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President’s Message

SI Tampa Board

Soroptimist Scene

approaching. Reach out to myself or any committee members with any questions or concerns. Love Ya’ll Cathy

Hello Everyone, As this new year begins, I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your dedication and hard work. Without you, there is no SI Tampa. Please know that each of you are phenomenal and truly appreciated. This newsletter is pretty jam-packed! We have some amazing events coming up. I hope that you are able to attend as many as possible. Please remember that one of our goals is to continue to put our name out in the community. This will help others to recognize us as well as

support our efforts. Along with that, we can reach more potential members. This will help our club to grow as well as to continue the work for years to come. Don’t forget to share invitations to our banquet and to our Dream It, Be It seminar that are fast

DDirectors Rosetta Peacock Vicki Salin –Decker Parlimentarian BJ Scott

President Cathy Strawser President-Elect Trish WIld Vice President Teri Matlach

Recording Secretary Mindy RIchards Corresponding Secretary Fran DeLuccia Treasurer Glenda Williams

Inside this issue:

LYD Banquet 2-3

Member Spotlight 5

Upcoming Events 6

Conference 6

Award Winners 7

Light Up The Night 2020 8

Special points of interest: President’s Message

Member Spotlight

Upcoming Events

LYD Winners

LYD Banquet

Newsletter - Feruary 2020

President Cathy

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You are cordially invited to attend the

Soroptimist International of Tampa

Annual “Live Your Dream” Awards Luncheon

~Honoring~

*Soroptimist “Live Your Dream” Award Winners*

*Violet Richardson Award Winner*

*Soroptimist Ruby Award: For Women Helping Women*

The Rusty Pelican

2425 Rocky Point Drive

Tampa, FL 33607

Saturday, March 28, 2020

Registration and Social

11:00 – 11:30am

Luncheon

11:30 – 2:00pm

Please RSVP By March 15th Make checks payable to

$30.00 per person Soroptimist International of Tampa

Please indicate your meal choice: Mail to: SI of Tampa

Breast of Chicken___ P.O. Box 271774

Salmon Monte Carlo___ Tampa, FL 33688

*Gluten Free & Vegetarian Meals Available Upon Request

Questions? Call Cathy Strawser, 813-715-2243; chicklit71@aol.com

*We will be hosting a 50/50 Rafflefle We will be hosting a 50/50 Rafffle

*Please bring cash if youo ’u’d like to participatete Please bring cash if yoou like to participatd te

To print a copy y click herere.e ick hercli ree.

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Soroptimist Awards Luncheon

RSVP Card

Saturday, March 28, 2020

The Rusty Pelican 2425 N. Rocky Point Drive Tampa, FL 33607

Name ______________________________________________________________________

Address _____________________________________________________________________

City ____________________________________ State __________ Zip ___________

Please reserve _________ places at $30.00 per person

Please list guest(s) name and meal preference for each on back.

Meal choices: Chicken Breast or Salmon

Gluten free meal is available upon request.

Please respond by March 15th, 2020 and make check payable to Soroptimist International of Tampa.

Mail to: SI of Tampa, P.O. Box 271774, Tampa, FL 33688

Questions? Call Rosetta Peacock 941-962-3091 or email: rmandisa@yahoo.com

To print a copy click here.

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February is Black History Month On September 3, 1944, in Abbeville, Alabama, Recy Taylor was a victim of a horri c kidnapping and sexual assault by a group of six white men who escaped justice simply due to the color of their skin. Taylor and a

friend were walking home from church when a group of white men, one of them in the military, drew a gun and forced Taylor into their car. They drove to a patch of woods and sexually assaulted her.

Although the kidnapping was reported by her friend (and later by Taylor) and despite the fact that the

driver of the car, Hugo Wilson, admitted he saw his six friends commit the assault,(he was ned $500 for "snitching" yet the men he named faced neither charges nor nes).

The NAACP later sent Rosa Parks to the town to examine Taylor's story. Parks' efforts lead to a trial in the city of Montgomery, but because the men were never charged, the all-white, all-male jury dismissed the

matter. Another trial ended in the same fashion despite even more evidence and even confessions.

After the trial, the Taylor family which included her husband and her child, faced violence, death threats, and a rebombing of their home. Reportedly, the town sheriff also terrorized Taylor and her family. The Taylors eventually moved from Alabama to Florida after enduring abuse and shame for two decades.

In 2011, the Alabama House of Representatives issued a formal apology for the injustices faced by Taylor

and her loved ones.

#mayweneverforget

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I was born in Tampa and am a proud Tampanian, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, friend and Soroptimist. I feel I was born with a service and altruistic heart. As a young child, giving my toys away, visiting nursing homes, and helping others always made my heart happy. It wasn’t until I was at USF and signed up for the “Mentoring” program that I learned how much of an im-pact I could have. I was blessed to be assigned a 5-year-old girl named Nikki. She was a part of mine and my family's life until she was 16. I cherish those 11 years. I not only grew from this experience; it solidified my passion to help build stronger girls.

Well, upon graduating from USF with a degree in Psychology I thought I want-ed a service-based career. Working since 15 and paying for school, I needed money to save for the PhD in Clinical Psychology that I thought I wanted. I worked at Camelot Family Services with the first In-Home Therapeutic Foster Home program in our state while saving money for grad school. It was here, that the

psychiatrist I worked with knowing my situation told me about Pharmaceuti-cal Sales. I had NEVER heard of this! But figured if I was teaching parenting skill and going into all different homes, I could certainly go into a doctor's office. My 5-year plan in Pharma turned into my 23rd year this past Decem-ber.

