By Terra Avilla
The Susanville Police Department Explorer Program is hosting a girl’s leadership conference in April and the reactions from the community have been overwhelming.
When I tell people that I modeled the camp and the idea after one of the groups that I love and cherish, Susanville Soroptimist International, I am surprised at the number of people who have never heard of this incredible group.
If you don’t know what ‘Soroptimist’ is, don’t feel bad. I didn’t either before I was lucky enough to stumble into a friendship with one of the group’s members. Elizabeth Darley in particular.
Five years ago Elizabeth asked me if I would speak at one of their conferences. When I arrived at their event I had no idea what to expect, however, I was immediately, completely, overtaken with wonderment.
These women had assembled a conference dedicated to empowering young girls, complete with food, activities, full done directions, guest speakers, etc. The impressive thing is that they make sure they do these conferences throughout the county. I have attended them in Susanville, but also in the smaller parts of the county like Herlong and Westwood.
They want to reach as many young leaders as they can. Easy to say. Really, really difficult to execute, yet they do. Their mission is to enhance and better the lives of women and young girls in our community.
They do hours and hours of community service and work hard to mentor young women into confident independent women.
Throughout my philanthropic journeys in Lassen County, I would be hard pressed to find a portion of the community that Soroptimist hasn’t helped. Their ‘S’ Club is dedicated to younger girls, giving them healthy relationships with their peers, a sense of belonging, but more importantly a sense of empowerment. They build these girls up. They provide reinforcement of all the qualities I want my daughters to cherish.
Remember when I was telling you about how great my friend Christi Myers is? Well her mother, Sharon McBride helps run the club and does so seamlessly. She works overtime to help bring the club’s mission to life.
This club sponsors families for Christmas, rings the bell for Salvation Army and donates their time to so many great events like Holiday with a Hero, food drives, clothing drives, career fairs and the Margarita Fest. I can’t forget Margarita fest.
They give out scholarships to our students, and even have an award banquet honoring locals who support the community. I think it’s time we honor them.
Behind every great woman, there is probably a bunch of other really, great women. Women who are leaders. Women who are kind, smart, thoughtful. Women who help others without missing a beat. In Lassen County, these women are most likely members of our local Soroptimist club.
I am so grateful that this type of organization exists. These women inspire all of the females in our community to dream more, learn more, strive for more… become more. They are such an eclectic group of women, and they are one of the reasons I love the place we live.
