Oxnard Holiday Parade 2004

Managing Booth at Relay for Life

Fundraising at California Strawberry Festival

A HISTORY:
Soroptimist International of Oxnard: 1945-2005
Soroptimist International of the Americas Federation
Camino Real Region

The 1940s
In a traditional candlelight ceremony with seventy guests present, Soroptimist International of Ventura sponsored the chartering of Soroptimist International of Oxnard on November 3rd, 1945. Maude Higgins is credited with the recruitment of the twenty-one charter members. The new club’s first project was a joint one with other service clubs in a one-day sale of E Bonds. Other early projects were the sending of monthly clothing packages to needy sister Soroptimists in Holland, sending overseas Christmas presents to servicemen, and chaperoning teen dances.

Club raffles were a weekly affair with funds designated to the Noel Fund for the postwar re-establishment and extension of Soroptimist clubs in war-torn Europe. Charter President Bonita McFarland must have been an expert butter maker, for that seems to have been the most popular raffle item at club meetings along with home-grown strawberries, oranges, Christmas angels, and nylon hose (a scarce commodity during and immediately after World War II). These raffles raised an average of $2.25 apiece. Soroptimists were quite busy promoting the club name by entering parades, sponsoring the Ventura County Fair Queen contests, and entering table setting competitions in the fair. Favorite meeting places were the Oyster Loaf Café, the Tom-Tom Café, and the House of Strasburg. Luncheon costs were 80¢ per member.

The 1950s
A four-year project for SI Oxnard was the funding of a new Girl Scout House. The house was purchased and moved from the school site in Somis and relocated to Oxnard and then remodeled for the Girl Scouts. It was begun in 1948 and dedicated November 28, 1952. Soroptimists supported and maintained the House throughout its use.

A joint venture with SI Ventura was the funding of the Polio Pool. The $10,000 goal was reached by holding bingo, tea, and card parties, fashion and hairstyle shows, and concerts. The pool is still utilized today by Ventura County residents for therapy and exercise classes.

In 1957, the Ways and Means Committee planned to have one big joint project annually. It was a Spring Fashion Show that continued for many years. Other service projects during the 50’s included the purchase of a wheelchair, taking care packages to senior ladies in nursing homes, and throwing Christmas parties for patients at Camarillo State Hospital.

Soroptimism spread to Santa Barbara soon after an Oxnard Soroptimist moved there and saw the potential for a Soroptimist club. On June 18, 1955, SI Oxnard became the proud "mother" of Soroptimist International of Santa Barbara. On October 12, Oxnard members chartered a bus (round-trip fare was $1.82 per person) to attend a knit fashion show given by SI Santa Barbara.

In 1958 the “Woman of the Year” Award became a part of the Oxnard Civic Awards night. Throughout the years, several of the recipients of this award have been SI Oxnard club members.

The 1960s
Two significant events took place during the 60’s. Both were perfect examples of Soroptimist themes “Awareness, Advocacy and Action." The first was the recognizing and addressing the increased need for a family and youth counseling center. Soroptimists enlisted the aid of community leaders and other service clubs. They spent six years fundraising before their labor of love came to fruition when The Family Counseling Center at 3645 Saviers Road opened its doors.

The second major project was assisting in the planning and development of the Oxnard Civic Center. Soroptimists played a very prominent role as sponsors and hosts for the Grand Opening benefit concert by the King Family. SI Oxnard also donated the fountains in the Civic Center courtyard.

The 1970s
Good works continued throughout the 70’s. Some of these were: support of the Girl’s Club, money to St. John’s Hospital for the purchases of equipment for infants and spina bifida patients, the donation of a star pine tree in Plaza Park, and awarding the youth Citizenship Scholarships.

The 1980s
Soroptimism grew again on the Oxnard Plains as SI Oxnard sponsored the chartering of Soroptimist International of Camarillo on January 3, 1980. Our own membership became a real concern during the early 80’s, but Helen Simons almost single-handedly recruited the members necessary to bring SI Oxnard off the danger list.

