Tom Smith

January 22, 2019 By Tom Smith Leave a Comment

Leona Valley Sertoma
2019 Winter Newsletter

The Leona Valley Sertoma 2019 Winter Newsletter is out! Bridget Razo deserves accolades for a job well done. Four pages of informative articles and beautiful photos that do a terrific job of sharing what the members of Leona Valley Sertoma are doing to “Make a Difference”. You can also find the Officer’s List and a Calendar of upcoming events and activities of import to all who live in the Lakes and Valley areas of our corner of Los Angeles County.

Below is an excerpt from the 2019 Winter Newsletter. Find the complete 2019 Winter Newsletter further down the page and click on it to download a PDF copy.

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Exceptional Dogs for Exceptional People

Leona V, service ambassador dog. — Leona V

Sertoma’s “Gala Under the Stars” raised more than $10,000 to help care for and train a Service Ambassador dog for a hearing-impaired person, allowing us to name the puppy on behalf of our organization. The chosen name was Leona V in honor of Leona Valley.

Leona V was born on September 13, 2018 and is now with her puppy raisers Chuck and Connie Braddy in San Diego. She will be there for 18 to 20 months to prepare for her advanced training of an additional six to nine months at the Canine Companions for Independence Training Center in Oceanside. If Leona graduates after learning 30 basic commands and socialization skills, her projected “turn-in” date will be May 20, 2020, where she will be presented to her new Partner for Life. Leona will then become the ears, hands and legs of her human partner and will be considered a goodwill ambassador.

“Some people wait a lifetime for a miracle, but Canine Companions for Independences raises these special dogs one at a time.” Thank you for helping us make this miracle happen.

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Please check our website at www.leonavalleysertoma.org and remember that we are always hoping for new members to help us be the good we want to see in the world and in our community. We meet the first and third Saturday for breakfast at 8 a.m. at Jack’s Place, 40352 90th Street West in Leona Valley.
We hope you will join us!

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January 15, 2019 By Tom Smith Leave a Comment

Leona Valley Sertoma
2019 Scholarship Program & St. Patrick’s Day Dinner

Are You Ready for what 2019 will bring?

The members of Leona Valley Sertoma look forward to what the new year will bring and to continuing some of their long-standing programs and events. These include the 2019 Scholarship Program and the St. Patrick’s Day Dinner, both have been around for quite some time.

Scholarship Applications for 2019 are here!

Can you believe it? The Leona Valley Sertoma Scholarship Program is twenty years old this year and still going strong. Leona Valley Sertoma established the Leona Valley SERTOMA Scholarship Program to identify and reward local students who have shown personal and intellectual qualities through academic achievement, as well as participation and leadership in extracurricular and community activities. Leona Valley Sertoma has given out close to $50,000.00, in scholarships since 1999. The goal of the program is to serve the needs of local graduating seniors and those community college students transferring to continue their education.

Scholarship consideration is also open to students attending Community college who live in Leona Valley, Green Valley, Lake Hughes, Three Points or Lake Elizabeth, who are transferring to a 4-year college.

Our most recent scholarship recipient was Margaret (Maggie) Mihaljevich. Click on her name to read the post and we welcome you to share our post on your Facebook page.

You can learn more about the Scholarship Program on our Scholarship Information page, where you can download the scholarship application form and the information sheet. You will find the scholarhip program page link under the “About” link (“Scholarship Program”) in the menu at the top of the page, or click here to open Scholarship Program page. (page will open in a new tab.)

The St. Patrick’s Day Dinner

Another long-standing event is our annual St. Patrick’s Day Dinner. This year, Leona Valley Sertoma presents a Traditional Corned Beef Dinner, with all the fixings, for St. Patrick’s Day, Sunday, March 17, 2019 – 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.
It is being held at the Leona Valley Community Building, 8367 Elizabeth Lake Road, Leona Valley, CA.

In addition to the corned beef dinner, your dinner includes a GREAT selection of desserts, coffee & tea with drinks available at an additional cost, including a BAR featuring Irish coffee ~ ID Required. Soda and water are also available.

Donation (cash or check)

For Information Call:

Juanita Kirkpatrick ~ 661-270-0588 or Charlene Moore ~ 661-816-5177

50/50 Drawing

MEALS CAN BE DELIVERED TO THOSE UNABLE TO ATTEND

Co-Sponsored by: Rally Auto Group

Click on flyer to download a .pdf copy.

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December 7, 2018 By Tom Smith Leave a Comment

Tis the Season – 2018

It’s that time of year again! Time to get together in celebration of the season and in recognition of people who deserve to be recognized. For Leona Valley Sertoma members, December has two long standing traditions, the Senior Christmas Dinner, held on December 2, 2018, and their annual Christmas party for the members. The Christmas party is an opportunity to enjoy fellowship with their fellow Sertomans and to hand out the Awards and was held on December 1, 2018 at the home of member Shirley Kraft.

2018 Senior Christmas Dinner

Leona Valley Sertoma once again hosted its annual Senior Christmas Dinner on Sunday, December 2, 2018 with plenty of good cheer and delicious food to go around. This event is not a fundraiser, but rather a thank you to our senior citizens. After all, Leona Valley would not be what is is without them.

