Love's Journey

I've been blessed to see many degrees of love
To be born and raised with the deepest of love
Unconditional, overflowing, ever growing love

There are no limits on its gifts, freely given love
I've seen it taken and neglected, unappreciated love
It heals and mends and keeps together, the forgiveness of love

A life with love is full and strong and keeps us going on

Bernadette M. Archuleta - 2/6/09
SI Corona

President's Message

It's amazing how fast the year is passing. My roller skates have not stopped turning....

Many of us enjoyed the Fall Meeting in Ontario this year. Their theme was "Walk the Red Carpet" and that is what we did for the dinner on Friday night. We were treated like celebrities. Besides gaining some valuable information, our club was recognized in Soroptimist Celebrating Success 2008 with certificates for our fundraiser Chocolate, Wine and Jazz and also for our Website. Great job to all of us!

We were visited by Smart Car and had an insightful presentation on Juvenile Diabetes. The highlight of December was our Holiday Party at Sylvia Fleming's beautiful home. We had a Mediterranean Cuisine and were entertained by songs from Cyndi Monroe. In lieu of our ornament exchange, we donated to the "The Sierra Leone Tree" and raised $362.00. Marcy Decato did an awesome job putting this event together.

After our two-week break, we were all rearing to go once again. Over 18 counselors and principals joined us for an informational luncheon. Anna Marie Mergadichan, our district one director visited our club and updated us on Golden West Region. It was a pleasure having her. Marcy gave us a presentation on communication in different cultures. She enlightened us on what one hand sign or word means to us and what it means in another country.

I want to thank our chairs Laura Janik and Amy Ladika for their work on Women's Opportunity Award and to Geri Molner for chairing the Violet Richardson award as well as the Live Your Dream Art Contest. We are so proud to be able to participate in most of the Soroptimist programs.

We have inducted another 3 members. We are very excited to have Susan McIver (who by the way found us through our fundraiser, Chocolate, Wine and Jazz) and also Bernadette Archuletta and Glenda Holowatch.

We are looking forward to our Dreams and Decisions workshop, Women Helping women and scholarship luncheons coming up. The second half of the year will be even more exciting than the first!

Seema Lechner, SI Corona President 2008 - 2009

Treasurer's Report
By Debbie Miller - Treasurer

Thank you to all our members for so diligently working to keep your accounts current. As we discussed and approved at the January business meeting, the club is changing the budget for Dreams & Decisions from $8000 to $4000 for this year. Thanks to Lou and Kristi for so diligently looking for cost savings and in kind donation for all aspects of the project. As we look throughout the remaining service projects of the year, please take into account cost savings that can be implemented within all areas.

If anyone has questions remaining related to your account balances, please feel free to contact me directly.

Service Projects

By Paola Ringer - 1st Vice President Service

Dear Ladies,

Our Focus Reports Deadline is fast approaching.

While our deadline is March 1st for SIA, we want to make sure we have them in before. As a "distinguished" Club, we want to assure our deserving Awards at the end of the year & at our Spring Conference in May.

Before you submit your reports online, PLEASE make a copy (you can easily highlight your report and print by selection). We want to have a hard-copy for our Club records.

For the Chairs in which the Service Projects have yet to be completed... It is my understanding that you will prepare the report immediately following the event.

As you have questions, please feel free to email me or call me. I would be happy to assist. For my part, I will contact Margie Burke, Focus Reports Committee Chair for District 1 to make sure we have a smooth process and to guarantee all parties have received the required paperwork.

Our Focus Reports are of extreme importance, as it records all the hard work we have performed as a Club. It also recognizes us on a District, National, and International level. It's a good thing!

Thank you for all your work!

Committee Reports

Dreams & Decisions
SI Corona SOS Project
Project Co-Chairs: Kristi Kenney and Lou Sanderson

Theme: "FIND YOUR VOICE"
Date: Saturday, March 7, 2009
Place: Citrus Hills Intermediate School

This year's workshop will focus on three topics:
1)    Create Honest and Safe Communication
2)    Understand Teens and Adults Around You
3)    Express Who You Really Are

We are set for another successful year of Saturday of Service with your Dreams & Decisions workshop; Kristi and Lou have been diligently planning and finding great resources to make this happen and with the help of the rest of the committee SI Corona is ready to deliver a great message to the Corona teens this year.

International Project: Sierra Leon
By Beth Groves - Project Chair

Project Sierra: A Family and A Future

♥   Support for vulnerable children in Sierra Leone, West Africa
♥   Quadrennial Project
♥   SI partners with Hope and Homes for Children who has been working in Sierra Leone since 1996
♥   Improve health and life chances of women of children in extreme poverty
♥   Promote self-reliance
♥  Provide education and training on small business support
♥  Developing a model that can be replicated in other poverty stricken countries.

