History

In 1995 founding member Pat Hansen brought together a group of San Juan Island women with a vision for a service organization that focused on the needs of women to form a Soroptimist chapter in Friday Harbor. With the sponsorship of Soroptimist International of Anacortes, SI Friday Harbor was chartered May 11, 1996. We began with 44 members signing the charter. Our original officers (and still members today) included Pat Hansen as President, Phyllis Davis as Treasurer and Nancy Hanson as Secretary.

We had a busy first year and haven't stopped! In 1996 Soroptimist of Friday Harbor members helped paint and decorate a respite room at Islands Convalescent Center, known as the "Soroptimist Room". SI Friday Harbor helped with the Stop Grant for Domestic Violence which brought $130,000 to San Juan County for domestic violence and assault services. We also hosted a public forum on domestic violence to educate the public to the problem. We participated in the San Juan Island Children's Festival and the Knowledge Bowl and still do annually. We helped beyond our borders by sending funds and supplies to Alaska Disaster Relief, Croatia and the President's Appeal to help rid Angola of land mines. It was also the first year of our biggest fund-raiser, the Annual Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner.

Meetings

Meetings are held every Wednesday from 12 noon to 1 p.m. at Vinny’s Restaurant, 165 West Street in Friday Harbor.

The first meeting of each month is the business meeting. At this time members make decisions about projects to pursue and ways to support the community through scholarships and other financial gifts. Other meetings feature speakers with topics of interest to our members. Committees meet regularly to plan projects.

The private lunch is catered by Vinny’s and the cost is $9 per person.

If you are interested in speaking at a Soroptimist meeting, please contact one of our officers.

Community Involvement

Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor sponsors and supports a variety of community organizations, programs and events. (View our Events Calendar for a full schedule).

~ In 1996 we painted and decorated the "Soroptimist Room" respite room at Islands Convalescent Center.

~ Our Annual St. Patrick's Day Corned Beef and Cabbage fund raising dinner started in 1996.

~ The Cancer Relief Fund to aid cancer victims in transportation to the mainland for treatment. We received a Grant of $10,000 from Soroptimist International of the Americas in 2004 as seed money for this project.

~ Annual Women's Opportunity Award for a community woman re-entering the work force.

~ Annual Violet Richardson Award to young women for her outstanding volunteer work for the community.

~ Annual Youth of Distinction Award (YODA) to Friday Harbor High School students.

~ Annual Women of Distinction Award to exceptional women in the community.

~ Family Emergency Fund available to those individuals in the community who need a quick helping hand where other funds are not accessible.

~ Sponsoring the Nylon Zoo at the Children's Festival and annual participation in the Knowledge Bowl.

~ Staff the gates at the San Juan County Fair each year.

Beyond Friday Harbor

~ Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor members have attended Area meetings, District Meetings, Region Conferences, Federation Conferences and International Conventions since 1996.

~ Two of our members (Pat Hansen and Nancy Hanson) have served or are serving on Regional Committees.