Soroptimists celebrate fifteen years! Wahoo!

The Charter Soroptimist Club members - in 15 years, the service group has grown to include 116 members. Pictured: seated, left to right: Mitzi Johnson, Pat Hansen, Lynn Danaher, Liz Illg. Standing left to right: Carrie Brooks, Vicky Thalaker, Nancy Hanson, Judie Ross, Jana Meredith-Sodimu, Judy Cornell, Annette Schaffer.

Barbara Sharp had a couple of cool things about the Soroptimist Club – let’s see what’s up:

SOROPTIMISTS CELEBRATE FIFTEEN YEARS!

Friday Harbor Soroptimists celebrated the 15th anniversary of their club’s charter by Soroptimist International. At their Anniversary Luncheon on Wendesday, May 11 at the Mullis center, they honored the thirteen charter members still active in the club: Lenore Bayuk, Carrie Brooks, Judy Cornell, Lynn Danaher, Phyllis Davis, Debbie Dickinson, Pat Hansen, Nancy Hanson, Carol Jackson, Mitzi Johnson, Judie Ross, Annette Schaffer and Vicky Thalacker. In addition, they honored two members who joined during the 1996 charter year and are also still active: Liz Illg and Jana Meredith-Sodimu. The Anacortes Soroptimist club sponsored the Friday Harbor group, and a number of Anacortes club members were special guests at the luncheon.

Attendees enjoyed a special lunch prepared by Becki Day of Vinny’s Ristorante, musical entertainment by guitarist Amanda Brast and pianist Farhad Ghatan, and perused the club’s collection of scrapbooks documenting the last fifteen years. Pat Hansen, president from 1996-1998, entertained all with a narrative of the club’s history, noting that food for the first year’s corn beef and cabbage event was cooked in twenty crock pots at the Grange. Charter members Nancy Hanson, Mitzi Johnson, Judie Ross and Annette Schaffer also added anecdotes on their early experiences with the club.

Soroptimist of Friday Harbor has grown from its 43 charter members to 116 members. However its commitment remains the same: support for our community and especially women and children. For further information on Soroptimist activities and events, go to www.sifri.org.

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The Earth Day project: This Soroptimist work crew helped improve the garry oak habitat on Cady Mountain, with help from their spouses.

Soroptimists Work to Save the Island’s Garry Oaks for Earth Day 2011

Soroptimists in action on their Earth Day project....

For a second year,  a Soroptimist work crew spent April 30 helping to improve the  Garry Oak habitat on Cady Mountain.

Under the direction of San Juan County Land Bank arborist Doug McCutchen, the crew cleared away Douglas Fir that have been crowding out the stand of Garry Oaks in their meadow habitat. They also weeded around the oak seedlings and repaired protective cages. After lunch, Gary Slater from the Ecostudies Institute gave a presentation on the Western Bluebird Reintroduction Project. In addition to the beautiful island views from Cady Mountain, volunteers were rewarded with cookies from Harrison House Suites and $20 gift certificates for Coho Restaurant.

Garry Oaks were once plentiful on the island, but years of converting land to agricultural, residential and industrial development has fragmented their habitats.    Garry Oak ecosystems support 75 to 80 species of animals and birds who are now facing a dwindling habitat.  If anyone would like to participate in a work party, contact Doug McCutchen at 378-4402.

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