Our Mission & Goals

The Chico club of Soroptimist International strives to support and promote the ideals and service projects of the global organization. Through dedication, vision and innovative ideas, SI Chico is a catalyst for change that addresses the current needs of the community. Recipients of the club’s fundraising efforts include a wide variety of local individuals and organizations, as well as several international causes that benefit women and children.

Annual fundraising activities are now concentrated into one major community event held in the spring: the Home, Garden and Antique Show. Smaller club fundraiser's for family and friends, like Bunco Night, are also held occasionally. Weekly club meetings center on informative programs and camaraderie, but it’s at the committee level where the real work of a Soroptimist is done—each member’s efforts are pooled into the club’s service activities to make a difference locally and in the world.

All organizations arise to fill a need in their community. The people who join them do so to fill a need within themselves. When these two aspects are combined in a volunteer community service club whose members are cross sections of women in the community, you have an unbeatable combination and a dynamic force that unites for the greater good.

Soroptimist International of Chico has a long history of significant contributions to the Chico community. It has also provided its members with the friendship and support so important to women who are working to change society. Participation in club activities provides camaraderie—a network that women can depend upon to be there for them as they go through changes in their lives. Involvement at the committee level provides the framework for an individual to develop her talents and skills.

Together the members become a local and a global voice for the advancement of human rights and the status of women.

Organization Overview

The mission statement of Soroptimist International reads: “Soroptimist is a world wide organization for women in management and professions working through service projects to advance human rights and the status of women.”  It is the spirit of service that is the underlying motivation for all Soroptimists' activities. 

The organization started in Oakland, CA in 1921, and eight years later, from a Soroptimist in Sacramento it was introduced to Chico—then a small market town of nearly 8,000 residents.  There are now over 100,000 members in 113 countries worldwide and we are represented as a non-governmental organization at the United Nations, as a “global voice for women” working through awareness, advocacy and action.   

The organizational structure of the club consists of: 

• Soroptimist International, which encompasses the world,
  
• Soroptimist International of the Americas, which includes North and South America, Japan, Taiwan, Korea and the Philippines,
  
• Sierra Nevada Region, which includes Northern California and all of Nevada

• the District which includes clubs in the North State,
  
• and our Chico Club. 
  
  Soroptimist International is committed to active participation in decision-making at all levels of society and to service in local, national and international communities There are six areas of service in Soroptimist: