Exciting times at SIA Convention in Vancouver

Joy and Cheri Fleming

I had a fabulous, inspiring time in Vancouver.  The thrill of walking into a room of one thousand women who share your desire to make the world a better place filled me with awe and hope.  These fellow Soroptimists gathered in Vancouver at the Soroptimist International of the Americas  biennial meeting  the end of July.   I was with former President Sandy Esparza, and my sister Jackie DeVries.  Both brilliant and fun loving ladies who helped me distribute the wonderful luggage tags from  Wendy Wasserman - they were a hit.  Lenora Fuller labeled them all Vacaville, California.  These cute gifts thrilled the women.

  I was excited to be invited to meet the head honcho herself,          President Cheri Fleming, thanks to the generosity and foresight of our club.  We were one of the clubs who had the wisdom to realize that giving at least 10% of our total funds to promote all Soroptimist programs was an idea that made total sense.  Thanks former President Clara Oakes for helping us make that decision and to former President Sandy Esparza who followed her lead.

We were listed as Dream Builders in the program, and I made sure everyone at my table  knew it!   Pres. Cheri is a little tiny thing but a giant in her own way.   I shook her hand, thanked her for inviting me then proceeded to mingle with the other club presidents in order to pick their brains about their fundraisers.  I also shared our success with  our STEPS girls- our on-going local educational impact project that supports at-risk girls in our community's continuation high school.  After about forty five minutes I asked Pres. Cheri if she was going to make a speech, she said NO, so I said, " In that case, I am out of here and on to my Region's party!  Thanks for thinking of us!"

(Notice the view behind our photo.  A 360 degree view of the Vancouver harbor.  There are perks to being the president!)

More about the convention later....

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