The photo on the right says it all — “Service with a Smile” along with a good helping of “Service to Mankind”. These volunteers were so happy to serve the seniors who attended the annual Senior Christmas Dinner. From the left are members Catherine Lord – Bridget Razo and Teresa Braley. Also lending a helping hand are 4-H Club Members Evelyn and Madeline Copeland.

2018 Senior Christmas Dinner dessert team, Beverly Brownfield (left) and Betty Wade (right). — Bev Brownfield/Betty Wade

Two very special ladies took on the duty of serving up some sweet desserts at our 2018 Sertoma Seniors Christmas Dinner. Left, Beverly Brownfield – Right, Betty Wade.

2018 Sertoman of the Year

On December 1st, Mary Thomas received the “Sertoman of the Year” award representing her many years of loyal service to our organization. Mary has made quite an impressive contribution to the longevity and success of our small but mighty group – ALWAYS keeping us together with a smile and a loving hug.

2018 Service To Mankind Award

On December 1st Steve and Tamara Reaves were surprised with the Sertoma “Service to Mankind” award for their excellence in community service. Their entire family has not only provided a special comfort zone for Leona Valley, but have worked very hard organizing events that would appeal to the entire family.

December 6, 2018 By Tom Smith 2 Comments

Exceptional Dogs for Exceptional People

As many of you might remember, Sertoma hosted a very special “Gala under the Stars” wine tasting event this past June with the sole purpose of raising $10K to help care for a Service Ambassador dog for a hearing impaired person. This also gave Sertoma the right to name a puppy on behalf of our organization. Thanks to our many sponsors and attending guests, WE DID IT!

It seemed so natural to have the honor of naming our puppy “Leona V” for Leona Valley – she was born on September 13, 2018. She is now with her PUPPY RAISER’S, Chuck and Connie Braddy, in San Diego, for 18-20 months, where Leona V will be preparing for her advanced training. Her training will involve an additional six to nine months at the Canine Companions for Independence Training Center, in Oceanside. If little Leona V graduates after learning 30 basic commands and how to socialize, her projected “turn-in” date will be May 20, 2020, and she will be presented to her new Partners for Life.

Little Leona V will then become the ears, hands and legs of her human partner and will be considered a goodwill ambassador to her best friend.

It has been said “some people wait a lifetime for a miracle, but Canine Companions for Independence raises these special dogs one at a time” and, they ARE a miracle.

So, again, Sertoma thanks you for your support and generosity. YOU are the reason we continue to remain a “Service to Mankind” organization. We are always on the lookout for new members to help us make a greater difference in our community and would love to have you attend one of our meetings, held on the first and third, Saturday of each month at 8am, at Jack’s Place – 40352 90th St. West in Leona Valley. You can keep up to date with Leona Valley Sertoma by checking in at our web site at: www.leonavalleysertoma.org. Why not sign up to have new posts sent directly to your email inbox?

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU – I truly believe you will be impressed with what we accomplish in such a short time.

July 26, 2018 By Tom Smith 1 Comment

Leona Valley Sertoma Scholarship – Margaret Mihaljevich

Leona Valley Sertoma Scholarship Presented to Margaret Mihaljevich

On June 7, 2018 the Leona Valley Sertoma Scholarship committee Chairperson, Charlene Moore, presented Margaret (Maggie) Mihaljevich with her $1,500 scholarship award to help launch the beginning of her college adventure. This Autumn, Maggie will begin studying business at the University of Washington. This young lady isn’t “just a student”, she has been named the University of Washington’s Purple and Gold Scholar at the Seattle Campus and has been offered $1,500 each academic year for four years. Sertoma’s scholarship choice isn’t just because of her yearly academic scores – it pertains to her focus on leadership and impeccable community service outside of school such as organizing blood drives, helping the homeless, volunteering at animal shelters, and time spent with local veterans for their service in the military – not to mention captain’s for the Quartz High School swim team and cheer-leading squad.

Every Spring, the Leona Valley Sertoma Scholarship Committee prepares to receive local applications from the areas of Three Points, Lake Hughes, Elizabeth Lake, Green Valley, and Leona Valley, and every Spring it is always a difficult choice, as all the potential recipients have worked very hard and are quite deserving. We never know how many applicants we will have to screen, but, I truly believe we make the perfect choice(s) every year.

The mission of Sertoma International is to improve the quality of life for those at risk or impacted by hearing loss through education and support, so the Leona Valley Sertoma is committed to providing one scholarship to a graduating student, who will be attending Antelope Valley College, and who is either majoring in deaf studies or who has a hearing disability.

2019 Leona Valley Sertoma Scholarhip

Charlene Moore will continue to chair the 2019 scholarship committee and we all look forward to helping deserving students dream of furthering their education after their high school graduation. The 2019 scholarship application period will open in early 2019, so be on the watch for an announcement at that time. For more on the scholarship program click here page.

As always, good luck to each and every student.