November, 2005
PRESS RELEASE                                              Contact: Gloria Janskovitch
                                                                                                 Phone 656-0809
                                                                                       gjanskovitch@msn.com

November 25^th is the International Day
to Eliminate Violence Against Women

August, 2005
PRESS RELEASE                                              Contact: Gloria Janskovitch
                                                                                                 Phone 656-0809
                                                                                       gjanskovitch@msn.com

PROJECT INDEPENDENCE: WOMEN SURVIVORS OF WAR

Two years ago Soroptimist International and Women for Women International joined forces to support women survivors of war in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Rwanda.  The weapons of war used against them include beatings and torture, rape, forced prostitution and denial of basic human rights.

Through the Project Independence: Women Survivors of War, Soroptimist International and Women for Women International will raise at least $1.2 million to provide nearly 2,000 women with the skills they need to move from victim to productive member of society.  These skills will be developed through direct aid, training in vocational skills, and loans to start their own businesses.

As of January 2005, 245 women have been enrolled in our program and have started or completed our one-year course.  Fifteen groups have been started in Bosnia, Rwanda, and Afghanistan and matched with Soroptimist Clubs who have written to them for a year. New graduates in Afghanistan will soon be eligible for loans.  And as of March of this year over $250,000 has been donated to Project Independence: Women Survivors of War!

For further information regarding the Billings Soroptimist International Club or Project Independence: Women Survivors of War call 690-8040.

Soroptimist Linda Gordon, website designer and owner of Shop Montana, was selected by Venture Club of Billings as Outstanding Soroptimist of the year.  Linda was also awarded the Outstanding Soroptimist of the Year from Northwest Region Venture Clubs of America and received the Linda Klinger Award.

Pictured center Linda Gordon, Outstanding Soroptimist with (l)Venture President Amy Miller and (r) Liz Kampa-Weatherwax, Venture Award presenter.

Linda has been the Venture Club Advisor for the past two years. During that time she has been a constant voice of strength, support and optimism. Soroptimist of Billings http://www.shopmt.com/sib have been serving the community for over sixty years. Soroptimist identify needs of our community, then establishes specific projects to address these needs with funds raised at “A Night of Wine and Roses” held yearly in January. Venture Club is a service project of Soroptimist.  Venture Club http://www.shopmt.com/venture is an organization of diverse, young, professional women committed to making a difference in their community through volunteering in community service, professional development, and personal growth.

The annual Awards Ceremony was held at Toucan Gallery.  Nicole Hanson (r) review the clubs' service projects for this year which included meals for the families at the Ronald McDonald House,
cleanup with Bright and Beautiful,
as well as several other projects.

Other Awards went to Venture President Elect Michelle Rogers (l)
as Outstanding Venturist for Venture Club of Billings  and Northwestern Region.  The award was presented by Liz Kampa-Weatherwax (r).

Mary Gilully (l) of The Family Tree
accepted a cash award from Venture Club of Billings
for the Parent Education Program at The Family Tree Center.  The award was presented by Venture Club President Amy Miller (r).

SOROPTIMISTS AWARD YOUNG ARTISTS                                          05/09/2005

Young Artists Awards Reception Held at Yellowstone Art Museum

County-Wide Students are Honored!

Soroptimist International of Billings is pleased to announce this year's 2005 recipients of their YOUNG ARTISTS AWARD PROGRAM.  Linda Ewert from the Yellowstone Art Museum stated “That it is an honor to be acknowledged in the Young Artist competition and it looks great on the students resume to have their work displayed at a museum like Yellowstone Art Museum”.   The competition was judged by Liz Harding, BA Advertising, University of Southern Mississippi, Education Assistant, Sara Kindsfater, BA Art, MSU-B, Curatorial Assistant and Duane Bratten, BS, University of Montana, Preparator, who are all members of the Yellowstone Art Museum.

This year’s event commemorated the fourth year of the Young Artists’ Gallery at the Yellowstone Art Museum and the ninth year of the YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAM. Art teachers, from the Billings and surrounding area, are invited to submit up to four pieces of student art, in any medium and theme, to be showcased at the Soroptimist charity fundraiser "A Night of Wine and Roses”. The event is scheduled for January 28, 2006, to be held at The Depot.  Young Artists' framing is generously done by Curt Wheeler of The Frame Hut.

