Leona Valley Sertoma

Tom Smith

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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. Little Leona V 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.

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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 Leona Valley Sertoma Scholarship presentation June 7, 2018 to Margaret Mihaljevich, by Charlene Moore, Chairperson of Leona Valley Sertoma Scholarship committee. – 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.

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Gala Under the Stars – A Look Back

Gala Under the Stars – 2018

On June 9, 2018, Leona Valley Sertoma will present the 14th annual Gala Under the Stars. There has been a change in the entertainment line-up for this year’s Gala Under the Stars from the March 5, 2018 post, the revised event information can be found at the end of this post.

Now a Look Back at the Gala Under the Stars

For those who might not know, and those who have forgotten, the first Gala Under the Stars was held in June of 2005. It was the brainchild of the Heritage Park committee, of Leona Valley Sertoma, as a fundraiser to complete the Leona Heritage Park Museum and to restore the local one-room schoolhouse. This was to support the work of the West Antelope Valley Historical Society, which owned the schoolhouse and had saved it with the move to the, at the time, newly named Heritage Park. In addition, many historical Leona Valley artifacts that had been saved over the years needed a place where they could be displayed and shared with others.

Of course, it would take more than money alone to make the Heritage park vision a reality and the members of the Heritage Park committee deserve a lot of credit for bringing together the people and the resources to make it happen. The good people of Leona Valley volunteered and stepped up and took on the challenge of making the Heritage Park Museum and the finished schoolhouse a reality and something that today can be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in history, especially the history of this little corner of Los Angeles County.

This all came about thanks to the efforts of Leona Valley Sertoma, the LVIA, the Leona Valley Town Council, and the West Antelope Valley Historical Society. You can learn more about the West Antelope Valley Historical Society by visiting their website at: avhistorical.org

To learn more Leona Valley Sertoma and what we do go to: About Leona Valley Sertoma.

Below are a sampling of pictures taken by Karl Pearcy, Chairman, Heritage Park Committee, of Leona Valley Sertoma:

An artist’s depiction of what the Leona Valley Heritage Park Museum would look like:

Painting-Heritage Park Museum

 

Leona Valley Sertoma Presents
“Gala Under the Stars”
Wine ~ Beer ~ Bourbon and Food Tasting
Saturday, June 9, 2018 from 5 to 9pm
Lazy T Ranch ~ 4218 Elizabeth Lake Road in Leona Valley

This event is specifically to sponsor a service dog for the hearing impaired.
All net proceeds will be contributed to “Canine Companions for Independence”
Please visit www.cci.org to better understand the training of these assistance dogs.

COWBOY POET, MIKE WILLIAMS and BROKEN HORN ROPERS
“THE SWEETWATER GENTLEMEN” – Bluegrass and Classic Country Band

OUTDOOR EVENT ~ SILENT AUCTION ~ DANCING

Commemorative Wine Glass:

Sponsored by Rally Auto Group

Also Sponsored by: AC Dave Heating and Air

Adult Donation ~ $35.00 per person / Under 21 not admitted
Cash or Check accepted

~Email Jan for details and tickets: 1grannyjanny@att.net

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW

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Leona Valley Sertoma 2018 St. Patrick’s Day Dinner

Leona Valley Sertoma Says-

“THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT”

THANK YOU to the MANY folks who supported our epic 2018 St. Patrick’s Day dinner …

The rain, sleet, and snow did not keep the folks from our Lakes and Valley’s and our neighbors from Palmdale, Lancaster and Rosamond from coming out to enjoy this annual event, as we served over 200 dinners. This year, the net proceeds of the fundraiser will be presented to the Leona Valley Improvement Association to help defray the repair costs for a new driveway and/or additional building expenses.

This year we prepared 260 pounds of prime corned beef, 55 heads of round green cabbage, 100 pounds of red potatoes, 2 ½ cases of carrots and 80 pounds of onions all to be enjoyed by our guests. AND, it took the muscle power of over 30 volunteers to make it all happen.

We also owe a big THANK YOU to Rally Auto Group for their sponsorship, one anonymous contributor, Chefs – Bill Moore & John Seymour, Casa Gutierrez, LVIA, Gymkhana, 4-H Racketeers, LV Queen Contestants, Cherry Chapters, Lakes & Valley’s Gazette, AV Press, Live Again, Mayde in Ireland, Merrie Profitt, Karl Pearcy, John Glover, Linda & Darik Bolin, KJ & Sandy Miller, Juanita & Vance Kirkpatrick, Pam & Bill Elliott, Charlene Moore, Bev Brownfield, Betty Wade, Linda Lorenz, Deserie Taback, Mary Thomas, Ray Mullins, Jan Clark, Kathy Bramwell, Bud & Sharon Lehrner, Teresa, Matt & Alex Braley, Bridget Razo, Susan Heinold & Cathy Lord.

Leona Valley Sertoma is always looking for new members and we invite and welcome you to join us at our local 8am fellowship breakfast meetings held at Jack’s Place – 40352 90th Street West. We meet on the 1st. and 3rd. Saturdays of each month. You can also check out our website at LeonaValleySertoma.org.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR for:

Sunday, April 15th – “Sweet Sundae” Ice Cream Social to benefit the repair of the LVIA driveway. Please check your Cherry Chapters for details.

Saturday, June 9th – “Gala Under the Stars” wine, beer, bourbon and food tasting to benefit “Canine Companions for Independence”. For details and tickets email Jan Clark at: 1grannyjanny@att.net

– written by: Jan Clark, Sertoma Chairman of the Board.

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Leona Valley Sertoma
2018 Scholarship Program

Leona Valley Sertoma Scholarship Program Applications for 2018 are here!

It’s that time of year again, when another group of young adults will transition from high school and go on to college, or in to the workplace. The members of Leona Valley Sertoma believe in the importance of higher education and want to encourage all our local students to continue their education after graduating from high school. The Leona Valley Sertoma Scholarship Program identifies and rewards 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 almost $50,000.00, in scholarships since 1999.

For information about the Leona Valley Sertoma Scholarship Program and to download an application, go to: 2018 Leona Valley Scholarship Program.

<<< SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY APRIL 2, 2018 >>>

I like to think every Sertoma member is a role model for what it means to be involved in your community. They exhibit leadership qualities when seeking out opportunities to better their communities through such things as identifying needs in the community and by their follow-thru in participating in the many events and programs developed and sponsored by the organization. Many of the events they sponsor are fundraisers that provide the money for their programs, like the Scholarship Program.

Sertoma membership is open to anyone interested in making a difference and improving the quality of life for their community. As a member of Leona Valley Sertoma you would be joining with like-minded people in developing and carrying out a variety of programs and events that truly can make a difference for the people in your community, the people you call friends and neighbors. Sertoma International also has a program called Serteens, which is intended to instill the same qualities in our young people and give them the kind of leadership qualities that can serve them well as they move on to become adults. There is not currently a Serteens group associated with Leona Valley Sertoma, but if there were, that would, I should think, make filling out one part of the Leona Valley Sertoma Scholarship Application a lot easier.