Meet Convention Workshop Presenters
Get excited to hear educational, inspiring and engaging content from these amazing Soroptimists. If you are not already registered for convention, register here. Also be sure to check out the program agenda for all the convention details!
Terry Baldwin
Terry Baldwin joined Soroptimist in 1997 because of her desire to give back to her community. While attending the SIA Convention in San Diego, California, in 2002, she fell in love with the Soroptimist mission and knew that Soroptimist would always be part of her heart and her life. Terry has been involved at club, district, and region levels and currently serving her second term as club president. Her passion for sharing the spirit of Soroptimist has led her club to award winning projects and a substantial increase in membership.
Professionally, Terry’s passion is in sales, marketing, advertising and special projects. She is currently a legal assistant for a family law and criminal defense attorney. Terry lives in Benicia, California, with her husband James. In her free time, she likes to craft, quilt, bake, camp and read. Topping off that list is spending time with her favorite little people, James (5.5) and Emily (2.5).
Susan Gilbey
Susan Gilbey enjoyed a 40-year career in the forest products industry, where she held positions in both Canada and the United States. Highly experienced in sales, Susan enjoys helping people to see value in the product she represents, and now that ‘product’ is Soroptimist Dream Programs.
A native of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, she graduated from Mount St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles with a B.A. in English and a minor in business. Susan has completed several professional development courses, including communication, motivation, building virtual teams, among others.
Susan joined Soroptimist in 2001 and served 10 years on Desert Coast Region’s board, culminating as region governor from 2016-2018. In 2021, she was appointed to the Dream Big Campaign Committee.
She has been a monthly donor to Soroptimist since 2010 and is also proud to be a Laurel Legacy member. Susan and her husband, Lyon, have lived in Westminster, California, since 1995.
Karen Hall
Karen Hall has been a Soroptimist member since 2011 and is the current president of SI/Olympia, WA (Northwestern Region). Karen is the current region membership chair, and formerly chaired the region’s fundraising and “Imagine Life without Violence” committees, as well as participating on the legislative committee.
She represented her club for four years through the local YWCA’s advocacy committee. Through this time Karen supported their workplace equity initiative project while also tracking important legislative bills, gathering census data for Equal Pay Day presentations, and attended racial justice meetings and events.
For the last nine years, Karen has worked for a large state home building association out of Washington state supporting over 8,000 members.
Karen’s passion is helping others see the value of acceptance and inclusion in the world. She truly believes in Soroptimist’s mission and vision and hopes to bring you some awareness you’ve not thought about before.
Dawn Marie Lemonds
Dawn Marie Lemonds is a native Californian and lives in Tustin. Dawn holds an M.S. in special education and worked for the Department of Developmental Services for the State of California for 41 years in a multitude of capacities. Dawn has been very involved in Soroptimist International and served as the 2017-2018 SIA President. Other significant Soroptimist roles have included Desert Coast Region Governor, International Project Liaison for Project Independence: Women Survivors of War, and International Programme Director for Soroptimist International in 2007-2011.
Dawn Marie has continued her work with fighting modern day slavery chairing the Aldersgate Abolitionists at her United Methodist Church in Tustin, and as a volunteer for the Global Center for Women and Justice. Dawn loves being an auntie, travelling, reading, and entertaining friends and family. Inspiring others to join social justice causes particularly for women and girls is Dawn Marie’s greatest joy.
Maureen Maguire
SI President Maureen Maguire began her two-year biennium on January 1,2022. She became a Soroptimist in 1989 and is a member of SI/Portadown, Northern Ireland. She has served as president at club, region, federation, and now SI level.
During her professional life, she worked for 38 years within the Northern Ireland Health and Social Services, before setting up her own consulting company. Maureen has a master’s degree in public procurement and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Supply Management and Health Services Management.
Maureen motto is: “If you help a woman, not only do you help her family but also the wider community.”
Sue Riney
Sue Riney is a member of SI/Oak Harbor, WA (Northwestern Region). She is a past SIA Board Secretary/Treasurer, has served on the SIA Fundraising Committee, and is currently a Dream Big Campaign Ambassador. Sue also serves at the SI level, where she is SI Public Relations Liaison, as well as a member of the SI Global Voice Committee.
Sue is retired from Wells Fargo Bank where she was vice president and a project manager. She and her husband, Jim, currently live amid remodeling efforts at their beach home on Whidbey Island in Washington.
Terry Rose
Terry Rose joined Soroptimist in 2005 because of its mission to improve the lives of women and girls. Terry has been involved at the club, district and region levels and currently serves as the Desert Coast Region program chair. She also co-chairs a 16-club Live Your Dream collaborative.
After 20 years selling enterprise software to Fortune 100 companies, the federal government and municipal governments, Terry entered the world of entrepreneurship as an internet retailer. In 2020, Terry joined the Coachella Valley Women’s Business Center as a business consultant and now assists women who want to start or enhance their businesses.
Join Us at Convention!
Join us for SIA’s Virtual 47th Biennial Convention Friday, July 22, and Saturday, July 23, for an exciting event featuring Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai as our keynote speaker!
This is not just another Zoom meeting—this will be an integrated virtual event experience! Plus, we have a fabulous agenda that promises to delight!
This virtual convention will offer plenty of interactive opportunities, for example:
Hear from motivating and inspiring speakers.
Interact and network with friends from other regions through the message board in the Lounge.
Shop brand new, limited edition items in the Soroptimist Store.
Move between main sessions in the Theatre and workshops in a special breakout room.
Earn virtual badges for attending sessions and exploring various rooms in the virtual platform.
Some of the information presented at convention you won’t get anywhere else.
Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai will engage with President Kazuko Morita and President-Elect Stephanie Smith in a one-on-one discussion on Friday, July 22, EDT! You will hear firsthand how Malala began her fight for girls—from an education activist in Pakistan to the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
Each day will end with fun entertainment. Day one boasts a dueling piano show where you can request songs and watch the piano players duel live! Day two is a surprise you don’t want to miss.
We look forward to you joining us for a wonderful event!
SHARE THIS:
MORE BLOGS YOU MAY LIKE:
