Benefit Concert TONIGHT!Enjoy the incredible song stylings of Hood River's own Makenzie Rose Bassham at 6 pm TONIGHT, November 15th, at the Hood River Middle School Auditorium. In addition to the concert, there will also be a bake sale and silent auction. You could do a little Christmas shopping and bring home dessert for after the concert!
The concert, bake sale and silent auction are part of a project that has been undertaken by this year's Beginning Leadership Class at Hood River Valley High School - to raise funds for the Foster Care programs of Hood River DHS Child Welfare. A visit by Soroptimists Judy Jensen, Chavalla Lopez-Bassham and Denise Rehse Watson, who spoke about Soroptimist International of Hood River's plans to renovate the Family Visitation Rooms at the Hood River DHS facility, inspired the class to take on this cause as their own. All members of the class have been involved in the planning and execution of tonight's events, including Makenzie Ross Bassham who is a member of the class.
Tickets are $7.00 for students and $10.00 for adults; tickets will be available at the door. All proceeds go to the Foster Care Programs of Hood River DHS Child Welfare. Tonight's event is presented by the Hood River Valley High School Beginning Leadership Class and sponsored by Soroptimist International of Hood River, Mountain Views Therapeutic Massage and Photosensitive Portraits.
EDITED TO ADD: MacKenzie Bassham ROCKED the house that night! Many thanks to her for sharing her amazing talent towards this cause! CONGRATULATIONS to the HRVHS Beginning Leadership class! Your hard work raised $2,500.00 to help redecorate and renovate the Visitation Rooms at Hood River DHS Child Welfare offices!
Photo by Denise Rehse Watson/www.PhotosensitivePortraits.blogspot.com
JOIN SIHR!
Send your name, address and phone number to SIHR, Post Office Box 51, Hood River, OR 97031 or email Carolyn at carolyn@bci-grp.com or call 541-386-3990.
Women of Distinction Award Winners!Susan Hess, Virginia Hosford and Nancy Johanson Paul are this year's winners of Soroptimist International of Hood River's Women of Distinction Awards. Each year since 1975, SIHR has honored women from Hood River County who have worked in a professional or volunteer capacity to make a significant difference in our community. Awardees are chosen from women who have been nominated by friends and peers.
An awards luncheon will be held on Wednesday, November 12th from 11:30am to 1pm at the Gorge Room at the Best Western Hood River Inn. Tickets for the luncheon are $15 each and available at the Waucoma Bookstore or by calling Soroptimist Elizabeth Garber at 541-387-2950.
Susan Hess was selected for her many dedicated years of work to improve the environment, especially in the Columbia River Gorge. Virginia Hosford, chair of the Hood River Library Foundation for four years, has spent her adult life working to improve the educational life of our community. Nancy Johanson Paul, founder of the 20 year old New Parent Services program, is honored for her many years of promoting the health and well-being of children and families in Hood River county.
Please come join us at the Gorge Room on Wednesday, November 12, to say "thank you!" to these three women who have given so much to our community!
Photos by Denise Rehse Watson / www.PhotosensitivePortraits.blogspot.com
JOIN SIHR!
Send your name, address and phone number to SIHR, Post Office Box 51, Hood River, OR 97031 or email Carolyn at carolyn@bci-grp.com or call 541-386-3990.
Women's Opportunity Awards -
FIVE $1,000 awards to be given away!
• Are you a single Mom or a woman with the primary financial responsibility for your household?
• Are you enrolled in school or vocational training to better your life?
• Do you need financial help to reach your goal?
If you answered YES to these questions - or you know of a woman who fits this description - you should know about the Soroptimist Women's Opportunity Awards!
This year Soroptimist International of Hood River is presenting FIVE $1,000.00 cash awards to eligible women! These awards are NOT a scholarship; they can be used for babysitter, gas money or books! But you've got to apply in order to be considered for these awards. You can pick up a hard copy of the application at the Hood River County Library or you can print the 6 page application at the top of this post. (You will need to print TWO copies of the Reference pages.)
The deadline for the submission of applications is December 1st, 2008. Completed applications must be mailed to:
Soroptimist International of Hood River (SIHR)
Post Office Box 51
Hood River, OR 97031
A local area winner may be selected to compete for a regional $3,000.00 award!
If you need help filling the application out or have other questions about the awards, please contact June at 541-387-7062.
JOIN SIHR!
Send your name, address and phone number to SIHR, Post Office Box 51, Hood River, OR 97031 or email Carolyn at carolyn@bci-grp.com or call 541-386-3990.
WINE, WOMEN & WOW!Ordinary women working together to do extraordinary things.
Soroptimist International of Hood River invites all Gorge women to an "after hours" event to be held Wednesday, October 29th, from 5pm to 7pm at The Pines Tasting Room located at 202 State Street in Hood River. There will be a no-host wine bar and complimentary hors d'oeuvres will be served.
