Tri-City News – TriCities Soroptimist member voted onto SIA board of directors

A Coquitlam resident is now on the board of directors for the Soroptimist, an international volunteer organization for business and professional women who work to improve the lives of women and girls.

Angela Bunting, a home care nurse for Fraser Health, a committee member with Crossroads Hospice Society and a faculty member at Douglas College, will serve in her new position for two years in the strategic planning and program development for the organization as well as help it meet its Renaissance Campaign 2011 goals.

See TriCity News article.

Women with Cameras

We are delighted to welcome back British photojournalist Lee Karen Stow. Lee visited us last year to tell us about the Women with Cameras project in Sierra Leone. She has more stories to share, about the brave and determined women who through photography are improving their lives in that desperately poor country. Francess Ngaboh-Smart, one of the Women with Cameras members, has overcome obstacles and barriers to become a sought-after professional who uses her photographic talent to document the changes in her country. We had hoped to host Francess this summer, but she was denied a visa to visit Canada. We will have some of her work for sale.

Lee will also tell us about the amazing members of the Sierra Leone Women’s Boxing team, who are, quite literally, fighting to improve their lives and bring home the first Olympic gold medal in women’s boxing.

Tickets are $20 at the door. Join us for tea/coffee and dessert. Proceeds will go to the Women with Cameras project.

Date: Wednesday August 24, 2011
Time: 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Place: Coquitlam Public Library, Poirier Branch

Civil Society, Vaginas, 50 Billion Dollars and Poutine: A huge day at the Soroptimist International Convention in Montreal.

Day 5.  Montreal.  Soroptimist International Convention.  What an absolutely inspiring day!  I had to write more than the 420 characters that facebook allows me to use, so I’m just going to use our Soroptimist club’s blog.  I can’t even come close to doing justice to the plenary speakers today, so I’ll just try to capture a bit of the substance and my reaction.

The first plenary speaker today was the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, the Former Governor General of Canada, one of the most dynamic women I’ve ever heard speak.  She spoke on “Women: Leaders in Civil Society”, and I’m convinced the collective ego of the Canadian contingent present grew exponentially by the end of her session.

A few highlights:

• A civil society is made up of analysis, acceptance, curiosity and generousness of spirit.  We live in a society of difference.  We don’t need to like or love everyone; we just need to give voice to everyone.
• Canada is recognized around the world as a place where all people’s voices can be heard.  80% of the immigrants to Canada become Citizens within 3 – 5 years, unlike the US, which is only 48%.
• “Knowing a person’s story helps build a country’s strength”.
• “The most important thing in a family is the unrealized dreams of the parents” Carl Jung
• After fleeing Hong Kong after the Japanese invaded, she came to Canada as a 4 year old.  She lived at 227 Sussex.  Eventually she moved up the street to home of the Governor General at #1 Sussex!
• Organically, nothing stands in an individual’s way if they want to succeed here.  “Once you get to Canada, you are transformed”.
• We have had ugly periods of history, but look how fast we can change.
• Don’t put into other people’s minds what is in our own.

Adrienne Clarkson just radiated a warmth and conviction of character.  She had strong opinions on Thatcher, the importance of not choosing career over family, and the need to act individually but with respect for society and community and figuring out how we can all live with difference.

I didn’t think the next plenary speaker could match up, but I was in for some more serious wow factor.  Dr. Samantha Nutt is a 41 year old power house – a Canadian doctor who founded Warchild.ca.  Advocating for peace and social justice, she has worked in the most horrific war zones in the world: Darfur, Iraq, Somalia, Afghanistan, DR of Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Uganda and more.  Her talk was eye-opening.  Highlights (or lowlights, considering the subject matter) include:

