Author Archive: soropadmin

DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

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Soroptimist International received a request from the United Nations to sign the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They are hoping to have a billion signatures and they are only at 35,321 as of today.

Please share this and help support our cause by signing up today! Here is the link:

http://www.everyhumanhasrights.org

2008 is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 60th anniversary. It’s time for a global conversation about human rights and the values that unite us. It can also be a time when each of us chooses to take human rights into our daily lives, individually and collectively.

Image courtesy of Franklin D Roosevelt Library

Image courtesy of Franklin D Roosevelt Library

“Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home — so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any map of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person: the neighborhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm or office where he works.”
-Eleanor Roosevelt

TECH2008

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Rosie the Riveter

TECH2008 took place at the new Mohawk STARRT Centre at the former Stoney Creek Campus on Wednesday November 26. Over 200 young women attend the event each year and there was a lot of excitement amongst the organizers since this was the 9th year!

This annual event is a one day interactive career information conference for young women who are 15-30 years of age. The activities focused on where the occupational shortages are: the skilled trades and technology occupations.

Their icon, Rosie the Riveter, is from the United States, representing the six million women who entered the workforce for the first time during World War II, many of whom worked in the manufacturing plants. Rosie and her slogan “We Can Do It!” is now considered a feminist icon and a herald of women’s economic power to come. This was clearly evidenced by some of the attendees hoodies and purses that donned the character.

Our Soroptimist member, Brooke Gordon, volunteered as a team leader for the day. The agenda included Marissa McTasney, Founder and President of Moxie Trades, as the keynote speaker for the morning. This was followed by “speed networking” as team leaders had 6 minute intervals to interact with each table of girls to share their education and work history as well as answer questions (mostly about salary). Then with eye protection securely fashioned, the girls headed off on a tour of the wood working workshops (true workshops, not the meeting kind, with state of the art equipment) on their way to the exhibition hall. There were Canadian Forces Women, horticultural specialists, and chefs in training with smoothies, appetizers and pasta primavera being demonstrated with tastings. Amazingly, one of the welders apparently can make over $600/hour because of his underwater skills!

Some of the hands-on demonstrations included repairing bath-tub faucets, assembling a y-joint with plumbing materials, hammering nails (hilarious to watch) and using a dry-wall gun.

After a box-lunch, the afternoon was taken over by Union Gas for a junk-yard wars style competition to build an air-powered car! A fan was started up and first place was given to the furthest distance. Second place went to the best team spirit. The materials included:

  • a styrofoam plate
  • a plastic bag
  • some masking tape and scissors
  • a popsicle stick
  • a file folder
  • some string and zip ties
  • 4 paper clips
  • 2 rubber washers
  • 2 CDs
  • 4 wooden wheels with 2 dowels
  • 1 block of wood with some pre-drilled holes
  • 2 blocks of styrofoam
  • 1 large metal nut

The only requirement was that the nut had to be on the car and there was only 20 min to design and build it.

Brooke’s team came in second for distance (over 40′) and stayed straight the whole way. One of the girls, a grade 12 student from Hamilton, who claimed “I don’t know what I want to do” during the networking session, thought “making cars all day and testing to see how they work” would be the coolest job ever!

It was an excellent day!

End Domestic Violence

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In 1994, Soroptimist International of the Americas (SIA) made the prevention of domestic violence an organizational focus. Each year, on November 25 (the International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women), members participate annual in the Soroptimist Workplace Campaign to End Domestic Violence.

The campaign targets domestic abuse as a workplace concern. Domestic violence is a workplace issue because it affects both women and business, as most women work and they do not leave abuse behind while at the workplace. Abusers often harass their partners at work. In worse case scenarios, abusers come to the workplace and threaten their partners and their co-workers.

As business and professional women, Soroptimists are in a position to educate people in the workplace that women have the right to live free from violence. This year, our club members will distribute flyers at their workplace provided by the Neighbours, Friends and Family program of Ontario. There were safety cards and three brochures: How You can Identify and Help Women at Risk of Abuse; Safety Planning for Women Who are Abused; How to Talk to Men Who are Abusive.

