Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Dentists Without Borders
This morning we had a presentation by Dr. Wayne Wilcox regarding the Downey Rotary's international project of bringing free dentisry to residents in a Mexican village. SI Downey is proud to partner with the Downey Rotary Club in donating funds to support this worthy cause.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Soroptimists were there when Santa Arrived in Downey
Downey Soroptimist member Whitney Wigle is the Marketting Manager at Stonewood Mall. Last night, Whitney organized a scavenger hunt in honor of Santa's arrival at Stonewood Center Mall in Downey. Fellow Soroptimists Patty Kotze and Monica Goel Hornberger brought their little ones to participate in the scavenger hunt to find Santa. A great time was had by all and Whitney did a great job putting on a fun Christmas event in the City of Downey.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Soroptimist Proclamation at Downey City Council Meeting
Tonight the Downey City Council honored the Downey Soroptimists with a proclamation proclaiming October/November, “Breast Cancer Awareness/End Domestic Violence” Month.
Our club shall bring the proclamation to the Fall District Workshop this coming weekend where the proclamations will be displayed.
Our club shall bring the proclamation to the Fall District Workshop this coming weekend where the proclamations will be displayed.
Friday, November 6, 2009
SI Downey Participates in Habitat for Humanity Project
SI Downey members Dorothy Pemberton, Ellie Eck, and President Patty Kotze were volunteers at the Habitat for Humanity volunteer site in Downey. Member got to do some fun querky things - cleaning the bathroom, putting up siding, caulking, and putting in locks. Today they were pouring concrete for the driveway, porch and sidewalk in. The rooms upstairs are blue and one sage for the kids. Mom will be downstairs in her own little serenity area.
Habitat's Downey Project and the Monroy Family
Habitat for Humanity is currently working on a house on Blodgett Street for the Monroy Family. Betty and her three children currently live in a 3-bedroom house in the city of Downey. Betty has tried to provide as decent a home for her children. There is an immediate feeling of welcome in her home. In attempts to hide the inadequacies of their home, furniture had been strategically placed to disguise badly worn and ripped carpet. The window coverings serve not
only as a way to ensure their privacy, but also to keep the window from falling out of its termite infested window frame. In addition to the visible termite damage throughout the home, the entire interior also has peeling paint. Some of the ceiling and cabinets appear to be held together by spackle that has built up over constant applications to hide the obvious water damage. While there isn’t much visible mold because Betty is constantly cleaning up the mold as much as possible, the smell is still strong, and the strongest mold fumes seem to come from her daughter’s room, a patio illegally converted into a room where the walls are only paneling and surrounds the home’s exterior fireplace. Her little girl can no longer sleep in her bedroom because of the conditions.
Despite the family’s challenging living conditions, Betty’s children have thrived. Betty is very involved in her children’s’ lives both academically and in sports. Although the boys have been in Special Education, no one would know –which attests to the excellent job Betty has done in raising them. She is a role model to her children every day. Betty volunteers as a Religious Education Teacher for St. Raymond’s, she also volunteers as a board member for the Downey Library Advisory Board, and is an active member of countless other organizations. Betty sums
up why she feels so strongly in volunteering by saying, “volunteering is the rent we pay to live on earth”. She further explained that doing sweat equity would be something that she would not just be willing to do but would do with love.
Betty sees herself as “a hard worker willing to do what ever it takes to meet my responsibilities. I am a father and a mother to my children and have proven that even in the direst situations, I have been triumphant."
