Soroptimist
Soroptimist International is a worldwide organization working through service projects to advance human rights and the status of women and girls. The word Soroptimist comes from the Latin words soro meaning “sister” and optima meaning “best”, and loosely translates as “best for women”. The first club was founded October 3, 1921, in Oakland, California with 80 professional and business women. This club is still in Oakland, California and known as the Founders Club.
Soroptimist International, http://www.soroptimistinternational.org is headquartered in Cambridge, England and there are four Federations.
- Soroptimist International of the Americas
http://www.Soroptimist.org
- Soroptimist International of Europe
http://www.Soroptimisteurope.org
- Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland
http://www.Soroptimist-gbi.org
- Soroptimist International of South West Pacific.
http://www.SISWP.org
Soroptimist clubs are located in more than 120 countries around the world with about 100,000 members.
Soroptimist International of the Americas Federation has clubs in 19 countries and territories: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guam, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru Philippines, Puerto Rico, Taiwan, United States and Venezuela. There are 26 Regions, and Southern Region has 26 clubs in five states, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee and the commonwealth of Puerto Rico with over 650 members. Southern Region was organized October 20, 1946, and was the 13th Region in our Federation. Five Clubs were required to become a Region, and Miami was the first club chartered in 1943.
Southern Region is a 501 (C) (3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization.
Learn more about Soroptimist and our Programs by visiting our Federation’s website at http://www.Soroptimist.org.