Come to the Home, Garden & Antique Show!

Hope you're planning an outing to the Home, Garden & Antique Show THIS weekend, March 20th and 21st!  This is the largest fundraiser held by our local Soroptimist International of Chico club each year.  And every year 100% of the gate proceeds get poured back into the Chico community for local charities, scholarships and organizations such as The Salvation Army, the Butte County Public Library, Catalyst Women's Shelter, and others.

Click here to see what the show has to offer, or view photos here from a previous show, and then mark your calendar to come out to the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in Chico this Saturday or Sunday, 10 to 5.  See you there!

Jesus Center - SI/Chico Field Trip

About 30 members of our local Soroptimist International of Chico club had the privilege of touring the Jesus Center facilities recently (1297 Park Ave., Chico, CA). What an impressive and dedicated group of people! According to Executive Director Bill Such (who is a dynamic and entertaining public speaker, by the way), over 93,000 meals were served to those in need in 2008. Dedicated to feeding (and now housing and clothing) Chico's hungry and homeless, The Jesus Center opened its doors in the early 1980s. Through the commitment of its staff and many, many volunteers (including members of our S/I Chico club along with other community service organizations), the Center expanded to include the shelter, Sabbath House, in 2002 (which houses an average of 18 women and children a month), and "The Free Store," where folks in need are given credit each month to "shop" for clothing and shoes.

My family and I have joined other S/I Chico members in helping to serve meals over the years, and I have to say, it's a very rewarding experience (and such a simple thing to do; just an hour and a half!). Many of these folks have come on hard times and are so grateful for a hot meal and the friendly, non-judgmental atmosphere provided by the Center.

One time I was serving, and a weary-looking woman came through the food line with her young son (about my son's age at the time, 12 or 13). They had just arrived from somewhere up north and were inquiring about shelter for the night. I have no idea what their story was, but I'll never forget the anxious look on the boy's face as his mom was advised the Center may not be able to accommodate them that night. Talk about heart breaking!

To find out more about volunteering at The Jesus Center, click here or email Volunteer Coordinator Debra Howell at dhowell@jesuscenter.org . Donations of money, food and clothing can be made delivered to The Jesus Center 8:30 to 4:00, Mon. through Fri. (1297 Park Ave.)

Click here to view a few photos from our S/I Chico tour. (Once in Flickr, click on "Slide Show" in upper right to start.)

Don't miss the PATRICK RANCH COUNTRY FAIRE AND THRESHING BEE this weekend, Sat. & Sun., June 13 & 14 happening at (naturally) the Patrick Ranch, located at 10381 Midway, between Chico and Durham. (Click here to view details on their web site). In addition to the Threshing Bee, there will be an Artisan Faire, food courts, live music, childrens activities, pony rides, "working dog" exhibits and lots, lots more. Admission is FREE to children 12 and under, and adults are just $5! I'll be out there volunteering in one of the booths from noon to 2:30 on Sat. Hope to see you there!

Note: This is a great opportunity to check out one of the most historic homes in the Chico Area. The Patrick Ranch was bequeathed to the Chico Museum Association (now the Far West Heritage Association) by Hester Patrick in 2001. Hester was a charter member of our local Soroptimist International of Chico club and a fascinating and accomplished woman--a real "maverick" for her time. Check out some of the photos and documents while you're out there.)

Facebook Fun

Are you a fan of Facebook yet? I've been a member of this "online social network" for the past few months and have enjoyed staying in touch this way, especially with friends and family I don't get to see as often as I'd like. It's really pretty easy once you get the hang of it. (I was going to say "Even my mom is on FB," but SHE'S the one who got the rest of us on email when it was new!) If you have a digital camera (and know how to use it), you can post photos of your kids, pets, travels, activities etc. for your friends to enjoy.

Stay in touch with a particular group on FB by creating a page for that group. I've put together the "Burghardt Family Clan" as a way of allowing my family members to easily connect, share photos, videos, information etc. (Still trying to get the fam on board with that one!) I also belong to the Facebook-Live Chico, Northern California CRS Chapter and Soroptimist International of Chico groups, among others. (What is a Soroptimist, you ask? Click here for a clip from an incredible video my friend, fellow Soroptimist member, and Emmy award-winning documentarian Jeanne Rawlings filmed recently!)

FB is fun, it's free, and it's spreading like wildfire (not just for the teeny-boppers any more--how's that word for dating myself?)! Check it out for yourself. If you're already on, "friend" me if you'd like. If you sign up and have questions, feel free to email me. It takes a village to keep up with technology these days!

Memory Walk

MANY THANKS for everyone who supported my mom (Margaret) and me and our Soroptimist International of Chico Team in last weekend's 2008 Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk in Bidwell Park. It was a great event and such a worthy cause. Click here to see more photos of this annual event, which gets bigger and better every year!

Overland Equipment

I don't own stock in this local Chico company (promise!), but I kinda wish I did, I like the products so much. Overland Equipment was started in 1981 here in Chico (another great Chico company!) by a fellow Soroptimist International of Chico member (who has since sold the company to another local family). Check out the reviews of the bags on Zappos.com if you don't believe me; these are simply wonderfully constructed, well-thought-out, versatile bags. You can either order on their web site at OverlandEquipment.com or use the USA Store locater on their site to find outlets. There are several stores in Chico that usually carry them: Made in Chico, North Rim Adventures (where I got my great bike--hi, Mike!), Chico Mountain Sports, Chico Sports Ltd., and the CSUC Associated Students Bookstore.