Soroptimist Secret Santa’s Deliver
Soroptimist Secret Santa
Borrego Springs Face Mask Project: We Got You Covered
Soroptimists Have You Covered
Marching For Local Women and Girls

For the second year in a row, the members of Soroptimist International of Borrego Springs and the Borrego Springs High School “S” Club, a teen action-oriented volunteer club, are teaming up to march for women and girls in the community of Borrego Springs and throughout the world. Soroptimist International of Borrego Springs is a volunteer organization that assists women and girls to “Live Their Dreams” through education scholarships, career workshops and mentoring opportunities. “S” Clubs are considered an outreach program of the Soroptimist organization, and a vital way for high school students to learn about serving others and helping their communities both near and far.
This month, the Borrego Springs High School “S” Club selected their second major fundraising opportunity: helping fund the new Borrego Springs Library. The “S” Club will be raising awareness for library funding and hoping to raise their goal of $1,000 at their Borrego Days booth.
Soroptimist International of Borrego Springs also has an important cause: they will be collecting gift cards, unopened personal hygiene items, baby supplies and gently-worn or new clothing for survivors of sex trafficking in San Diego County. The drive is part of a larger call to action in partnership with STAT! (Soroptimists Together Against Trafficking), where women of Soroptimist International join together to raise awareness of sex trafficking and support the survivors in our county. You can drop off any of the listed items at the Soroptimist booth at Borrego Days, October 20 and 21.
“We love that both Soroptimist and our ‘S’ Club are raising awareness for organizations who make a difference in the lives of women and girls, right here in San Diego County,” says Judy Stewart, President of Soroptimist International of Borrego Springs. “We ask that all festival attendees stop by our booths and learn how they can make a difference, right here at home!”
Dream It, Be It Career Day
First-of-Kind Girls’ Career Day Comes to Borrego Springs
Soroptimist International of Borrego Springs members know, “if you can dream it, you can do it!” The local volunteer club has created a career day focused on inspiring Borrego Springs High School girls to dream big, then empowering them to follow that dream.
The Dream It, Be It Career Day features eight amazing women speakers, in a myriad of careers, to share their life stories in diverse career paths. Julia Anguiano, who graduated from Borrego Springs High school, is day’s keynote speaker. Julia, recently chosen as the Soroptimist International of Borrego Springs’ 2018 Live Your Dream winner, and awarded a $1000 scholarship, will soon complete her degree at the University of San Francisco.
Dream It, Be It: Career Support for Girls helps girls grow up to be strong, successful, happy adults. Dream It, Be It targets girls in secondary school who face obstacles to their future success. It provides girls with access to professional role models, career education and the resources to live their dreams.
The career day will take place at the Senior Center on Saturday, April 28, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch will be provided by local Kendall’s restaurant and the club is grateful to the Senior Center for donating their building to accommodate this important and groundbreaking day.
Please see Martha Deichler at the school district office to receive a registration packet. All Borrego Springs High School girls are encouraged to attend.
10 Things You Didn’t Know Women Invented
International Women’s Day is March 8, so Soroptimist International of Borrego Springs member, Anne W., did a little research to share and celebrate women inventors and inventions by women!
Here are 10 Things You Didn’t Know Women Invented!
1. Monoply

Monopoly was originally invented to expose injustice
This popular board game was designed by Elizabeth Maggie in 1904, originally called the Landlord’s Game. The purpose of this game was to expose the injustices of unchecked capitalism.
Her game was ripped off by Charles Darrow who sold it to Parker Brother’s 30 years later. However, Parker Brothers later paid Elizabeth $500 for her game.
2. The Car Heater

Brrrr! Thanks for keeping our hands warm on those chilly mornings!
Cold hands, warm hearts, though! We all owe our thanks to Margaret A. Wilcox who invented the car heater in 1893! Margaret also invented a combined clothes and dishwasher.
3. The Life Raft

The lifesaving Life Raft was invented by Maria Beasely in 1882
The lifesaving Life Raft was invented by Maria Beasely in 1882. Maria also invented a machine that makes barrels, as well.
4. Residental Solar Heating

