Pillar Posts ~ From Sierra Pacific Region Chairs

(Please read as correspondence at your next business meeting & email to your club’s Committee Chairs.)

FUNDRAISING PILLAR POST by Barbara Giambastini, SPR Chair
Club Giving is the fuel that fires our Soroptimist Programs! Has your club made the pledge to support the programs that change the lives of women and girls enabling them to live their dreams?

MEMBERSHIP PILLAR POST by Amory Elizondo, SPR Chair

Tip of the Month: Start Members Off On the Right Foot with an Orientation. In a recent survey, 98% of new members who attended an orientation session strongly agreed that attending one was a good use of their time. If your club is not helping new members learn more about our wonderful organization, it’s time to do so! Start a welcoming and orientation program right away.

October’s Challenge: Chose one of the following….
1. Send me a picture of your new member at orientation
2. Invite me to your next committee meeting or event
3. Add me to your club’s FaceBook!
Submit report to Amory Elizondo (spmembership@soroptimist.net) for your prize!

PROGRAM PILLAR POST by Bonnie White-Silveria, Live Your Dream Region Chair
In this month’s Soroptimist Summary, there was a reminder about Live Your Dream grant eligibility requirements. A club cannot be considered participating if it selects a woman who is not eligible. Make sure you read the eligibility requirements and keep the deadline of Nov.15th in mind for submission of your club’s recipients.
One question that has been clarified regarding eligibility is that applicants may already have a Bachelor degree, but they cannot use an award for a graduate degree. If an applicant already has a bachelor degree, she is eligible if she is enrolling in another Bachelor program (likely to change careers).

PUBLIC AWARENESS PILLAR POST by Kate McGuire, SPR Chair
After judging your club’s winners of the Live Your Dream entries, by submitting to the press or posting on Facebook each winner’s story separately, your club is giving her, her very own moment in the sun; provided you have permission from the recipient to publish her photo and information.
Space each of your winners out with a week in between press announcements. Sending a photo—head and shoulders only—increases the chance your story will be published. Focus on making each winner’s story in your press release as compelling as it can be. Share your club’s winners and press releases on your club’s website as well as with social media, which will garner attention for her story with every outlet and with as wide of a net as possible.