Soroptimist Scene
The newsletter of Soroptimist International of Tampa May 2017
President’s Message
girls. The first words that come to mind when
I think about all we do and how we effect
change is simply…WOW! I am so very
thankful and glad that I was able to come to
this conference, and I hope to attend many
more in the future.
What I learned:
This past weekend, April 28th – April 30th, I
had the awesome opportunity to attend the
“Celebrating 91 Years, Making the Dream
Work” Southern Region Conference in
Hollywood Beach, FL.
I have been a
Soroptimist for about eight years, and this is
the very first conference I’ve attended. I
cannot tell you how excited I was to be
attending my first region conference. On the
train ride down, I wasn’t quite sure what to
expect, but I was definitely looking forward to
a wonderful time with the five other members
from our club who’d be attending the
conference too--as well as learning more about
the volunteer organization I so proudly serve.
Attending the Southern Region conference
took me beyond seeing what we do in
Hillsborough County and past our connection
to the Pinellas Club to a much larger picture of
our impact on a global scale. I was truly able
to see the importance of the vision and
mission of our organization. Our club is not
on a tiny island by itself. We are connected to
an international group of resources and
services all moving toward a common goal: to
impact and empower the lives of women and
 Our work is essential to the lives of
the women and girls we serve in our
community.
 When we serve/volunteer we truly are
making a difference.
 We must continue to drive toward
adding to our membership base.
 The women in our District II work
mighty hard.
 There are many opportunities to help
women and girls.
 Effective leadership is the key to
building a successful club.
I’ve always known that the women in this
Tampa club are amazing. Spending quality
time with Ms. Lorraine, Ms. BJ, Ms. Teri, Ms.
Cathy and Ms. Michelle gave me a much
better picture of the love, friendship and
support I have. By the way…you haven’t
lived until you’ve taken a trip with this crew!
Here’s to you, for all you do! SI Tampa is
bringing home the Celebrating Success Award
for Teen Achievers, Dream It, Be It Award,
Scrapbook Award, Individual Business Ad
Award (Michelle) and….. the Governor’s
Service Award for our Teen Dating Violence
Bookmarks.
Congratulations and thank you for your hard
work and dedication!
Proposed Slate of Officers
for 2017-2018 for SI Tampa
President: Rosetta Peacock
Vice President: Lorraine Lundy
Recording Secretary: Teri Matlach
Corresponding Secretary: Vicki
Salin-Decker
Treasurer: Deborah Pruden
Director: Michelle Strawser
Director: Fran DeLuccia
Dream It, Be It One-Day
Seminar, May 6
President Rosetta
May11 Meeting
Soroptimist International of Tampa will
meet on Thursday, May 11 at 5:30 pm at
The Children’s Board of Hillsborough
County, 1002 East Palm Ave., Tampa.
At this meeting we’ll elect officers for next
year, hear a delegates report and celebrate
successes from the recent Southern Region
Conference and give feedback on our first
Dream It, Be It One-Day Seminar.
Please bring a friend and potential new
member to this meeting. Share the gift of
Soroptimist membership!
Please contact President Rosetta or Director
Michelle if you can attend on Saturday, May
6, 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM at Just Elementary
School, 1315 W. Spruce Street, Tampa.
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Seminar focus: Discover Your Dream,
Exploring Careers, SMART Goals, Rising
Above Obstacles, Turning Failure into
Success, and Putting Dreams into Action.
A Successful Plant Sale!
We had beautiful weather and big crowds of
plant lovers at the Spring Plant Sale at the
USF Botanical Gardens, April 8-9.
$1,486.16. We send a big pat on the back
and “thank you” to all the members who
helped with the plant sale including Teri
(and Matthew), Lorraine (and Lutwan),
Glenda, Trish, Debbie, Jeanette, Fran and
Rosetta. Cecil and Louis Delcher helped
with the heavy hauling, set-up and take
down, and Susie Miller donated a trailer
load of plants for the sale. Well done,
everyone!
