SOROPTIMIST FOUNDATION OF CANADA Fall 2016 Page 1

2016 Grants for Women Award Winners $30,000 total was awarded to four recipients.

http://www.soroptimistfoundation.ca/grantwinners.html

www.soroptimistfoundation.ca Fall 2016

Editor: Aline Chan alinchan@rogers.com

Melinda Krynen-Hill, MEd in Counselling Psychology candidate, Uni-

versity of Toronto (OISE), 2017; Master’s in Public Health specializing in

Health Promotion, University of Alberta, 2013. Melinda founded a unique consultancy practice supporting individuals to

better manage complex health conditions.

Melinda pursued training in the psychology field after organically developing a consultancy practice supporting individuals

with complex health conditions to cultivate skills and tools to self-regulate their challenging conditions. Her practice evolved

following her own experience with a complex health condition, where she aspired to create a resource and support for others

going through similar journeys. Melinda envisioned a practice that would supplement gaps in the current health care delivery

system and provide needed support and encouragement for those living with complex conditions. She credits the women in

her life for inspiring her to seek agency in decisions involving her health and for encouraging her to create a space for others to

empower themselves through illness.

More about her can be found in the Spring 2016 Cornerstone, on our SFC website. (Photo by Estatira Shirkhodaee)

ECR Fall Meeting & SFC AGM

October 15, 2016

Hosted by SI Grand Erie Melinda Hill, one of the 2016 Grants for Women winner, was our

guest speaker. She talked about how she founded a unique consultan-

cy practice supporting individuals to better manage complex health

conditions.

MESSAGE FROM WCR GOVERNOR

RITA MACKENZIE

I visited the ECR Fall Meeting in October,

held together with the SFC Annual General

Meeting. It was lovely meeting so many

Soroptimist members of Eastern Canada. I

realized the importance of connecting the

East with the West and brought back a message to the

membership of Western Canada to visit clubs in the East

whenever possible. The SFC has strengthened Soroptimist

in Canada and I hope the trend continues as more and

more women become aware of our organization and all it

has to offer to our female population.

Rita Mackenzie, Governor, Western Canada Region

Genna Evelyn Master of

Laws (Fundamental and

Collective Rights) candidate

2016 Faculty of Law,

Université Laval, LL.B. 2006

University of New Bruns-

wick. Genna was one of the

2015 winners of Grants for

Women.

Here, she speaks to the Soroptimists at Briars Dining

Resort Spa & Conference Centre, ECR 2016 Spring Con-

ference.

SOROPTIMIST FOUNDATION OF CANADA Fall 2016 Page 2

ELIZABETH KITCHEN has been a member with SI Peterbor-

ough since 2009. She has been employed in

the banking sector for over 35 years with the

last eleven years as a Certified Financial

Planner.

Elizabeth Kitchen Treasurer, SFC

INTRODUCING TWO NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS - SOROPTIMIST FOUNDATION OF CANADA

CYNDY ROBERTS joined Soroptimist Dundas / Ancas-ter / Flamborough, ECR, in 1993 then left in 2003 to help charter SI Haldimand-Norfolk then left in 2014 to help in the chartering of her present club, SI Grand Erie, Brantford, Ontario.

Cyndy Roberts Club Grants, SFC

SHERYL HOPKINS, SI Peterborough, is retiring this

year, November 15, 2016 after 4 years of

service to the Foundation. The treasurer

position will be taken over by Elizabeth

Kitchen also of SI Peterborough. We

wish Sheryl much success with her fu-

ture endeavours and a happy retirement.

It has been a pleasure working with Sheryl and she will

be missed.

META FLEMKE, SI Edmonton is retiring this year October 31,

2016 after 2 years of service to the Foundation.