For more information, we recommend you read the SIA whitepaper on Domestic Violence as a Workplace Concern »

Drummond House Bakesale on Nov 22

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When they said deck the halls, Drummond House took is seriously! The hallways, eight rooms and third floor losft of Drummond House will be decorated for their open house, while four Christmas trees will twinkle throughout the house. Read the full story at the Flamborough Review.

The Drummond House Christmas Open House and Bake Sale will be held on Saturday, November 22 from 1p.m.-6 p. m. The facility is located at 67 5th Concession East in Waterdown.

Sales of bakery items were provided by SI-DAF and members of the Waterdown community. Sandy Gray conincided the club board meeting and collecting baked goods with her annual bake exchange last night. There were literaly dozens of treats covering her dinningroom table: fudge, meringues filled with chocolate chips, cookies, date squares, chocolate covered pretzels and more …

Loonie-Toonie Auction

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With 106 auction items available for a loonie or a toonie per bid, we raised over $8,500 on November 12 at our annual Christmas Auction.

“We are thankful for the support of the community to make our event such a success”, from the Chair of Fundraising, Kerry Jarvi, who was our MC for the evening and assisted by past governor of the Soroptimist International of the Americas (SIA) Eastern Canada Region, Shirley McCoy. The grand prize, called Pearls & Passion, included a weekend getaway, theatre tickets, a gift basket to set the mood and an 18″ strand of pearls. There were over 200 attendees at the new venue, St Thomas parish hall in Waterdown, jockeying for the winning numbers. One of the first time attendees, a local resident of Waterdown, said that she had the best time in ages. “I had no idea what to expect and I didn’t quite get it until we got started but count me in for next year. I didn’t realize how much I had needed a fun night out and definitely want to come again.”

Thank you to the troop of extremely polite and enthusiastic young boys who volunteered from the local high school to hand out door prizes and sell last minute tickets for a Wheel Barrow of Wine, also known as Santa’s Sleigh of Sippin’ Sauce, which contained 24 bottles of white and red wine plus a shiny red wheelbarrow donated by Weeks of Waterdown. The winning ticket was drawn by Past Governor, Margaret MacRea. Congratulations to the winner – our very own Nancy Davidson of SI-DAF. 

We would especially like to thank all of Our Generous Donors and we encourage you to ‘Support the Businesses that support our Community’ (listed in alphabetical order):

Flamborough: Blanca’ Aesthetics, Bonnets & Bags, Boston Pizza, Curves, The Cutting Edge, Flamboro Mix & Brew House, Flamboro Springs, Kathy Holmes, PartyLite Gifts by Randi Warner, Polar Bay Wines, Runners Den, Vintage Performance & Restoration, Weeks Home Hardware
Dundas: Collins Brewhouse
Ancaster: J. Oulton & Associates, Nancy Davidson – Freedom 55 Financial, Renew You, The Spa at Ancaster, Village Tree House Child Care
Hamilton: A Clean Break, Bloom N Gales, Curves, Lucky Day Nursery, La Petite Spa, Tourism Hamilton, Hamilton Police Services, Hamilton Fire Services, H2H Entertainment
Burlington: The Natural Way, Women Who Excel
Brantford: Sanderson Centre, Bodega Inn
Mississauga: Tree of Life Canada
Personal donor: Margaret Robertson, K.T.- a Red Hat Enthusiast, Helen Bradley, Kim Gordon and all the Ladies of Soroptimist International of Dundas Ancaster Flamborough!

Live Your Dream Art Contest!

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Soroptimist announces the Live Your Dream Art Contest! Open to all kindergarten-12th grade students, this contest asks kids to draw a woman who inspires them—be it their mom or grandmother, a teacher, a woman from history, or even a woman depicted in fiction.

The contest is open to both boys and girls, and because it involves a visual medium, children from every SIA country can participate. The success of this project depends on your participation, and SIA hopes you and your club will promote the contest. This is an exciting opportunity to get your schools involved and raise awareness about Soroptimist and the Live Your Dream Campaign.

Visit LiveYourDreamCampaign.org and click here for contest rules, deadlines, submission guidelines, information about prizes, and an online publicity kit to help you spread the word. Contact siahq@soroptimist.org for more information.

Sandy’s Bio

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Sandra Gray has been a Soroptimsit since January 2004, currently sits on the Board of Directors as Treasurer of the club and is proud to call herself a DAF’er!

