Northwestern Region

Soroptimist International of Coupeville Celebrate
Women's Opportunity Award and
Making a Difference for Women Award Recipients

Barbara Cope, Making a Difference for Women recipient, Linette Zimmerman, Governor Northwestern Region, SIA, Venessa Cleary, Women's Opportunity Award recipient

The Mad Crab Restaurant in Coupeville, WA was transformed into a beautiful ‘worldly’ place for the Second Annual Awards and Installation Banquet of Soroptimist International of Coupeville (SIoC) on May 17, 2005. This year’s theme, selected by incoming President Kathy Rix, is “Think Globally; Act Locally” to promote the service activities of the club on an international scope as well as local.

Linette Zimmerman, Governor, Northwestern Region, Soroptimist Int’l of the Americas, attending as a special guest and installation officer, assisted SIoC 2003-2005 President Juanita Robinette in handing out the awards to very deserving recipients.

The Women’s Opportunity Award, Soroptimist’s major service project, improves the lives of women who are the primary source of financial support to their family, by giving them the resources they need to improve their education, skills and employment prospects. This year’s Women’s Opportunity Award was earned by Vanessa Cleary of Greenbank. Vanessa is the mother of a young daughter and is working and going to school, eventually to become an attorney. A poignant statement in her application was very revealing, “I have the skills and desire necessary to achieve something great, I just need people to believe in me and support me along the way.”

The Soroptimist Making a Difference for Women Award is earned by one woman in the community working to improve the lives of women and girls through their career or volunteer efforts. Barbara Cope, one of Coupeville’s most valuable assets, was celebrated as this year’s recipient of 2005 Making a Difference for Women award. Barbara’s achievements for the benefit of her community will be forwarded on to Region and Federation levels, where she has the opportunity to receive a $5000 donation to her favorite charity.

For more information on Soroptimist International of Coupeville and their projects and events, contact Kathy Sechrist.

For more information about Soroptimist in the Northwestern Region, click here.