LAKE COUNTY — Soroptimist International of Clear Lake is making plans for the New Year. The club has selected recipients of its annual women”s awards and is looking forward to announcing those winners at its annual luncheon in March.
The guest speaker at the March event will be Dr. Dean Edell, who according to organizers is “America”s most listened-to source for health information.”
“Our Women”s Opportunity Awards will be presented at the March fundraiser, which will be really exciting for our recipients because they will get to meet Dr. Dean Edell,” Linda Bozorgnia, past president who has moved on to district director of fellowship said.
The club is very excited about next year”s Women”s Opportunity Awards, which are presented to three women who serve as head-of-house hold and are returning to school. “This year we had a very good turnout on the applications we received. There were a lot of qualified applicants and it was a very hard decision,” Bozorgnia said. “We looked at their goals and the goals that continue the Soroptimist mission, which is to help woman and girls achieve the best out of their lives.”
Along with the Women”s Opportunity Awards, the club also presents the Violet Richardson award each year. The award recognizes a young woman between the ages 14 to 17 who contributes exceptionally and voluntarily to the community. “This year”s selection process was very interesting. We had two applications two weeks before deadline and then we received three more on deadline,” Brenda Crandall, Violet Richardson selection chair person said. “We were very impressed by what each of the girls are doing and the girl we selected I think will represent our community well.”
The Woman of Distinction Award will also be presented in March. The award is presented to a woman who has done exceptional work for women in Lake County.
Soroptimist International of Clear Lake is part of a worldwide, nonprofit organization with more than 100,000 members in 112 countries. Since its chartering in Clear Lake in 1964, the organization has contributed thousands of dollars and even more hours of personal service to the needs of Lake County. A few of the groups that have benefited from Soroptimist support include the Freedom House, a domestic violence shelter; New Beginnings, the TLC House, which is a drug and alcohol abuse recovery shelter; the homeless shelter in Clearlake; local schools and other educational projects.
The club”s primary project is proving mammograms for low-income women and women without insurance.
Tickets to the annual luncheon are currently on sale at $50 per person. Table sponsorship is available for $750 and includes advertising, recognition during the award ceremony and front table that seats eight. A $375 donation includes advertising, recognition and a front table for four.
To purchase tickets, send a check payable to SI Clear Lake, PO Box 7167, Clearlake, CA 95422. For more information or to purchase tickets using a credit card, call Bobbie at 350-4851.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
