in Oakland, California. At the time, women were not permitted to join the all-male civic groups, but their desire was to work toward strengthening their community. Their first Oakland Soroptimist Club project was to “Save the Redwoods,” the great ancient trees which were being felled. The club lobbied the legislature, taking on powerful lumber companies and winning public support, resulting in a major portion of the forest being set aside as protected land that still exists today. Their vision was “to ensure that women and girls have an equal voice in creating strong and peaceful communities, now and in the future.” The Soroptimist name was coined from the Latin words “soror” meaning sister and “optima” meaning best, so Soroptimist is perhaps best interpreted as “the best for women.” On Jan. 21, 1950, 25 Ponca City women were charter members for the Soroptimist Club of Ponca City (SIPC) in support of the vision. Times were different coming out of World War II, but these women saw a need in the local community to support women and girls. As the local club celebrates its 70th anniversary, SIPC members continue to play an active role in Ponca City. Using their respective talents and energy, members make time in their busy lives to give back to our local and surrounding communities making a difference for women and girls in our part of Oklahoma. 2020-21 was a very different time for SIPC members learning to adjust with the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite not being able to meet together twice a month, club members found ways to manage and move forward using other nontraditional methods. Thanks to generous donations from others in the community, the club raised record amounts of money through Facebook sales and outdoor donation events. This in turn helped them to not only help women and children in our area, but to help other nonprofits too. SIA programs that have evolved over the 70 years and continue to be major focuses of SIPC include Live Your Dream Awards (usually given to a single head of household to help her further her education to support her family), Senior Girls Scholarship (a cash award presented to her organization of choice and to the young woman) and the Ruby Award (recognition of a woman who has given volunteer hours to make a difference and a cash donation to the organization of the recipient’s choice). For 20 years, a major local project was to raise awareness of Breast Cancer through an annual banquet spreading information about breast cancer, supporting programs for women to get mammograms, celebrating survivors through annual banquets and more.

Officers 2021-22 Region Soroptimist of the Year Cindy Wigley-left

“In spite of COVID-19, SIPC members continue to meet our mission (to help women and girls) and make a difference in Ponca City and the surrounding communities. Facebook and eBay sales are ongoing, and we are accepting donations and passing along items we cannot use or store to others,” said

President Terri Buesing. “We now are back to meeting in person, and hope we will be able to continue to do so in 2021-22, but are ready to make adjustments if necessary. There probably isn’t a nonprofit in our community that benefits women and girls that hasn’t been helped by Soroptimist.” Five years ago, SIPC started the Dream It Be It (DIBI) program for Ponca City eighth- grade girls as a goal to help girls grow up to be strong, successful, happy adults. DIBI targets girls in secondary school who face obstacles to their future success by providing girls with access to professional role models, career education and the resources to live their dreams. Selected by their teachers, 40 eighth-grade girls participate in four sessions covering manners, appearance, job interviewing, personal behavior and conclude with a luncheon focusing on careers for women with local professional women role models. At the final luncheon, the girls are each given an opportunity to meet with professional women in three different fields, told a little about what is involved in the career and encouraged to ask questions. “Unfortunately, our program was cut short in 2020 due to COVID-19, but in 2021 we held an abbreviated one-day four-hour program,” said Cindy Wigley, Dream It Be It chair. “We hope to be back to meeting with the eighth-grade girls over four months in 2022.” President Buesing said, “SIPC is off to a great start this fiscal year! We are excited about several new projects we are considering to help women and children and will let the community know about them when we are ready to roll them out.” For information on the local Soroptimist club and how you can make a difference locally and throughout the world, contact President Terri Buesing at 580-7637052.