Research has now documented what most women have known for years. The fact that “habitual guilt [by which they mean a kind of internalized feeling of guilt] was more intense in women than in men in all three age groups studied.”
Over the years, casual conversations with other mothers indicate we always put our families first. Whether it is scheduling events, purchasing clothes, or sometimes even the movie we see. We’ll bring our lunch to work for multiple days so we can register the kids for baseball or gymnastics. Some even forego career moves.
Yet research mentioned in my last blog pointed out, we women are more likely to volunteer to help through community service organizations.
SITK has just made a very progressive move to help recruit new members. New members can prepay their annual dues for Soroptimist. By prepaying, the amount paid per month induces less guilt about spending money on ourselves. It lets us feel good about helping other women and girls as part of a group – we know the power of one multiplies when we bundle that energy as a unit. Plus it’s fun to work on projects together! For details on the prepay plan, email sitkclub@aol.com .
As always, to keep up with SITK become a fan on Facebook. We’ll be looking for you at Google’s St. Pat’s parade!
Showing posts with label Soroptimist International. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Soroptimist International. Show all posts
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
The Greatest of these is Charity
I was driving home, feeling a bit smug. I’d just purchased Valentines for people special to me – and I had days to spare before mailing them. The news started with several stories about charitable causes: a recent local adoption, churches collecting items for Haitians, Katrina successes.
Earlier in the week the US Bureau of Labor Statistics had reported 26.8% of our population over 16 years old gave unpaid time through or for an organization. The median amount of time given was an hour each week.
Compare that to 75% of Americans contribute to charity, giving about 3% of their income annually, according to givingisgood.com. A national United Way spokesperson said the average family contributes $250/yr.
The Labor Bureau’s survey indicated the main recipients of volunteer time are social and community service organizations. Statistics indicated the most likely person to volunteer was (drum roll, please) a married, college-educated woman in her 30s or40s, with children, and employed.
Why a drum roll? As a member of Soroptimist International of Topeka (SITK), I’m interested in finding women interested in community service projects to improve the lives of women and girls in our community and throughout the world. SITK has been serving our community since 1931. Visit us on Facebook to see what we’ve been up to and how much fun we have. You’ll want to join us.
The United Way spokesperson had commented that he’d like to change ‘give until it hurts’ to ‘give until it feels good.’ Another person put a more positive spin on the idea, ‘invest your time and energy until you feel good.’ Or the aged verse from I Corinthians: “And now stays faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”
Earlier in the week the US Bureau of Labor Statistics had reported 26.8% of our population over 16 years old gave unpaid time through or for an organization. The median amount of time given was an hour each week.
Compare that to 75% of Americans contribute to charity, giving about 3% of their income annually, according to givingisgood.com. A national United Way spokesperson said the average family contributes $250/yr.
The Labor Bureau’s survey indicated the main recipients of volunteer time are social and community service organizations. Statistics indicated the most likely person to volunteer was (drum roll, please) a married, college-educated woman in her 30s or40s, with children, and employed.
Why a drum roll? As a member of Soroptimist International of Topeka (SITK), I’m interested in finding women interested in community service projects to improve the lives of women and girls in our community and throughout the world. SITK has been serving our community since 1931. Visit us on Facebook to see what we’ve been up to and how much fun we have. You’ll want to join us.
The United Way spokesperson had commented that he’d like to change ‘give until it hurts’ to ‘give until it feels good.’ Another person put a more positive spin on the idea, ‘invest your time and energy until you feel good.’ Or the aged verse from I Corinthians: “And now stays faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Fantasy v- Reality
Maria Shriver and Christie Hefner were recently interviewed on NBC about how women are portrayed in the media. Check NBC online for information.
You may ask why as a Soroptimist, or as a woman, should I be concerned about the results. Here are some of the facts:
US Dept of labor’s 2008 statistics indicate the top five jobs women hold: secretaries and administrative assistants, registered nurses, elementary and middle school teachers, cashiers and retail sales. Life isn’t so accurately reflected on TV where women and girls get the impression that motivated females balance family, career, and social needs with every problem solved in one or two episodes.
Even attempts at no-frills, middle income American women portray women in a less than favorable light. Definitely an unrealistic portrait. Today’s women generally appear silly, almost dumb and dependent on the attractive male partner or boss. The only exception I could think of right now is ‘Ugly Betty’ as struggling to become independent.
I have pondered these issues before since I have a daughter. I thought maybe I was highly sensitive since I was a product of the ‘70s when we looked to Mary Tyler Moore and Billy Jean King as barrier breakers.
