Not everyone becomes a Soroptimist at first blush….And so it was for Stephanie Lewson. Stephanie found out about Soroptimist by googling volunteer organizations in Huntington Beach and was impressed by our website (YAY) and our mission of women helping other women and girls but…she did not join right away.
In fact, Stephanie became an official member of SIHB in July 2017 after attending meetings and programs since February 2017.
In Stephanie’s words, “After attending several meetings and events and meeting various members in the group, I felt it was a good match for me and wanted to be part of this amazing group of women.”
Although Stephanie feels she is still getting to know us and all we do, being a Soroptimist to her is a new opportunity to “give back to the community and make a difference in someone’s life.” And, along the way she is enjoying getting to know us and to making new friends.
It has been said by many seasoned Soroptimists that we join for the mission and stay for the friendships we make.
Stephanie hasn’t held any board positions yet but, we won’t hold that against her. After all, she just really joined in July. ♥
So…as Stephanie gets to know us a little better, let’s take a few minutes to get to know Stephanie a little better too!
Stephanie began her career as a social worker working with developmentally challenged adults but retired early when she and her husband, Sam, began their family.
And speaking of Sam, I think it must have been love at first conversation…. Stephanie met Sam when she rsvp’d for an event he was leading for the Orange County sierra Club Singles group. They talked on the phone for 3 hours and met in person 2 days later and as Stephanie says, “have been together ever since.”
Stephanie and Sam have lived in Huntington Beach for 27 years which is where their two sons were raised. When both of her sons, now 25 and 21, respectively, were attending Huntington Beach High School, Stephanie was a very involved and active band booster and held various positions in the Oiler Music Guild for 8 years. Is Stephanie hiding a talent from us? A musical talent, maybe??
However, when I asked Stephanie about her hobbies, she only mentioned cooking and developing new recipes for people with severe food allergies. Hopefully, we will get to see some of Stephanie’s culinary creations in the future. She also enjoys shopping (a woman after many of our hearts) and exercising….especially when it is with my friends….Yes, exercising is always more enjoyable (I think) with friends.
Back to Stephanie’s and Sam’s children. Her older son is a software engineer in the Silicon Valley, and their younger son is a Biotechnology major in his third year in college.
For those of you, like me, who don’t know what Biotechnology is, here is a brief description from Wikipedia:
“Biotechnology is the use of living systems and organisms to develop or make products, or “any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use” . Depending on the tools and applications, it often overlaps with the (related) fields bioengineering, biomedical engineering, biomanufacturing, molecular engineering, etc.”
But…do they play instruments…or sing???? You will need to ask Stephanie to find out the answers to those questions.
In conclusion, I asked Stephanie to describe herself in one word but, she came back with two: “Good Listener.”
Thank you Stephanie for choosing Soroptimist International Huntington Beach as the organization in Huntington Beach that you want to be involved with. We are excited that you joined us, and we look forward to getting to know you better and better!