International Project: STOP Trafficking
By Marcy Decato - Project Co-Chair

The United States Senate has designated January 11 as the National Day of Human Trafficking Awareness, and opportunity to raise awareness about sexual trafficking and advocate for its victims. Soroptimist has joined the fight to end the widespread scourge of sexual slavery.

In Corona we have developed a marketing plan to deliver the presentation in a Power Point format to various service organizations, churches and schools. Our next newsletter will re-cap on the results of this presentations.

MADFW and WOA
Chair: Judy Horan
Luncheon Date: March 25, 2009
Place: TAPS Fish House, Corona, CA

Applications have been distributed thru the Corona Chamber of Commerce, ADV and CNUSD. We have received numerous applications of very deserving women, but please continue handing applications out; you have until March 1st to turn them in.

Welcome New Members Susan Diane McIver JPM Balanced Solutions, Inc. Glenda D. Holowatch Sign * A * Rama Bernadette Maria Archuleta Payday Payroll Services

News and More...
By Marcy Decato

Jan. 28th District 1 Director Annamarie Megrdichian came to visit SI Corona, as usual, we enjoyed her great humor.

Annamarie gave us a great report of what is happening at the international and regional level:

- Go to Soroptimist.org to vote for the new MADFW Award name
- Spring Conference in Albuquerque, NM: GWR is preparing 10 workshops, including terrorism, membership, technology, and more.
- Poetry book: dead line Feb. 10

__________________________

This year our SI Corona President, Seema has added another way of SOLT. In a weekly basis the member who gets "The Purple Box" also picks up a question to answer and to educate us all the following week, these are all questions about Soroptimist. Everyone is doing a great job, but Gerri Molner really went out of the way to create a sentence for us to remember the six areas of service:

Economic and Social Development
Education
Environment
Health
Human Rights/Status of Women
International Goodwill and Understanding

Each & Every Effort Helps Humanity Improve

Great Job Geri!

__________________________

Our calendar has been full of excellent programs this year:

- JDRF - Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
- Smart Car presentation and demonstration
- Visit from the Principals and Counselors of the School District
- Amanda Johnson from Motivating The Teen Spirit
- Chris Miller - from Thomas Miller Mortuary: pre-plan your own funeral arrangements
- Visit from District 1 Director, Anamarie
- International body language - by Marcy Decato
- Documentary: "The Day My God Die" about human trafficking

Congratulations Tracy & Seema for preparing great meetings every week!

_________________________

SI Corona selected Marcy Decato as their Woman of the Year to be honored at the NAWBO Amazing Women Event on April 29.

_________________________

With 12 nominations for 2008 at the Inland Theatre League Award we congratulate CAT - Cyndi Monroe's productions

_________________________

SEEMA OWES US A HEAVY FINE FOR THIS...
HER NIECE SOMIYA, ENTERED THE LIVE YOUR DREAM ART CONTEST AND IS ONE OF THE SEMI-FINALISTS!

LINK IS http://www.liveyourdreamcampaign.org/Contest_semifinalists.html

HER PICTURE IS OF OPRAH---HER NAME IS SOMIYA MAHESHWARI GRADE 7.

Oprah

Getting To Know...

by Beth Groves

"Getting to know..." is designed to help SI Corona club members get better acquainted with each other. The feature is based on a series of questions asked by club member, Beth Groves, and put together in this format. Enjoy!

Debra Murphy

Debra Murphy has lived in Corona since 1992. She joined SI corona in 1997. She was introduced to Soroptimist through Karen Spiegel and Paula Montanez. "I attended a couple of meetings and decided to join based on our mission of helping women and girls," Debra recalls. "I found that I am very passionate about helping women and girls! I love being a Soroptimist!"

In addition to serving on our club's Board for many years, and being a past president of our organization, she has worked at the Golden West Region level and District 1 level on the Violet Richardson Award Program for the past 9 years. Currently she is also an Alternate Delegate on our Board of Directors.

Debra is the Vice President and Business Banking Relationship Manager for Union Bank. She started her banking career with Union Bank in 1984. Last year, she decided to make a change from being a branch manager to focusing exclusively on our Business Banking Segment.

Debra is a "self-described" Navy Brat! She was born on in Portsmith, VA in the Norfolk Navy Hospital. She attended Esperanza High School in Anaheim. She has been married for 28 years to her high school sweetheart, Peter. "We eloped on December 1st, 1979 and our song is "Looks Like we Made it" by Shania Twain!" she said. They have a son, Christopher (age 28) and daughter, Michelle (age 22). She is aproud grandma of 3-- Jadyn (age 7) and the twins - Serenity & Spencer (age 5). She also has two 2 very spoiled pets. They are Shih Tzu's - Bailey & Toby.

Deb loves to travel and has Italy, Spain, and Ireland on her personal "bucket list". She collects Brighton jewelry and accessories and she enjoys wine-drinking it and collecting it. In addition to her commitment to Soroptimists, Debra is currently serving as President of the Corona Norco Community Council of the American Cancer Society and treasurer of the Corona Police Community Partnership. She is on the Board of Directors for the Corona Chamber of Commerce and is Past President and currently the Treasurer of Business Resource Connection.

