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Soroptimist International (SI)

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In 1921, the first Soroptimist club was founded by Violet Richardson Ward in Oakland, California. The name Soroptimist was coined from the Latin "soror" meaning sister, and "optima" meaning best, hence our tagline "best for women." From the founding of the first Soroptimist club it has grown into a global organization with over 75,000 members in 133 countries. Soroptimist International holds the only non-governmental seat in the United Nations. To read more on Soroptimist International click here.

Soroptimist International of La Jolla (SILJ)

Soroptimist International of La Jolla (SILJ) was founded and chartered by Genevieve "Jenny" Ferguson on May 2, 1947. One of 1,300 clubs worldwide, we have studied the needs in our community, identified other non-profits who share our mission, and worked with them by providing awareness, time, effort, and funding.
 
In the 1950s, we started a meeting place for seniors, the Riford Senior Center, today the La Jolla Community Center. We also helped build Parker Auditorium at La Jolla High School.
 
In 1969, in honor of San Diego’s Bicentennial, SILJ convinced the merchants in La Jolla to display American flags in front. We had the holes dug, bought and distributed the flags and maintained them for many years. Reader’s Digest recognized our patriotism by publishing a story and photos about our “Avenue of Flags.”
 
In the 1980s, we found ways to have fun and raise funds, by producing the Village Vaudeville, starring our members and residents.
 
In the 1990s we saw a need to increase awareness and research into women’s health. We held a symposium, in conjunction with the UCSD School of Medicine and founded the Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health, and named it after our member and mentor, Dr. Doris Howell.
 
We spent a four year period mentoring the "Just In Time" for Foster Youth Organization, to help young women who have "aged out" of the system. We helped transition to independent housing, navigating the first years of college, and overall life skills to become self-sufficient.
 
Since 2010 we have embarked upon a quest to rescue and prevent girls and young women from coercion into sexual exploitation and forms of human slavery. We supported and worked with the Bilateral Safety Corridor Coalition to establish a thrift store and renovate the shelter it operates. We landscaped the facility, added a safe playground for the children, making it more secure and more like a home for the women and children. SILJ along with a couple of other local Soroptimist clubs, founded STAT (Soroptimists Together Against Trafficking). STAT works with a consortium of organizations, including victim services providers, educators, prosecution and law enforcement. STAT represents local Soroptimist clubs on the San Diego Regional Advisory Council on Human Trafficking.
 
Since 2015 we’ve been focused on women serving our country in the military. Re-entry to civilian life is challenging, especially for women. The National Veterans Transition Service Inc. assists veterans in a smooth transition to the civilian world by providing them with a three-phase intensive program. They "REBOOT" them. The REBOOT workshops have had a 97% success record by addressing personal, lifestyle and career issues. SILJ is proud to sponsor women in these workshops, mentor the graduates, and help with "a day of beauty.”
 
Celebrating over 75 years in La Jolla, our club is a member of Soroptimist International of the Americas, a global women’s organization of volunteers.
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Genevieve "Jenny" Ferguson was the founding president of SILJ in 1947.
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SILJ 40th anniversary.
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Soroptimists of the Year

2000 Lisa Lindgren
2001 Gladys Kohn
2002 Marie Newton
2003 Sharilyn Gallison
2004 Judy Jones
2005 Ronda Landrum
2006 Bonnie Mendenhall
2007 Jan Pierce
2008 JoAnn Segal
2009 Jas Grewal
2010 Barbara Ohlson
​2014 Diana Hill
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Past Presidents of SILJ

1947-1948
1948-1949
1949-1950
1950-1951
1951-1952
1952-1953
1953-1954
1954-1955
1955-1956
1956-1957
1957-1958
1958-1959
1959-1960
1960-1961
1961-1962
1962-1963
1963-1964
1964-1965
1965-1966
1966-1967
1967-1968
1968-1969
1969-1970
1970-1971
1971-1972
1972-1973
1973-1974
1974-1975
1975-1976
1976-1977
1977-1978
1978-1979
1979-1980
1980-1981
1981-1982
1982-1983
1983-1984

Genevieve Ferguson
Clara McGraw
Mildred Mayse
Lilian Goucher
Yvonne Gow
Bernice Petit
Betty Sherwood
Ione Douglas & Margaret Berry
Blanche Denslow
Dona McArthur
Helen Carlson
Elizabeth Scott
Esther Pricer
Kay Chase
Charlotte Priestley
Madeleine Swortwood
Marion Kneeshaw
Harriet Watson
Katherine Quay
Katherine Quay
Virginia Blair & Vera Young
Lois Cyr
Dixie Dunlap
Sue Hanson
Mary Hunter
Virginia Grizzle
Marguerite Barreras
Vera Young
Tracy Barrett
Pat Kampmann
Dorothy Miller-Waldorf
Marty Roos
Ronda Landrum
Mimi Oleinik
Connie Hart-Beights
Connie Hart-Beights
Unknown