This year’s winners are First Place winner “Your Lonely, Lost Little Boy” by Pat Wolfe of Skyview High School, Second Place Winner “Madame Jade” by Jenni Olson of Billings Senior High School, Third Place Winner “In the Barnyard” by Leslie Taylor of Huntley Project High School and Honorable Mention “Waterfall” by Yvette Gonzales-Quevado of Billings Senior High School.

First Place winner “Your Lonely, Lost Little Boy” by Pat Wolfe Skyview	Second Place Winner “Madame Jade” by Jenni Olson Senior High	Third Place Winner “In the Barnyard” by Leslie Taylor Huntley High	Honorable Mention “Waterfall” by Yvette Gonzales-Quevado Senior High

The Young Artists competition provides art students the opportunity to receive financial recognition of their talents, and for their work to be sold for the benefit of the community. The Young Artist's display was at the Yellowstone Art Museum during part of April and May. Congratulations to all the student participants. 

Congratulations to their teachers Diana Mysse Art Teacher from Billings Skyview High School, Adrian Wegner Art Teacher from Billings Senior High School and Belinda Wilson Art Teacher from Huntley Project High School!

Soroptimist International of Billings 2005 Awards and Recognition Event

Soroptimist of Billings www.shopmt.com/sib recent fund raiser "A Night of Wine and Roses" www.wineandroses.info enables Soroptimist to continue support of their various community projects and programs. The 2005 Awards and Recognition Event was held at the Yellowstone Room at the Metra.

"A Night of Wine and Roses" is a wine tasting and silent auction fund raising event.  Intermountain Distributing and Wild West Wines have been instrumental in the success and support of this fund raiser for the past 17 years.  Many of the Silent Auction featured items are art pieces requiring framing.  Fred Magers of Framing by Fred whose creative generosity has been a great asset to many of our items.  High School students' art is featured by The Young Artists' program.  The students winning art is displayed at the Yellowstone Art Museum, then placed in the Silent Auction to benefit the community.  Curt Wheeler of The Frame Hut  has for the past years beautifully framed the student art.  Other generous supporters include Carolyn Korb of City Vineyard, Tom Nelson of Tom Nelson Catering, Gene Burgad of The Rex and Jim Berry of EconoPrint.  Club supporters include all the Soroptimist members and especially Peg and Dick Dare of Western Awards, Linda and Greg Gordon of Shop Montana, Sue and Howard Sumner of Howard Sumner Real Estate and Mary and Kurt Stickney of DataCorp.

Charities receiving funds for continued support include:
 ● Soroptimists Club Identifying Project "Baby Think It Over", which is a teen pregnancy program in the local high schools.
● Northern Rockies Radiation Oncology Center.
● Soroptimist One-to-One Fund, which helps a local woman in need.
● The Depot                                   ● ZooMontana
● The Deering Clinic, for mammograms for women in need in our community.
● The Race for the Cure in Helena supporting the Susan B. Komen Foundation
● The Fran Elge Award presented to a University of Montana law student.
 ● Venture Club of Billings, who are instrumental in facilitating the fund raiser, are serving their community through women's education, and supporting the Family Tree Center this year.
 ● Soroptimist International's project which is Project Independence: Women Survivors of War is supported with donated funds.  Through Project Independence, Women Survivors of War, thousands of women in Afghanistan, Bosnia, and Rwanda who are survivors of war and violence get the help they need to rebuild their lives. They have lost their homes, their security, and their livelihoods. 
● Soroptimist International President's Appeal will be supported this year with funds going to the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Shelter in Vietnam.

Soroptimist honored this year's winner of the Women' Opportunity Award, which is a Soroptimist International of the Americas Program, assisting women entering or re-entering the workforce in obtaining the education and skills training they need to improve their employment status.  The Women's Opportunity Award is designed to give women head of households, who provide the primary source of financial support for their families, the opportunity to achieve their career goals.  This cash award is for women who is attending a vocational skills training program or participating undergraduate degree.  This year's winner is Susan E. Rogge, who after 22 years as a housewife and 5 children, found herself in the working world. Susan states that "life experiences have enlightened me as to the importance of a college degree... and I am convinced that in order to provide (for my children) I must have have a job that I am passionate about that will give us an adequate financial foundation".  Susan will use her cash award towards her college education.

The evenings' events concluded with Sue Anders of Growth and Development installing two new Soroptimist members: Bobbi Bybee and Faye Bozeman Holm.  Bobbi Bybee is the owner of The Josephine Bed and Breakfast.  Faye Bozeman Holm is a Jafra Sales Representative.