• Don’t assume the women’s movement is over.  Our complacency is dangerous.  We must keep advocating for human rights for all.
• 70%of the world’s poor are women.
• The universality of the female experience.  She and a colleague attended a small Somalian village to talk to the women about the horrible practice of genital mutilation.  Outside the hut, the men were peering in until the eldest woman hollered out something in her native dialect.  Dr. Nutt got the translation. “Men, we are talking about vaginas in here.  Either come in and listen or get the hell out of here”.  They, like most men, dispersed at the vagina discussion.
• Democratic Republic of Congo – 5 MILLION people dead since 1995.  Worst war since WWII.
• ½ of the fighters are children forced into fighting.
• Rape is a widely used tool, making this a war against women
• Basically it is an un-war – a war over control of economic resources (minerals, timber, gems, coal tan (80% of the world’s coaltan comes from Congo, and it is used exclusively in electronics we all use, cell phones, computers, etc…)).  The militias take control of the resources and sell it for money or weapons. The closer to coaltan mines, the higher the incidence of rape.  It becomes a climate of impunity.  The purchasers may be acting on behalf of governments or corporations.
• Don’t be paralysed by an unwillingness to try.
• True social change begins with
  • Knowledge and information.  Learn about issues.  Get informed.  Advocate.
  • Donations.  Give time.  Give dollars.  For every year of education a girl receives, the birth mortality rate improves by 10%!
  • Socially responsible consumer and investment purchases.  Find out who the 100 top arms manufacturers are.  Check out SIPRI.  Check out www.theenoughproject.org to find out how ethically made products are.  Don’t buy blood products!
  • Listen to the stories of people and defend their rights.  Don’t allow those suffering to be silenced.  We can do something.  Find our voices.

You could not believe the energy level and the buzz of the 1200 women present in that room! And all of this was BEFORE lunch.

On a lunch tangent, I do believe that Montreal doesn’t do multi-grain or whole wheat bread.  All I have discovered is fluffy white bread that calls out desperately for butter and cheese and more cheese.  I think that Quebec has something great going on with bread.

After lunch, the workshops were smaller sessions attended by about 100.  I attended a session on Fair Trade with an excellent example of a Scottish town becoming a Fair Trade town.  Very interesting content, and I’m amazed at how far ahead Europe is in supporting fair trade – essentially a movement ensuring that 3^rd world producers are paid a fair wage for their products – than North America.  The benefits are numerous and we Canadians have a lot to learn and improvements to make in this area.

I also attended another amazing workshop presented by Soroptimists in Zimbabwe about their project that involved getting 50 girls to take photos of their lives and create art, essentially to “let the pictures tell a story”.   Incredibly moving photos and stories will be displayed in a gallery in Bulawayo.  The 10 year financial crisis of Zimbabwe was a huge backdrop to the individual stories which were about the brutal poverty most face, loss of family due to aids (although the aids rate has dropped from 60-20% due to education), abuse by relatives, harassment by boys, restriction to “chores”, no time for school, great distances to school.  $6 Canadian will send a girl to school for a year!  (Let me know if you would like the Soroptimist club’s bank account info to wire money).  They also would like bicycles to help girls bridge the distance to get to schools (often 20km away) and solar lights so the girls and families can read once the chores are done.  These Soroptimist women in Zimbabwe are just making such a huge difference in this country with a 95% unemployment rate!  Madeline, one of the speakers, joked that Obama had nothing on her country.  She gave me a 50 Billion Dollar Bill (SERIOUSLY) and said that wasn’t sufficient to buy a loaf of bread at the height of the financial crisis in her country.

Day 1 of actual content was simultaneously inspiring, depressing, overwhelming and energizing; I experienced such a range of emotions that I was wiped by 5pm.  However, that was quickly rectified by a Montreal thunder and lightning storm while we were on rue Jacques Cartier, a bite of Dana’s poutine and the most divine chocolate almond croissant ever.

Looking forward to tomorrow!

$20,000 raised at the First “Give Her Wings” Gala

A great time was had by all and over $20,000 was raised at the first Give her Wings Gala, held on April 29th, at the Inlet Theatre in Port Moody.

Guests were treated to comedy performances by award-winning Erica Sigurdson, Jane Stanton and emcee Duncan Minnett, as well as fabulous appetizers and enough prizes for almost the entire 180 people in attendance.

