History
Founding Members
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. We had a busy first year and haven’t stopped!
Founding Members
We are proud to honor our original charter members who are still active members today. They are 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.
Meetings
Meetings are held every Wednesday from 12 noon to 1 p.m. at Vinny’s Restaurant, 165 West Street in Friday Harbor from September through June. During the summer months we meet the first Wednesday in July and August.
The first meeting of each month is our 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. For more information please see the Join Us page.
Community Involvement
Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor sponsors and supports a variety of community organizations, programs and events:
- Our Annual St. Patrick’s Day Corned Beef and Cabbage fund raising dinner started March 2000.
- The Cancer Relief Fund to aid cancer patients in transportation to the mainland for treatment was started in 2004. 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 a young woman for her outstanding volunteer work for the community.
- Annual Youth of Distinction Award to a Friday Harbor High School student.
- Annual Making a Difference for Women – Ruby 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.
- and much more…see the Community Projects page.
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.
- As a member, you can apply to travel internationally under the Grant of Friendship program and are welcome to attend Soroptimist club meetings anywhere in the world!