Plant Sale Chair Diana Miller
Congratulations to Dawn Marie
Lemonds, SIA’s New President-elect
Our newest member Trish Wild and
Treasurer Debbie Pruden made sure we were
ready and open for business on Saturday
morning.
From there, the customers just kept coming!
Our net profit from the weekend sales was
The federation election to fill the 2016-2017
president-elect vacancy is complete. We
congratulate President-elect Dawn Marie
Lemonds on taking up this leadership
position. Dawn Marie began her new
position immediately, and will become SIA
president on September 1, 2017.
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Southern Region Conference Report
The delegates and members of SI Tampa visited
Hollywood, FL for this year's Southern Region
Conference. Instead of driving, we opted to
travel by train and invited SI Pinellas to
accompany us.
SI Tampa and SI Pinellas County at the train
station. All Aboard!
Good times were in order on the train. You had
to be! We stayed at the Hollywood Marriott
with a view of the beach to our east and a main
waterway to the west. The blue green water, the
waves with white caps, and the gentle breeze
were very calming.
On Friday afternoon, the note taking began with
Barbara A. Martinez, Assistant U.S. Attorney
informing us on “Human Trafficking: Where
Are We Today?”
on the tables. Saturday morning began with
meetings for the presidents and briefings for the
delegates from the 16 clubs that were in
attendance.
President Rosetta with Federation Visitor Dana
Martin from the SIA Board of Directors
During lunch, we enjoyed the presentation of the
Southern Region Live Your Dream and Violet
Richardson award winners. Throughout the day
we were given leadership tips from the
Emerging Leaders. The leadership group
exercise was informative and fun. Nominations
are now open for anyone that may wish to serve
on the board for 2019-2021.
Our Southern Region Board Members
We also got hot tips on how to interact with
social media and fund raising tactics. We had
dinner at Taverna Opa, a well-known Greek
restaurant, and many a brave Soroptimist danced
Vice President Lorraine accepting an award.
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The Governor's Service Award was presented by
the winners from the three districts. Saturday
had a full agenda, but excitement built as we
awaited the participation in the no-talent lip sync
competition and in anticipation to see who
would win one or more of the beach themed
baskets. We did not win the no-talent lip sync
competition, but we did win the Governor's
Service Award and the Scrapbook Award. We
were also commended by SIA and Southern
Region for our active participation in their
signature Dream It, Be It program. Our
Soroptimists Celebrating Success Certificate
regarding the Teen Achievers included $100.00
toward the next Southern Region Conference
club fees.
Congratulations to the delegates and club
officers who represented SI Tampa so well!
Vice President Lorraine Lundy
From the SIA Annual Report for 2015-2016
Sunday morning's Celebration of Life conjured
up memories of those we have lost in the past
year. Our goal is to persevere and carry on for
them.
Business meeting items were completed, and
then we formed "THE" circle, recited the
Soroptimist pledge, gave hugs, said our
goodbyes, and departed with intentions to see
one another again in Tuscaloosa, AL next year.
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Soroptimist International of Tampa
Officers for 2016-2017
President Rosetta Peacock
Vice President Lorraine Lundy
Treasurer Deborah Pruden
Recording Secretary Teri Matlach
Corresponding Secretary
Vicki Salin-Decker
Director Michelle Strawser
Director Fran DeLuccia
Upcoming Dates:
May 3: Dinner with Southern Region
Governor Denise Held. 6 PM
Island Way Grille, 20 Island Way,
Clearwater
May 6: Dream it, Be It seminar
Just Elementary School,
8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
May 11: Monthly Meeting, 5:30 PM
Children’s Board
May 20: Flea Market at the home of
Fran DeLuccia
June 10: Joint Installation of Officers
at the home of Fran DeLuccia
1:30 AM to 2:00 PM
Contact us at [email protected]
or write to
SI Tampa, PO Box 271774
Tampa, FL 33688.
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