1984-1985
1985-1986
1986-1987
1987-1988
1988-1989
1989-1990
1990-1991
1991-1992
1992-1993
1993-1994
1994-1995
1995-1996
1996-1997
1997-1998
1998-1999
1999-2000
2000-2001
2001-2002
2002-2003
2003-2004
2004-2005
2005-2006
2006-2007
2007-2008
2008-2009
2009-2010
2010-2011
2011-2012
2012-2013
​2013-2014

2014-2015
2015-2016
2016-2017
​2017-2018
​2018-2019
​2019-2020
​2020-2021
​2022-

Carol Voelker
Mindy Mitchell Barlow
Miriam Schultz
Betty Press
Mary Kathryn Riggs
Anne Harris & Nancy Kennedy
Nancy Kennedy
Sharilyn Gallison
Marcia Lowrey
Kathleen Killman
Shelley Gellman
Lisa Lindgren
Gladys Kohn
Jan Borkum
Trudie Breen
Trudie Breen
Marie Newton
Judy Jones
Jas Grewal & Sheena Sahni
Mary Saracino
Jean McGrath
Maureen Murphy
Vici Willis
JoAnn Segal
JoAnn Segal
Barbara Ohlson
Lisa Lindgren
Carol Tuggey
Alberta Valentini 
​Jackie Young

Kate Woods
Bonnie Mendenhall
​Diana Hill
​Diana Hill
​Gaylyn Boone
Rebecca Ritchey
Maria Ramirez & Ronda Landrum
Maria Ramirez, again!



A Poetic History of Soroptimist International of La Jolla
"Our History"

Written by Ronda Landrum

Jenny Ferguson was our first president
She started us right, that is evident
Chartered May 2, 1947 with 32
Time passed by and our membership grew.


The club was energetic and couldn't wait to start
Blanche Denslow offered her store and we had a book cart.
The book cart earned money, year after year,
That money got our Senior Center in gear.


We wanted to help the youth of our town
so next, a Venture Club was found.
The home tour became an event every year,
"I have voted, have you?" tags began to appear.


The March of Dimes found the ladies taping the street,
The money was sticky, the results were real sweet.


That year we joined the annual Christmas parade,
We had lots of fun with the float that we made.
Also our Christmas breakfast became an occasion
With readings and songs in the old-time persuasion.


A Day at the Races was a winner for some,
The lunch and margaritas were strictly for fun.
The Rough Water Swim and Tennis Tournament began,
A hospital bed was part of the plan.
League House began, for ladies of limited means
The American Field Service answered some dreams.


The Vaudeville began with applause and a shout,
The money brought in, increase our clout.
Proceeds from vaudeville allowed us to start
Giving our scholarships to kids that were smart.


We helped Scrippadilly and sent kids to camp.
On softball and soccer we've left our stamp.
The Meals on Wheels program had really a need,
The tutoring project needed help to succeed.


Citizenship Awards for students began,
TAP was here for a lady's new plan.
The Avenue of Flags began to cover the street,
We needed an auditorium for our dancing feet


South of the border came up with a need,
The trees that we planted were started with seed.
The children were asking for help with their faces,
The operations were done in unusual places.


The San Diego Symphony and Senior Shuttle bus
were recipients of donations from us.


My Sisters' Closet began as a room,
Now it is there to eliminate gloom.


The Storefront is there for kids from the street
Thanksgiving dinner is our special treat.


Research in health care for women was lacking
We've given it help with our financial backing.
By providing grants to students in this field
Continuing research should be the yield.


Battered women and children had problems to solve
We filled bags with toiletries and became involved.


The Rape Crisis Center had needs not yet met,
We helped there with donations of brand new sweats.


Young girls were now in distress,
Their prom was here and they had no dress,
We collected shoes, purses and dresses,
and sent them to the Fairy Godmother's secret addresses.


These are the facts, I hope I haven't missed any
and just think, all this began with Jenny.


Ronda Landrum has been a member of SILJ since 1976 and was our president in 1979-80. A dedicated member, she is known for "perfect attendance" at our meetings!

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© Soroptimist International of La Jolla 2022
SILJ is a 501(c) 3 tax exempt organization. Federal EID #90-0210765