SITS News December 18, 2025

President Paula opened today’s festive holiday meeting!

Invocation: Lydia’s invocation asked the question “What is Christmas? For many the necessary tasks of the season can often be a catalyst for Grinch like attitudes. But it is possible to capture the magic and rekindle the joy through some simple efforts like watching sweet holiday movies or attend a community event. So what is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present and hope for the future.

Guests: We welcomed Koral, president of the STHS “S” club.

Sunshine: Thoughts continue with Lydia’s son Dietrich, for healing.

Prayers continue also for a warrior of women, Jen Gurecki, founder of Zawadisha, on her journey with cancer. A Go Fund Me has been established at https://www.gofundme.com/f/jen-gurecki-support-fund

Today’s meeting was actually a big party filled with friends, food, and fun! Members came in their holiday finest and immediately had no trouble socializing with each other until Paula announced it was time to eat! SITS members always bring plentiful food to our special breakfast meetings, and there was more than we could consume.

Before the fun and games of the gift exchange began, our current Laurel Society members honored Paula Peterson with a membership into SIA’s lifetime honorary recognition program that acknowledges an individual’s dedication to the Soroptimist mission and to its Dream programs. So well deserved, Paula!

Congratulations!

Paula and Nancy worked together to fasten on the Laurel pin!

The festivities continued with our traditional “Mr. and Mrs. Wright” gift exchange. So much concentration and laughter as Wendy led us in this joyful activity of Mr. and Mrs. Wright searching for their perfect Christmas tree. Members enjoyed opening their gifts before we said good bye until our next meeting January 8. Happy Holidays everyone and Happy New Year!

A very special THANK YOU to Barton Health as they have pledged as a 2026 Event Sponsor for our club! We are so excited to again have your support and partnership to enhance the lives of women and youth in our community and the world! Thank you again!

Learn how you can become a 2026 Club or Event Sponsor here!

SITS BOOTH AT WINTER FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

SITS participated in the City of South Lake Tahoe’s Winter Festival of Lights last weekend with a festive booth decorated with lights and mini candy wreaths. Visitors had the choice of Take It or Make It kits, or they could go home with a readymade candy wreath. Thank you to our Community Outreach Committee and SITS volunteers for adding to this joyous holiday atmosphere. Special kudos to Jeanne Prestella for all of her organizing.

Members of the Dream It, Be It committee spent a morning with the SITS Mt. Tallac Life Skills group celebrating the holidays and each other with a festive brunch.

COMMITTEE HAPPENINGS

• Fundraising is key to the funds we provide back into our community through scholarships, books, life essentials, and so much more. Currently we are asking all members to address the donation signup sheet that has been emailed out to sign up as the club contact for that business. If you need any assistance, contact Lisa Huard at [email protected] or ring her up!
• Donations are already coming in! Go to Sits2026.org to view or donate items.
• HWHW (Healthy Women/Healthy World) is organizing a Monthly Movement series. Each will take place following our business meetings around 9 am. Join us and bring a friend! Save the dates and let’s move! (Jan. 8, Feb. 12, Mar. 12, Apr. 9, May 14, and June 11….activities will be announced)
• SOCIAL Committee! Jan. 22 at 9 AM, let’s all gather at Elements for breakfast following our meeting. MORE SOCIAL to follow!
• Technology Committee continues to be available to our ladies to learn more about our google account, our mail, and whatever else you need to help you be more efficient. Technology isn’t a fad, so get the amazing assistance that you need! Get a hold of one of the ladies at [email protected]

SITS Member Quick Reminders

Quarterly Member Dues for Oct – Dec and Happy Dollars: These funds are how we pay for our overhead expenses, so they are very important. Dues are generated by our Treasurers. Happy Dollars can be paid directly online on our website www.sitahoesierra.org on the Donate button. “Note” what the payment is for to help out our team!

SITS Committee Signups~ Go to our signup listing site for this new year of fun committee options here!

