Four years ago, when Cheri Fleming was named Governor-elect of Soroptimist International of the Americas Camino Real Region, the world was different.

For Fleming, co-owner of Valencia Acura, and the rest of the Santa Clarita Valley, the economy was booming.

Nonprofits were flying high, and a new car every two years was a way of life.

Then, the economy drove off a cliff.

“When I raised my hand to be governor-elect four years ago, I was very excited about learning the different dynamics of the 27 clubs in the Camino Real Region and learning more about Soroptimist and how I could lend my leadership skills to this very important cause to me,” Fleming said.

“I never had any anticipation that the economy would take such a horrific turn of events. The last two years have been challenging for me, not only business-wise but also with this huge volunteer responsibility and opportunity I had on my plate as governor.”

Despite the unexpected challenges, Fleming rose to the occasion and led the region to new heights of accomplishment.

“This experience was more rewarding than I could ever have imagined,” said Fleming, despite it being the “biggest volunteer commitment, requiring the most time commitment and the hugest chunk of work you could ever imagine.”

Fleming said she is proud of many of the accomplishments achieved during her term as governor.

During her term the clubs under leadership raised $740,529 which helped 18,431 women and 11,367 girls.
“I couldn’t be prouder,” she said.

The Camino Real Region of Soroptimist International includes 27 clubs with nearly 800 members in a geographic area that spans from Lompoc to Santa Barbara — including Ventura, Oxnard and the SCV — and east to San Gabriel then down through Long Beach.

“The territory is diverse and different,” Fleming said. “I had the opportunity to travel to all these clubs and meet the members. It was truly the most amazing experience I’ve ever had.”

Soroptimist International is a worldwide volunteer service organization for women in business, management and the professions. The first Soroptimist club was founded in 1921 in Oakland, Calif.

The name Soroptimist means “best for women.” Soroptimists work to promote social justice and equity and the empowerment of women through economic independence and greater participation in decision making at all levels.

“We like to say we give a ‘hand up, not a hand out,’” said Fleming. “One of the joys of being governor is that we all have the same mission and the same vision to improve the lives of women and girls.”

Fleming said each club in her region had its own unique community involvement.

“It was joyful to see the different ways people can truly make a difference in their own communities,” she said.

The SCV is home to two of the 27 clubs in the region, Soroptimist International of SCV and Soroptimist International of Greater SCV.

“I think the Soroptimist clubs here in the SCV have been a nice cornerstone of volunteer activity and giving back to this community,” Fleming said. “As governor, it was very interesting to see how clubs in different areas do the same thing we do here — but in unique ways.

Fleming said she is also proud of the awards bestowed upon the Camino Real Region during her tenure.

“I just came back from the SIA Federation Convention in San Francisco and the Camino Real Region won award after award,” she said. “Soroptimist International of the Americas gives out four first-place awards, they call it the Region Renaissance Award. Last year when I was governor, the region won first for program; and this year, we won first place for fundraising.

She said she applauds all the members in the region for the accomplishment.

“I also think we had a fun time doing it,” she said.

Fleming said the experience of being Region Governor has profoundly affected her outlook and changed her as a person.

“The mission of Soroptimist is why I am Soroptimist. As a woman, it is my duty to help other women and girls,” she said. “It has been a tremendous learning experience for me. Leading an organization that is not just in the SCV, where people know who you are, has been challenging and fun.”

Fleming said the skills she learned in her volunteer position as governor have also benefited her business skills.

“I type better,” she said. “I also learned to figure out how to do PowerPoint presentations. I also learned how to feel comfortable speaking in front of 800 women instead of a couple hundred people.”

Fleming also listed a litany of other benefits she has obtained from her turn as Governor.

“We give up a piece of ourselves when we devote this kind of time to a volunteer effort, but I’ve learned so much in return, including honing my computer and electronic filing skills, leadership skills and presentation skills — just by the virtue of needing to. I think I am a different person today than I was two years ago,” she said.

Fleming also had the opportunity to travel nationally and internationally during the past four years as governor-elect and as region governor.

She has traveled to Stockholm, Sweden; Taipei, Taiwan; Sydney, Australia; and Glasgow, Scotland among many other cities and states in the United States.

“I feel like I have friends throughout the world now. I think I could pick up the telephone, and if I were in their area of the world, they would be there to assist me,” she said.

She also was a Soroptimist delegate to the United Nations the past two years for the annual Status of Women.

Fleming described the experience as “life-changing.”

“It is a truly humbling and eye-opening experience,” she said.

In summing up her experience, Fleming said she would encourage other women to try it. She also feels many woman in the community could benefit from joining a Soroptimist Club.

“Not only is the mission to improve the lives of women and girls, but it is also an amazing opportunity to network with other professional women. We are not a networking organization, we are a service organization, but we do network among ourselves,” she said. “We enjoy seeing each other and meeting new friends.”

Fleming said as woman we owe service to other women to ourselves and to others.

“I don’t know anything that is more fulfilling,” she said.

Fleming is continuing her work with Soroptimists at the national level. She was recently elected to serve on the Soroptimist International of the Americas board of directors.

For information about Soroptimist International clubs in the SCV visit www.siscv.com or www.sigscv.org.