Soroptimist International of the TriCities was also pleased to honor this year’s award winners and give out almost $5,000 to these deserving women:

• The Ruby Award - honoring a woman who makes a difference for women through her professional or volunteer efforts – went to Sheila Dawne Early.

• The Women’s Opportunity Awards - for female head of households returning to school – went to Kimberly Polman and Danielle Remedios.

• The Violet Richardson Awards – recognizing teens who volunteer in the community – went to Brittney Martin and Emily Chan.

The event also raised more than $20,000 in proceeds which will go directly back to women and girls in our communities.

A huge thank you to all who attended, the awards judges and the generous sponsors:

• Diamond: Scotia Bank at Shaugnessy Station, Enerex
• Platinum: Ascenta Health
• Gold: Optimum Family Chiropractic
• Emerald: Askara Goldsmithing, Joe’s Atlantic Grill, Design by Desire Catering, Curves in Port Moody, Peachland Castle B&B
• Silver: Coquitlam Family Chiropractic, Penny Kearney of Pampered Chef, Pearcy & Company CGA, Marion Annand & Sid Rosenberg of WestCoast Realty

Give Her Wings Gala Featured in the Coquitlam Snap

Check out the great Gala Photos in the Snap Coquitlam

Give Her Wings Gala

Soroptimist International of the TriCities held their annual Give Her Wings Gala at the Port Moody Inlet Theatre. This wonderful evening included scrumptious appetizers by Design by Desire Catering, amazing silent auction items, hilarious entertainment with comedians Erica Sigurdson and Jane Stanton, and the presentation of the Soroptimist Ruby and Women’s Opportunity Awards. All proceeds from the fundraiser will go to support projects benefiting women and girls in the TriCities. For more information please visit www.soroptimisttricities.org.

The donations are rolling in!

Need a weekend away? Or some sparkly new jewellery? Or do you want to take your kids (or girlfriends) to brunch with some Coquitlam firefighters, a tour of the hall and a ride in the truck? Then make sure you’re at this year’s Give Her Wings Gala, hosted by Soroptimist International of the TriCities on April 29th at 6:30pm at the Galleria in Port Moody.

Not only do you get to hear two award-winning comedians (Jane Stanton & Erica Sigurdson), honor our amazing award winners, enjoy scrumptious appetizers AND help women & girls in the Tricities, you’ve also got the chance to win some amazing auction items. The donations are pouring in right now. Some of the items include:

• Gourmet Dinner for 20 in your home from Design by Desire Catering
• Luxury weekend getaway at a Sun Peaks condo
• Brunch for four with the Coquitlam Firefighters, including a tour of the hall and the town
• Signed Canucks t-shirt by 2011 Art Ross Trophy winner Daniel Sedin
• Not 1, not 2, but three beautiful pieces of jewellery from Sugarlime (including the Dakota earrings featured at this year’s Oscars)
• 10 Grandstand Tickets to the Vancouver Canadians
• A photo shoot and print with Nunuboo Photography
• Dinner & tickets to the Vancouver Symphony
• Dinner & tickets to Bard on the Beach
• Breakfast with Port Coquitlam Mayor, Greg Moore
• Yoga & Reiki treatments from Sapphire Island
• Eco-baby basket from Every Little Bit
• Silpada jewellery
• Spa packages
• And much, much more!

All you need to do to get a crack at some of these great prizes is purchase a ticket from your local Soroptimist soroptimist@tricities.net for $55 and come out for a great night! Plus, enter our draw to win an ipad2. Winners will be announced that night!

One Enchanted Evening – Enchantment for Everyone

When my Soroptimist club decided to partner with the organizers of this year’s Enchantment Project, I wasn’t sure what to expect.  “One Enchanted Evening” was launched last year in the TriCities to help teen girls in financial need get the items they needed to prepare for graduation.  Like always, I sent out an email to my regular contacts requesting girlie bling, dresses and shoes.   I am always flogging something – whether for my business or for a meaningful cause – so I’m pretty sure my repeated sales pitches for events, home parties, raffle tickets, and charity support sometimes get ignored.  (I’ve been doing it so long that my ego is now okay with being relegated to the junk mail folder).