Debra credits SI Corona as a place where she has met many wonderful girlfriends and professional contacts. She said, "being a Soroptimist is very prestigious! We are known in our local community for putting on very classy events, and really taking on service projects that are of a great benefit to our community such as the Teen Parent Program at Corona Vista, Alternatives to Domestic Violence and Dreams & Decisions. We truly make a difference in the lives of women and girls!"

Deanna Andrews

Deanna Andrews has been a member of SI Corona since the spring of 2008. A woman who jumps right in, she is currently serving as our Assistant Treasurer.

In her professional life, Deanna is the General Manager for Via-Ery Park N' Eat Industrial Catering. She has been serving in that capacity since 1988 when she graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a degree in Management and Human Resources.

A true Corona native and current resident, Deanna was born at Circle City Hospital. She attended Notre Dame Catholic High School in Riverside. Her daughter, Brittaney, has followed in her footsteps as she began her freshman year at Notre Dame this fall.

She and her husband, Dean, have been married for 18 years and have two children: Brittaney who is 14, and Michael who is 11 and is in the fifth grade at Foothill Elementary. They have a family pet named Princess--a golden Lab.

Deanna describes her clan as "a very busy family" that spends a lot of time involved in the kids' schools and activities. Michael plays travel baseball and Brittaney is a Varsity cheerleader so Deanna and Dean are constantly driving them back and forth to practices. Deanna also serves as an assistant Girl Scout leader. She loves to read and scrapbook and her favorite place to be is with her family, either at the beach or camping and quad riding at Glamis and Ocotillo Wells.

"I joined Soroptimist because I wanted to become more involved in the Community," she said. "And I love the projects that Soroptimist participates in."

"Salute to our Soldiers"
By Karin McGee

In 2009 let's pause to think of our heroes, living or dead who have sacrificed for our freedom

Karin McGee's Nephews:

Captain - Luke Dellenbach

Captain - Luke Dellenbach
Air Force - Bomber Pilot
Currently serving in Louisiana

Private First Class - Keef Turner
Army - Military Police
(Solider of the Month - January 2009)
Currently serving in Germany
soon to be deployed to Afghanistan

The Solider Poem
It is the Soldier, not the reporter,
who preserves the freedom of the press.
And it is the Soldier, not the poet,
who protects our freedom of speech.
It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer,
who puts his life on the line
To give others freedom to demonstrate...
and it is the Soldier
who salutes the flag,
who serves beneath the flag,
and whose coffin is draped by the flag,
who protects the protesters
right to burn the flag.

Quotes of The Month
Submitted By Judy Horan

Sister's day - Feb. 4

Good Morning Sister
Life is too short to wake up with regrets.
So love the people who treat you right.
Love the ones who don't just because you can.
Believe everything happens for a reason.
If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands.
If it changes your life, let it.
Kiss slowly.
Forgive quickly.
God never said life would be easy.
He just promised it would be worth it.

------------------------------

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent"
ELEANOR ROOSEVELT

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Key Makers
Some people see a closed door
And turn away.
Others see a closed door,
Try the knob,
If it doesn't open...
They turn away
Still others see a closed door,
Try the knob,
If it doesn't open,
They find a key,
If the key doesn't fit...
They turn away.
A rare few see a closed door,
Try the knob,
If it doesn't open,
They find a key,
If the key doesn't fit...
They make one.
These are the Key Makers

Jokes

Submitted by Debbie Miller

RETARDED GRANDPARENTS - (this was actually reported by a teacher)

After Christmas, a teacher asked her young pupils how they spent their holiday away from school.

One child wrote the following:

We always used to spend the holidays with Grandma and Grandpa. They used to live in a big brick house but Grandpa got retarded and they moved to Florida. Now they live in a tin box and have rocks painted green to look like grass. They ride around on their bicycles and wear name tags because they don't know who they are anymore.

They go to a building called a wreck center, but they must have got it fixed because it is all okay now, they do exercises there, but they don't do them very well.

There is a swimming pool too, but they all jump up and down in it with hats on.

At their gate, there is a doll house with a little old man sitting in it. He watches all day so nobody can escape. Sometimes they sneak out, and go cruising in their golf carts. Nobody there cooks, they just eat out. And, they eat the same thing every night --- early birds. Some of the people can't get out past the man in the doll house. The ones who do get out, bring food back to the wrecked center for pot luck.

My Grandma says that Grandpa worked all his life to earn his retardment and says I should work hard so I can be retarded someday too. When I earn my retardment, I want to be the man in the doll house. Then I will let people out, so they can visit their grandchildren.

..... PRICELESS

Thank you to all the contributors to this newsletter and for making it a success!