Welcome to Soroptimist International of Vallejo, the volunteer nonprofit organization where women live their dreams of serving their community, developing friendships, and honing their leadership skills. The name Soroptimist means “best for women” and that is what we are—women at our best helping other women achieve their best.

We are current and retired business owners, managers, and professionals representing leadership in all areas of the community.  Ranging in age from twenty-somethings to octogenarians, we regularly come together to work on community based and international projects which benefit women and girls. As part of Soroptimist International, one of the most noteworthy worldwide organizations advocating for the interests of women, we have a voice and the power to make a difference

As women who are neither afraid nor ashamed of laughing at our individual foibles nor of weeping at the world condition, we choose to make a difference.  We are Soroptimists.

Our tradition of international service began in 1921 when a group of service minded women established Soroptimist International of Alameda County. Their goal was to establish a service oriented, international organization for women. Eighteen years later a like minded group of women under the sponsorship of this same Founder Club, now known as Soroptimist International of Oakland, met to charter our own Soroptimist International of Vallejo.

That evening the new members outlined an ambitious program addressing health, safety, employment, and educational programs of particular interest to women.  Within a year they had met and exceeded these goals.

Since that time, our club has continued to have a meaningful impact on the women and girls in our community, offering scholarships to graduating high school girls and to women in local colleges and universities, supporting lifelong athletic programs for girls and women, working for international understanding and cooperation between women of differing cultures, providing housing for homeless women and children, establishing a permanent museum exhibition celebrating the achievements of women, assisting women in recovery centers and in domestic violence shelters, and countless other programs. Our publication Our Commitment to Service describes our service programs in detail..

As members of the larger Soroptimist Organization, we are able to join with women both nationally and worldwide in participating in many service projects, such as the Soroptimist International of the America’s signature project Women’s Opportunity Award in which women heads of household are given a hand up in creating a future by being able to return to school for additional training and education, and Project SIerra in which Soroptimist worldwide have joined together in providing assistance to women in Sierra Leone.

   

We meet regularly and we meet with a purpose.  While we have regular business meetings, we also invite speakers to discuss programs and ideas, many of which we later adopt as service projects or to whom we provide philanthropic assistance.  Our meetings are held Mondays at 12:15 p.m. at Zio Fraedo’s restaurant, Vallejo.

We also gather socially where our mutual ties are strengthened, allowing us to be even more effective in our service and fundraising activities.

If you would like to attend one of our meetings to see what we are all about or if you would like to speak to our club, please contact us.

If you are a business or professional woman—active or retired—living or working in the general Vallejo area, we invite you to consider membership in our organization.  Our publication The Face of Soroptimist describes many of the benefits and obligations of membership.

Membership is by invitation and it begins by attending one of our luncheon meetings where you can meet us and evaluate whether our group would be a good fit for you.  For information on attending a meeting, please contact us. contact@sivallejo.org

If you are interested in membership, but live and work outside of our area, contact us. We would be happy to help get you in touch with the nearest Soroptimist club—or even give you a contact who can help you start your own Soroptimist club.