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2007 Soroptimist Professional Development Seminar
On the heels of the Governors Round Table, more than 200 Soroptimists converged in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to attend Soroptimist’s first ever Professional Development Seminar. The event offered members an opportunity to gain personal and professional leadership skills, while learning and sharing best practices with other Soroptimists from around the globe.
Saturday, August 24
General Session
The seminar region showcase, presented by Immediate Past President Tes Choa. It featured region leaders, including governors, governors-elect, Renaissance Campaign region team members, and emerging leaders.
President-elect Alice Wells and members of SIA’s headquarters staff placed brightly colored scarves around the leaders’ necks to acknowledge their hard work and commitment to the organization. Executive Director Leigh Wintz presented an update on the Renaissance Campaign and stressed the importance of name recognition—especially the association of Soroptimist’s name with its mission of improving the lives of women and girls. She encouraged members to share Soroptimist’s accomplishments with others. “What we value are international goodwill, understanding, volunteer action, leadership development, fellowship, and diversity,” Leigh said.
Taking a break for a moment of relaxation and reflection,
Past SIA Board Director Shizuko Hoshi performed a
Japanese tea ceremony for the audience. As Past SIA President Yvonne Machuk interpreted, Shizuko explained that the ceremony is an “appreciation of the most
ordinary items in daily life, and [one that] keeps us
mindful of our place in the greater scheme of the universe.”
She proceeded to show the audience how the maccha, or powdered tea leaves, are mixed with hot water and whisked until they form a frothy liquid. The tea was then served to gracious guests—2006-2007 President Tes, President Machiko Yamada, President- elect Alice, outgoing Secretary/Treasurer Sue Miller, and Executive Director
Leigh.
Later, Randy Pennington, delivered a rousing speech on building and maintaining a unique, distinctive organization that is able to retain members and build strong partnerships. Randy, an author and expert in leadership and workplace issues, explained that in the business
world there are other organizations that want to help
women and girls and are vying for volunteers’ time. He insisted that organizations like Soroptimist must provide people with a compelling reason to work with their organization. Randy emphasizes what he calls “Organizational DNA,” or discipline, nature, and an attitude of excitement and opportunity. “It’s our compelling culture that delivers results that matter and that sets us apart,” Randy said. “We have to bring a positive attitude toward what we do.” He urged the audience to remember that, “It’s not about us. It’s about women and girls.”
Awards Luncheon
The 2007 Awards Luncheon recognized the federation-level recipients of Soroptimist’s major award programs: The Women’s Opportunity, Making a Difference for Women, and Violet Richardson awards. Soroptimist’s 2007 Vio let Richardson Award finalist Veronica Matagaono gave a touching speech about her extensive volunteer work and the difficulties she faced growing up. Veronica fought back tears as she described her difficult home life, academic challenges, and her eventual success in changing her life for the better and improving the lives of other teenagers in the process. Veronica’s sponsor, Candace Meehan, was on hand to cheer her on. Candace is the director of the Long Beach WRAP Program, an after-school enrichment program that provides teenagers with alternatives to violence. A past Women’s Opportunity Award recipient, Candace is grateful to Soroptimist for her own award, and encouraged Veronica to apply for the Violet Richardson Award. Attendees were also treated to a powerful presentation by Mardge Cohen, M.D., Soroptimist’s 2007 Making a Difference for Women award finalist. Mardge described her work with HIV-infected women in Rwanda, and how she spearheaded the effort to eradicate pediatric HIV in Illinois by implementing r apid HIV testing in the labor and delivery sections at all Illinois birthing hospitals. In October 2006, she helped initiate Rwanda’s first HIV-prevention program and testing section. “I have been inspired by women all over the globe advocating for change,” Mardge said. “Women are raising their voices to demand respect for themselves and each other, and for equity in resources. Thank you, Soroptimist, for being a part of that important struggle.”
In addition, Linda McDoniels announced
the three Women’s Opportunity Award finalists, none of whom were able to attend the luncheon. Read the inspiring stories of Dawn Zolman of Oxnard, California; Kazuko Kojima of Morioka City, Iwate-ken, Japan; and Maria Del Carmen Flores Colque of Oruro, Bolivia, in the September/October/November 2007 issue of Best for Women magazine. This year, 922 clubs participated in the Women’s Opportunity Awards program, a 19 percent increase in participation since the Renaissance Campaign began. Linda deemed SIA’s signature program an “undeniable success.”
