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SI Chico E-blast news & more
March 16, 2020 | Volume 20 Issue 31
Message from President
Carrie Pavis
Greetings!
Crazy to think that a Pandemic is happening in 2020, and that the most valuable item is TP!

As you probably know by now, SI has directed all clubs to suspend regular meetings until after April 15 th, at which time we will reassess and decide how to proceed with the health and safety of our members at the forefront with our meeting schedule, this means we won’t be back to regular meetings until May 6 th at the earliest. We have decided to move to virtual meetings, beginning with our board meeting on Monday night. At this point I’m not sure if we will have a business meeting or just have a virtual vote for pending motions using Survey Monkey. If you have questions regarding awards events or programs coming up, you can e-mail me, I have asked all the co-chairs to continue with committee responsibilities and allowing them discretion on whether to use email or an online virtual meeting platform. (this should be communicated to the co-chairs only, and they should direct those committee members to take care of this)

I have heard from our Governor-elect and they are going to reschedule the SNR, Regional Conference at the end of April in Reno, as soon as a date has been picked, she will let me know. Please make sure you cancel your hotel room.

Since we are a first and foremost, a service organization, if any of you have any ideas or suggestions of how we can help our community during this crisis, please let me know. I know for sure we should all check on our senior family members and our Senior Members of SI Chico.

We will continue to communicate regularly through our SI Chico members only Facebook as well as via our weekly eblast.

We will get through this. Looking forward to better times ahead.

President,  
All scheduled programs and meetings have been cancelled
through April 15, 2020 per SIA due to the Coronaviris (COVID-19) outbreak.



Governor's Message
COVID 19 –  Let’s start off with what’s on everyone’s mind: The Corona Virus. Your Region Board of Directors met Friday night via conference call to discuss what is best for our membership and our region and unanimously voted to postpone Region Conference. While our conference is after the recommended date of April 15 that groups should not congregate, we felt that it was too risky to wait to make the decision. This was a difficult decision, but we feel it’s the right one. I wanted you all to know as soon as possible, even though we don’t have all the details yet. Here is what we do know:
  1. Please watch for a special eblast toward the end of this week announcing the new dates for conference and more details.
  2. If you have hotel reservation with the Atlantis, they will automatically be cancelled and you will receive a refund. Please be patient, as it might take a week or so to show up. 
  3. If you have registered for conference, please be patient until we announce the new dates. If you can still attend, you do not need to do anything. We will merely change the dates on the registration and you are all set. If you cannot make the new dates and need a refund, we will give you an email address to request one. 
  4. If you are a region committee coordinator or have volunteered to do something for conference, either Governor Elect Sarah or myself will be in contact with you soon with further details.
  5. We will move forward with region elections by setting up a system for clubs to vote electronically. All candidates will produce a video to be posted on our region website. Each club will get 3 votes, as at conference (President and 2 delegates). More information to come on how this will work.

The board hopes that you understand that this decision was not easy and is unsettling for us all, but our situation is very fluid and unprecedented! We have the best interest of our members at the heart of what we do. Thank you for your patience going forward!

SIA Directive on club activities –  All members should have received an email from SIA this week advising clubs to not hold any activities through at least April 15. This is for the safety of our members and our communities.  To quote headquarters directly :  "In view of the seriousness and risks associated with coronavirus (COVID-19) infection - if you are in North America, Japan and Korea you must postpone or cancel all club events through at least April 15."  They went on in an email to Governors and Governor Elects to state:  "Does this mean events with members or nonmembers? Answer: It means all gatherings of people" "Does this mean club meetings? Answer: As you may know, we are having a global outbreak with sustained transmission. It is socially responsible to cancel events. An event is defined as a planned public or social occasion. Per our insurance broker, holding an event in any size given the current circumstances will be considered negligent, placing great risk upon the club, it's members, the region and SIAHQ"

If you have fundraisers scheduled, some clubs have asked their supporters if they wanted refunds or if they wanted to donate the price of their ticket, since that was the spirit of the fundraiser. Some clubs have been able to still raise some money this way.

Club Elections –   If club elections are to take place during this time of no meetings, each club should make their own decision based on the club’s bylaws/procedures on how they want to proceed with their own elections. Many small groups use Survey Monkey that has a voting mechanism.  There are also these possibilities: 


Given these unusual circumstances (and apparent unexplained run on toilet paper??), this is where we are right now. I encourage all of us to use this as an opportunity! Let’s figure out how to hold a virtual meeting? Explore video conferencing. Use this time at home to catch up on those undone chores. Read that book. Take a breath. Be grateful for the good things in our lives. Take care of yourselves!

Grateful for your support and friendship.


Governor Lane
Hello all,

SIA has sent out a directive in regards to Covid-19. As of this moment all DIBI programs are to be cancelled or postponed until at least April 15th.

I know many clubs are just getting going on their programs. If anything changes I will let you know.

Elaine Cassell
SNR Dream It Be It Coordinator
Congratulations to Carol Braziel, Bev Rozendaal and Linda Sheppard for their membership, dedication and service for 30 years. They are also all SIC Past President's.
Congratulations to our LYD Awardees, Idalee Montgomery and Aimee Ellingson. LYD Coordinator Rosie Potestio, LYD team, Linda Allen and Shawn Murphy with President Carrie Pavis. Read more
Congratulations
To everyone that received their years of service recognition pins. Left to right: Stephanie Giacovelli 5 years, Lauren Wright 5 years, Nancy Hanson 5 years, Linda Bates 15 years, Kit Oldham 5 years, Carol Braziel 30 years, Bev Rozendaal 30 years, Linda Sheppard 30 years. Presenting the pins is Sandi Decker.
March Member of the Month
What’s there to say, about me, Carla Bee ? Well, I am not a poet but am a lover of life, arts, travel, nature and people!