Meta's position as secretary will be filled by Anna

Der who moves from Club Grants and WCR Grants

for Women Manager. We will miss Meta but she is

moving to Treasurer of SI Edmonton and is unable

to do both positions at the same time. We have en-

joyed our time with Meta and have enjoyed her presence on the

Foundation Board. All the best to you Meta,

FAREWELL TO TWO RETIRING BOARD OF DIRECTORS—SOROPTIMIST FOUNDATION OF CANADA

Soroptimist Chilliwack's 2nd Annual PAJAMAS & PEARLS event, October 15, at Evergreen Hall. Photos: Heather Rollins

SOROPTIMIST FOUNDATION OF CANADA Fall 2016 Page 3

LET’S BUILD OUR ENDOWMENT FUND Send your Club Donation or Personal Donation to

Soroptimist Foundation of Canada

Elizabeth Kitchen

1216 Trentway Vista

Peterborough ON K9H 6N8

OR DIRECT—MAK

It’s fast and easy - fill out the form on the following page and attach a

voided cheque and your donation will be automatically deposited as

directed by you! It’s that easy!

GIVE GENEROUSLY and PROUDLY wear your

MAPLE LEAF PIN

The Red Pin is awarded to recog-

nize individual members whose

cumulative donations have reached

$500 plus. The Silver Pin is added

to recognize cumulative donation

amounts totalling $1000 plus, and the Gold Pin

recognizes $2500 plus.

For some members these milestone pins are

reached in a relatively short period of time. For

other members, they represent several years of

faithful donations. Hence, there is a bonding and

all pins are worn with pride in each other.

SOROPTIMIST CLUB GRANTS

FOR CANADIAN SOROPTIMIST CLUBS The Soroptimist Foundation Of Canada offers Club Grants to

Canadian Soroptimist clubs holding educational programs for

women and/or girls that will help them to be the best they can be

by developing their abilities and their awareness so that each of

these young women can reach her full potential. The exact num-

ber of grants and the amounts for the grants will be determined

each fiscal year at the discretion of the Board of Directors of the

Foundation, depending on the funds available in that year’s

budget, the number of clubs applying, and the program needs of

the clubs applying. A FOLLOW-UP REPORT IS MANDATORY.

Deadlines for Club Grant Applications is June 30 of each year.

Applications are available on the website.

Click on Club Grants Application at

http://www.soroptimistfoundation.ca/

Or go directly to

http://www.soroptimistfoundation.ca/application.html#clubs

Cyndy Roberts, Manager, Club Grants clubgrants@soroptimistfoundation.ca

Soroptimist Pledge We are Soroptimists committed to:

The Sincerity of Friendship

The Joy of Achievement

The Dignity of Service

The Integrity of Profession

The Love of Country

We will put forth our best efforts to improve the

lives of women and the girls in local communi-

ties and throughout the world.

CLUB GRANT WINNERS, 2016!

CONGRATULATIONS!

I would like to thank all Soroptimist Clubs that filled out the SFC forms asking for funding to help provide programs to young

women in their communities and to encourage more clubs to host programs and to apply for funding from SFC next year.

This year we have applications submitted by nine clubs. Most of these clubs are old hands at providing quality programs to girls

and women in their communities and, in doing so, strengthening ties to their communities and to the families, including the young

women and girls that attend those programs.

Soroptimist International Clubs in Canada that applied for funding this year:

1. SI Guelph - Dream It Be It DIBI.

2. SI Kawartha Lakes - Girls of Action and Leadership (GOAL)

3. SI Central Alberta - The Power of a Girl. (Mother/Daughter Conference)

4. SI Edmonton - "Be Brave" Empowerment Workshops.

5. SI Surrey Delta - DIBI Career Support for Girls

6. SI Calgary - Soroptimist Sharing Closet.

7. SI The Langleys - DIBI Career Support for Girls.

8. SI Tri-Cities - Suwa' Ikh Girls Project.

9. SI Winnipeg - DIBI Career Workshops.

The SFC Board Members look forward to meeting

with each of the Clubs representatives and pre-

senting them with their cheques.

Please note: For this year only SFC has set an

amount of $8,000.00 for Club Grants from SFC.

Also a Financial Reporting Form must be used

after funds are received from SFC. The form is

available on the SFC website as part of the appli-

cation form.

