President, Lisa Fitzgerald

I was involved with Soroptimist in High School as an S Club member and upon graduating from Chico State University knew I wanted to serve my community and the world like the powerful business women who had mentored our club.  I truly enjoy altruistically helping others.  Every year, each of our committees has an entirely new “make up” of volunteers which directly effects the way they accomplish their goals for the year.  This always keeps the club exciting, fresh and fun.  Soroptimist means “best for women” and I believe that this not only applies to the women we serve, but also each woman in our club who becomes her very best, through sincere friendship, leadership, skill development and selfless dedication to community service.

I am the owner of Big Chico Creek Resources, a Marketing & Management Consulting Firm specializing in non-profits and fundraising events.  I have been in Marketing & Management my entire, post-college career.  Additionally I have taught for Butte College, run BCCR with 5 employees for a time and represented employers at administrative law hearings in Northern California.

Vice President, Sydney Thompson

I joined Soroptimist in Petaluma to give back to the community. Here in Chico, I learned that the Soroptimist leadership had discovered the fact that retired women should be counted as fully participating members, because we may have more time to devote than members raising families and earning a living. That was very exciting to me and I couldn’t wait to join the Chico club and get started! It’s a chance to work with amazing women I wouldn’t have met without Soroptimist, to enjoy the friendships that have evolved, and to feel the joy of giving a helping hand to deserving people. Being a Soroptimist truly means being the best for women – being the best friend, working on the best service projects, reaping the best rewards from helping others. Having a global presence is awe inspiring – we actually change the lives of women and children all around the world!!

My professional background consists mostly of real estate sales and rental property management. I went to work for my father in 1977 at Century 21 Petaluma Realty. I earned my broker’s license in 1980 and took over the business from my dad. In 1997, I merged my office with the other Century 21 in town and went back to work selling property rather than being the managing broker. For many years, I was on the board of the Petaluma Council of Realtors and served in many different capacities.

Recording Secretary, Debra Johnson

I first learned of SI Chico while visiting my local library.  I happened to be there on a Saturday; a day that the library would have been closed due to budget cuts.  On this particular Saturday the library was open because of Soroptimist Saturdays, a SI Chico funding project that kept the library open every Saturday for more than two years.  Being a member of SI Chico gives me the opportunity to help support important work in our community like the public library.  Join a love of service with a group of amazing, energetic and talented women, and you can make great things happen.

I wear many professional hats including: faculty member with the department of journalism at Chico State; manager of a statewide public information project focusing on family planning services for the California Department of Social Services; and, in my spare time, volunteer marketing committee for the Gateway Science Museum.

Corresponding Secretary, Kim Lange

I joined Soroptimist in 2006 and was on the special events committee.  I was on the same committee for the 4 years that I have been in club.  Last year I was the chair person for that committee.  It was a wonderful and enlightening experience.  I really enjoyed being actively involved with the board and seeing how things get done in the club.  This year I am on the ways and means committee and look forward to learning new things.  In addition, I will be serving as the Corresponding Secretary for teh club and will still be attending board meetings.

I have two children, Bailey and Brady who are 8 and 4 years old.  My husband and I are both practicing dentists in the Chico area.  I have a practice for children and teens and my husband, Brian works with his dad practicing general dentistry.

Over the past couple years I have been involved in athletics.  I have been training and competing in running and triathlon events.  I have found this to be agreat way to stay in shape and stay active.

Treasurer, Michelle Rasmussen

I am very proud to be a Soroptimist.  We have a great group of women who know how to work together as a team to accomplish great things for the community and the world.  We have a good time doing it, too!!

I have a degree in accounting and have been working as a managerial accountant for small to very large companies for the last 30 years.  My experience includes agriculture, software, moving & storage, construction, University, property management, consulting and now, the Del Oro Water Company.

My son is almost 40 and I have three step-daughters, of whom I am also very proud.  Jeff and I have been married for 18 years and both of us absolutely love Chico.  We feel that this community has everything we could want.

I enjoy traveling, reading, relaxing with the grand children and meeting friends for meals.  I am also involved in the Women’s Microfinance Collaborative that Soroptimist members were instrumental in starting and funding.

