7/1/20 Welcome to the 2020-2022 Biennium!

Welcome to the 2020-2022 Biennium!  
I know we are navigating some unusual circumstances at this time and I hope you are healthy and well.  As we strive to move forward, we must find new and creative ways to continue the important work of fulfilling our mission.   The new Founder Region and Fellowship boards are ready to work hard, foster teamwork, support our membership and above all, have fun!  As we lead Founder Region into the next century, we will endeavor to share our love of Soroptimist with our members as they strive to provide women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment.

My theme for the 2020-2022 biennium is “Dream BIG for the Future!”
Dream BIG is an empowering phrase. By definition, a dream is a fantasy about something greatly desired and usually something that you think is unattainable, something BIG. It is a cherished aspiration, an ambition or an ideal of something that fully satisfiers a wish. As Soroptimists, this is at the core of our beliefs. We encourage women and girls to explore their aspirations and to believe that their dreams are achievable.  Women around the world have the right to dream the impossible dream, of a life free from violence, discrimination, poverty, and oppression.  A life that is of their own choosing, not a product of their geography or circumstance. A life where they can provide for themselves and their families, so they can thrive and grow to become an independent and productive member of society.

My emblem is the Peacock, which symbolizes vision, awakening, guidance, protection and watchfulness. In Roman mythology, the Peacock’s tail has the “eyes” of the stars. Soroptimist members are always looking for women and girls who need encouragement and guidance so they can be the stars of their own destiny.  We hope to awaken in them the self-confidence and determination to achieve their vision for the future.  With every award we give, we feel a sense of protection and watchfulness over the lives we’ve touched and the dreams we have awakened.

As we near our one hundredth year of improving the lives of women and girls, we must “Dream BIG for the Future!” of our organization, so we can have a sustainable impact on those who have yet to need our help and support. They count on us to be here for the next one hundred years, as we continue to work toward our increased collective impact of empowerment through education.    In October of 2021, the global world of Soroptimist will be coming together in San Francisco to celebrate 100 years of service to our communities.  It is an exciting time in our organization as we continue to redefine our mission and adapt to our changing world. By investing in dreams of half a million women and girls through access to education, we are ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to live their dream.

In conclusion, I know we are all missing each other over the past few months, but I hope this experience has shown us that together, Soroptimist members persevere and overcome obstacles to accomplish so much.  We must stay connected now, more than ever, with our members and clubs, so we can continue the mission of Soroptimist well into the next 100 years. I hope you’ll join me during the 2020-2022 biennium as we “Dream BIG for the Future!”

Sincerely,
Kris Chorbi, Governor