When we looked at the Dove Project, then decided to work as a club with the YWCA’s DiscoverME programs, it made me realize that we - mothers, aunts, grandmas, working women – are responsible for seeing that the youngest generation have good role models to build on. The desire to be just like Meredith Gray, Lynnette Scavo, or Temperance Bones isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but girls need real women to temper the fantasy and support them through the real life challenges/choices they’ll face before they achieve those dreams.
We, the working women of the 21st Century, must help guide, support, mentor, and encourage those who will come behind us. Instead of a year where the first woman wins a Noble Prize, we'll be celebrating the successes of many!
You may ask why as a Soroptimist, or as a woman, should I be concerned about the results. Here are some of the facts:
US Dept of labor’s 2008 statistics indicate the top five jobs women hold: secretaries and administrative assistants, registered nurses, elementary and middle school teachers, cashiers and retail sales. Life isn’t so accurately reflected on TV where women and girls get the impression that motivated females balance family, career, and social needs with every problem solved in one or two episodes.
Even attempts at no-frills, middle income American women portray women in a less than favorable light. Definitely an unrealistic portrait. Today’s women generally appear silly, almost dumb and dependent on the attractive male partner or boss. The only exception I could think of right now is ‘Ugly Betty’ as struggling to become independent.
I have pondered these issues before since I have a daughter. I thought maybe I was highly sensitive since I was a product of the ‘70s when we looked to Mary Tyler Moore and Billy Jean King as barrier breakers.
When we looked at the Dove Project, then decided to work as a club with the YWCA’s DiscoverME programs, it made me realize that we - mothers, aunts, grandmas, working women – are responsible for seeing that the youngest generation have good role models to build on. The desire to be just like Meredith Gray, Lynnette Scavo, or Temperance Bones isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but girls need real women to temper the fantasy and support them through the real life challenges/choices they’ll face before they achieve those dreams.
We, the working women of the 21st Century, must help guide, support, mentor, and encourage those who will come behind us. Instead of a year where the first woman wins a Noble Prize, we'll be celebrating the successes of many!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Friendships and volunteering lengthen life
At last month’s business meeting, SITK members returned their completed talent survey forms. The results supplied the club with a list of talents we each posses so we can proceed to help with the DiscoverME workshops and future community service projects.
The survey process wandered like a vine in my brain. What if there was a survey of why members join Soroptimist? What if we knew what members thought were the benefits? Is there a similar thread?
My musings got serious fertilizer when I read about two recent studies showing how you can live a longer healthier life.
An American Geriatrics Society (AGS) study showed that volunteers had less than half the risk of death than their non-volunteer peers. The study, including over 6,300 people, controlled data to account for demographics, socioeconomic status, chronic health conditions, etc. Only 12% of volunteers in the study died during the study’s timeframe compared to 26% who did not volunteer.
SITK members voluntarily give back to our community working on our service projects. We’ve known how good it makes us feel to give back. We contribute to the betterment of our community, the world, and our own lives.
Earlier this year, an Australian study had substantiated the importance of friendship and social networks. A similar Harvard report showed strong social ties promote brain health. A note from the article said that friendship has ‘an even greater effect on health than a spouse or family member.’ SITK provides women an great opportunity to develop friendships and expand our social networks.
With healthcare being such a hot topic, you can now let all other women how you’ve discovered a secret to longevity – Joining Soroptimist.
The survey process wandered like a vine in my brain. What if there was a survey of why members join Soroptimist? What if we knew what members thought were the benefits? Is there a similar thread?
My musings got serious fertilizer when I read about two recent studies showing how you can live a longer healthier life.
An American Geriatrics Society (AGS) study showed that volunteers had less than half the risk of death than their non-volunteer peers. The study, including over 6,300 people, controlled data to account for demographics, socioeconomic status, chronic health conditions, etc. Only 12% of volunteers in the study died during the study’s timeframe compared to 26% who did not volunteer.
SITK members voluntarily give back to our community working on our service projects. We’ve known how good it makes us feel to give back. We contribute to the betterment of our community, the world, and our own lives.
Earlier this year, an Australian study had substantiated the importance of friendship and social networks. A similar Harvard report showed strong social ties promote brain health. A note from the article said that friendship has ‘an even greater effect on health than a spouse or family member.’ SITK provides women an great opportunity to develop friendships and expand our social networks.
With healthcare being such a hot topic, you can now let all other women how you’ve discovered a secret to longevity – Joining Soroptimist.
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