I grew up in Hayward CA, with four siblings, 3 sisters and 1 brother. Living in the Bay Area during the 1960-70’s was both an exciting and challenging times. Our lives were enriched from the time my father was mayor to a member of the California legislator.

At a very young age I was taught, ‘that all lives matter’ and treat everyone with dignity and respect. 

I attended Chico State from 1972-78. During that time, I received two Bachelor of Arts degrees, in Early Childhood Education and Social Welfare/Corrections. This is where I found my passion, teaching and working with at-risk children; particularly those with developmental, emotional and cognitive disabilities. So throughout Northern California and Oregon my journey began, working in preschools, group homes, detention facilities, licensing foster homes, and counseling teen mothers on public assistance.

Then for the next 30 years, while living in Oregon, I had three gorgeous children, completed my Master’s degree in Adult Education and worked at two separate community colleges. As Director, of the Job Opportunity Basic Skills/JOBS Program, I administered comprehensive programs that provided education, vocational training and counseling to recipients on public assistance. Most REWARDING job for me, EVER!

Retired at 58 years old, sold off most of my belongings and moved to the Dominican Republic for a year. Biggest stress living there was, “shall I lay in a hammock or lay on the beach”? When I got too much sun and sand, I volunteered some at a local orphanage, taught English and/or worked with victims of domestic violence. 

Seems to be a common thread throughout my life, no wonder Soroptimist International is such a good match for me!

Then four years ago I returned to Chico, and since then I’ve been fortunate enough to do lots of traveling, camping, biking and kayaking. Living the Good Life!
Dress A Girl Service Project 2020
YAY! We completed our first sew in! Our next one is Tuesday March 31st from 5-9. This is a fun and rewarding project. You don't need to be a seamstress to volunteer.

We will supply pizza, you bring your own drinks.

A signup went out Sunday, Jan. 12th via email.


For your convenience to access the signup click here

Cyndi Murdoch & Laura Burghardt
Dress A Girl Service Project 2020 Coordinators
Message from Laura Burghardt : Thank you to everyone who participated in the first of two “Dress a Girl” sew-ins at Cathy’s Sew ‘n Vac! A wonderful time was had by all, and we got a great start on our project! next sew-in is Tuesday, 3/31/20. Welcoming new sign-ups for cutters, ironers, and sewers. Great camaraderie; wonderful project!

Message from Cyndi Murdoch : What a great turnout. Thank you for all that participated... I’m so excited that we got all the fabric cut into dress lengths, pockets and bias. 35 kits are ready for sewers. .
UPCOMING EVENTS
April 18th and 19th, 2020
Silver Dollar Fair Grounds, Chico, CA

Last chance to volunteer this club year.

Sign ups went out on Saturday, Feb. 29th check your email. For your convenience click here to sign up for a shift.



PLEASE NOTE

If you are doing the Poppy Walk on the morning of Saturday April 18th, sign up for an afternoon shift at Home and Garden or select a shift on Sunday.
This is our President's project and Carrie has put together an SI Chico team. To join our team go to:
Next click on "Join an existing team"     In the box "Team Code" type   77BVGY1S  then click on validate
YOU ARE INVITED
The last lunch social of the year is April 29 and you are invited. Invitations went out Friday, March 6, check you email. Click here to see invitation.

Hosted by: Events Committee
NEWBIES NIGHT OUT on April 17 at Linda Allen & Gayle Hutchinson's home from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm. Invitations were sent out Saturday March 14 check your email. Click here to see invitation

Organized by: SIC Objectives/Membership sub Committee
SAVE THE DATE
Billie's Installation: 
June 15 at Canyon Oaks 6pm - 9pm   

Summer Picnic:
August 23rd at Merlo Park, Stirling City

Click on the picture above to see a 4 minute video of this beautiful park.

Retreat:
September 18-20 at Railroad Park Resort in Dunsmuir 

Click on the picture above to visit their website.
Let's Take The Train to the SIA Convention Update

There are no plans to postpone or cancel the 46th Biennial Convention in Bellevue, WA.

The Health and Safety of all Convention attendees is Soroptimist’s highest priority. We have been assured the highest possible degree of hygiene, safety and medical care at the convention will be taken. The  convention web page  will be updated regularly in the coming months leading to the Convention.
That said:
  • Recommended by the SIA Convention Committee
  • Breathtaking Scenic Views
  • Fun and Affordable
  • No matter what, you’ll have a day of travel...why not do it the relaxing way?

Where are we as a group so far?
Governor Lane and I are booked.  We’ve decided to book Business Class for our trip to the SIA Convention. She will depart the train station in Sacramento, and I’ll get on in Chico.

It’s not too late.  Go to Amtrak.com and make your reservation on the Coast Starlight, to arrive on Tuesday, July 21st. I will be returning by train, Business Class, on Sunday, July 26th.

We’ll make a dinner reservation for the early seating.  The Coast Starlight has a dining car, the famous Sightseer Lounge Car with floor to ceiling windows, and a club car.

Book a room for Tuesday night at the SIA Convention Venue.  Use our Soroptimist Convention code to receive the discount. We’ve found this is a fabulous deal; likely the best in Bellevue.

Click  here  to download a shareable flier!

Lisa Fitzgerald, District 1 Director

Sandi Decker & Linda Kerch
Co-chairs SI Objectives Committee  

Natalie Conrad & Kit Oldham
Coordinators
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Editor