Throughout this time, I was always searching for ways to give back and feed my passion. I joined the Junior League for a short time and loved the service projects. However, the culture just wasn’t a good fit for me. Fortunately, I met Michelle Strawser through work and became fast friends. She shared Soroptimist with me and after attending a meeting I knew immediately that I was surrounded by like-minded and hearted woman and wanted to be a part of this club. I joined on Feb. 14, 2013.

There are so many great memories and I LOVE our yearly Awards lunch. But I do have 2 favorites. The first, is the Teen Achievers. I loved the mentoring program we developed and personally enjoyed the relationships built with

those young ladies. However, the day we planted the gar-den with the girls and Metropolitan Ministries school was su-per special. The second, occurred on Sept. 16, 2014 when my mother, Elsie Wise joined SI of Tampa. I knew she would love SI Tampa as much or more then I do!

I’ll close with a fun fact that most do not know. I am inspired and motivated by music, scripture and quotes. I make daily/weekly music playlists and have scripture/quotes ALL over! I’ll share my new February one: “Today I tilt my head towards the sun and bathe myself in the light of God. I allow Divine Source to fill my heart with love and awaken me to the glori-ous possibilities of my life. With joy in my heart, I follow my soul’s path and allow miracles to find me at every turn.”

#WEAREONE

Member Spotlight ~ Meet Carmen Melton

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Monthly Meeting February 13, 2020 5:00pm—7:00pm Location: The Children’s Board, 1002 East Palm Ave., Tampa

Mark Your Calendars

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Awards Banquet

We will see you on March 28th! The Rusty Pelican will be hosting us again. More information to follow!

******************************************

Dream It, Be It One Day

Conference!!

This event is coming up on

April 18, 2020.

We will be at the Children’s Board again this year, so plan to join us.

****************************************** Southern Region Conference is coming to Tampa!!

Mark your calendars now for

April 24th-26th, 2020

Keep an eye out for more information to follow!

Click to reserve your tickets today

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Meet our Live Your Dream Award Winners

The judging is complete, and Soroptimist International of Tampa has selected three women to receive the Live Your Dream Award. This article will introduce our winners, but you’ll have the opportunity to meet them in per-son and offer your congratulations at our Live Your Dream Award Luncheon on Saturday, March 28, 2020.

Patricia Polites, age 47, is the divorced mother of seven children, with the youngest two still living at home. Patricia experienced signi cant childhood trauma in her earliest years and dropped out of high school at age 17 when she became pregnant. In her application she said that she continued a pattern of relationships with men who were alcoholic and abusive. In 2011 she made the decision of break off from these abusive relationships and moved out with her minor children. She worked three jobs to support herself and her children and focused on improving her employment situation and providing a home for the family. She became a store manager and then went to work for the US Postal Service. In August 2019 she relo-cated from Pennsylvania to Seminole, Florida. She decided that this was her time to accomplish some of the things she had put off while raising her children alone. She enrolled in an Adult Education program and in ve weeks earned her GED high school certi cation. She ap-plied to St. Petersburg College and was accepted to begin classes in January 2020. Patricia is now studying toward a bachelor’s degree in environmental science. She said that she has had to work in conditions that were dangerous and unsafe, and she hopes that this degree will give her the tools to promote safe working environments for others.

Alissa Coursey from Oldsmar, Florida is a 40-year-old single mother with one child. Alissa struggled for years with a husband with drug problems and nally relocated to Florida to be closer to family members here. Then she was hit with a cancer diagnosis that set back her plans for school. The past year has been particularly dif cult with the death of her ex-husband, her daughter’s father. With an LPN license, Alissa wanted to return to school to complete a nursing degree. She had to take some preliminary courses and was nally accepted into the nursing program at St. Petersburg College. Alissa is working toward her associate degree in nursing and should com-plete this program in December 2020.

Megan Astor from Celebration, Florida is a divorced mother with three children: ages 2, 7 and 9. Megan loved her work as an early childhood educator. After marriage, she stayed home to raise the children and her teaching certi cate expired. In January 2018 her husband left the family after draining all their nancial assets. In her ap-plication Megan says, “His alcohol addiction won over us. I was left without a home, without a bank account, and three young children to care for entirely on my own.” Megan is working part-time, and she wants to return to her teaching career. She has been accepted at Valencia Community College to take required courses and subject area exams to renew her teaching certi cate. This Live Your Dream award will cover her tuition costs to achieve this goal.

These three award winners are amazing women who have struggled with pain and hardship, yet they have held onto their dreams to complete their education and build a better life for themselves and their children. We are honored to be able to encourage them and wish them the best in achieving their goals.

Live Your Dream Committee: Diana Miller, Lorraine Lundy, and BJ Scott

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A few members of the club supported human traf ck-ing awareness by participating in the Light Up The Night 5K on Sunday, January 26th. Here are a few pictures from our day.

#ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)

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Heroes do extraordinary things that demonstrate courageousness, kindness, and compassion. Sounds like a Soroptimist, right? Help grow our forces by using this customizable advertisement to attract other like-minded women who want to be heroes and make the world a better place for women and girls.

Wanted: Soroptimist Heroes

No February Birthdays. Check back for

birthdays happening in March!

SI Tampa P.O. Box 271774 Tampa, FL 33688

Email: sitampa@soroptimist.org

Web Address: www.tampasoroptimist.org

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