Anna Der, Former Club Grants Manager, SFC

SOROPTIMIST FOUNDATION OF CANADA Fall 2016 Page 4

I would like to make my annual donation to

SOROPTIMIST FOUNDATION OF CANADA via

DIRECT deposits

Pre-authorisation for Scheduled Donations from my bank account:

Name (please print) ________________________________________

Club: SI of ___________________________________ Region ___________________________

Your Address: ______________________________________________________________________________________

I authorise the SOROPTIMIST FOUNDATION OF CANADA to make withdrawals in the amount of $ ________ in the

following withdrawal sequence: □ monthly □ quarterly □ bi-annually □ annually

STARTING DATE: _____________ ______ ______ month) (day) (year)

PLEASE SPECIFY WHERE FUNDS ARE TO BE DIRECTED: □ Endowment / □ SFC Expenses

If it is not indicated, it will be directed to SFC Expenses.

√ attached is my voided cheque required to set up an automatic deposit schedule.

Signature: ____________________________ Date: ___________________

MAIL TO:

Treasurer, Soroptimist Foundation of Canada

Elizabeth Kitchen, 1216 Trentway Vista, Peterborough ON K9H 6N8

Tax receipts will be issued December 31st.

Please indicate the name and the mailing address for the receipt if it is for someone else:

Name: _______________________________________

Address: _________________________ ___________________ ____________ _________

(street) (City) (Province) Postal Code

(Registration # 119156594RT001)

SOROPTIMIST FOUNDATION OF CANADA

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2016 – 2017

ELIZABETH JANE (BJ) GALLAGHER, Chair

chair@soroptimistfoundation.ca

Box 841, Rosedale Station

Rosedale AB T0J 2V0

780-689-1091

Club - SI Edmonton

ELIZABETH KITCHEN, Treasurer

treasurer@soroptimistfoundation.ca

Maple Leaf Pins

1216 Trentway Vista

Peterborough ON K9H 6N8

705-761-0213

Club: SI Peterborough

ANNA DER, Secretary

secretary@soroptimistfoundation.ca

780 903-0426

Club: SI Edmonton

ALINE CHAN

Grants for Women, Eastern Canada

National Grants Manager / Editor, Cornerstone

grantsforwomen@soroptimistfoundation.ca

87 East Tree Drive

Breslau ON N0B 1M0

519-213-1520

Club: SI Guelph

CYNDY ROBERTS, Club Grants

Grants for Women, Western Canada clubgrants@soroptimistfoundation.ca

P.O. Box 1067, Waterford ON N0E 1Y0

519-718-3376

Club: SI Grand Erie

SOROPTIMIST FOUNDATION OF CANADA Fall 2016 Page 5

RoseMary Reid & Jane Crane

ECR & SFC FALL MEETING

Jean Skillman, ECR Governor, opens the meeting.

Mary-Lynn Koekkoek, Marney Horton, Joyce Fee, Eliza-

beth Kitchen, Tanna Edwards at SFC Social on the Friday

evening before the Fall meeting.

Pictures by Julaine Palmer

Aline Chan, SFC

Grants for Women

Manager and Editor of

Cornerstone, sells tick-

ets to win $500 Red

Maple Leaf Pin & $500

tax receipt—won by

Rita MacKenzie, WCR

Governor.

Marney Horton & Julie Coleman (Si Peterborough); Sylvia Thomson & Margaret

McRae (Si Hamilton-Burlington); Shirley McCoy (SI Dundas, Ancaster, Flamborough);

Out-going Treasurer Sheryl Hopkins with

incoming Treasurer, Elizabeth Kitchen.

ECR Spring Meeting,

2016.

SOROPTIMIST FOUNDATION OF CANADA Fall 2016 Page 6

SOROPTIMIST FOUNDATION OF CANADA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

will be held in conjunction with the SI Western Canada Region Leadership Re-

treat

SEPTEMBER 16, 2017

The Sandman Hotel

32720 Simon Ave.,

Abbotsford BC V2T 0B8

Known as a "City in the Country", Abbotsford is blessed

with British Columbia's richest agricultural lands, family-

friendly hospitality and sophisticated urban amenities

such as stylish restaurants, accommodations, shopping,

art galleries and refurbished historic neighbourhoods.

