Soroptimist is an international organization
for business and professional women who volunteer
their time, talents and resources to improve the lives
of women and girls in local communities and throughout
the world.
Our members are a diverse group of
like-minded women who work together using their expertise,
business and professional skills and talents to support
community-based and international projects that benefit
women and girls. Membership to Soroptimist is by invitation.
There are over 3,000 Soroptimist clubs
with about 90,000 members in about 126 countries and
territories who contribute time, talent and resources
to make the world a better place.
Soroptimist International of the Philippines
Region (A Foundation) Inc. (SIPR) with 86 clubs and
1,920 members, is an affiliate of Soroptimist International
of the Americas (SIA), the largest of four federations
comprising Soroptimist International. Please click
herefor the Soroptimist organizational
structure.
Soroptimist
International has General Consultative
Status with the United Nations Economic and Social
Council (UNESCO) and is represented in many meetings
of its agencies around the world.
Soroptimist clubs all over the world
recite the Soroptimist
Pledge in every important club
meeting and event.
The word Soroptimist comes from two
Latin words, soror meaning sister and optima
meaning best. Soroptimists are women at their best,
working to help other women to be their best.
The first Soroptimist club was formed
in 1921 in Oakland, California, USA by women who were
interested in volunteer service but who were prohibited
from joining all-male organizations. From then to
the present, members have continued to achieve the
best for women through various programs of service
through Awareness, Advocacy and Action.
In 1928, various clubs in the United
States formed a federation now called the Soroptimist
International of the Americas (SIA). Much later, SIA
admitted new clubs from South America and Asia. Today,
SIA has about 1,430 clubs with 38,171 members in 19
countries and territories, including the Philippines.
The beginnings of Soroptimist in the
Philippines can be traced to two women - Mariquita
S. Castelo, a Filipina and Betty Beck Prosser, an
American - who shared a commitment to serve others
and uplift the status of women. Together, they worked
for the establishment of the first Soroptimist club
in the Philippines.
In a beautiful ceremony in April 1964,
the Charter
Members of SI Founder Manila were inducted
by then SIA President Pluma Batten and on May 6, 1966,
the Officers were installed and the Club Charter was
presented in a ceremony held at the Malacanang Palace
with then First Lady Imelda R. Marcos as the guest
of honor and speaker.
From ManIla, the spirit of Soroptimist
spread to Davao, Baguio, Naga, Cebu, Cabanatuan, Iriga,
Malolos, Daet, Dagupan and the rest of the country.
Soroptimist thus flourished in the Philippines with
86 clubs and 1,920 members, continuing the same spirit
of service that lives on through the untiring efforts
and commitment of current Soroptimists.
Please click here
for the listing of Past National Presidents and Governors.
SIPR Mission
& Vision
VISION
Be the voluntary service organization chosen by all
business and professional women committed to improving
the lives of women and girls.
We will share our time, talents and resources to enrich
our communities. Together, we will:
improve the lives of women and girls
help women achieve economic and
political equality
serve as a global voice for women
provide outstanding leadership development
opportunities for women
enhance world peace and understanding
MISSION AND CORE PURPOSE
To improve the lives of women and girls in local communities
and throughout the world.
CORE VALUES
SIPR and its affiliate clubs are committed to:
international goodwill and understanding
promote volunteer action
provide leadership development
participate in fellowship
whilst recognizing diversity
Organizational
Strategy for Biennium 2008-2010
Strategic Goals
Program. The efforts of SIPR to
raise awareness of women's issues will enable women
and girls to live better lives.
Membership. SIPR will be a thriving,
dynamic, progressive and relevant organization of
members who will find involvement in Soroptimist
valuable, worthwhile and enjoyable.
Public Awareness. Soroptimist will
be widely known for its efforts to improve the lives
of women and girls.
Fundraising. Sufficient funds will
exist for SIPR to accomplish its project goals.
PROGRAM - Goal #1
The efforts of SIPR to raise awareness
of women’s issues will enable women and girls
to lead better lives.
Objectives
Encourage the participation of all
clubs in SIPR in the Women’s Opportunity Awards
program.
Encourage the participation of all
clubs in SIPR in at least one other community project
whose sole beneficiaries are women or girls, preferably
the Soroptimist STOP Trafficking Project .
Encourage all clubs in SIPR to support
at least one Soroptimist International project by
making a donation through SIPR.
Strategies/Tactics
Promote the use of Soroptimist-produced
materials in participating in the Women’s
Opportunity Awards project.
Persuade all clubs in SIPR to participate
in projects that improve conditions for women and
girls (Stop Trafficking Project, Elimination of
Teen Dating Violence, Workplace Campaign to End
Domestic Violence, Making a Difference for Women
Award, Soroptimist Club Grants, Violet Richardson
Award, Disaster Relief, Live Your Dream Campaign)
, particularly those that will impart basic education,
improve women’s health through family spacing,
and provide training on livelihood skills.
Promote club participation in SIPR’s
identifying projects (Adopt-a-Barangay and Adopt-a-PNP
Women and Children Desk).
Encourage members to learn about
conditions affecting women and girls, especially
through Soroptimist magazines, newsletters, websites,
white papers, conventions, conferences and workshops.
Encourage all clubs in SIPR to engage
in U.N.-sponsored activities that address women
and girl issues.
MEMBERSHIP - Goal #2
SIPR will be a thriving, dynamic, progressive
and relevant organization of members who will find
involvement in Soroptimist valuable, worthwhile and
enjoyable.
Objectives
Each club in SIPR must recruit at
least 4 new members during the year while increase
member retention rates.
Develop a new generation of members
and leaders.
Improve community awareness of SIPR
through participation in community events.
Increase member’s pride in
the organization through meaningful projects that
benefit women and girls.
Strategies/Tactics
Encourage clubs to hold new member
orientations at least once a year.
Provide opportunities for better
team work among SIPR clubs and members.
Encourage the use of modern technology
to promote better communication.
Reward excellent club projects through
the Governor’s Award Program.
Provide members with meaningful
leadership and volunteer opportunities.
Reinforce value of membership and
collective power of belonging to an international
organization through various trainings and workshops.
PUBLIC AWARENESS - Goal #3
SIPR will be known throughout the community
for our efforts to improve the lives of women and
girls.
Objectives
Gain publicity for women-focused
activities in trimedia as well as in the SIPR website.
Participate in the STOP Trafficking
public awareness campaign.
Strategies/Tactics
Promote the Women’s Opportunity
Awards project and other Soroptimist projects such
as the Soroptimist STOP Trafficking.
Promote the concept of branding
and the importance of mission focus in order to
be known in the community.
Encourage computer literacy as a
tool for public awareness.
Promote the use Soroptimist logo,
tagline and mission whenever and wherever possible.
FUNDRAISING - Goal #4
Sufficient funds will exist for SIPR
and its clubs to accomplish our program goals.
Objectives
Raise enough money to fund SIPR
and club projects.
Establish the SIPR disaster relief
fund for the immediate assistance of calamity victims.
Strategies/Tactics
Promote the participation of all
clubs in the SIPR Dream Raffle.
Encourage the participation of all
members in the “Puso sa Puso” SIPR Disaster
Relief Fund.
Encourage members to contribute
at least $5.28 in Founders Pennies when paying dues.
Encourage clubs to participate in
SIA’s Annual Club Campaign, Laurel Society
and Laurel Legacy.