Sandy & husband Steve will be celebrating their 30th Anniversary in April 2009. They have 2 grown children, daughter Erin (25) who is just completing studies in interior decorating as well as planning her own wedding for next fall & son Brandon (23) who is co-owner of a busy Active Green & Ross store in Burlington.

Steve & Sandy have been co-owners of Weeks Home Hardware in Waterdown since 1987. The business itself dates back to 1823 as one of the original general mercantile stores in the area and amazingly in 185 years the business has only been in the hands of 4 different families! Having been known as ‘Weeks’ since 1925 it became part of the Home Hardware buying group in the late 1960’s. The Gray’s moved the business from its original location on Mill Street when they built the ‘new’ location in 1989 on Hamilton Street, a 25,000 sq ft store that employs over 65 people.

Sandy has sat on the Board of Directors of the Flamborough Chamber of Commerce for 5 years & was the president of that organization in 2006/07. SI DAF also happens to be an active member of the Flamborough Chamber of Commerce. She has been nominated for many awards recognizing community contributions including an Athena Award nomination & many Chamber of Commerce awards. Having won and been nominated for the FCC Community Service by an Individual Award so many times, that organization has since renamed that award in her honour.

Some of Sandy’s many past times include sharing the love motorcycles and old cars with husband Steve. They both ride their own Harley Davidson Motorcycles, she currently rides a 2008 FLHX. Sandy earned her motorcycle license way back in 1981 when seeing a women riding a motorcycle was a rare thing indeed! They also share the passion of restoring old cars having quite a collection of vehicles that they rebuilt together. Sandy is also one of the lone golfers in the SI DAF club, along with Blanca Pena. Incidentally Sandy accompanied Blanca to Cali Colombia in November of 2007 in efforts to start a Soroptimist club there!

So why did she choose Soroptimist International? Sandy is very passionate about helping others and has assisted many community organizations through her business, but she wanted to find something of her choosing that she could apply her energy to. Having always felt fortunate to never feel there were any barriers to achieving anything she wanted, she realizes that not all women have those same opportunities. To Sandy, Soroptimist International is ‘Women at their best, helping other women achieve their best’ and there is nothing better than realizing that you have truly made a positive difference in someone else’s life.

Wrapping Fiesta

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9am sharp the coffee was ready, the garage was open for cars to back-in and unload, and helping hands were ready and waiting. Sandy was kind enough to lend us her basement and the morning was spent sorting and assembling with ribbons, do-dads and cellophane wrap.

Friends & Fun Night at Barb’s

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Thank you all S.I. DAF members for the wonderful evening last night. Everyone contributed to make the evening quite enjoyable and memorable. A special thanks to Jane for ordering a most delicious (Indian) meal and to Pauline who helped with the delivery. Thanks to all who participated in searching our various S.I. websites for SOLT information to share with the club. A special thanks to all who brought guests to share our club meeting and a special thanks to Kerry and Brooke for fun ice breaker exercises. I am so proud to belong to such a fine organization with such wonderful women that I respect and admire and can truly call my friends. S.I. DAf rocks!
With much heartfelt affection;
Barb

p.s. Governer margaret joined us to talk about the Soroptimist Foundation of Canada and was kind enough to bring chocolate. Below are a copy of the games:

M&Ms game:

Red candy: favorite hobbies
Green candy: favorite foods
Yellow candy: favorite movies
Orange candy: favorite places to travel
Brown candy: most memorable or embarrassing moments
Blue: what interested you in Soroptimist

Sort & Mingle

cheesecake vs chocolate cake (dessert)
underwire vs no wire (underwear)
red vs white (wine)
kids vs no kids (family)
apples vs oranges (fruit)
Sears vs The Bay (shopping)
cruise vs all inclusive (holidays)
standard vs automatic (cars)
open toe vs closed toe (sandles)
thongs vs panties (underwear)
car vs suv (transportation)
vegetables vs meat (food)
purse vs totebag (accessories)
plastic vs reusable (grocery store)
spring vs fall (weather)
cone or cup (ice cream)
pierced vs clip on (earrings)
tea vs coffee (food)
hiking vs swimming (hobbies)
salty vs sweet (food)
Coke vs Pepsi (food)