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Mary Ann Ramsden

Soroptimist International of Medford

    2021 - 2022 President's Report

              Presented by President Mary Ann Ramsden

This year was challenging. We started the year meeting at the Medford Gospel Mission where we had lunch served by women of the Mission who were part of the training program. Then as the COVID pandemic strengthened we adjusted to Zoom meetings and in December we returned to the Medford Gospel Mission Women’s and Children’s Shelter, for a few months, before it closed for COVID, but they welcomed us back in March. Club members also volunteered to serve dinners  at the Mission --- a very fulfilling experience.

 

During our Zoom and in-person meetings we had guest speakers from non-profit agencies 2-3 times per month, including Community Works, The Maslow Project, Smart Reading Program, Girl Scouts of Southern Oregon and S. W. Washington, S.O. Historical Society, Sparrow Club, Community Volunteer Network, Rogue Retreat, Boys and Girls Club, Access, Women’s Gospel Mission, Family Nurturing Center, NAMI and WECO and Mercy Flights to name a few.  Five of our members joined Mercy Flights taking advantage of the group rates.

 

Tammi, our past President, provided fun and interesting games including “Getting to Know You,” including Medford fun facts. Our club members donated items throughout the year, and we conducted themed auctions including Red, White and Blue for July, Autumn baskets, Halloween baskets and Christmas items. Money from these and other events help us run the club and our awards programs. In November we had our ‘day of fasting’ at the First Christian Church. Two members cooked soup and the monies we collected went to a non-profit we support.

 

Other fund-raising activities included a yard sale, LUNAFEST, bottle and can recycling, pick-up and go shrimp dinner, wine raffle and many more. Through our fund-raising efforts and donations, we were able to make awards to the Live Your Dream program. The winner received ($2,000), a second recipient was awarded $1,000, donated by the Women’s Entrepreneurs of S.O. Our bottles and cans program raised over $2,000 for the Laurel Society.

 

2021-2022 was a remarkably busy and fulfilling year. We are 18 members strong and are excited for what our 2022-2023 year has in store for us. Any women eager to help us support women and girls in our community, call Tracey Pullen at (541) 499-0299 for membership information.

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