For the first time in two years, Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor was able to resume their annual Notable Women’s Lunch to honor remarkable women of history, as well as the Soroptimist award winners.

“We are here today to honor women and their dreams,” Emily Geyman told attendees. Geyman is a decades-long member of Soroptimist of Friday Harbor. She continued giving quotes from women who have changed the lives of thousands of other women, including Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg:

“Whatever you choose to do, leave tracks, and that means don’t do just for yourself, because in the end, it’s not going to be fully satisfying. I think you will want to leave the world a little better for your having lived. And there’s no satisfaction a person can gain from just what people call turning over a buck that’s equal to the satisfaction that you get from knowing that you have made another’s life, your community, a little better for your effort.”

Ginsberg also said “Women belong in all the places where decisions are made, which led Geyman to remind attendees that only 27 percent of the seats in congress are women.

“Women are half the population. It seems to me we should have 50 percent of the seats,” Geyman said.

With those sentiments in mind, Lynn Weatherill awarded the Educational Opportunity awards to Emily Schultz, Ramona Flierl, Emillie Novak, and Emily Atwell. The Educational Opportunity award goes to a local woman or girl is furthering their education at a college, university or vocational school. Friday Harbor High Senior Flierl was the only one in the group that was able to attend the lunch. Flierl will be attending Western Washington University this fall to follow her passion for screenwriting.

The Fellowship award goes to a local woman who has already gone to an accredited school but is looking to return to further her career goals.

Barbara Sharp presented Brooke Radcliffe with the award. Radcliffe works with Safe San Juans as well as in the San Juan Island elementary and middle school to educate students about personal boundaries. She will be working toward a master’s in art therapy.

The Ruby award is named after the Soroptimist Federation president, Ruby Lee Minar, and goes toward women who help other women.

Melanie Kaegi and Ashley Strutz have been helping local women and girls both in their personal lives as well as in their work-life for years.

Kaegi is the juvenile probation officer in San Juan County Juvenile Court Services. Ashley Strutz has been working with youth via the Joyce Soble Famly Resource Center.

“These women touch so many lives in our community, especially youth,” Diana Sibert said as she presented the award.

Kaegi and Strutz have been friends for 30 or more years, they told the crowd, and have shared similar life experiences, from childhood issues to raising children during the same time. Both decided to further their education in adulthood.

Together, they saw a need to bring young girls together to help them through their unique struggles. The group was originally called the Girls Circle, but the young women decided to change the name to the Yew Group, after the long-living Yew trees.

“Every single week, they show up for each other. I couldn’t dream of a better early intervention,” Kaegi said, adding that they have seen an increase in positivity and self-esteem in the girls as a result of the meeting.

“It is a safe and healing space where we have a chance to reconnect with ourselves and our bodies,” Strutz said. “Through our work in human services we have been honored to hear their stories.”

Sibert read a few testimonials from Yew Group participants;

“This group of strong capable women has changed my life for the better,” one said. “Melanie and Ashley have created a safe environment that feels like coming home,” and the last, “From the first meeting I felt like I could truly express myself.”

Sibert then officially presented Kaige and Strutz with $500 dollars to go toward the Yew Group in any way they saw fit.

Funding for the Soroptimist awards has not been easy during COVID, Weatherill said. Without being able to hold in-person events, Soroptimist has had to brainstorm creative fundraising methods, including online auctions.

To learn more about the awards, and high school scholarships, visit https://www.sifri.org.