September 2019 Club Mailing English
Table of Contents
Download President Tina's Letter
Convention 2020
Our Big Goal
Club Administration
Soroptimist Store
What's New in Program
What's New in Membership
What's New in Leadership Development
What's New in Fundraising
What's New in Public Awareness
Convention 2020
Save the date for the 46th Biennial Convention in Bellevue, Washington, July 22 - 25, 2020! The convention theme will be Reaching New Heights!
Registration
Great news!! Registration and housing will open in October 2019. We are introducing a new registration rate structure that includes an early discounted registration fee, along with a regular and late registration fee.
Meal and special food functions
This year, you are able to see the actual menus offered and select your menu/meal during the registration process. Dinners include a salad/appetizer as a first course, and dessert. Menus will be dietary restriction friendly, but no substitutes are permitted.
For more information on registration, housing and meal prices, click the link below to access the SIA Convention website.
Convention Fees
The 2020 convention fee is $550. An invoice will be mailed to each club in December, but no later than January 15. Payment must be submitted no later than March 15, 2020. A 10% late fee will be assessed to all convention fees received after March 15, 2020.
Our Big Goal
You cannot be the same, think the same, act the same if you hope to be successful in a world that does not remain the same. John C. Maxell, Leadershift
We have just two more years to increase our collective impact before we start working toward our 2021-2031 Big Goal: invest in the dreams of half a million women and girls through access to education. Is your club ready? We recommend using the Working as One resource to understand how you are spending your club’s resources. We promise you an enlightening experience!
Our Take One Step campaign will continue this year. Look for short, simple steps your club can take to reach more women and girls!
Join us at our convention in Bellevue in July to kick off our 100th anniversary celebration and for announcements about our next Big Goal!
Club Administration
Electronic Ballots begin in February 2020
Starting this club year, ballots for SIA president-elect and to approve amendments to SIA’s bylaws and resolutions will be submitted and counted electronically. Access to the club’s ballot and all information regarding elections will be sent to each club’s “@soroptimist.net” email address. Therefore, it is very important that at least one club officer monitors your club email account at least weekly. Ballots for the upcoming Board of Director’s election in November 2019 will continue in paper format this club year.
Club Email
All electronic club president materials—including special announcements, electronic versions of club mailings, other targeted information, links to the electronic ballot system and email queries that originate from the SIA website—will be sent to the club’s “@soroptimist.net” email address. The club email accounts are powered by Office 365, which has been provided to SIA by a generous donation from Microsoft, and are accessible from any web-based browser.
Information on how to use this email system is on the SIA website. Questions or problems regarding your club email address “@soroptimist.net” should be directed to siahq@soroptimist.org.
Club Roadmap
To make it easy for your club to participate in reaching our organization’s goals, SIA has developed the 2018-2019 Club Roadmap for Success. This document outlines the five things that clubs are asked to do in order to provide a positive club experience while helping to build our collective impact and recognition. As you make your plans for this club year, please download and review this document as well as the criteria for the Club Roadmap Certificate of Appreciation, which will honor clubs that take actions on the club roadmap during the 2018-2019 club year.
Soroptimist Store
Out with the old and in with the new! This year we’re featuring some hot, new bling in the Soroptimist Store. You’re going to love the fashionable charm necklaces and bracelets, available in both silver and gold tones, as well as other new pieces that will be available throughout the year. These items make great gifts for members celebrating an anniversary, outgoing leaders, Dream Program participants and award recipients!
Stay tuned for special merchandise that will be introduced throughout the year. Visit the Soroptimist Store and remember— every purchase supports Soroptimist's life-changing programs.
What’s New in Program
Success. That’s what’s new in program! Just this last year, we gave 1,655 women $2.6 million dollars in Live Your Dream Awards. And we engaged over 20,000 girls in Dream It, Be It! For the Live Your Dream Awards, that’s a 35% increase since FY2012-2013. And back in FY2012-2013, we didn’t even have Dream It, Be It. Since it launched in 2015, we have served over 55,000 girls! Congratulations to each and every one of you. Together, we work to ensure women and girls have the tools and resources they need succeed. And each year, we improve our program and processes to make it easier for clubs and better for women!
Photographs Needed! They say a picture is worth 1,000 words! We need pictures of your Dream Programs. Find a volunteer photographer to document your Dream Programs with beautiful, high-quality photos of your club and participants. Photo tips will be provided in the program toolkits. Remember to get media release forms first! Photos can be submitted to program@soroptimist.org.
Live Your Dream: Education & Training Awards for Women®
The Live Your Dream Awards judging form has been given a makeover! Find the updated form in your Club Toolkit.
As a reminder, the SIA Board of Directors voted in July 2016 to define participation in the program. Starting this year, clubs that do not give out a cash award will not be counted as participating in the Live Your Dream Awards.
Dream It, Be It: Career Support for Girls®
Dream It, Be It: Career Support for Girls has been a successful program, but we’ve made it even better! A group of Dream It, Be It leaders came together to make small revisions to the curriculum to reflect feedback from girls and clubs. Check out what’s new.
Don’t forget to report your project with the Club Reporting and Evaluation Online Form by JUNE 1 and to comply with SIA’s Standards for Working with Youth.
What’s New in Membership
SIA’s Diamond Campaign: Shining Our Way to the 2nd Century
Phase 2 of our Diamond Campaign began on June 1, 2019. Once again, we will all be working toward unified membership goals:
- Overall net change in membership of -1% or better
- Add new members representing 14% or more of your starting total membership
- Terminated members represent 15% or fewer of your starting total membership
In addition, as we seek to charter 100 new clubs by SIA’s 100th Anniversary, all regions should:
- Charter more than one club
We are looking forward to collaborating with all of our regions and clubs to meet these goals by May 31, 2020. Good luck, and shine on!
