Special to the Register

The annual Life Member Luncheon of Soroptimist International of Napa, led by President-elect Shannon Richards, was held June 9 and featured the presentation of the Making a Difference for Women award to Napa County nursing leader Laura Keller.

The special luncheon meeting at the Elks Lodge also honored Soroptimist International of Napa Life Members and included club member Sue Chambers’ update on International Project Sierra Leone.

Keller, Napa County director of public health nursing and maternal child health, was on hand to receive the prestigious Making a Difference for Women award. The award acknowledges outstanding work of women who, either in their job or through volunteer work, make a real difference for women and/or girls. In addition to the award, Soroptimist International of Napa donates $500 to the charity of the awardees’ choice. Keller chose the Napa Breast Feeding Coalition.

Napa County Supervisor Brad Wagenknecht presented the county’s proclamation for the Making a Difference for Women award and city of Napa Mayor Jill Techel presented a proclamation.

Following the presentation to Keller, Soroptimist Vice President Carol Smith gave $500 checks to two local organizations. Cynthia Dempsey, executive director of Cybermill Clubhouse, was on hand to receive an award funding scholarships for girls to attend the Cybermill Clubhouse. (The donation was funded by a gift from Life Member Norma Arndt.) Shea Hunter, program director for Napa Emergency Women’s Services, received a check for NEWS to promote the organization’s efforts on behalf of women.

Other projects and awards funded by Soroptimist International of Napa this year included the Women’s Opportunity Award, Violet Richardson Award, COPE family center Birthday Buddies program, The Table, Holiday Baskets, Salvation Army, 4-H Sewing Award, Optimist Girls Basketball team sponsorship, President’s Appeal and Project Sierra Leone. Several thousand dollars in seed money has been set aside for a girls mentoring project, now in the planning stages, and the club is seeking new members to help fulfill this goal.

Soroptimist International of Napa is a women’s service organization of business and professional women committed to improving the lives of women and girls locally and throughout the world. Life Members of Soroptimist International of Napa honored at the luncheon include Edith Burch, Alice Reed, Sue Eaton-Cooley, Norma Arndt, Pearl Porter, Millie Voyles, Edith Pierce, Bettie Starke, Dora Bell, Eileen Bodnar, Isabelle Burell, Noreen Hanna, Verda Hixson, Ellie Kimbrough, Jan Knudsen, Wanda Lamb, Mary Lonergan, Maureen Moreno, Valerie Pistolie, Judy Szmidt, Eleanor Wigger and recently deceased member Sylvia Benedict.

The club is recruiting new members now for the upcoming year. Lunchtime meetings will be held beginning in September on the second, third and fourth Tuesdays of the month at the Elks Lodge in Napa. For more info, contact Membership Director Brenda Roberts at 255-4434 or visit www.soroptimist.org.