SITS News May 28, 2026

Past President Lisa Cali opened today’s meeting with a big smile, in spite of the rain! President Paula returns from grandbaby visiting this weekend.

Invocation: Lydia’s invocation today reflected what Spring is in the mountains. One day, fruit trees are budding and then the next, your potential apples are decorating the ground. Those tomato plants you sure were in the clear, are not. Oh well, we take the beauty we live in each day with a smile. Spring in the mountains builds resiliency and determination. Hang on everyone, Spring will come again followed by our beautiful summersd!

Guest today included Ernie Claudio who also came bearing photography gifts for our members. Thank you Ernie!

Sunshine goes out to several of our own ladies. Laurie B, wishing you a speedy knee surgery recovery. PT says she’s doing great! Our friend, Mandy in England who had to say goodbye to Mr. Chubs recently. Shirley B who had a bit of an issue with that gorgeous heart of hers and hopes to be home tomorrow. Jeanne P who continues to feel better with each day. We also send our best out to the Nascar family for the passing of Kyle Busch this week. Jeanne P is a friend and shared the loss with the group.

Super Important Announcements for all:

• Friday, May 29th at 8 PM the auction closes! A list will be produced showing the names of all prize winners. Please sign up to help get the prizes to their owners. If you have questions, please contact Jeanne P here! Members are needed to sign up after the auction close so the team can organize the prizes by group assignments. Let’s wrap this event up together!

Today’s meeting was a review of our Mad Hatter event. We debrief all events we do in order to evaluate what worked well and what we can improve for the future. Raising funds is very important to our club as it is the way in which we are able to provide for the needs in our community. Soroptimist of Tahoe Sierra is a very hands on club. Many members are making programs happen in our schools. But we also use funds to provide for scholarships, awards, events, and basic needs for many and that takes money.

The feedback from our guests was incredibly positive. The Tallac Historical Site in itself is amazing, but when our women take over the Grand Hall with the decorations they have spent months making, it’s simply magical. A huge thank you to the many woman-hours on sprucing up past decorations and creating more (Thank you to our friend Amy Simons for your help as well!), Table Hostesses who provided tablescapes beyond belief, the Food Team who prepared an amazing 7-course tasting menu, and the community volunteers who stepped up to help us out, you are all so appreciated.

And a big thanks to the SoroptiMISTERS (sons, husbands, friends) who helped with all the heavy work and the many behind the scenes workers who make any fundraising event happen, we are indebted.

We are so proud of our high school youth and our SITSters Club at LTCC for the help they provided. EVERYONE who put the event together, worked the event, or attended the event, provided for the betterment of others. Congratulations everyone!

At the close of our meeting today, Lisa C presented some of the members who were in the thick of it, with beautiful flowers.

LTCC SITSterhood

Members Valery Gonzalez and Sophia Marroquin assemble training knives that young Girl Scouts will practice with at Camporee this weekend. Thank you ladies for your investment in our youth!

You ladies are amazing!

COMMITTEE HAPPENINGS

We’re a busy group!

Installation Committee

• Our Installation will be on June 25 at 5 PM at the home of Wendy David. The theme of the presentations that evening will be Harry Potter. Please contact Shelly if you’d like to help out with the planning!
• This is a great time to invite prospective members. It gives them a chance to meet our members!

Technology Committee

• It’s never to late to gain more skills! The Tech team is 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 Reminders

Quarterly Member Dues for April -June and Happy Dollars: These funds are how we pay for our overhead expenses, so they are very important. Thanks to our Tech team and Treasurers, we continue to evolve into the most efficient payment and accounting methods. Use THIS LINK or QR Code to PAY YOUR WEEKLY, QUARTERLY, or YEARLY DUES AND HAPPY DOLLARS! *Be sure to use the drop down menu on the service charge and click “Other”, then type in “0”. You will not pay a service fee in doing this.

Happy 50th Board Installation to us! Next year on March 8, 2027, we will celebrate our 50th Anniversary as a club and it will be this new Board that swings us in to this celebration.

Our Installation will be on Thursday, June 25, 2026 at the home of Wendy David beginning at 5 PM. The theme of our festivities is Harry Potter so get outside and find a stick on the forest floor to be your magic wand. More details to follow. In the meantime, think of a fun and interesting woman to join in on our fun!

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 CONFERENCES!

• 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!

Volunteers STILL NEEDED during Bike to School Week for the Middle School Bike Rodeo! Click link below for volunteer information.

Volunteer at the Middle School May 27 & 28 for the Bike Rodeo

Tahoe Alliance for Safe Kids is working with the schools to promote bike safety and also to come up with new rules for school cell phone use.

Community Safety Tidbit: South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue is linked into a program purchased by El Dorado County. It’s the SMART911 program. Go https://ready.edso.org and create an account. Emergency services can gain important information on your home and who is in it as they are responding. You can provide as much or as little information as you want. Things like an elderly parent, pets, family members, Oxygen tanks in the home, etc., help first responders help you. Please take the time to check it out and SHARE.

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 desperately needed . 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!

Medical Equipment needed – Rotary’s David Kurtzman has a program for our community. Free, used, in home medical equipment, like shower chairs, wheelchairs, walkers etc.

He can be contacted directly, 530-545-3283 to request items or donate.