Our Vision: "Women and girls have the resources and opportunities to reach their full potential and live their dreams."

About Us


2020-2022 Biennial Theme:

Official Totem - Peacock


Founder Region Board of Directors

Kris Chorbi

Governor
SI/Eureka
kchorbi5@yahoo.com
Member since: 1992

Vicki Ham

Governor-elect
SI/Willits
vickiham01@gmail.com
Member since: 2008

Joy Swank

Region Secretary
SI/Vacaville
soroptimistjoy@gmail.com
Member since: 2011

Tess Albin-Smith

Region Treasurer
SI/Noyo Sunrise
tess@alumni.ucdavis.edu
Member since: 1991

Lenore Colarusso

District I Director
SI/24-680 (Walnut Creek)
lenorecolarusso150@gmail.com
Member since: 2005

Jackie Arnold

District II Director
SI/Vallejo
directorjackie2@gmail.com
Member since: 2003

Colleen Ganaye

District III Director
SI/Sonoma Valley
colleenganaye@gmail.com
Member since: 1979

Vicki Baldwin

District IV Director
SI/Crescent City
victoria10kevin@yahoo.com
Member since: 2013

Kristal Koga

District V Director
SI/The Marianas
districtvdirector@gmail.com
Member since: 1997
download Biennial Calendar
downloAD REGION ROSTER
Contact Secretary Joy Swank for the roster password: soroptimistjoy@gmail.com


Appointed Leadership

Barbara Lanier

Parliamentarian
SI/El Cerrito
lanierwilson@comcast.net
Member since:

Dona Gaddis Wolf

2021 Conference Coordinator
SI/Antioch
gaddiswolf@comcast.net 
Member since:

Lyn Lurbe

2022 Conference Coordinator
SI/Central Oahu
lurbe2010@gmail.com
Member since:

Cara Begley

Conference Treasurer
SI/Antioch
jakesnana@rocketmail.com 
Member since:

Leanne Davis

Fundraising Pillar Chair 
SI/Oakland-The Founder Club
leannecdavis@gmail.com
 Member since: 2014

Nancey Weber

Membership Pillar Chair 
SI/Novato
nweber10@comcast.net 
Member since: 2012

Vicki Ham

Program Pillar Chair
Violet Richardson Chair
SI/Willits
vickiham01@gmail.com 
Member since: 2008

Jackie DeVries

Public Awareness Pillar Chair
SI/Vacaville Twilight
soroptimistjackiedv@gmail.com
Member since: 2017

Cheryl Poncini

Fellowship President
SI/Oakland-The Founder Club
cheryl.poncini@gmail.com Member since: 1984


Region Committee Chairs

Bev Gomer

Dream It, Be It
SI/Martinez
bevgomer3@gmail.com
Member since: 2002

Danelle Tegarden

Financial Review
SI/Eureka
tegarden2000@yahoo.com 
Member since: 2013

Sheila Bearden

Laws & Resolutions
SI/Humboldt Bay
shebehere@aol.com 
Member since: 1993

Linda Witong

Legislative Advocacy
SI/Marine County
lwitong@gmail.com
 Member since:

Debbie Coles

Live Your Dream
SI/Arcata
colesdkc@gmail.com
Member since:  1993

Amelia Benko

Nominating
SI/The TrI-Valley
amelia@benkoinsurance.com 
Member since:

Debbie Thompson

Redwood Memorial Grove
SI/Eureka
debbiethompson65@gmail.com
Member since: 2000

Beth A. Rowe

"S"  Club
SI/Vacaville
betharowe@yahoo.com
Member since: 2015

Debbie Scaife

Soroptimist Celebrating Success
SI/Eel River Valley
timberent@suddenlink Member since:


Founder Region Committees

download committee contact list
Dream It, Be It
Bev  Gomer, Chair
District I - Elise Balgley
District II - Maria Landski
District III - Maddy Leader
District IV - Joanne Frazer  
District V - Teri Sato
Financial Review
Danelle Tegarden, Chair
District I - Leanne Davis
District III - Karen Schlegel
District V - Sylvia Crafton  

Fundraising
Leanne Davis, Chair
District I - Karen Jameson  
District II -Penny Belotti  
District III - Lillian Meyers  
District IV - Andrea Boldt  
District V  - Malia Lau
Laws & Resolutions
Sheila Beardon, Chair
District II - Arletta Cartwright  
District III - Lillian Meyers  
Legislative Advocacy
Linda Witong, Chair
District II - Phyllis Gordon  
District III - Fredda Kaplan  
District III - Madalienne Peters  
District III - Rachel Farac  
District IV - Laura Middlemiss  
District V - Angie Haramoto  
Live Your Dream
Debbie Coles, Chair
District I - Shannie Eubanks
District II - Mariam Aboudamous
District III - Maida Herbst
District IV - Heidi Ahders
District V - Wendy McDonald

Membership
Nancy Weber, Chair
District I - Lenore Colarusso
District II - Jackie Arnold
District III- Colleen Ganaye
District IV -  Vicki Baldwin
District V  - Kristal Koga  

Nominating
Amelia Benko, Chair
District I - Billie Knight
District II - Karen Jameson
District III - Jackie Arnold
District IV - Loretta Tognoli
District V - Mary Ruth Rheinschild
District VI - Brihinia Habin
Public Awareness
Jackie DeVries, Chair
District III - Laurie Gallian
District IV - Vicki Dillard
District V - Teri Sato
 
Redwood Memorial Grove
Debbie Thompson, Chair
District IV - Catherine "Kate" Burns
District IV - Dyann O'Brien
District IV - Peggy Dimmick
District IV -  Linda Perry
   
"S" Cub  
Beth Rowe, Chair
District I - Karen Hubbard
District IV - Tess Albin-Smith
District V -  Jessica Castro
 
 Violet Richarson Award
Governor-elect Vicki Ham, Chair
District I - Carol Dippel
District II - Susan Avery
District III - vacant
District IV - Heather Bitner
District V - Rene Tokunaga
 


Founder Region Administration


Bylaws


Procedures


Region Roadmap

There are Soroptimist laws at all levels of the organization.
  • Soroptimist International of the Americas Bylaws
  • Soroptimist International of the Americas Procedures
  • Founder Region Bylaws and Procedures
  • Founder Region Fellowship Bylaws
  • Club Bylaws and Procedures
download
Club and Region laws may not be in conflict with higher law. The Soroptimist International of the Americas Bylaws and Procedures may be found at the Soroptimist International of the Americas (SIA) web site.


download
Region Roadmap is an organization's process of defining its strategy, or direction, and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this strategy.



download

There is also a sample guideline for Club Bylaws in the Founder Region Procedures (Appendix H). For further assistance with Soroptimist laws, contact a representative of the Founder Region Laws and Resolutions Committee as listed in the Founder Region Roster.