SIA Updates:

Congratulations Linabelle Villarcia - Congratulations to SIA Board Director and SI/Meycauayan, Phillipines, member Linabelle Villarcia, who was recently named the congressional representative in the fourth district of Bulcan, Philippines. The landslide victory was the highest number of votes ever garnered by a congressional candidate in the province of Bulacan. Linabelle is very grateful for the support and confidence shown in her by Soroptimist and the people in her district.

Live Your Dream Team! - Your club can be a partner in SIA's newest initiative—the Live Your Dream Team! Support the transformative work of SIA around the world, and receive a customized package of benefits that shine a global spotlight on the great work your club accomplishes. Read about the benefits for each partnership level here. Your club can be a charter member of the Live Your Dream Team by returning the commitment form with your check before August 31. For more information contact Debra Beach at debra@soroptimist.org.

In other partnership news, at convention Janney Montgomery Scott will be represented as an exhibitor by long time SI/Center City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, member Adrienne Horen. Visit the JMS booth in San Francisco.

Annual Report - Soroptimist clubs and members empower women locally and around the world. See how Soroptimist helped women and girls live their dreams in 2009 by watching the new video annual report or read the print version available at Soroptimist.org. Thank you to our clubs and members for everything you do on behalf of the world's women!

SIA Headquarters - SIA's Executive Director Leigh Wintz recently appeared in ASAE's Philanthropic Spotlight. Click here to read the interview-style article that highlights Soroptimist, its mission and strategies for running a successful organization.

Act Now! - Women and girls' fundamental bodily rights and integrity are at risk. The American Academy of Pediatrics is promoting a change in its policy regarding female genital mutilation (FGM). To learn more, visit Act Now! on the SIA website.

Program Updates

Want to figure out if your club project is meeting its goals? A new resource for clubs, Outcomes-Based Project Evaluation for Soroptimist Clubs, can help you to design manageable evaluations for your club projects.

Remember to submit your club ballot about the Soroptimist International Long Term Project before the June 16 deadline. For more information visit http://www.soroptimistinternational.org.

Looking to support an international project that helps women and girls? Email lori@soroptimist.org for information on joining with SIA and SI/Europe on a new program initiative.

Reminder: SI will no longer enter hard-copy programme focus reports into the database after July 1. Please submit hard-copy reports to SIA by June 1. After that, clubs and members must enter their own reports directly into the database.

Spotlight on Staff - Nicole Simmons joined SIA in the fall of 2009. As membership director, Nicole oversees gathering and analyzing membership research and statistics; creating and implementing recruitment and retention strategies; tracking trends; and presenting at meetings. She also serves as the liaison with Soroptimist members and leaders. Nicole earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and has a diverse professional non-profit background, having worked for Girl Scouts in the Heart of PA, Miller-Keystone Blood Center, and the American Lung Association. Reach Nicole at nicole@soroptimist.org.

Featured Sales Item - Help raise awareness about domestic violence as a workplace concern with the new Keeping Women Safe at Work cards. Sold in packs of 20, the cards are creased for easy folding into 2 x 3.5 inch tri-folds.