Our Organization

 Soroptimist was formed in 1921 in Oakland, California, at a time when women were not permitted to join service organizations. Our name, translated from Latin, means “best for women.” Today we have approximately 30,000 members and supporters in countries across North America, Latin America and the Pacific Rim. We are one of five federations that make up Soroptimist International, which has clubs in more than 120 countries throughout the world.

Soroptimist International comprises of five federations worldwide:

1. Soroptimist International of the Americas, Headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, USA*

2. Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland, Headquartered in Cheshire, England

3. Soroptimist International of Europe, Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland

4. Soroptimist International of Southwest Pacific, Headquartered in Sydney, Australia

5. Soroptimist International African Federation, Headquartered in Africa 

29 Regions (North Atlantic Region*) Each Region has a Governor (Patti Hall-Yuengling*), Governor Elect (Elizabeth Peterson*), Treasurer (Karen Gehers*) & Secretary (Joan Merritt*)

5 Districts: Each District has a Director (Joyce Schech*), & Secretary (Mary Borger*)

· District 1 includes all of New York state, and northern New Jersey (11 clubs)

· District 2 includes the state of Delaware and southern New Jersey. (10 clubs)*

· District 3 includes eastern Pennsylvania. (7 clubs)

· District 4 includes western Pennsylvania and Wheeling, WV. (9 clubs)

· District 5 includes Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, Vermont, Massachusetts (8 clubs)

*Pertains to SICMC

EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO GENDER EQUALITY, WHICH HAS YET TO BE ACHIEVED ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

· 1 in 3 women has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime. (Amnesty International USA) *

· Of single mothers under 30, only 7% have finished college in the U.S. (The Shriver Report) *

· Women earn $.52 to every $1 earned by men. (World Economic Forum) *

· 1 in 4 high school-age girls in the United States does not graduate. (National Women's Law Center) **

Soroptimist Programs addressing these issues:

*Live Your Dream: 35,000 women helped since 1972

**Dream It, Be It: 84,000 girls received access to professional role models, mentors, and career education since 2015