Amy and GFWC BLOG

(Jan)

GFWC Lending Library received 800 patrons during 2008

 

Jan meeting: 120 bars of soap donated to Orangeville community cooperative

Judy Akers gave an update on the Orangeville Community Outreach Program, Our club has donated plastic containers and bags, bars of soap, facial tissue and dish soap. Each month we collect a different item. The goal is to reach 120 of the same item so everyone gets one. We also help provide drivers to bring the food pantry items to shut ins that cannot drive.

 

Jamie, “Our” paws for a cause dog has had 44 puppies, 22 of which are working dogs

 

Membership committee distributed may pins and was included in the club women magazine for achieving new member goals

 

A need to have evening meetings was discovered during the new member orientations. Membership committee met and came up with may ideas to help members.

As a result, GFWC GUN LAKE had their first evening membership meeting. There were 5 in attendance and the second one is scheduled for April 16^th. At this writing, we have had so many RSVP to this meeting we may not be able to meet and the members hours – Good problems to have.

            At these meetings members who could not attend the day meeting review the minutes to the meeting, have an opportunity to network with each other, and volunteer to participate in all the projects that we do If you miss one meeting you could end up way behind the 8 ball.

 

Wendy Raymond, Vice President, coordinated discussion with Winterfest committee so we could offer volunteer services to the local business festival at Gun Lake

 

Marly Tencate, new member, started cards and games club which meets on the Wednesday after the general membership meeting at her house

 

Clare Tripp announced that Walmart has issued a $250.00 Grant for our Operation Warm Up Program. The grant is a result of a request from Renzella Curtis on behalf of our Club.  The money will be used to purchaser heavy-duty plastic bags to contain the blankets and afghans we donate to the Michigan State Police Posts. Renzella reported our club has donated over 60 afghans

 

End of year donations were made to: Michigan Ed Foundation, Bay cliff

( Feb)

 

Public Affairs sent 389 Valentines for Vets

 

Quilt Committee completed the Library Fund quilt (and the required raffle ticket paperwork) and I have those available for sale 2$ each or 3/$5.

 

The quilt committee also made 2 quilts for Sylvia’s Place (Allegan County DV shelter) from denim material donated by club members

 

In helping the community, The GFWC GUN LAKE area club helped pay for a lift chair for a local area women. That chair is no longer being used and was given back to the club. This chair has again been used by another community member and will be donated to the commission on aging

 

Sunshine Committee passes a basket. This is one very important part of membership that often gets overlooked, retention. A big part of our membership is to make our current members REALIZE that we care about them, and how much. Each month Sande wells sends cards, flowers, even pizza to unexpectedly sick, mourning or sad members. Each week she reports on the members progress and after her report we do a prayer to support those members in our club that our struggling, usually with illnesses.

 

IN March we donated funds accumulated in our community fund:

To distribute a total of $1500.00 of GFWC funds allocated as follows:

$500.00 to Sylvia’s Place of Allegan, $500.00 to Green Gables of Hastings, $100.00 to each of the 4 local Public Libraries, and $100.00 to the South Central Food Bank.”

 

Step for the roses was announced as a chance to compete with other clubs. Since it was snowing and cold that day it was not met with enthusiasm. Rank: 279th
Average Steps: 5,162
Total Steps: 51,623

 

I am looking forward to Legislative Day in May. I have purchased these hats with the GFWC logo to wear for the new “Hats Gloves and Bags” campaign. If you want to buy some for your club I will part with them at cost.

 

Public Relations: The hats are great for increasing awareness of what our club does. Our plan is to wear them while we are volunteering, meeting with our congresspersons, ( donating them to local politicians) and wearing them in parades!