This is a great opportunity to meet other interesting and involved women; a chance to promote your own event, project or program and ask for help with it; an excellent way to find out what's going on and learn how YOU can get involved!
If you'd like to reserve space to promote your own organization, project or event, contact Lisa Hargrave at 541-386-4785 or lhargrave@virtualpremise.com - space IS limited, so be sure to reserve YOUR spot as soon as possible!
One of our inspirations for this event was that evocative quote by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich (Women's History professor at Harvard University): "Well-behaved women rarely make history." Please join us for an evening of "misbehaving"!
JOIN SIHR!
Send your name, address and phone number to SIHR, Post Office Box 51, Hood River, OR 97031 or email Carolyn at carolyn@bci-grp.com or call 541-386-3990.
Iron Jawed Angels - Special One-Time Show Only!
Soroptimist International of Hood River is proud to present a one time showing of a moving and thought-provoking film every woman should see.
Oscar-winner Hilary Swank stars in a fresh and contemporary look at a pivotal event in American history, telling the true story of how a pair of defiant and brilliant young activists took the women's suffrage movement by storm, putting their lives at risk to help American women win the right to vote.
Make a point of being at the Skylight Theater in Hood River on Saturday, October 11th. This special showing will start promptly at 1:00pm, but come early and enjoy lunch and perhaps even win the raffle that will be drawn at 12:50pm just before the film starts.
This is a Private Party limited to 100 guests only - you MUST have a ticket to attend! Tickets are available at BCI Group on 307 Oak Street; to reserve yours, call Carolyn at 386-3990. A $5.00 donation will be requested at the door of the theater the day of the event.
JOIN SIHR!
Send your name, address and phone number to SIHR, Post Office Box 51, Hood River, OR 97031 or email Carolyn at carolyn@bci-grp.com or call 541-386-3990.
Eat Dessert First a Sweet Success!Eat Dessert First raised more than $800 for Helping Hands Against Violence and drew 36 bakers, nine each in the pear and apple categories and 18 in the baked fruit dessert category.
Monica Halici won the pear pie division; Leslie Sullivan won the apple; and Juliana Dolan won the baked fruit dessert. Each baker took home a $500 prize, donated by local businesses and organizations.
Kate Brownback, Hood River Soroptimist and Event Chair, was quoted by the Hood River News saying, "It was a great day; it felt like America. We so loved doing this and look forward to doing it again next year. It was a perfect day for it and alot of fun."
Many Thanks to our Event Sponsors!
Sponsor for the pear pie division was the Columbia Gorge Fruit Growers Association; apple pie sponsors were Shortt Supply and Billy Sullivan/Simple Works; and the Hood River Heights Business Association sponsored the best baked fruit dessert division.
Other sponsors included: Pacific Northwest Federal Credit Union, who contributed financially; Your Party and Rental Center donated the tables (delivering and picking them up!); Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital provided the ice cream; 10 Speed Coffee provided the coffee and Jamba Marimba played for free throughout the event. The City of Hood River and ODOT issued event and street closure permits at no charge; the Health Department charged only a nominal fee for a food event permit.
Photos by Denise Rehse Watson / www.PhotosensitivePortraits.blogspot.comJOIN SIHR!
Send your name, address and phone number to SIHR, Post Office Box 51, Hood River, OR 97031 or email Carolyn at carolyn@bci-grp.com or call 541-386-3990.
6th Annual EAT DESSERT FIRST!
Soroptimist International of Hood River has taken up where the good folks at Shortt Supply have left off and is proud to bring back the popular Gorge-Grown Fruit Dessert Baking Contest, EAT DESSERT FIRST! this coming Saturday, September 27, 2008.
Once again, there will be three $500 prizes: Best Apple Pie, Best Pear Pie and Best Baked Fruit Dessert. The contest is limited to the first 100 (or so) desserts submitted for judging. (Hey, who are we to turn away a delicious pie?!) Contest entry forms and rules are available at Shortt Supply, the Hood River Library and Gorge area fruit stands. You can also print out and use the entry form at the top of this blog entry.
The event will be held at the same place as in the past, on the sidewalk in front of Shortt Supply at 12th and Belmont, and start at 10am and run until 1pm. Get there early to get your share of some tasty treats!
Community sponsors of this much-loved event include Soroptimist International of Hood River, Columbia Gorge Fruit Growers, Shortt Supply, Hood River Heights Business Association, Billy Sullivan's Family/SimpleWorks, Providence Hood River, Pacific Northwest Federal Credit Union, Your Rental Center.
Jamba Marimba and the Hood River Valley High School cheerleaders will provide entertainment during the judging period.
Proceeds from the $10 contest entry fees and pie and ice cream sales ($3 a plate) will support the good work of Helping Hands Against Violence and promote our delicious Columbia Gorge fruit and its growers.
JOIN SIHR!
Send your name, address and phone number to SIHR, Post Office Box 51, Hood River, OR 97031 or email Carolyn at carolyn@bci-grp.com or call 541-386-3990.