Solar heating for residential housing was invented by Dr. Maria Telkes in 1947
Solar heating for residential housing was invented by Dr. Maria Telkes in 1947. Dr. Telkes was a Psychiatrist in addition to being a Solar-Power Pioneer.
5. The Computer Algorithm

Her ideas and notes were an essential key to helping Alan Turing’s work on the first modern computers in the 1940’s
Ada Lovelace is essentially the first computer programmer due to her work with Charles Babbage at the University of London in 1842. In fact, her ideas and notes were an essential key to helping Alan Turing’s work on the first modern computers in the 1940’s. His work is now being recognized as one of the critical programs that helped the world defeat Hitler and the Nazi’s.
6. Wireless Transmission Technology

Yes, this means Wi-Fi!
Hedy Lamarr, a world famous film star, invented a secret communications system during World War II for radio-controlling torpedoes. This technology also paved the way for everything from GPS to even the Wi-Fi you are probably using right now!
7. Closed-Circuit Television Security (CCTV)

Ms. Brown’s invention was created in response of the lack of assistance of police officers in 1969 to help people ensure their own security
Marie Van Brittan Brown invented CCTV because of the slow response of police officers in 1969 to help people ensure their own security. This invention influenced modern CCTV systems used for home security and police work today.
8. Kevlar

Five times stronger than steel!
This life-saving material was invented by Stephanie Kwolek, in 1965. It is five times stronger than steel and used to make bulletproof vests.
9. The First User-Friendly Software Ever

Also coined the term “bug”, in reference to a glitch in a computer system
Dr. Grace Murray Hopper was a computer scientist that invented COBOL which is the first user-friendly business computer software system in the 1940’s.
She was also a rear admiral in the U.S. Navy and the first person to use the term “bug” in reference to a glitch in a computer system when she literally found a bug (moth) causing problems with her computer!
10. Telecommunications Technology

So now go call your mother…
Some of the Telecommunication Technology developed by Dr. Shirley Jackson include: the portable fax, touch tone telephone, solar cells, fiber optic cables, and the technology behind caller ID and call waiting.
Surprised? Not surprised? Comment below or on our Facebook page with your thoughts!
Volunteering on Valentine’s Day
Borrego Springs “S” Club Valentine’s Day Volunteering
Valentine’s Day isn’t all about prose and roses! At least, that’s what the Borrego Springs High School “S” Club proved on Wednesday, February 14. 17 “S” Club members spent their Valentine’s Day afternoon packing Valentine’s Day greetings and gifts for residents at the child’s home, Una Salida, located in Mexicali, Mexico. Exactly 30 bags were sweetly arranged, complete with: small gifts, school supplies, candy and hand-written notes from each “S” Club member.
Valentine’s Volunteering Delivery
The gifts were then delivered to Una Salida by Ernie and Debbie Loza on Saturday, February 17, where they were received with excitement and appreciation. The teens plan to write back to “S” Club members, as well.
Who knows, perhaps we have some new pen pals in this digital age!
“S” Club and Soroptimists Eclipse Santa
“S” Club and Soroptimist of Borrego Springs Eclipse Santa
Making the New Year bright means ending 2017 on a high note. That’s just what Borrego Springs “S” Club members did by playing Santa Claus and delivering special gift bags to local assisted living facility residents at Mountain View.
In mid-December six special gift bags were donated by Umpqua Bank Assistant Vice President, Claudia Castaneda. “S” Club member, Samantha Hernandez, then organized the gifts and Soroptimists of Borrego Springs then presented them to our local assisted living facility residents at Mountain View.
“S” Club member, Yuridia Leal, and local Soroptimists visited residents on that delivery day. They talked, read and gave each resident a Christmas gift bag filled with essential items each resident could use.
“The ‘S’ Club is a committed group of youth helping to make Borrego Springs a better place,” stated Soroptimist International of Borrego Springs Media Chair, Marcie Grube, “They definitely demonstrated this holiday season our senior community members are important and ensured they were cared.”
Soroptimist International of Borrego Springs and the “S” Club look forward to a bright 2018, all year long!