ECR

Presented at Spring Conference, May 2016

SILVER PIN JULAINE PALMER, SI PETEROROUGH

RED PIN RHIANNA HAMPTON, SI THUNDER BAY

NELL CHEESEMAN, SI STONEY CREEK - NIAGARA

Presented at ECR Fall Meeting & SFC AGM

Brantford ON, October 2016

SILVER PIN

BJ GALLAGHER, SI Edmonton

RED PIN

RITA MACKENZIE, GOVERNOR WCR

($500 receipt winner)

Also received from WCR was a $900 donation in

honour of outgoing Governor, Heather Rollins

MAPLE LEAF PINS DONORS FROM OCTOBER 2015-2016 RECOGNITION PINS PRESENTED AT

ECR SPRING CONFERENCE & WCR FALL LEADERSHIP MEETING

SOROPTIMIST FOUNDATION OF CANADA DAY

FEBRUARY 6

Club Recognitions...a recognition program is in place to recognize

annual Club donations. Club Star Award Certificates are awarded as

follows:

for donations $2001 and over…a Platinum Certificate;

for donations $1001 to $2000…a Gold Certificate;

$501 to $1000…Silver;

$201 to $500…Bronze;

$100 to $200 a Red Certificate.

CLUB RECOGNITIONS...a recognition

program is in place to recognize annual

Club donations. Club Star Award Certifi-

cates are awarded for donations as follows:

$2001 and over…a Platinum Certificate

$1001 to $2000…a Gold Certificate;

$501 to $1000…Silver

$201 to $500…Bronze;

$100 to $200 a Red Certificate

RED Si Hamilton-Burlington

Si Guelph

SI London

SI Kawartha Lakes

SI Saskatoon

BRONZE SI Grand Erie

SI Winnipeg

SI White Rock

SI Stoney Creek-Niagara

SI Toronto

SI Abbotsford

SILVER SI Central Alberta SILVER

SI Courtney

SI Langleys

SI North and East Vancouver

SI Cambridge

SI TriCities

GOLD SI Thunder Bay

PLATINUM SI Edmonton

SOROPTIMIST FOUNDATION OF CANADA Fall 2016 Page 7

INVESTMENT REPORT

The 2017 fiscal year is well underway, and I’m pleased to report

initial results have been strongly positive for the Soroptimist

Foundation portfolio.

Here are a few highlights for the first quarter (July 1-Sep 30th):

Total Return 3.05%

• $13,471 Income generated

• $37,338 Gain on investments

Equities

• Strong equity markets were responsible for 70% of the

overall gains.

Equities represent approximately 45% of portfolio.

• Canadian equities advanced 5.4%.

• U.S. equities advanced 5.5% (in Canadian Dollars).

• International equities advanced 5.8% (in Canadian Dollars).

• Financial and technology shares added most to results.

The two sectors represent approximately 36% of the

overall equity portfolio.

Currency

The U.S. Dollar gained 1.55% which added roughly 0.45% gain to

the portfolio.

Warwick Holland | Portfolio Manager

TREASURER’S REPORT

Treasurer’s Report AGM October 15, 2016

(Fiscal Year July 1, 2015-June 30,2016)

ENDOWMENT FUND $ 1,710,529.00

GENERAL FUND $ 82,271.00

TOTAL 2015-2016 $ 1,792,800.00

TOTAL 2014-2015 $ 1,674,019.00

DIFFERENCE + $ 118,781.00

EASTERN CANADA $ 11,222.00

WESTERN CANADA $ 16,817.00

LEGACIES (WESTERN CANADA) $ 63,000.00

TOTAL 2015-2016 $ 91,039.00

TOTAL 2014-2015 $ 27,454.00

DIFFERENCE + $ 63,585.00

Legacies received: Oct 9, 2015 Betty Secord $19,666.66

Feb 04, 2016 from Betty Secord, $33,333,33

From the estate of Helen Gibson, Sept 02, 2015, $10,000

A CHEQUE FOR $50,000.00 WAS GIVEN TO Warwick Hol-

land to be invested in the Endowment Account on November

16, 2015.

