Trafficking Survivor to Speak at April Collaborative Meeting
We look forward to seeing everyone.
Allison Temples & Nelly Jarrous
Co-Chairs, Anti-Human Trafficking Committee
Soroptimist Int’l Vista and North County Inland
Upcoming Events
March Program Meeting
EVENING MEETING!
Our March Program Meeting will be in the evening. Topic will be Soroptimist Programs in Africa.
GUEST SPEAKER: Pat Whitacre, a past Region Governor, will give a presentation on her trip to Africa with SIA, and on the Programs Soroptimist are doing there.
WHEN: Friday, March 21, 2025
TIME: 5:30 pm
WHERE: Fish House Vera Cruz, 360 Via Vera Cruz, San Marcos, CA 92078
NO HOST: NO HOST food and drinks
NON-MEMBERS: Contact us if you would like to attend so we can save you a seat!
Call 760-683-9427 or email soroptimistinternationalvista@gmail.com
February Program Meeting
EVENING MEETING!
Our February Program Meeting will be in the evening. Topic will be our Live Your Dream Program
GUEST SPEAKER: Susan “Sam” Buchenau, a past SIA President on Soroptimists’ Live Your Dream Awards program and how clubs work together with college professors, counselors and students to make a greater impact on more women in need.
WHEN: Friday, February 21, 2025
TIME: 5:30 pm
WHERE: Fish House Vera Cruz, 360 Via Vera Cruz, San Marcos, CA 92078
NO HOST: NO HOST food and drinks
NON-MEMBERS: Contact us if you would like to attend so we can save you a seat!
Call 760-683-9427 or email soroptimistinternationalvista@gmail.com
January Program Luncheon
For more information, visit https://www.lasvalientes.org/
Our guest, Dr. Ana Serrano spoke at our January 17 program meeting. She had us riveted in our seats with her background of domestic violence history in her
marriage “right after the honeymoon.” With many pleas to her church leadership for help, and time after time reaching out to her mother-in-law, she always got the
same answers: ”Just give it another try” or “Hang in there.”
It never got better; it escalated, even when he promised he would stop. The emotional and verbal abuse took a toll on her as did the physical abuse. After 22 years of abuse, she divorced her husband. After hard work and many prayers, Ana’s path led her to start her non-profit, Las Valientes (breaking the chain of violence) God’s Heart Ministry to help women escape domestic violence like she experienced for so many years.
Our thanks to you, Dr. Ana Serrano, for your compassionate work.
Soroptimists at January Program Luncheon: Back row: Nancy Schaedler, Nelly Jarrous, Sari deBoer, Judy Gregorie, Allison Temples, Jody Haddon, Runa Gunnars, Katie Melendez, Dyana Preti, Aleta Dirdo, Elizabeth Freed. Row 2: Pat Origlieri, Lani Beltrano. Front row: Susan Roncone, Guest Speaker Dr. Ana Serrano, Eden Weinberger, Sherry Luz, Lynn Flanagan
30 Miles in 30 Days Fundraiser
*30 Miles in 30 Days Fitness Challenge Fundraiser:
WHEN: The challenge begins January 1 and ends on January 30
WHERE: Anywhere you can walk/run/bike safely!
WHAT: You sign up online, pledge $1 per mile walked (or whatever you can afford) and walk/run/bike a total of 30 miles in January. Online options include donating without walking, signing up as an individual, joining an existing team, or forming your own team.
WHY: This is a fundraiser and all funds raised through pledges and donations will go to our Service Fund to support our mission of helping women and girls get the education and training they need to succeed.
HOW TO SIGN UP: Visit https://bit.ly/4gpARtD
Whether you choose to walk or run inside, outside, on a treadmill, on a bike…we only challenge you to cover 30 miles in 30 days in January. This challenge is excellent motivation for you to get in shape while raising money for a good cause!
2nd Panda Express Fundraiser Dec. 13
Our 2nd Panda Express Fundraiser will be a one-day event on Friday, December 13. We are again teaming up with Panda Express to make a meaningful impact on the lives of women and girls. 28% of every online order placed on that date through pandaexpress.com or the Panda Express mobile app using code 925809 will be donated to Soroptimist International of Vista and North County Inland. Our last Panda fundraiser raised about $200 for our Service Fund! Can we beat that this time? And let’s face it: at this busiest time of the year you deserve a day off from cooking!
How It Helps:
The money goes directly to our Service Fund to be given as educational grants to women who are struggling to support their families.
Get Involved:
Donate Directly: Can’t order on December 13? You can still contribute directly to Soroptimist of Vista & NCI by clicking DONATE WITHOUT ORDERING.
Human Trafficking Awareness Walk
Soroptimist International of Vista and North County Inland held its annual Human Trafficking Awareness Walk and Eventon January 11 at the United Methodist Church of Vista, 490 S. Melrose Drive, Vista.
Read Tom Robertson’s excellent article in the North County Daily Star here:
https://northcountydailystar.com/hundreds-take-part-in-19th-annual-human-trafficking-awareness-walk/
Giving Tuesday is December 3
GivingTuesday is December 3!
GivingTuesday is the Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the United States. Created in 2012, it’s a one-day fundraiser, a global generosity movement aimed at unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world by donating to their favorite non-profit. We are kicking off our club’s GivingTuesday fundraiser in advance. If you’d like to help, just visit and share our donation page at:
Funds raised online go directly into our Service Fund.
Applicants Sought for Live Your Dream Awards
Women who are the primary wage earners for their families can now apply for financial assistance through the Soroptimist Live Your Dream: Education and Training Awards for Women. The awards, which provide cash grants to help women continue their education or training, are open for applications until November 15. Soroptimist International of Vista and North County Inland will award recipients cash awards of varying amounts to be determined. These local winners may also advance to the Soroptimist Region level, where they could receive up to an additional $5,000. The program culminates with three finalists each receiving $10,000.
Recipients of the Live Your Dream Award can use the funds to cover various education-related expenses, including tuition, books, childcare, and transportation. Each year, the Live Your Dream Award program distributes over $2.8 million in cash grants to women who serve as the head of their households. Since its inception in 1972, the program has provided more than $40 million, helping tens of thousands of women improve their lives and those of their families.
Founded in 1953, the Vista club is part of Soroptimist International of the Americas, a global volunteer organization dedicated to providing women and girls with access to education and training for economic empowerment. The organization also runs LiveYourDream.org, an online community offering volunteer opportunities to support women and girls. For more information on the Soroptimist Live Your Dream Awards and to apply, visit here.
