Soroptimist International of
Greater Bremerton Area

"So, let's aspire to live our dreams and inspire others to live theirs."

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2024-2025
Officers & Board Members

 President
Whitney Borchers

Secretary
Maymie Raymond

Treasurer
Rosalind Afoa-Fleck

About Us

Founded in 1921, Soroptimist is an international organization for business and professional women who provide volunteer service to their communities. Almost 100,000 Soroptimists in about 120 countries and territories contribute time and financial support to community-based and international projects benefiting women and girls.

Soroptimist International of Greater Bremerton Area was chartered by the Soroptimist International of Seattle and Soroptimist International of Tacoma on July 1, 1944 as an organization of business and professional women working to improve the lives of women and girls in the Bremerton and Central Kitsap communities. There were 26 charter members.

Soroptimist International of Greater Bremerton Area became the 185th Club in the American Federation and the 25th Club in the Northwest Region. A special dinner commemorating the club's charter and installation of its first officers was held June 30, 1944 at Raus Chicken Dinner Inn in Downtown Bremerton.

The name, Soroptimist, means "best for women," and that's what the organization strives to achieve. Soroptimists are women at their best working to help other women to be their best.

 

What We Do

Soroptimists focus on a variety of educational programs and service to their communities. Club projects range from renovating domestic violence shelters and providing camper scholarships and food baskets for needy families, to providing volunteers and purchasing equipment and supplies for community organizations. While this list is not all-inclusive, organizations we have supported in the past are --

• Agape Koininoa House
• House of Hope
• Scarlet Road
• Georgia's House
• Our Little Blue Pantry - East Bremerton
• Birkenfeld-Stella Maris House
• Our GEMS
  
• Kitsap Sexual Assault Center
  
• Stand Up for Kids
• YWCA of Kitsap County
  
• Holly Ridge Center
• Meals on Wheels Kitsap
  
• Kathleen Sutton Inspirational Fund
• Northwest Coalition Against Trafficking
• Kitsap Food Backpacks 4 Kids
• Catholic Community Services
  
• Kitsap Youth Mentoring Consortium
• Coffee Oasis
• BASIC, Inc.
  
• Salvation Army, Bremerton
• Kitsap Community Resources, Housing Solutions Center
• Kitsap Domestic Violence Task Force
• RESPECT Kitsap Youth

Soroptimists also participate in international and organization-wide programs, such as --

• "Live Your Dream" Education and Scholarship Award
• STOP Trafficking Initiative
• Dream It, Be It! Youth Mentoring Program for Girls
  
• Workplace Campaign to End Domestic Violence
  

 

2024-2025
Club Connections

Pat Degracia
Sharon Weathers
Membership

Sharon Weathers
Public Awareness

Tiana Afoa-Lean
Fundraising

Rosalind Afoa-Fleck
Finance Committee

Deborah Horn
Program Meetings & Mission-in-Service

Allison Degracia
Anti-Human Trafficking

Whitney Borchers
Live Your Dream

Maymie Raymond
Dream It, Be It &
Little Blue Pantry

Roxane Payne
Pat Degracia
Legacy Award

 

We invite you to volunteer your time and talents with us. Please consider joining and participating on one or more of the above committees.

Thank you!