The club adopted Interface McAvoy House as an annual Christmas project. Members chopped down a Christmas tree and brought presents to the young people along with ornaments, lights and baked goodies to add a little Christmas cheer to troubled teens not living at home.

Dramatic changes took place when Ways and Means Chair Marcia Charney increased fund-raising efforts from $2,000 per year to $12,000! The memorable fundraiser responsible was “An Enchanted Evening” Spring Fashion Show. Featured were community leaders and dignitaries and of course, our own members performing song and dance numbers. A few stars were born that night!.

1990s
Soroptimist International of Oxnard is dedicated to the betterment of the community and improving the status of women. Projects of the early 90’s included: co-sponsorship of Oxnard Women’s Day with the Oxnard College Re-entry; establishment of an Oxnard site for the family agency CAAN (Child Abuse and Neglect); and annual attendance at the Inter-Service Club Luncheon. The Oxnard club was honored as Service Club of the Year in 1990.

We reached across the border with The Flying Samaritans to bring international goodwill and medical services to residents of a small village in Baja California, Mexico. The sojourn was accompanied by Dr. Manuel Lopez who volunteered in the eye clinic, along with a press photographer/ reporter from the Oxnard Press Courier.

We crossed oceans to England and Japan. Club members attended federation and international conventions to further strengthen our Soroptimist ties and learn more of Soroptimist objectives. While in England, members Kay Hoyt and Pat Maki were reunited with Friendship Link, SI Kingston-Upon-Thames. Archives show we have been corresponding with our sister Soroptimists there for 53 years! We were honored to have several English Soroptimists attend the 50th Golden Anniversary celebration in 1995. In October 1997 we were graced with their presence on another visit to the States.

A Soroptimist Mentor Program was adopted in 1994 as a service project with Oxnard College Re-entry Center. Members are teamed with students who are returning to college and need cheerleading and guidance.

A joint partnership with Soroptimist and Interface was established in 1996. SI Oxnard pledged $5,000 for 5 years to support the purchase of a home to serve as a “transition” home. This home provides a safe haven for many women and children to recover from domestic abuse and regain the skills necessary for a new life. The Soroptimists were given the honor of naming the home “Casa Soroptimist."

The club organized with Cal-Works to develop a “Career Closet” project. This project supplies women re-entering the workforce after a difficult time with proper attire for job interviews and their first week of work. The Career Closet is located at 704 North A Street. Members share the appointment duties for 2 evenings each week and each Saturday. The Ventura County Cultural Diversity Board bestowed a 1999 Community Hero Award upon SI Oxnard for promoting cultural competence and diversity within Ventura County. At the 36th biennial Federation Convention in Hawaii, Soroptimist Alicia Washington spoke on Soroptimist International of Oxnard’s Career Closet. It was a recipient of a $2,000 Federation “Making a Difference for Women” Grants. For more information on the Career Closet, click here.

The Twenty-First Century
Today, annual fundraising efforts total nearly $20,000. Local non-profit agencies that advance the status of women and girls are the recipients of Soroptimists' efforts. Agencies that SIO has helped include Girl Scouts, Tres Condados, Camp Fire, Children’s Activity Center, Gull Wings Children's Museum, Police Activity League, Oxnard Re-entry Center, Woman’s Opportunity Awards, Youth Citizenship Awards, Interface, and CAAN.

SI Oxnard sponsored $10,000 for student scholarships which actually afforded Oxnard College $30,000 in student grants. This donation gave the club the opportunity to have a room named after the Oxnard Soroptimists, the Soroptimist Mentor Room at the new Student Center.

SI Oxnard has enjoyed the work dedicated to bringing the “Best for Women” locally and worldwide for the past 60 years, and continues to support the ideals for which it stands:

* The Sincerity of Friendship
* The Joy of Achievement
* The Dignity of Service
* The Integrity of Profession
* The Love of Country

Soroptimists put forth their greatest effort to promote, uphold and defend these ideals for a larger fellowship, in home, in society, in business, and for God.

Many thanks to longtime Soroptimist Debbie Bills for this article. (Rev. 2/05)