Social Media Spotlights
We are building a social media campaign to show the world how GREAT it is to be a Soroptimist member! As SIA seeks to spotlight our member experience on social media, we need your help. Do you have photos of your club members having a wonderful time participating in volunteer projects including our Dream Programs, or just socializing and having a great time with one another?
Submit your photos by following this link and they could be shared by SIA as part of our upcoming campaign on social media!
Engaging the Next Generation of Soroptimists
We are thrilled to offer programming tailored to the next generation of Soroptimists during the 2020 Convention in Bellevue, WA. We are planning a happy hour for our younger members to meet SIA leaders, focus groups and a panel discussion for younger members to share their experiences, and engaging workshop content developed with their interests in mind.
Please encourage your club’s younger members to attend convention, and consider sending them as your delegate!
Member Profile Updates
Is your member profile up-to-date with accurate contact information? To ensure that you and all of your club members receive important news and communications from SIA, please log in to verify and update your email address and other information on your member profile by using this link. As you recruit this year, please be sure new member profiles include their email address!
What’s New in Leadership Development
Club Leadership Role Delineation Study
Check out the Club Leadership Role Delineation Study Results to help you and your fellow club leaders in your role this year. This resource is based on a survey we conducted and features position descriptions for key club leaders. Use these to help guide you as well and inform current and potential leaders of their responsibilities, the time commitment, as well as the necessary skills and experience to be successful.
Developing Your Leadership Skills
If you have not done so already, please visit the Developing Your Leadership Skills section on our website for region and club leaders, which is dedicated to leadership development! Here you will find a catalog of our top resources on general leadership topics, conflict resolution, meetings, and creating a healthy club atmosphere.
On-Demand Webinars – Coming Soon!
During this year we are planning to offer members several online training opportunities that will be available on-demand in each of our federation languages. Stay tuned for more information. These webinars will educate members about our organization and equip them with leadership skills.
What’s New in Fundraising
Within our 21 countries and territories, there are 20 million women and girls who stand to benefit from our Dream Programs. As Soroptimist members, we want to help them live their dreams and reach their full potential.
You can help us reach more women and girls by focusing on our global Dream Programs: the Live Your Dream Awards and Dream It, Be It. The future of Soroptimist is all of us working together to make our programs possible through club, individual, and corporate contributions.
Club Giving
Club Giving contributions provide the funding necessary for our global Dream Programs. This year, we are asking clubs to contribute at least 10% of their locally raised funds or increase their annual club gift by at least 10%.
If you or any of your club members would like information on why we ask clubs to support our global Dream Programs through Club Giving, please consult the valuable resource, Impact of Club Giving Infographic. For information on recognition offered to clubs that participate in Club Giving, check out the 2019-2020 Club Giving Benefits resource.
Clubs can also support our Dream Programs by giving Founders Pennies, a voluntary contribution that has become part of Soroptimist tradition. Regions are recognized for having 100% of the clubs in their region contribute Founders Pennies.
Individual Giving
Soroptimists who not only pay dues, which support the infrastructure of our organization’s operation in 21 countries and territories, but also give contributions to our global Dream Programs, are supporting women and girls who are facing the greatest needs throughout our geographical boundaries.
We are so grateful to the Soroptimists who make SIA their cause of choice, and contribute monetarily through SIA to the women and girls we serve. There are multiple forms of recognition for these dedicated members.
- The Laurel Society
- Soroptimist Stargazers Monthly Giving Program
- The 1921 Visionaries
- Laurel Legacy
Corporate Contributions
SIA is actively engaging corporate and foundation entities to join us in investing in the dreams of women and girls. With 91% of consumers holding the belief that corporations should act responsibly and address social issues, we know the time is right to introduce our Dream Programs to new partners and expand our global reach. Current successes include funding our growing Live Your Dream Award and Dream It, Be It programs through North American retailer Torrid and Adrienne Horen of Janney Montgomery Scott.
If you or any of your club members have a relationship with a company or foundation that supports our mission, please email our corporate relations and foundations manager, Susan Doughty, at susan@soroptimist.org.
Events at the 2020 Convention
SIA’s 46th Biennial Convention in Bellevue will be the site of the highly anticipated Club Giving VIP Reception, which will take place on July 24th for the club president and/or delegate of clubs contributing at least $2,500 to Club Giving.
Also, be sure to remind members that our Laurel Society celebration event will also take place on July 24, 2020 for active Laurel Society members.
More details to come soon! We look forward to seeing you in Bellevue!
What's New in Public Awareness
Refined Brand Messaging Statements
As you may have already heard, your SIA Board recently approved refined mission and tag line statements. The purpose was to more clearly define who Soroptimist is, what we do, for whom, and why. Below are the refined statements. For more information, read the FAQ.
Vision: Women and girls have the resources and opportunities to reach their full potential and live their dreams. (did not change)
Mission: Soroptimist is a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment.
Tag Line: Investing in Dreams
Kick off the New Year with New Resources!
Are you excited for the new club year? Here are some new or updated materials to help keep Soroptimist, your club and our Dream Programs in the limelight:
- Downloadable Logos
- Social Media Tool Kit
- Website Guide
- Customizable club brochure
- Customizable news release promoting your club
- Customizable news release to attract members
Find other public awareness tools on the Recognition and Branding page.
The End of an Era
As of December 31, 2019, all clubs should be switched over to using the SIA S logo. This will answer your questions about the logo policy. If your club needs to create a new banner or flag with the S logo, please see the updated banner and flag guide. And be sure to review the updated branding and style guide to learn more about our visual identity and messaging. Thank you for your efforts to be on point with the Soroptimist brand!