Contributions By: Dorothy Pemberton and Monica Goel
Visit our website at www.sidn.caminorealregion.org
Become a fan of Soroptimist International of Downey on Facebook
Habitat's Downey Project and the Monroy Family
Habitat for Humanity is currently working on a house on Blodgett Street for the Monroy Family. Betty and her three children currently live in a 3-bedroom house in the city of Downey. Betty has tried to provide as decent a home for her children. There is an immediate feeling of welcome in her home. In attempts to hide the inadequacies of their home, furniture had been strategically placed to disguise badly worn and ripped carpet. The window coverings serve not
only as a way to ensure their privacy, but also to keep the window from falling out of its termite infested window frame. In addition to the visible termite damage throughout the home, the entire interior also has peeling paint. Some of the ceiling and cabinets appear to be held together by spackle that has built up over constant applications to hide the obvious water damage. While there isn’t much visible mold because Betty is constantly cleaning up the mold as much as possible, the smell is still strong, and the strongest mold fumes seem to come from her daughter’s room, a patio illegally converted into a room where the walls are only paneling and surrounds the home’s exterior fireplace. Her little girl can no longer sleep in her bedroom because of the conditions.
Despite the family’s challenging living conditions, Betty’s children have thrived. Betty is very involved in her children’s’ lives both academically and in sports. Although the boys have been in Special Education, no one would know –which attests to the excellent job Betty has done in raising them. She is a role model to her children every day. Betty volunteers as a Religious Education Teacher for St. Raymond’s, she also volunteers as a board member for the Downey Library Advisory Board, and is an active member of countless other organizations. Betty sums
up why she feels so strongly in volunteering by saying, “volunteering is the rent we pay to live on earth”. She further explained that doing sweat equity would be something that she would not just be willing to do but would do with love.
Betty sees herself as “a hard worker willing to do what ever it takes to meet my responsibilities. I am a father and a mother to my children and have proven that even in the direst situations, I have been triumphant."
Contributions By: Dorothy Pemberton and Monica Goel
Visit our website at www.sidn.caminorealregion.org
Become a fan of Soroptimist International of Downey on Facebook
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Domestic Violence Awareness Program
Domestic violence causes far more pain than the visible marks of bruises and scars. It is devastating to be abused by someone that you love and think loves you in return. It is estimated that approximately 3 million incidents of domestic violence are reported each year in the United States
~Dianne Fienstein (American Senator)
Today in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness month program , we had two speakers: Charlene Dimas-Peinado from Intercommunity Child Guidance and Barbara Samperi from The Exchange Club.
Charlene Dimas- Peinado has been honored by the Soroptimist of Pico Riviera as a Woman of Distinction and received the Woman of the Year Award for 2009. She works closely in counseling, supervising and visiting children who have been abused or neglected. As a pyschologist with double masters she is a woman with a calling.
Barbara Samperi has been a parent aide working with The Exchange Club for 15 years. She is involved in the Downey Unified Board of Education and lives in Downey. She works with the parents of the children who are referred to her by case managers. She guides and teaches parenting skills to create a safe and healthy home life.
Both ladies were able to share with us some stories of the people they work with...
One woman had 7 children from 5 different fathers. She was given notice the home she was renting was going into foreclosure and reached out for help. When they came in they found her living situation was horrendous. The mattress her child slept on had a nest of mice, even the microwave was overrun with cockroaches . Every nook and cranny was filled with pests. They were able to find her a safe, clean place to live where she is able to take care of her family.
A young girl of 16 had her child taken away from her due to neglect. They came in to talk to her and see what was causing her to ignore her child. The young girl was a victim of sexual abuse by her father and was put in the foster care system. Switching from home to home in the system , she never found the connection and love she needed. She ended up in a relationship with an abusive male with whom she had her child and then he left. She was depressed and had suffered severe trauma that she hadn't resolved. Added to that she had a learning disability that had gone unnoticed. She didn't know how to show love for her child or take care of her because she had never learned these parenting skills. Through their help she was able to receive treatment for her own trauma and learn how to care for her toddler.
For anyone interested in reading more about child abuse and neglect, SI Downey members have recommended the novels Kindness of Strangers by Katrine Little and The Glass Caste by Jeannette Walls.