I couldn’t believe how many responses I got, and I’m pretty sure it was more than women simply purging their closet of shiny bridesmaid dresses.  Whether we all watched Pretty in Pink one too many times, or our own grad nights were not quite the stuff dreams were made of, or we graduated in the 80’s and can’t bear to think of the hair styles or whatever the reason, the response was overwhelming.   I ended up dropping over 60 dresses off at Heritage Woods High School, plus lots of glittery shoes, handbags and sparkly pieces.   I hadn’t given my husband the head-up about this project, so he was a little perplexed when some woman (who I still don’t know the identity of) came to my door with a “wedding dress for Alison.”  I think he had a good few hours of soul searching before I arrived home to relieve his worries.  He forwarded my email to some colleagues at his school, and they too rallied.  Dresses, make-up, cookies, 20 leather BCBG journals and some random fists of bills “because I don’t own anything shiny and I’d like to help out”…it was amazing how many people wanted to contribute.

My single email also prompted local businesses to action.  (There were TONS of other businesses arranged by the main organizers, but these were just from my call to friends).   My sister runs the spa program at the West Coast College of Massage of Therapy; they donated 40 pedicures and manicures for the girls the week of their graduations, and her contacts at the Spas of America and Smellthis.ca and all came through with 40 unique personal care and beauty items.

As “ambassadors” for the evening, we were requested to wear all black.  I couldn’t help snickering a bit to myself because in general when I think of women all in black, I think of the lovely young things working at Joey Tomatoes and Earls, not those of us who would probably be more likely to be found at White Spot (eating the Hot Fudge Brownie Delight).

When the actual night rolled around, I think those 40 girls looked like deer in headlights when faced with us ambassadors, who all had a rabid gleam in our eyes as we envisioned ourselves as the newest version s of Stacy and Clinton from What Not to Wear.  What an unusual experience for them to just turn themselves over to us!   Our goal as ambassadors was to help each girl select a dress, the accessories and bling needed, and ensure they got their hair and makeup done so they could get professional photos taken by the wonderful photographer who donated time and the photos to each girl present.

I’m known as a pretty competitive kind of gal, and I couldn’t help but view this as my chance to “get my girl” outfitted the best!  I was fully prepared to go toe-to-toe with other ambassadors if we had to compete for the same dress.  Many people now know that I have very pointy elbows.

My girl was Brittney, a lovely girl, very quiet, and probably somewhat daunted by the volume of people present, the amount of dresses available and the sheer “girliness” of the evening.  She would have looked good in anything, but the dress she ended up picking looked as if it was custom-made for her.  It was the very first dress she tried on – a strapless sparkly bodice, with a fuchsia band and cream A-Line floor- length floral skirt.  She tried on one more dress (probably just to appease me since I didn’t want the fun to end) but the first one was clearly the winner.  I had mentally planned out my plan of attack earlier, so once we decided the dress was “the one” I raced over to the seamstress and dragged her to our change room so we could be the first in the alterations queue.  Yippee!   Shoes, purse, and gorgeous black sparkly jewellery just capped off the ensemble perfectly.  And since Brittney didn’t want snacks, while she was getting her hair and makeup done, I ate her share of cupcakes and cheese.

As well as ignoring the vegetables at the snack table, I got to see so many of the other girls revel in the fun of the evening.  I can’t imagine a woman not having fun getting to weigh in on all these beautiful dresses and hair styles.  While some of the girls were a bit shy, some just loved to come out and model their top 3 choices and get everyone’s input.  All of the girls had different stories.  Some had rougher upbringings, a couple were pregnant, some lived by themselves already, some were from war-torn countries, some were newer immigrants, some had been through foster care and most faced the ugly challenge of poverty.   But none of that mattered that night.

