WELCOME to DISTRICT I!

Here in District I we like to say "We're Number One-For a lot of Great Reasons!"

Maybe it's because District I is the smallest, with only six clubs; or the largest, with 165 miles between Santa Cruz and San Luis Obispo; or the oldest, with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th oldest clubs in the region. Maybe it's because we have three past governors--two of them in the same club! For whatever reason, we ARE number one, and for a LOT of great reasons.

One of the things we like to do in District I is recognize special clubs. SI Salinas turned 75 this year. When the club was founded in 1932, by SI Watsonville, the world was a different place. Do you realize the population OF THE WORLD has doubled…TWICE…since then? But we see many of the same qualities in the women of Soroptimist today as then. Today we have a designer logo, a mission statement and a tag line that helps carve out our identity in the great, wide sea of service organizations competing for the last minute of our time. Back in 1932 they had the same thing. They wore a pin with the image of a woman with outstretched arms and rays of hope, and recited a pledge of loyalty and victory and promise. But even today, it is the individual person who wears that pin and speaks that pledge. and upholds those very same ideals, and lends to the name Soroptimist so much promise for the welfare of women and girls. And we need to recognize that. We need to remind ourselves how old our Soroptimist soul is, yet how fresh we look, even for our age.

Refresh your Soroptimist spirit by reminding yourself, every time you put on your pin, what drew you to our simple, but worthy mission-to improve the lives of women and girls in our local communities and throughout the world.

If we are to retain the members we have, and continue to grow our clubs we need to attract fresh, new energetic members. Find a member who is eager to help you set and reach your club's goals and share your mission, and you will rejuvenate not only your own energy but the universal energy of Soroptimists worldwide.

Revitalize your spirit, Retain and Re-grow your membership, Recognize and Reward your achievements…and Remember…we're all number one for a lot of great reasons and the world is a better place for the likes of us.

All the best,

Lori Oliver
District I Director

District I Clubs

Capitola-By-The-Sea
Carmel Bay
Salinas
San Luis Obispo
Santa Cruz
Watsonville

Revised August 25, 2007