Contributions By: Sonal Mundhra
Visit our website at www.sidn.caminorealregion.org
Become a fan of Soroptimist International of Downey on Facebook
~Dianne Fienstein (American Senator)
Today in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness month program , we had two speakers: Charlene Dimas-Peinado from Intercommunity Child Guidance and Barbara Samperi from The Exchange Club.
Charlene Dimas- Peinado has been honored by the Soroptimist of Pico Riviera as a Woman of Distinction and received the Woman of the Year Award for 2009. She works closely in counseling, supervising and visiting children who have been abused or neglected. As a pyschologist with double masters she is a woman with a calling.
Barbara Samperi has been a parent aide working with The Exchange Club for 15 years. She is involved in the Downey Unified Board of Education and lives in Downey. She works with the parents of the children who are referred to her by case managers. She guides and teaches parenting skills to create a safe and healthy home life.
Both ladies were able to share with us some stories of the people they work with...
One woman had 7 children from 5 different fathers. She was given notice the home she was renting was going into foreclosure and reached out for help. When they came in they found her living situation was horrendous. The mattress her child slept on had a nest of mice, even the microwave was overrun with cockroaches . Every nook and cranny was filled with pests. They were able to find her a safe, clean place to live where she is able to take care of her family.
A young girl of 16 had her child taken away from her due to neglect. They came in to talk to her and see what was causing her to ignore her child. The young girl was a victim of sexual abuse by her father and was put in the foster care system. Switching from home to home in the system , she never found the connection and love she needed. She ended up in a relationship with an abusive male with whom she had her child and then he left. She was depressed and had suffered severe trauma that she hadn't resolved. Added to that she had a learning disability that had gone unnoticed. She didn't know how to show love for her child or take care of her because she had never learned these parenting skills. Through their help she was able to receive treatment for her own trauma and learn how to care for her toddler.
For anyone interested in reading more about child abuse and neglect, SI Downey members have recommended the novels Kindness of Strangers by Katrine Little and The Glass Caste by Jeannette Walls.
Contributions By: Sonal Mundhra
Visit our website at www.sidn.caminorealregion.org
Become a fan of Soroptimist International of Downey on Facebook
Monday, November 2, 2009
Pumpkin Patch
Halloween brought out the usual “suspects” as the Soroptimists assisted the Optimists with their annual Pumpkin Patch festivities at Apollo Park in Downey.
Thousands of kids had a great time as they played carnival games that were just their size, ate free popcorn, cotton candy, hot dogs and drank free soft drinks. The weather was warmer than the usual Halloween, but that just made it easier to show of great costumes – no coats required.
And there were some really great costumes this year – some were very scary, some absolutely adorable and everything in between.
Soroptimists were stationed throughout the venue, some judging the costume contest, some twirling cotton candy, some bagging popcorn, and the valiant diehards wrapping hot dogs and serving condiments – some for 4 hours straight.
Soroptimist Pumpkin Patch Volunteers
Beverly Mathis, Sam Mathis (Soroptimister), Pat Heineke, Michael Heineke (Soroptimister), Jan Scott, Judy McDonnell, Beth Crawford, Sonal Mundhra, Sudeep Patel (Soroptimister), Lisette Michel, Anne Bayer, Sue Potter, Barb Withrow, Dorothy Pemberton, Lorine Parks, Vicki Spearman, Linda Haines, Patty Kotze, Carol Rowland, Mia Vasquez, Ellie Eck,
Hot Dog Wrapping
How many hot dog buns can you stuff with hot dogs and wrap in foil in 1 minute? Depends on how late it gets.
As always we had a lot of fun, and had a terrific opportunity to serve others.
For a while one of the Soroptimist husbands was handing out hot dogs. He is very much “by the rules,” so no one got more than one hot dog. But several made more than one trip through the line. He commented as he was leaving that one person had a shopping bag that appeared to be full of wrapped hot dogs. He was dismayed that that person was taking advantage of the generosity of the Optimists who purchased all the food and drink products. His wife told him that she thought it unlikely that person was going to take the hot dogs and re-sell them for a profit, so they probably really needed the food. How great that Optimists and Soroptimists were able to assist that person in some small way, and at the same time provide some great fun for kids in the community.