When Brittney walked out of her change room with her hair and makeup fully done and the dress altered, it was like a hush came over the hall.  I felt like I was in a teen movie and everyone in the hallway was looking at my girl and pointing with hushed voices.  In typical “wing-man” mode, I leaned over to her and whispered “EVERYONE is looking at you”.  She smiled shyly and whispered back “I know”.  It was impossible to not feel absolute glee at her unveiling.   At least 50 different people came up to her; she was just so radiant.  I actually felt a little tearful letting my little girl out into the world (apparently I’m going to be an actual wing-nut when my own little genetic offspring eventually graduate.)

I know the main organizer of the event (the awesome Karin Leathwood) will thank the numerous businesses and individuals who contributed so much, but I also feel the need to rave about what a wonderful community we live in where so many people took the time to help some young people out.  From those who donated a single dress or a pair of earrings, to the photographer who is ensuring that all grads can get photos, to the caterers, to the much-loved (by me and others) cupcake makers, to the seamstresses (especially the one who was going home to custom make a beaded necklace for one girl to match her gown), to the local spas and salons, to the AV students at Heritage Woods who played wonderful music that night, to the youth workers who know these young girls, to my Soroptimist friends…the sheer range of people who contributed to this event melts me.

One girl commented that she had never been treated so nice in her whole life (which is sad, but also touching in that one short night could bring such a smile to her face).  I’m pretty sure she would have ridden the bus home in her gown if she could have.  Others couldn’t believe that they got to keep the dress or that there were so many people in one place who wanted to help them feel special.  A few cried (mostly ambassadors, mind you).

By the end of the night, the transformation was amazing.  And it was so much more than the outfit and pampering.  It was the relaxed body language and smiles, the quiet giggles, the “Really?  You think it looks good?” and the genuine support the girls had for each other as they settled into the evening.  What a wonderful environment of women – young and young at heart – re-affirming the intrinsic worth of all present!  It didn’t matter the shape or size or the background of the girl.  Every single one looked so stunning by evening end.  But even the gowns couldn’t match the radiance of the smiles.  I felt so thrilled to be part of this wonderful event, and I continue to be so proud of my Soroptimist friends.

ipad2 Raffle Fundraiser

Be the first on your block to own a brand new ipad 2! Soroptimist International of the Tri Cities is raffling off a top-of-the-line ipad 2 – 64 gig + 3G. Draw date is April 29th & Tickets are only $10 each.  Email sitricities@soroptimist.net for tickets

( http://www.apple.com/ipad/)
( http://www.sfweekly.com/2010-08-11/news/ihelp-for-autism/)

Chances are 1 in 1000 (Total Tickets for sale) to win the grand prize.  BC Gaming Event Licence #31994
Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-888-795-6111 www.bcresponsiblegambling.ca	Know your limit, play within it.

Give Her Wings Gala – Comedy Night Tickets Available

Join Soroptimist International of the TriCities for a wonderful evening of comedy, appetizers and amazing prizes at the Give Her Wings Gala. Featuring the comic talents of  Leo Award-Winning Erica Sigurdson & Vancouver’s Funniest Female Jane Stanton.

Friday April 29, 2011
The Inlet Theatre – 100 Newport Drive, Port Moody
Cocktail Reception  6:30
Entertainment 7:30
Tickets only $55
No minors please.
To purchase a ticket email us at sitricities@soroptimist.net

Featuring:

• Sumptuous appetizers from Design by Desire Catering
• Amazing Auction Items
• Raffle for an iPad2
• Presentation of the Soroptimist Ruby and Women’s Opportunity Awards
• Fabulously funny comedians Erica Sigurdson and Jane Stanton

Proceeds to support:

• The Give Her Wings Girl-Empowerment Workshops
• The Enchantment Project
• PoCoMo Youth Society Girls’ Sexual Health Kits
• The Soroptimist Ruby, Violet Richardson, and Women’s Opportunity Awards
• A Warm Place for Women

International Women’s Day!

The members of Soroptimist International of the Tri Cities will celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8th by handing out chocolates to the women in our community.

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