South Bay Women's Network

  • February Membership Meeting & Mixer, 02/07/2023 Savory Palette Wine Bar

    • Tax Update Presentation: Self employed and retirement plans

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    Debbie Wacker, CPA, will be presenting a Tax Update at our February 7, 2023
    meeting at the Savory Palette Wine Bar in Morro Bay from 6:00-7:30 p.m.  
    She will be discussing the midway point of the Tax Reform Act (hmmm, what 
    does that mean?  Come find out).  She will also be addressing concerns
    of the self-employed individual, retirement plan changes, new, and not-so-new
    credits  and other miscellaneous provisions.

    We hope to see you there for a fun evening of networking and education!

    Click on the event link at the top of the home page to register.

    Scholarship Committee Co-Chair Viewpoint

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    My name is Valerie Parillo and I am Co-Chair of the SBWN Scholarship Committee.  This program is important to me because of my own past experiences.  I wanted to be an RN.  I was married with children and it was my educational dream.  I went back to school and 8 years later I was an RN.  People often said to me that they would like to do something but it would take too long.  I thought, well, the time will go by anyway and I might as well keep moving towards my goal.  I took a little time off as I became a single Mom and then I wanted a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, so 3 years later I accomplished that.  Another break and my final goal was ready to be met.  Four years later, I had a Master’s Degree and was a Nurse Practitioner.  I went to school for 15 out of 23 years but at the end of that time, I had met my educational goals.  I received a number of scholarships and fellowships during my school years.  They meant so much to me.  Financially, it was helpful, but just as helpful was having someone believe in me.  A scholarship is a tangible expression of belief in someone.  So if you have a dream, just keep showing up and working on it and reach out for help when you need it.

    2022 Scholarship Winners

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    South Bay Women’s Network (SBWN) awarded (10) scholarships of $750 each this year to Cuesta College female students. Funds for these scholarships were raised through this year’s Halloween Party & Fundraiser, Garden Party Scholarship Benefit, a scholarship donation from SLO Women’s Network and generous donations from SBWN members and supporters. Potential recipients either submitted an application themselves or were nominated, and each was required to be a female Cuesta College re-entry student, defined in the educational system as one who attends college following an interruption in their post-high school education.

    Presentation of our Scholarship winners was held on December 7, 2022 at The Savory Palette Wine Bar in Morro Bay.

    Nicole Johnson
    Mariah Olquin
    Elena Ikeda
    Ella Rutstein
    Valerie Parillo with Amanda Earles
    Scholarship Chair Valerie Parillo with Janet Brown
    Thank you to Savory Palette for hosting our presentation
    Scholarship Chair Valerie Parillo with Rebekah Bridgeman (L) and Marta Suarez (R).
    (L) SBWN President Gila Zak thanked Pamela Baczuk, President of SLO Women’s Network for their donation of funds for an additional scholarship.(R) Scholarship Committee Denise Lowe and Valerie Parillo

    Scholarship Winners

    • Rebekah Bridgeman – AS of Science, Animal Rehab
    • Janet Brown – RN prerequisites
    • Amanda Earles – RN Prerequisites
    • Cassandra Grinolds –  Human Development/Services, Addiction Studies
    • Elena Ikeda  Psychology/Child Development
    • Louise (Nicole) Johnson – Addiction Treatment Studies
    • Sonia Nevarez Lozano – Human Development/Services
    • Mariah Olquin – Library Technician Certification
    • Ella Rutstein – Paralegal with an eventual goal to be a lawyer
    • Marta Suarez – LVN Program
    Elena Video
    Marta Video
    Mariah Video
    Janet Video
    Rebekah Video
    Sonia Video

    2022 Scholarship Presentation Meeting

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    We are kicking off the Holiday Season with a presentation of our 2022 Scholarship Winners. South Bay Women’s Network will be awarding Cuesta College educational scholarships to 9 recipients. We invite members and guests to celebrate these wonderful women and learn more about the future of SBWN.

    Potential recipients either submitted an application themselves or were nominated, and each was required to be a female Cuesta College re-entry student, defined in the educational system as one who attends college following an interruption in their post-high school education. Funds for these scholarships were raised at the Garden Party Scholarship Benefit, A Wicked Halloween Party & Fundraiser, Adopt-a-Poll and generous donations from SBWN members.

    Presentation meeting is being held at Savory Palette in Morro Bay on December 7th at 6:00pm. Meeting fee includes one free drink and appetizers – $20 members/$25 guests. Celebrate the start of the Holiday Season with a Christmas sweater!

    This presentation is also membership drive! Welcome new members who support our mission Collaborative Women Serving Our Community!

    A Wicked Halloween Party & Fundraiser – October 29, 2022

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    This year we hosted a Halloween Party to raise money for our 2022 Scholarship Program at SLO Public Market Saturday, October 29th. Both Women’s Network of SLO and 5 Cities Women’s Network partnered with us for a FRIGHTFULLY FUN night of music provided by DJ Stephanie West, food from Old SLO BBQ, beverages provided by Bottle Craft and of course great costumes! Thank you to everyone who help make this a fun event. Photos by Gina Cinardo, Ginici Studios.

    Garden Party Scholarship Benefit – June 22, 2022

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    We are so grateful to all our members and guests who attended the 2022 Garden Party Scholarship Benefit. The sun was out for awhile and the garden was blooming. Thank you to SBWN member Rita Flores and her husband Todd Davidson owners of Sage Ecological Landscapes for sharing their beautiful space. Singer Loren Radis provided the perfect music for the evening. We appreciate SBWN Member Denise Lowe and her husband John for pouring wine donated by Absolution Cellars and Denise. We raised over $1100 for our Scholarship Program.

    SBWN President Gila Zak
    Loren Radis
    John and Denise Lowe