Parliamentarian, Carolyn Dusenbury

SI/Chico donated a gorgeous book on Japanese art to the Meriam Library. I accepted it at the Installation in 1992 and asked Julie Clarke about the group. I thought it would be a good place to pay my “civic rent” to the community so I joined in 1993 — and I was right! Community Service and the sense of working together in a relatively drama-free environment is what I love about Soroptimist. No one wants to be Parliamentarian, just good company and good works.

I have recently retired as the University Librarian in the Meriam Library at CSU, Chico after 20 years in the job. I am now working half-time as a reference and instruction librarian and now remember why I thought being a librarian was fun. Before I came to Chico I worked at the University of Utah and Arizona State University.

Director/Delegate, Kim Huber

I believe that strong, effective service organizations are the lifeblood in any community.  When citizens contribute their time, talents and financial resources to their local communities, everyone benefits.  I was in Key Club in high school and I enjoy serving my community especially in the company of other business and retired women.

I am a certified Financial Planner with over 17 years of experience in the financial industry.  I work with individuals and families seeking financial independence, sound investment advice and genuine financial planning.

My husband Geoff, son Christian and I reside in Chico.  Our son is challenged with cerebral palsy so I am dedicated to helping families with special needs members and support organizations that serve special needs children.  My family enjoys spending time with friends and family over good food and wine.  I also love the game of billiards and refurbishing jewelry.  Prior to Chico, I was born in Vietnam, raised in Dallas, TX and went to college in New York City.

Director/Delegate, Jeanette Summers

It has been an honor to belong and serve the club in numerous capacities.  In doing so I am able to serve the community that has been my home since 1978 and reach out to people around the world.  Through Soroptmist I am often able to see how our projects or funding has helped others.  It feels good to know that I am part of the BIGGER picture in changing lives for the better.  I am also blessed to have met so many wonderful, strong, talented and supportive women who are truly my “sisters”.

I’ve been retired from Gates Resale, Inc. as their manager for 10 years.  I was there for 21 great years and had many responsibilities which have served me well in life.  I have also been a volunteer at Enloe Hospital for 7 years.  I graduated from CSUC in 1982 with a major in Public Administration and a minor in Political Science.

I am the proud mother of 3 and 2 awesome grandchildren.  I have been married to my supportive husband Earl for 27 years.  Spending time with family and friends is my #1 favorite thing to do!  My other interests include reading, making jewelry, travel, exercise, camping and doing anything in the water!

My life quote: “Don’t wait for the world to change, be the change”.

Director/Alternate Delegate, Tonya Powell

I became aware of Soroptimist – while manning a booth at the Home and Garden Show for AAA a few years ago.  I became a member when my co-worker resigned and relocated to Washington State.  I am very excited by what I have learned this year being a new member and I am truly inspired by the benefits our club is able to share with our community.  I have supported my husband for years with his many clubs and boards, all focused on helping children succeed and assisting with scholarships, that now I feel like I am able to contribute even more as a Soroptimist.  Being a Foster/Adoptive Mother, I have seen first-hand the many struggles  women and children are facing here in our own community.  It is powerful and meaningful to me, to see the local impact and support our club is able to generate.  It is inspiring to feel our global impact. 

As my passion is travel, getting to other parts of this amazing planet to see and interact with many different cultures is so education and rewarding.  Being a full-time working Mother, I have limited time for meeting with and interacting with other women in social environments.  I see this club as a true blessing to everyone that it touches and I am looking forward to really feeling connected to the club with my involvement this year.

I am a Certified travel Consultant (CTC) which is the highest designation one can reach in the travel industry business.  I have been a travel agent since 1987 and I ahve been with AAA Travel for the last 6 years.  I currently hold a Destination Specialist Certificate from the Travel Institute of Alaska, Hawaii, the Caribbean and Southern Europe.  However, my main focus is being the best wife and Mother I can be.

Director/Alternate Delegate, Laura Burghardt

Having grown up living the nomadic life of a Navy pilot’s daughter (one of six children, each born in a different state!), I have been happy to call Chico my hometown since 1981.  I  raised my sons, Gabriel and Kiel, in beautiful Butte Creek Canyon during their early years, moving into town just before they reached driving age.

I am a Broker-Associate with W.M. Campbell Real Estate.  In addition to helping people buy and sell their homes, I enjoy traveling, hiking, photography, bicycling, riding my electric vespa-like scooter, gardening, quilting, spinning yarn and doing mosaic tile art.  I love being Soroptimist and cherish the friendships I have made along with the good works the club has accomplished.