Respectively Submitted by:

Sheryl Hopkins, Retiring Treasurer, SFC

TREASURER’S CORNER Balance Reporting - Balance Summary Report SHERYL HOPKINS, TREASURER

SOROPTIMIST FOUNDATION OF CANADA

Report Date: October 25,, 2016

The Soroptimist Foundation wishes to thank all the members and clubs who have donated to our Endowment Fund this fiscal year. It

is only due to the support of our faithful donors that we are able to maintain the programs that are supported by the Foundation. It

has been suggested and we agree that we would like to increase the number of women that we help with our Grants for Women’s

program but due to the financial atmosphere at present, we are reluctant to extend the number of grants, although it is agreed that

this would help to increase the brand name of the Soroptimist Foundation of Canada.

This past year we received $11,222.00 in donations from ECR members and clubs and $79,817.00 in donations from WCR members

and clubs. These donations are much appreciated.

The stewardship of our Investment Manager, Warwick Holland, and the generous support of all of our donors has helped to raise the

balance of our endowment fund to $1,710,357 this year from $1,674,019. This is an increase over the year of $36,338.00.

Thank you all very much for your continued support of the Soroptimist Foundation of Canada.

THE OFFICIAL ADDRESS IN WINNIPEG: SOROPTIMIST FOUNDATION OF CANADA

c/o Albina Moran, Partner, Thompson, Dorfman, Sweatman LLP

2200 – 201 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MN R3B 3L3

Full accounting of donations, income and expenses of the Foundation can be referenced at the Auditor’s report approved at the Annu-

al General Meeting on October 22, 2016 at the Best Western Conference Centre, Brantford, Ontario.

Sheryl Hopkins Treasurer

Account Type Account Currency Balance

BUS DEP Operating Account CAD 15,094.20

BUS DEP Endowment Account CAD 27,725.81

BUS DEP VISA CAD (owing) 3,818.20

SOROPTIMIST FOUNDATION OF CANADA Fall 2016 Page 8

FROM THE DESK OF BJ GALLAGHER, CHAIR

Since the last Cornerstone, the Foundation Board has been very busy.

In July, we travelled to Orlando to attend the SIA Convention and while there, held an orientation meet-

ing.

This year, there will be changes to the SFC Board as our Secretary, Meta Flemke, SI Edmonton, and

Treasurer Sheryl Hopkins, SI Peterborough, will be stepping down on November 1 & 15, 2016 respectively. They will be

replaced on the board by Elizabeth Kitchen, SI Peterborough and Cyndy Roberts, SI Grand Erie. Sheryl and Meta have

both worked very hard for the foundation - Sheryl for four years and Meta for two. It is with much gratitude from the

remaining members of the Board that we see them go. We wish Sheryl and Meta success with their future endeavours

within the Soroptimist umbrella and in general.

Elizabeth Kitchen will take over the position of Treasurer and Cyndy Roberts will begin work on Club Grants and West-

ern Canada ‘Grants for Women’ Grants Manager. Anna Der will become Secretary and Aline will remain Eastern Canada

Grants for Women Manager and Cornerstone Editor and I will continue as Chair.

It should be noted that Aline and I will have completed our terms after the SFC AGM next year and therefore everyone

should be thinking about standing for a place on the SFC Board.

This year, the SFC AGM was held at Brantford, Ontario, along with the ECR Fall Area meeting. I consider it a great suc-

cess. 77 women attended the meeting and most stayed to take part in the SFC AGM. Club Grants were presented and it

was a pleasure to hand out awards of $1000 each to SI Guelph and SI Kawartha Lakes. Six WCR clubs also won Club

Awards of $1000 each. Read about them in this issue of Cornerstone. Several Clubs also received star awards for club giv-

ing. Thank you!

It was a pleasure to have the company of SIA President RoseMary Reid as well as WCR Governor Rita MacKenzie and

ECR Governor Dr. Jean Skillman and her Board. And Margaret Wooton, SI Courtenay who represented WCR attendees.

I would also like to say a big thank you to Tanna Edwards and Janet Simms-Baldwin for volunteering to have a look at

the SFC Bylaws and see if and where they need updating.

Aline put together a Power Point presentation on the history of SFC. It was well-received. Many had not heard much

about SFC’s history and it was a great opportunity to do a bit of PR and Education. Thank you to the SFC History Com-

mittee, under the chair of Janet Simms-Baldwin.