Breakout Sessions
Following the luncheon, attendees had their choice of attending several workshops hosted by local professional and workplace specialists, as well as SIA headquarters staff. The sessions included program, fundraising, membership and public awareness—the four areas of the Renaissance Campaign. During “Fundraising Like a Pro,” SIA Senior Director of Development Nancy Fusco hosted a humorous skit to show members the correct and incorrect ways to fundraise for a club. In "Identifying Club Killers: Performing a Club Assessment," members reviewed the basics of performing a club assessment and then split into groups to complete a club assessment form, discuss the "club killers" they had identified, and formulate additional questions to include in the club assessment. The session fostered the sharing of ideas and best practices while demonstrating how a simple survey can become a valuable club management tool.
Sunday, August 25
General Session
On the second day of the seminar, Alison Levine, team captain for the first American Women’s Mount Everest expedition, treated attendees to a motivational keynote speech. Alison shared lessons she learned while climbing  the world’s highest peaks, and applied them to challenges faced in the
workplace. Many of Alison’s experiences
on the mountain became tenets she now follows at work, such as daring to move backwards in order to go forward, and making sure fear does not dictate decisions. “Fear is okay,” Alison admitted to the group. “Complacency is what will
kill you.” Alison also shared the power of partnering, portraying a positive attitude as a leader, and asking questions in order to achieve goals. Alison’s speech resonated with attendees, who understood her insistence that “It’s about the positive effect you have on the people around you.” Soroptimists were also able to relate to Alison’s Climb High Foundation, which draws parallels with Soroptimist’s mission.
Alison’s foundation helped build several new schools in
Nepal and Uganda that now educate more than 2,000 students. The school in Masaka, Uganda, serves speech and hearing-impaired orphans living with AIDS, and provides not only education, but also room and board because the children’s learning disabilities prevent them from being accepted into most orphanages. She concluded her presentation with an inspirational quote from the first Japanese woman to climb Mount Everest, Junko Tabei. She said, “Technique and ability alone do not get you to the top. It is willpower that is the most important. This willpower
cannot [be obtained] with money or be given to others…it rises from your heart.”
Breakout Sessions
Attendees were able to choose from a variety of breakout sessions that further promoted the four areas of the Renaissance Campaign. Joan Detz, communications expert and author of It’s Not What You Say, It’s How You Say It, taught attendees how to convey their messages with confidence and authority. Other sessions featured presentations on retaining members, international business etiquette, and securing corporate sponsorships.
Recognition Banquet
In celebration of their hard work throughout the year, members and SIA leadership donned their best attire, dined on filet mignon, and were enterta ined by Broadway singers as new leaders prepared to fill the current leaders’ shoes. The excitement of the day mounted during the Executive Director for a Day drawing, which netted more than $6,000. The winner, Dorothy Huhtal of SI/Humber-Credit Valleys-Brampton, Georgetown, Ontario, Canada, will fly to Philadelphia to shadow Executive Director Leigh as she demonstrates what it takes to run an international women’s organization. In addition, prizes were also awarded for the “Purses for a Purpose” raffle, which featured elaborate purses filled with accessories and gift cards donated by members. As the names were called, thrilled shrieks resounded throughout the room as the winners darted up to the stage to receive their prizes. One participant, Governor Margaret MacRae of Eastern Canada Region, was lucky enough to win twice! As the evening drew to a close, the outgoing leaders were recognized for their time and efforts, and incoming leaders were inducted. Immediate Past SIA president Tes Choa tearfully accepted a gift from past leadership, and  welcomed 2007-2008 President Machiko Yamada to the helm. Machiko and other leaders surrounded Tes and cheered their congratulations for her year as president. The event provided something for everyone. Whether it was learning best practices through role playing, taking in entertainment, or dining on local fare, the Soroptimists experienced an engaging, inspiring weekend. It is hoped attendees will take the leadership
and development information back to their hometowns,
and use it to forge new projects and enhance their Soroptimist clubs. And, with any luck, they also gained a few new friends along the way!
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