NEWS signups are here!

Our Soroptimist apparel line is ready for purchase! Liz Prestella’s Torq’d clothing line for women is our supporter of this endeavor. Members and appreciators of SITS are now able to purchase apparel and items from her website. See what items are offered and to order go here. Thank you to the SITS team and to Torq’d for all of the hard work.

Soroptimist Specific!

SNR conference celebrating 50 years from June 5-7, 2026, in Reno.

Biennial Soroptimist International conference will be held in Incheon, South Korea from July 22-25, 2026.

NON-SITS

Fun and Opportunities in Tahoe

There’s actually so much going on so you’re going to want to check out the EVENTS tab on www.southtahoenow.com, but here’s a few to get you started!

Holiday Fun in Tahoe!

For a complete listing of the many activities all of Tahoe can enjoy, check out the details here.

This is the 39th Season of Tahoe Arts Project!

TAP performances include:

Push Physical Theater–Jan 26-30, 2026,

Katie Jane Band-March 2 – 6, 2026,

Living Voices-“Our Revolution” will be presented in our LTUSD schools March 23-27, 2026, with an evening Community Presentation at LTCC on Wednesday, March 25, 2025, hosted by the Lake Tahoe Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution in collaboration with TAP and LTCC.

The Tahoe Women’s Community Fund is having their membership drive! The Tahoe Women’s Community Fund, a philanthropic leadership organization, is dedicated to building and engaging an inclusive and diverse membership of women interested in strengthening our community through the power of collective giving. Be a part of something big!

Vista Rise Collective (previously Live Violence Free) is always looking for volunteers. There are many opportunities, for both direct and indirect services. Cash donations are always welcome, but every Tuesday they accept non cash donations such as furniture, clothing, etc. For more information about volunteering, donations and/or services provided click here.

PETAL KINDNESS is a non-profit organization that rescues flowers to uplift others and helps divert green waste from landfills. They are in desperate need of vases. Drop them off at 2941 Lake Tahoe Blvd. Leave behind wooden pallet wall.

Petal Kindness rescues these flowers from the landfill and provides them to non-profits, hospitals, senior centers, and community-based organizations to bring comfort, joy, and healing to our local community members. Donations and volunteers are always needed!

Blood donations are needed and four are scheduled in our community. Please see details here and make your appointment today!

Looking for up to date resources in our community? Barton Health has a list for all of us and it is actively updated! SHARE this link with others!

ALL YEAR LONG!

LTCC Basic Needs Center is looking for food donations. A variety of foods and basic need items are on the list. Click here for full list and drop off details

If you’d like to donate through our club, please bring your donations to the monthly business meeting and Lisa C. or Andie will make sure they are delivered to the college. Please include an estimate on the value as LTCC needs to keep records of that information.

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue has a quarterly newsletter to keep us all updated on fire safety info. Their goal is to help people learn about the fuels reduction products they are working on, seasonal fire safety info and other fire dept related news. Click here to sign up for the newsletter

Saint Joseph Community Land Trust has changed their Motel to Home (MTH) program from a loan program to a grant program and we’re hoping this will attract families living in substandard housing, who would like to live in a more permanent and adequate home. Please click here for more details

Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless seeks community support in keeping people cared for.

Our South Shore community has been able to sleep better knowing that our homeless population has an indoor option. This winter season marked the 10th anniversary of the Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless (TCH) providing warm beds to the most vulnerable in our community.

The office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 12-4 at the Red Lodge, 1137 Emerald Bay Rd.

More details here

Between Horses and Humans continues to grow! If you’re a lover of youth and a lover of horses, this is a program for you! You can keep up on their information by reading their newsletters here! Volunteers and donations are always needed. BHH Update-they are soon relocating to the Amacker Ranch!

Food Assistance Guide for So. Lake Tahoe. If you know of anyone in need, please share this information. Click and print!