Since 1982, SFC has donated $910,000 to Grants for Women.

The weekend was a great success and I would like to extend our appreciation to SI Grand Erie Club and Hannalore

Neiman for all of her organizational skills, to Governor Jean Skillman for allowing SFC to share their ECR event, SIA

President RoseMary Reid for graciously attending the whole event, WCR Governor Rita MacKenzie for taking time out

of her busy schedule to travel across Canada to join us and all of the SI Clubs that sent representative and all of the SI

Member who stayed for the SFC AGM.

Please remember that it is with your help that Soroptimist Foundation of Canada is able to do the work that we do and

can remain strong and viable.

Please remember to make Soroptimist Foundation of Canada your charity of choice.

Elizabeth Gallagher (BJ), Chair,

Soroptimist Foundation of Canada

SOROPTIMIST FOUNDATION OF CANADA Fall 2016 Page 9

MESSAGE FROM ROSEMARY REID, SIA 2015-2016 PRESIDENT

It was a real pleasure for me to attend the Eastern Canada Region’s Fall meeting and the So-

roptimist Foundation of Canada’s Annual General Meeting as President of Soroptimist In-

ternational of the Americas. Congratulations to both Boards for the great work that you do

on behalf of women and girls.

As Soroptimists, we work to help women and girls make their big dreams of a better life

come true. Each and every day, Soroptimist clubs throughout the world help women and

girls overcome barriers that prevent them from living their dreams.

We helped countless women and girls improve their lives and have provided them with the potential of

fulfilling their dreams. In 2015-2016, 3,955 eligible women applied for the Live Your Dream (LYD) award.

1,355 women received LYD cash awards. So think about the more than 2600 eligible women who applied

for the Live Your Dream (LYD) award throughout our Federation who did not receive funding. Let’s work

to increase our collective impact and do more to transform lives of more women by providing more LYD

cash awards at the local and regional levels.

Last year, more than 600 clubs throughout our federation took part in the next big goal survey. They told us

they want all clubs in our federation to focus on investing in the dreams of women and girls through access

to education by 2031. This is just the first step in building our Soroptimist future.

As your President, I look forward to hearing the results of your club’s further conversations about how to

achieve our next big goal. Plan for these conversations, if they haven’t already taken place, and provide

your input to headquarters by the end of December. Achieving our next big goal on behalf of the women

and girls we serve will require the energy, passion, commitment and focus of every single member.

Let’s dream big! Use your time and resources to invest in the dream we have for women and girls which

builds into our federation’s dream - to increase our impact together.

In Soroptimist friendship,

RoseMary

RoseMary Reid

2016-2017 SIA President

Together, we CAN make the dreams of greater social and economic empowerment for EVEN MORE women

and girls come true!

ECR Spring Conference 2016

SOROPTIMIST FOUNDATION OF CANADA Fall 2016 Page 10

OLD CLUB REVIVED

The original Soroptimist Club of London was chartered in 1936 and served the community for many years until the club

disbanded in the early 90’s. About 60 years ago, the club hosted Eleanor Roosevelt - this was one of the many highlights.

Building on this great history, 14 dedicated women decided to give a new start to the work of Soroptimist in London. SI

London was chartered in September 2014. Many fellow Soroptimist of ECR region attended the celebration. RoseMary

Reid, President of SIA, was one of the celebrants.

Since then, the club has been busy boosting its ranks with new members and getting the word out in the community.

Although four members have not continued, we have gained seven new members during the last two years. The club

now has 17 active members who continuously try to improve the lives of women and girls.

We keep a strong bond with our Live Your Dream Award winners; one has recently joined our club. One of our high-

lights is Lunafest, a festival of short films for women, where the Live Your Dream award is presented to the winner and

we offer our community partners, who work for the benefit of women and girls, the opportunity to present their work.

We are looking forward to a steady growth in serving our community, and improving the lives of women and girls.

Gertrud Hocke Past President

SI London at their

Charter celebration

SI London at LUNAFEST,

May 2015

This unique film festival

highlights women as leaders

in society, illustrated through

nine short films by women

filmmakers.