 

Programs:

Susan Powers of the Children’s Assessment Center,

Jenifer Strauss, professional Story teller

Ron Dangler, CFC investments

Beth, Sylvia’s Place, Allegan domestic violence shelter

 

Upcoming Programs:

Operation Smile purse auction

June picnic potluck

July Master Gardener

Habitat for Humanity “Building Houses Building Lives”

Membership Development Meeting (Sea Shanty Fashion Show)

Gun Lake Fitness

Cookbook Author

TK Honors Choir

 

 

 

Advertisement

LAST BUT NOT LEAST:

For a great time put on your calendar to attend to Gun Lake Area Scholarship dinner. May 12. For 25$ you get a great buffet dinner. Home Made Desserts of every kind (and it is a buffet, so we don’t count how many you take). While you are there local businesses have donated items for the silent auction but the Live auction is entertainment itself. We will be “debut”  of THE gun lake raffle quilt this year (A MUST SEE) and those tickets are available by calling me!

 

Wow! october flew by!

Oct 2 South Western District in Three Rivers was fun. We got to see Fran in action at the SWD meeting. GUn Lake will be hosting this meeting in October 2009!

Oct 4 was the Wayland Expo- an excellent opportunity to mingle with other clubs and businesses ( and sell a few raffle tickets!)

That evening was the Girlstown auction in Kalamazoo. Always a fun time and lots of money for the good works of Girlstown.

Oct 8 was the October membership meeting. Lots of business to do before the end of the year! Time to check out the upcoming budget and approval of the bylaws.

     Quilt Raffle was loads of fun. Barb Kuiper was a very suprised winner!

October10 was the Great Lakes Regional Conference. Fran, Donna Frances and I had a fantastic time. Wore our gorgeous gowns to dinner and came in first place on the scavenger hunt. ( We were tied but IDA came thru for us in the tie breaker)

October 16 was the Anniversary Gala, and thanks to Joan Weick and Linda Rough it could not have been more beautiful. Bay Pointe was attentive to our meals and served and outstanding walleye and prime rib and roast pork. Past Presidents reviewed their "year as president" and it was easy to see how each had left a lasting mark on the club and added a dimension to what it is now.  67 for dinner. A very nice social time. It was nice that Sherry Wellman from GFWC MI could be there and Donna Brown and several others from Hastings GFWC came too. 

 

Our Fall Fund Raising Event will be on November 18. It will be where Sticks and Stones used to be.  Suggested donation is 20$ at the door, but please RSVP to let us have an idea of who will be coming.

Time to start a brand new month.

We have 4 new member and I am in the process of putting together the Year book for 2009.

Thanks for all your help!

 

Just added the CROP walk video to the " list" section. Check it out then donate

to your favorite walker ( it could be me!)

Had a great meeting with lots of Guests! Thank you so much for coming.

The fashion show was a lot of fun. I hope you enjoyed dressing up yor president as a tart.

Pictures to come, although they warn against putting pictures on the web of yourself you would not want your boss to see!

 

The afghan group had dozens of afghans to give to the Wayland Police. Although they were not able to attend, we still got a great picture. If you have any kind of a cover around your house, Renzella has a way to clean them up. This is the "Community Warm Up Project" and 100% of the efforts go to the residents in this area.

 

 

Congratulations to Marjorie Richards for recognition for Priority Health Senior Impact Volunteer, I know she works hard for us and deserves this award.

 

Each of the Department Chairs discussed a little about what they do and what programs they are responsible for, so the guests can be up to speed on the discussions of the day. Membership told us that there is a new way of "catagorizing" the size of the club and we are a CATAGORY IV. Renzella noticed that this sounded like a hurricane and I am enjoying that comparison. We can be the GUN LAKE HURRICANES! Great work membership committee.

Speaking of that , Please join up for a MEMBER ORIENTATION Sept 17 at Linda's House. This is the time to find out everything you wanted to know about GFWC and were afraid to ask. Fran does a through job of describing GFWC GUN LAKES roll in the "BIG PICTURE" of volunteerism. This is a Picture that is over 100 years old!

