PORT ANGELES — Soroptimist International of Port Angeles — Jet Set has recognized members of a club and five individuals as Women of Distinction.
An award breakfast at the Port Angeles Senior Services Center on March 18 honored the 2009-2010 award recipients: Venture Club members, Tracy Caldwell, Darlene Clemens, Marsha Robin and Krista Winn.
An award also was given to Ronda Maxine Curry, an Olympic Medical center courier, posthumously. Curry died last year at the age of 45. She is not be confused with Rhonda Curry, the OMC assistant administrator for strategic marketing.
Venture Club
Soroptimist International of Port Angeles-Jet Set Club sponsored the Venture Club in 1983, and assists Venture members by providing leadership and self-development through mentoring and grants.
The Venture Clubs’ mission is to encourage and promote service at the community level, provide opportunities for leadership and self-development, and to provide services that improve the lives of women and girls.
Venture Club has helped with projects for Rose House, 2nd Street House, Salvation Army and the Breast Mobile, and annually “adopted” a family at Christmas.
They have applied for and have been successful in receiving grants from Soroptimist International of America.
Two grant projects were on behalf of local agencies, the Dream Center and First Step Family Support Center.
Tracy Caldwell
Caldwell, operations manager at Healthy Families of Clallam County, began as part-time receptionist in 1988, and has worked hard through the years, the Soroptimists said.
She was with the nonprofit organization as it evolved, with Umbrella Community Services merging with North Olympic Drug and Alcohol Center to become North Olympic Combined Services before, in 1994, it became what it is now.
Co-director Becca Korby said she has witnessed Caldwell accepting new challenges such as grant writing, training and recognition of her own leadership skills, and said that her proactive involvement has enriched the lives of those the agency serves.
“What Tracy has contributed to this agency,” Korby said, “and ultimately this community, is a sense of standing firm in her ethics and the mission this agency works by empowering women, children and men to live lives free from violence and to embrace their autonomy to make safe choices and thereby help to create a healthier community.”
Darlene Clemens
Clemens read the book Three Cups of Tea, the 2006 best-seller which chronicles Greg Mortenson’s efforts to raise money to build schools, promote literacy and improve the quality of life in remote regions of northern Pakistan and Afghanistan, and was inspired to organize, with the help of her book group, the Pennies for Peace program in Port Angeles, the Soroptimists said.
The fundraiser encourages school children to gather pennies and other coins to benefit the Central Asia Institute project.
Clemens began the program last March, starting at Roosevelt Elementary School, and has since taken it to Franklin and Hamilton elementary schools, collecting more than $3,000 in donations.
She wants to hold campaigns in the rest of the Port Angeles elementary schools before expanding to Stevens Middle School and Port Angeles and Lincoln high schools.
Ronda Maxine Curry
Curry, an Olympic Medical Center lab courier, was presented with a Women of Distinction award posthumously.
She died of a stroke Aug. 11 at the age of 45.
She “was admired for her good will, kind heart and seemingly endless compassion that often extended beyond her own family members,” the Soroptimists said.
Curry worked at OMC for more than 25 years, initially as a lab technician and eventually as a courier. She also worked as a cashier at Walgreens.
“She often went above and beyond the call of duty in her daily work, and led an exemplary life through example and care for others,” the Soroptimists said.
“Throughout her life she kept an open door policy, extending not only her house but her heart to others in need.”
Marsha Robin
Robin, described as the “public face” of Soroptimist International of Port Angeles-Jet Set, has been a member since 2001 and served as its president from 2004 to 2006.
Robin serves as a director for the Port Angeles Food Bank and the Olympic Peninsula Humane Society.
She is co-leader of Girl Scout Troop 52116, volunteers regularly with the North Olympic Discovery Marathon and remains on call 24 hours a day as an emergency operator for Clallam County Search and Rescue.
Krista Winn
Winn, physical education teacher for Hamilton and Jefferson elementary schools on Port Angeles, was honored “for her dedication to the health and well-being of youth and families in our community, and particularly for her leadership as chairwoman of the recent successful Save the Pool PA Campaign,” the Soroptimists said.
Fundraising efforts included “Rescue Relays,” a dinner and silent auction at the 7 Cedars Casino, a Lonely H concert, rummage sale, donation jars and a pledge drive.
In addition to her involvement in the Save the Pool Campaign, Winn is a National Board Certified Teacher and was named National Physical Education Teacher of the Year in 2006.
She is the president of the Port Angeles Swim Club and serves as a coach.
She also is a volunteer coordinator for the North Olympic Discovery Kids Marathon, an organizer for the annual Jump Rope for Heart campaign for the American Heart Association and a member of OPRA SEmD the Olympic Peninsula Rowing Association.