Getting to know Carson Soroptimist International

Bev Saunders is the president of Soroptimist International of Carson City. Her primary responsibility is to provide leadership to the club members; conduct business of the club, which includes presiding over all meetings of the club and the board of officers; appoint all committees; and act as liaison between the club and other district and region clubs.

Saunders was elected president in April and took over duties in July. She feels the most important part of being president is to keep club members interested, enthused and working well together. She has also served on the board as corresponding secretary, vice president and president-elect.

What is the purpose of Soroptimist International organizations?

The purpose of Soroptimist International is to better women and children in the community.

Who is eligible for membership in Soroptimist, and how does a woman join?

Soroptimist International is a professional women's organization open to any woman or man who would love to help with women and children's issues in the community. Anyone who would like to join can contact me at 450-4940; or Dixie Dickerson, our membership committee chairwoman, at 882-7744.

When did the group begin in Carson City?

We are proud to say that this year, Soroptimist International of Carson City will celebrate 50 years of service in our community. In those 50 years, we have chartered two other Soroptimist clubs, one in Carson Valley and the other in Dayton.

What charity (or charities) do you support and how?

Soroptimist International of Carson City provides grants to help support many wonderful organizations like the Children's Museum of Northern Nevada, the Brewery Arts Center, Girl Scouts, Carson City Library and many more. Two programs Soroptimist started are CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and VARN (Volunteer Attorneys of Rural Nevadans). We also provide scholarships to women who are attending WNCC.

We have a five-year project with the Carson Tahoe Cancer Center for the Merriner Cottages. Ruth Merriner is one of our members, and we have dedicated funds to help decorate one of the cottages for children.

We have several fundraisers throughout the year to support our grants and scholarships. We have "A Night at the Oscars," which is a great ladies' night out. Last year, we had a "Melodrama in May" at the Brewery Arts Performance Hall, where the Misfits of Dayton performed.

We recently held our fifth annual Stroke to Help Fight Breast Cancer golf tournament at Eagle Valley Golf Course. Most of the proceeds go to help fight breast cancer by providing free mammograms to the underserved women in our community. In those five years, we have, along with our corporate sponsor, Great Basin Imaging, provided 492 screenings and diagnostic mammograms.

We also have our Girl of the Month program where we select a Carson High senior girl to receive recognition for her outstanding academics and service to the community. We place her name on a plaque at the high school, and at the end of the year award one of the girls a $1,000 scholarship. We have also helped out with lettermen jackets and prom night.

When and where does the group meet?

Soroptimist International of Carson City meets from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at the Carson Nugget, 507 N. Carson St. We are currently having a new member orientation the first Wednesday evening of the month so people are encouraged to come and check us out.