Business, executive and retired women who want to join with other professional women in serving the community and making a difference for women and girls are invited to join Soroptimist International. Each club in the Rogue Valley has its unique personality, projects, meeting time and place.
Benefits of Membership
If you are a business or professional woman who wishes to provide volunteer service in an atmosphere of support, friendship and fun, then joining Soroptimist may be right for you. Soroptimist membership provides a variety of benefits, including:
Fulfillment
– Working on projects that improve the lives of others leads to personal satisfaction and recognition from the community.
Friendship
– Cultivating relationships with other women who have similar interests and values is a central aspect of Soroptimist membership.
Diversity
– Meeting and learning about women from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and participating in projects that address the needs of women throughout the globe, contributes to world peace and understanding.
Networking
– Associating with other women representing a variety of professions facilitates valuable business contacts.
Leadership
– Developing skills at the club level results in enhanced professional capabilities as well as leadership opportunities at all levels of the organization.
Mentoring
– Reaching out to women at the beginning of their professional lives provides an avenue for Soroptimist members to serve as mentors.
Convenience
– Belonging to an association with organized programs and professionally developed resources frees members from administrative constraints, while enabling them to concentrate on providing volunteer service.
Services
– Joining Soroptimist provides access to additional benefits, such as: several insurance options;low–interest credit card; and a subscription to Soroptimist International of the Americas’ award–winning magazine.
Soroptimist is an international volunteer service organization for business and professional women who work to improve the lives of women and girls, in local communities and throughout the world.
Why Women and Girls?
Women and girls face specific obstacles solely due to their gender. Soroptimists help women and girls overcome these challenges. Consider the following:
One in three women have been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in their lifetime
According to a recent report, of the 600,000-800,000 people trafficked across international border annually, 80 percent are female.
Two-thirds of the world’s 880 million illiterate are women.
Of the total 550 million working poor, 330 million (60 percent) are women.
Two million girls and women are subjected to female genital mutilation every year, and thousands suffer needlessly from obstetric fistula.