What Is Sertoma?
Sertoma was founded April 11, 1912, in Kansas City, Missouri, as the “Stand Together Club.” Our name was later changed to “Cooperative Clubs,” and finally to “Sertoma” in 1948. The first clubs were formed as social clubs for the purpose of sharing business referrals and networking, a practice which still exists as part of our purpose, but as additional clubs were formed, the mission of Sertoma expanded to include community based service projects such as, hearing and speech programs, scholarships, freedom and democracy, youth sponsorships, and various other causes. Click on our Sertoma Headquarters link for the complete history of Sertoma. Today, Sertoma is the third oldest service organization. Our motto is “Make Life Worthwhile.”
Leona Valley Sertoma
Leona Valley Sertoma is a non-profit organization. The Club was chartered on December 22, 1997. In addition to serving Leona Valley, the club also serves the communities of Green Valley, Lake Elizabeth, Lake Hughes, and Three Points.
The Leona Valley Sertoma Club exists for the purpose of Service To Mankind. We bond together in fellowship to provide community services in the form of time, talent, and monies. These efforts are directed toward accelerating progress in health, education, freedom and democracy, and improving the quality of life in our local communities. Through our programs and events we are helping people to help themselves and encouraging personal improvement.
Programs like our annual scholarships for graduating seniors, hearing test equipment donated to the Antelope Valley Hospital Medical Center that ensures the testing of all newborns; the donation of three golf carts to The Painted Turtle Camp near Lake Hughes, where children with life threatening diseases get a chance to enjoy a week of summer camp; our softball clinic where a group of dedicated volunteers work with deaf and hard of hearing boys and girls helping them to learn and improve their skills on the ball field; our members built and installed an attractive and colorful welcome sign that greets visitors entering Leona Valley.
Conceived and published by our club, the Welcome to Leona Valley Book is presented as a gift to all new valley residents and includes supporting messages from local businesses.
A museum, preserving the history of Leona Valley, is becoming a reality, thanks to the joint efforts of Leona Valley Sertoma, the LVIA, the Leona Valley Town Council, and the West Antelope Valley Historical Society.
Fundraising: It is the key to our club’s success in providing the types of community services that we have become known for.
Our football books spotlight the National Football League’s Monday night schedule and provides 18 weeks of opportunity to win and win, and win again.
St. Patrick’s Day means it is time for our annual corned beef and cabbage dinner, and this has become a much anticipated fun-filled social gathering.
Our Cow Chip Championship and Barbeque events are a big success, and we look forward to making this fundraiser the must-do event of the fall season in the Leona Valley.
Hard work has its own reward, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be recognized. Each year Leona Valley Sertoma likes to spotlight our heroes. The Service to Mankind award is presented to a non-member whose outstanding humanitarian, civic or heroic activities deserve recognition, while the Sertoman-of-the-Year award recognizes a deserving club member. Our public recognition of such wonderful people spotlights their accomplishments so that others may be encouraged to do a little bit more.
Before, when you may have been wondering “what is Sertoma?” By now, you know the answer. Sertoma is people just like you – people who care about their community and who are willing to get involved and make a difference.
We meet at 8:00 am on the first and third Saturdays of each month at Jack’s Place, 40352 90th Street West, Leona Valley 93551. We invite you to join us in making a difference.
Community Projects
The members of Leona Valley Sertoma are people who care about the people and the communities in the Lakes and Valley’s area of north Los Angeles County. Below are some of the things we have done and many are ongoing and we are always on the lookout for more opportunities to make a difference.
The Painted Turtle
On 2 April 2004, the Leona Valley Sertoma Club donated three golf carts to the Painted Turtle Camp, a value of $7,812. Sertoma International also donated a check for $2,600 to The Painted Turtle. The Painted Turtle is one of five camps started by Paul Newman for children with life-threatening diseases. Since no vehicles will be allowed inside the camp, the golf carts will be the only mode of transportation for the staff and children. Starting in 2005, Leona Valley Sertoma began making an annual donation of $500.
Click this link to learn more about the Painted Turtle: The Painted Turtle.
Scholarships
In recognition of the importance of education the Leona Valley Sertoma established the Leona 
Valley SERTOMA Scholarship Program to identify and reward local students who have shown personal and intellectual qualities through participation and leadership in extracurricular and community activities. In 2010, $4,000 in scholarships are to be awarded, which will bring to $27,650 the total amount of funding provided by the scholarship program.
Thanksgiving Food Vouchers
Food vouchers are given to needy families and are valued from $50 to $100 depending on the size of the family. To date, we have allocated $500 in vouchers.
Christmas Turkeys and Toys
Over 980 turkeys and 500 toys along with canned and dry goods have been passed out to local families and organizations such as the Domestic Violence Center, Assistance League (day care), Lancaster Community Shelter, Live Again Recovery Home, and Grace Resource Center.
Welcome to Leona Valley Sign
A Welcome to Leona Valley sign was constructed and erected at the community building as a gift to the community. Smaller hanging signs were also provided for the local organizations.
Bulletin Board at Ranchers Market
A bulletin board was constructed and installed in the parking lot of Ranchers Market. The bulletin board was donated to the community for the purpose of advertising local events and providing the community with a place to display messages and notices.
Welcome to Leona Valley Book
A Welcome to Leona Valley book was produced and is given to all new families that move into Leona Valley. The book contains a history of the valley, describes all local organizations, local services, community standards, phone numbers and contacts, and businesses and advertisers.
Fire Victims
Some money was provided along with contacting local businesses for help to those that lost everything.
Software to AV Hospital to Upgrade Equipment
A check was presented to AV Hospital for $3,500 to buy software needed to upgrade equipment for testing the hearing of newborn babies. This became a Federal requirement in 2003.
Museum
Sertoma is providing money and leadership and will provide manpower to build a museum for local winery and Indian artifacts.
Christmas Party for Senior Citizens
Each Christmas, Sertoma invites senior citizens to a luncheon at the Community Building. It is our way of getting them out to meet others and wishing them a happy holiday and telling that we care.
Lancaster Community Shelter
Sertoma made a $400 donation at their 2000 fundraiser.
Miss California Rodeo Fundraiser
Donations were made in 2000 and 2001 for the Miss California Rodeo champion that both times were young ladies from Leona Valley.
Annual Baseball Clinic
For the last two years, Leona Valley has held a baseball clinic for the hearing impaired children.
Helping Former 4H Youngsters
A young lady, who belonged and supported the local 4H, was given a check for $250 to help cover the costs of her animal that suddenly died.
Software for Leona Valley Newsletter
Sertoma provided the word processing software to the LVIA so that the Leona Valley Newsletter could again be produced.
Lee Rackett Rose Garden
A check for $100 was given to the LVIA to support the Lee Rackett Rose Garden.
Leona Valley School
The teachers and staff were recognized for their outstanding performance in the 2003-2004 school year. The excellent performance of the teachers and staff allowed the students to achieve the highest ATP scores of all of the elementary schools in the Antelope Valley. A check for $350 was given to the teachers and staff for a luncheon along with a plaque stating that the community appreciated what they had accomplished.
Hurricane Katrina
To support the victims of Hurricane Katrina, Sertoma donated $500 and collected another $856 from the surrounding communities. The monies were promptly sent to aid the recovery.
Gymkhana
A check for $100 was donated to the local Gymkhana event.