Our chapter has achieved many goals this year toward supporting women and their families, and our community. Our accomplishments included:
In September of 2017, twenty new members participated in our annual induction ceremony. • Our newsletter and website were upgraded, thanks to a great job by Elaine Croteau, Melinda Gottlieb and Skye Suter.
• This year saw several special articles for Nike and Facebook. Thank you to our Public Relations Chair, Rosemarie Dressler.
• Operation Backpack: The chapter volunteered to support 23rd Precinct Community Council in Tottenville. This project was well supported with generous donations from our members.
• We are becoming well known for our annual “Candidates’ Forum” where political candidates addressed issues important to our community.
• Several families in need were adopted for a Thanksgiving dinner. Spearheaded by Deborah Feeney as chair, and the generosity of our members, this was a very special event. The families were very appreciative.
• To continue the holiday season we donated winter clothing for the babies at Good Counsel. Several members had the opportunity to meet the babies and their moms.
• We once again hosted our annual Sisterhood dinner meeting. Our chapter volunteered to lead this year’s initiative, “Career Conference.” We partnered with the three Staten Island-based colleges to provide information and tools, helping guide local high school students navigate their academic careers. More than 1,000 local students joined us on the grounds of St. John’s University.
• To support women in business, the chapter supported Meg Ventrudo, director of Tibetan Museum and Catherine Putowski-O’Brien, Staten Island Breast Cancer Research Initiative, Center for Environmental Science College of Staten Island, and Cathy Muraca from Touchstone Crystals Jewelry by Swarovski.
• Through our initiative Women Helping Women Project, the chapter presented $2,000 to the Tibetan Museum and $1,000 to Wishes of Literacy.
• Our historian Virginia Allen and Robyn Zappola orchestrated “The Legacy Tea” in celebration of 100 years of Women’s Right to Vote. The Staten Island chapter invited organizations to unite with women from all corners of the borough to recognize the brave women in history. Over 100 guests attended.
• We received a Proclamation from Borough President James Oddo proclaiming March 3rd 2018 as Centennial Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage Day. Proclamations from Senator Diane J. Savino, all five Assemblymembers; and from the full NYC Council.
• We have archived our history at CSI. Our chapter is the only women’s organization on Staten Island that has our history archived at CSI.
• Our annual Women of Distinction Luncheon. Thanks to our chairs Margaret Antoniello, Cammie Brandofino, and Diane Seridge the luncheon was a huge success. We recognized eight women who have distinguished themselves in our community, and the Soroptimist International organization. The event received great coverage in the Advance.
• Our Annual Scholarship ceremony, chaired by Barbara Strype, awarded scholarships to female college students in need, attending The College of Staten Island, St. John’s University, St. Paul’s Nursing School and Wagner College.
• We joined the American Lung Association’s movement to fight lung cancer, the LUNG FORCE WALK. Member Nancy Sayegh Rooney was our team captain. The chapter donated funds to this event
• This June our annual Meet and Greet inviting new members, to share in the chapter’s planning and activities.
• This September we will be inducting 14 new members.
Thank you all for such a successful year. Congratulations!