June Knudson – Soroptimist of the Year 2007-2008
In her role as President for an unprecedented two years (normal term is one year), June spearheaded the concept of entrepreneurial leadership within Soroptimist International of Hood River. While acknowledging the balancing act of juggling home, career and community that challenges all women, June inspired us to renew our commitment to SIHR and move beyond the status quo. She instituted Project Managers and encouraged the establishment of a framework for all projects, insuring continuity from year to year and avoiding the starting-from-scratch often faced by new committee members. June established budgets, created flexible agendas and encouraged us to set new goals that reflected our mission of "the best for women."
June Knudson, “the reluctant president,” has been instrumental in taking SIHR to the next level and inspiring both old and new members with her commitment, drive and unflagging good cheer! Thank you, June, for your unfailing energy and contributions to Soroptimist International of Hood River!
JOIN SIHR!
Send your name, address and phone number to SIHR, Post Office Box 51, Hood River, OR 97031 or email Carolyn at carolyn@bci-grp.com or call 541-386-3990.
Photo by Denise Rehse Watson/www.PhotosensitivePortraits.blogspot.com
Fundraiser for Helping Hands Against ViolenceStacey Shaw and Swirl Wine Club present the compelling documentary “I Know I’m Not Alone” on Saturday, August 9th at 7:30 p.m. at the Columbia Center for the Arts. Proceeds from the viewing benefit Helping Hands Against Violence, Inc.
Two years ago world-renowned musician Michael Franti decided to ‘walk his talk’ and traveled to the war zones of Iraq, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This wasn’t a USO green zone sponsored visit – Franti and his team organized a trip that would take him to the core of the red-zoned, war torn neighborhoods of Baghdad, the West Bank and Gaza Strip with his guitar, video cameras and the intent to experience first hand the human cost of war. Out of this journey, Franti has created a compelling documentary film titled "I Know I’m Not Alone."
In addition to his groundbreaking music, Franti is a renowned speaker for social justice and human rights. He has lectured at many of this country’s top universities, including Yale, Georgetown and Stanford, and shared the stage with the likes of Mohammad Ali, Bill Clinton, Michael Moore, Ralph Nader, and Gloria Steinem.
A true armchair travel film, "I Know I'm Not Alone" pulls the audience into these war zones in the company of Michael's guitar, eloquence and wit – you feel the humanity, artistic resilience and sometimes horrific experience of what it's like to live under the bombs and military occupation.
Admission : $5 • Wine : $6 / glass
7 pm – 7:25pm Social/wine • 7:30 pm Film begins
JOIN SIHR!
Send your name, address and phone number to SIHR, Post Office Box 51, Hood River, OR 97031 or email Carolyn at carolyn@bci-grp.com or call 541-386-3990.
Installation of Officers 2008-2009
On a warm and windy afternoon this past July 3rd, Soroptimist International of Hood River installed our new Officers for our 60th year of service in Hood River. The celebration was everything that Soroptimists are about: camraderie, caring and community!
Shown here is the new board being sworn in by SIHR member, Judy Jensen (in order of appearance):
Lisa Hargrave, President • Harriet Kelly, Secretary • Carolyn Van Orden, Treasurer • Kate Brownback, Director • Mary Lively, Vice President • Vicki Claflin, Director • Michele Sliwa, Delegate
JOIN SIHR!
Send your name, address and phone number to SIHR, Post Office Box 51, Hood River, OR 97031 or email Carolyn at carolyn@bci-grp.com or call 541-386-3990.
Photo by Denise Rehse Watson/www.PhotosensitivePortraits.blogspot.com
What do Soroptimists DO?
Hood River Soroptimists are a Very Busy group of women! Here's just a few of the many ways that SIHR contributes to the welfare and well-being of women and girls in the Gorge:
PROJECTS
• The Lunafest Women's Film Festival is a fundraising and outreach program featuring independent films by, for and about women.
• The Community Baby Shower gathers supplies and clothing for infants born to women in poverty.
• Backpacks for Kids - Essential Care for Foster Kids is a partnership with Embarq to collect backpacks and essential care items for children in our community entering the foster care system.
FUNDRAISING RECIPIENTS
• Helping Hands Against Violence offers support and shelter to women experiencing domestic violence.
• The Hood River Young Women's Center provides young women who are leaving abusive situations with a safe, supportive environment while they make a new start.
• The Inspiration Circle is an after-school group that helps young women in high school reach their fullest potential through academic focus and community service.
AWARDS
• The Women's Opportunity Award is a cash award to female head of households seeking to improve their economic status through training and education.
• The Women of Distinction Award honors women who have made outstanding achievement in their professional, business or volunteer activities.
JOIN SIHR!
Send your name, address and phone number to SIHR, Post Office Box 51, Hood River, OR 97031 or email Carolyn at carolyn@bci-grp.com or call 541-386-3990.
Photo by Denise Rehse Watson/www.PhotosensitivePortraits.blogspot.com
