SIPA HISTORY

The story of Soroptimist International of Port Angeles began on February 26, 1944 when the
Soroptimist International of Tacoma chartered the club here in Port Angeles due to the request
of a group of civic minded women who wanted to be part of building a better community.
Henrietta Haugland was the first president.

The membership of the all-woman club, Soroptimist International of Port Angeles, or SIPA, has
included, besides women in management and ownership of businesses, city mayors and
councilwomen, a member of the State Council on Aging and on the White House Council on
Aging and the current Ms. Senior USA and senior UN Ambassador. We welcome all women
interested in community service and making Port Angeles a better place to live.

One of the strategies for building a better community was and remains ways to improve the lives
and opportunities for women. The most consistent step on that road has been the many
scholarships awarded by SIPA. From local high school students to Peninsula College students
in the nursing program, the SIPA scholarships have helped expand and enrich the lives of many
women in the Port Angeles area.

Perhaps the biggest projects undertaken by the club has been the Velley Creek Estuary Project
on the waterfront just west of downtown begun in 1996. The project was designed to create a
distinction between downtown and the industrial area by providing an inter-tidal estuary near
Front and Cherry streets along 2.5 miles of harbor. It was a unique project because it was under
the auspices of the Port of Port Angeles but included a collaboration of our service club,
downtown businesses and a government agency. A friendship bridge across the estuary was
built with contributions from the Soroptimist Club in our sister city in Mitsu City, Japan.

Some of the 2025 ongoing projects :

• Rose House, a home that operates as a transitional shelter for local women and children who
  have survived domestic or sexual violence.
• Food Bank
• The Answer for Youth provides services for local homeless youth and young families who are at
  risk in Port Angeles.
• Soroptibaskets of toiletries and other incidentals for young girls (distributed by the Salvation
  Army) at Christmas time.
• Toys for Tots
• Live Your Dream Award: provides monetary assistance to women who provide the primary
  source of financial support for their families.

How do we pay for all these activities? Fund raising is an important activity that goes beyond
bake sales and passing the hat among members. In 1986 (or so) we created a coupon book
based on the “buy one, get one” strategy targeting restaurants as you can tell by the name of
the book, the “Elegant Gourmet.” We divide into three groups to produce the coupon book. First,
the solicitors. These are members who visit the businesses and solicit their participation in the
book. No charge to the business. Second are the proofreaders once the books are locally
printed. Third and finally, a very important group made up of the entire club, the book sellers. Of
course, we have a fuss over who sells the most coupon books every year. It is a tremendously
successful project and a lot of fun as well.

While working on these projects and attending our weekly meetings that feature fascinating
programs, a valued benefit to membership in SIPA is the close friendships that develop among
the members. It’s one thing to vote to support ringing the kettle bell at Christmas for donations
to the Salvation Army. It’s an entirely different experience to spend a Saturday afternoon with
another member ringing that bell in front of Swains or Safeway and greeting the public.
Friendships grow as well as ideas for more activities to improve our community.