Costume Judging
Tinkerbells, Ninja Turtles, Snow Whites, Dorothys and Aliens were greeted at the Costume Judging stage by our own Vampire Mistress of the Night, aka Dorothy Pemberton. Her spectacular outfit consisted of a tight-fitting long black satin skirt, with a black bustier laced with blood-red cords. A tall crimson collar protected the nape of her neck but left her throat unprotected. Black chiffon veils fluttered from her shoulders, and to top it all, she wore a Marie Antoinette burgundy wig of curls piled on curls, cascading like coiled snakes down her bare arms.
She danced in her black leather boots to the stage music while the rest of the judges were deciding and then took the ribbons to the master of ceremonies. To award as many prizes as possible, we judges decided to give double ribbons from first to fourth in each age group. We chose a glittering Cleopatra and an astronaut whose life-support back pack was nearly as big as he was. Double entries including sleeping twins dressed as an angel and a devil, and a tall pair of condiments, Ketchup and Mustard. One lady pirate had a romantic black tricorne hat trimmed with yards of black Chantilly lace and ostrich plumes spilling over the brim
The prize for the best home-made costume went to a candy vending machine, a boy walking inside a brown box which was cut out in front, with knobs and dials and a coin slot. Milky Ways and Dots and Reese's Peanutbutter Cups were pasted to his metallic chest. We thought Best in Show should be divided between a Tin Man, dressed in an aluminum suit, face painted silver, with a funnel upside down for a hat, who brandished his hatchet at his co-winner, a beautiful big black t. rex museum-class skeleton, his headpiece extending three feet in back of him and his bony tail so long he had to carry the tip in his dinosaur hand to keep people from stepping on it. A very large tottering Frankenstein won his prize in the Adult contest.
After the event was over, we judges thought it would be fun to each take some extra ribbons and wander through the crowd, awarding them randomly. I gave one of mine to a tired couple pushing a Pumpkin in a stroller, and that brightened them up. The other I gave for Best Dressed Dog, a poodle in a striped satin frock with puffy sleeves. The pet's owner, unrecognizable in bloody gooey face make-up and little horns, turned out to be Gary deRemer.
Cotton Candy and Popcorn Bag Stuffing
This year due to it being a Saturday the Optimist were able to get out early and pop an abundance of popcorn before 5pm. Therefore supply was not an issue. At around 6pm demand was high! Though the popcorn bags were being stuffed as fast as possible, and though starting with a tower it quickly became a fast as you can situation. Some kids came through the line 3 times! Always with a smile, and a could I have more popcorn please?
The cotton candy twirlers had 3 long lines waiting for the soft, sticky deliciousness. These brave twirlers were covered in cotton candy from head to toe! But they all happily said it was worth it and they would definitely do it again.
Contributions By: Patricia Heinke, Lorine Parks, and Sonal Mundhra
Visit our website at www.sidn.caminorealregion.org
Become a fan of Soroptimist International of Downey on Facebook
Thousands of kids had a great time as they played carnival games that were just their size, ate free popcorn, cotton candy, hot dogs and drank free soft drinks. The weather was warmer than the usual Halloween, but that just made it easier to show of great costumes – no coats required.
And there were some really great costumes this year – some were very scary, some absolutely adorable and everything in between.
Soroptimists were stationed throughout the venue, some judging the costume contest, some twirling cotton candy, some bagging popcorn, and the valiant diehards wrapping hot dogs and serving condiments – some for 4 hours straight.
Soroptimist Pumpkin Patch Volunteers
Beverly Mathis, Sam Mathis (Soroptimister), Pat Heineke, Michael Heineke (Soroptimister), Jan Scott, Judy McDonnell, Beth Crawford, Sonal Mundhra, Sudeep Patel (Soroptimister), Lisette Michel, Anne Bayer, Sue Potter, Barb Withrow, Dorothy Pemberton, Lorine Parks, Vicki Spearman, Linda Haines, Patty Kotze, Carol Rowland, Mia Vasquez, Ellie Eck,
Hot Dog Wrapping
How many hot dog buns can you stuff with hot dogs and wrap in foil in 1 minute? Depends on how late it gets.
As always we had a lot of fun, and had a terrific opportunity to serve others.
For a while one of the Soroptimist husbands was handing out hot dogs. He is very much “by the rules,” so no one got more than one hot dog. But several made more than one trip through the line. He commented as he was leaving that one person had a shopping bag that appeared to be full of wrapped hot dogs. He was dismayed that that person was taking advantage of the generosity of the Optimists who purchased all the food and drink products. His wife told him that she thought it unlikely that person was going to take the hot dogs and re-sell them for a profit, so they probably really needed the food. How great that Optimists and Soroptimists were able to assist that person in some small way, and at the same time provide some great fun for kids in the community.
Costume Judging
Tinkerbells, Ninja Turtles, Snow Whites, Dorothys and Aliens were greeted at the Costume Judging stage by our own Vampire Mistress of the Night, aka Dorothy Pemberton. Her spectacular outfit consisted of a tight-fitting long black satin skirt, with a black bustier laced with blood-red cords. A tall crimson collar protected the nape of her neck but left her throat unprotected. Black chiffon veils fluttered from her shoulders, and to top it all, she wore a Marie Antoinette burgundy wig of curls piled on curls, cascading like coiled snakes down her bare arms.
She danced in her black leather boots to the stage music while the rest of the judges were deciding and then took the ribbons to the master of ceremonies. To award as many prizes as possible, we judges decided to give double ribbons from first to fourth in each age group. We chose a glittering Cleopatra and an astronaut whose life-support back pack was nearly as big as he was. Double entries including sleeping twins dressed as an angel and a devil, and a tall pair of condiments, Ketchup and Mustard. One lady pirate had a romantic black tricorne hat trimmed with yards of black Chantilly lace and ostrich plumes spilling over the brim
The prize for the best home-made costume went to a candy vending machine, a boy walking inside a brown box which was cut out in front, with knobs and dials and a coin slot. Milky Ways and Dots and Reese's Peanutbutter Cups were pasted to his metallic chest. We thought Best in Show should be divided between a Tin Man, dressed in an aluminum suit, face painted silver, with a funnel upside down for a hat, who brandished his hatchet at his co-winner, a beautiful big black t. rex museum-class skeleton, his headpiece extending three feet in back of him and his bony tail so long he had to carry the tip in his dinosaur hand to keep people from stepping on it. A very large tottering Frankenstein won his prize in the Adult contest.
After the event was over, we judges thought it would be fun to each take some extra ribbons and wander through the crowd, awarding them randomly. I gave one of mine to a tired couple pushing a Pumpkin in a stroller, and that brightened them up. The other I gave for Best Dressed Dog, a poodle in a striped satin frock with puffy sleeves. The pet's owner, unrecognizable in bloody gooey face make-up and little horns, turned out to be Gary deRemer.
Cotton Candy and Popcorn Bag Stuffing
This year due to it being a Saturday the Optimist were able to get out early and pop an abundance of popcorn before 5pm. Therefore supply was not an issue. At around 6pm demand was high! Though the popcorn bags were being stuffed as fast as possible, and though starting with a tower it quickly became a fast as you can situation. Some kids came through the line 3 times! Always with a smile, and a could I have more popcorn please?
The cotton candy twirlers had 3 long lines waiting for the soft, sticky deliciousness. These brave twirlers were covered in cotton candy from head to toe! But they all happily said it was worth it and they would definitely do it again.
Contributions By: Patricia Heinke, Lorine Parks, and Sonal Mundhra
Visit our website at www.sidn.caminorealregion.org
Become a fan of Soroptimist International of Downey on Facebook
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