If you are a prospective member, this is a great time to find out what is involved in being a member. Hope to see you there!

 

Teri announced that GUn lake is sending a beautiful antique picnic basket to the Girlstown fund raiser thanks to Jean! Fantastic. Pat and others donated toward the "cooler" for a basket of fun items for the golf course or "day at the lake" as part of the fund raiser. That will be going the the SWD convention to be sent to the Kalamazoo fund raiser. It will be a great dinner on October 4. Not to be missed!

 

GFWC will be at the Wayland Expo. Last chance to buy raffle tickets for the quilt. We will be wandering around introducing ourselves and picking up freebies. Join us if you can and wear your Volunteerism Garb!

 

The Board recommended a donation of 500$ to the Don Berry golf outing to help reimburse him for his medical expenses. This was approved and the donation will be made to the Yankee Springs golf outing fund. The money was taken from the community fund.

 

Thanks to all that made cookies, were greeters and helped the meeting move along. It was like a whirlwind for me, so I apologize if I missed some things.

I will be going to the SWD meeting and the Great lakes Regional Meeting, so I will let you know what is going on there.

 

The calendar feature is being improved on the main website, so I am going to abandon the calendar on the MySpace.

Let me know if you have dates you want added to the calendar.

Amy

 

What a great meeting!

I was nervous about the direction it would go, but I thought it went at a nice pace.

Lot of good information

Do not forget to VOTE Aug 5th! ( That happens to be the board meeting too!)

It was sad to hear that Linda Rough's Father in Law passed away since the meeting.

Please say a prayer for their family.

It is so nice to have Sande tell us how everyone is doing.

Pat Kreple told us all about her encounter with the puppies, they are not puppies any more!

Renzella is the one woman Community warm-up program person to go to. She brought in the

cutest blanket with puppies that was left at her door.  We are proud of the work she does.

If you want to help with quilts  795-8817 or generenz@msn.com. She will arrange to pick up donations.

Joan told us more about the dinner for the 25th anniversary. She will be collecting the

30$ per person for dinner. It will be a nice evening out. Invitations will be sent out. Dinner money is due at the September meeting.

Avis White did an excellent presentation. It is great to be in a club that is part of doing such good for the community.

Our club gave her the speaking fee. She was very appreciative of all the support our club gives.

I have a cooler with lots of pockets that I am donating to the Girlstown auction as our BASKET.

I suppose it doesn't go with the theme of "antiques" but they should be able to raffle it.

Bring in items at the next couple of meeting to add to our 'cooler'/ basket.

 

Fran writes:

Hi Club Presidents

I was sorry to miss seeing some of you at the meeting last week.  Here is some information you need.

 

I look forward to serving the next 2 years as your president.  First thing on my agenda will be the August 26 Board meeting where planning for the SWD Annual Convention (in Three Rivers) will take place.  The “call” will go out to you all in late July.

 

August 4, Saturday following our Convention, is the Girlstown Auction.  It is being hosted by the Ladies Library Association of Kalamazoo (with the help of the SWD).  Each club in the district is asked to submit

1.         A basket for the auction AND

2.         1 Door prize

3.         Both can be turned in at the District Convention

 

Each department/program/project chairman & club president will be receiving either a notebook or pocket portfolio with district information that will (hopefully) be helpful to them.  That should be ready by the August Board meeting.

 

Dates to remember:

July 22 - GFWC MI project - 75th Anniversary at Bay Cliff Health Camp August 2 - GFWC MI Advisory Board (everyone having a ‘job’ at the state level attends this one) in Mt. Pleasant August 26 - SWD Board meeting - location to be determined. October 2 - SWD Convention - Three Rivers (more information later) October 10-12 - GFWC Great Lakes Regional Conference - South Bend, IN

 

A neighbor and member died yesterday. Brenda Longjohn is no longer with us. This was expected but still sad.

Dear Lord, Thank you for giving us her life and love. Please bless her for eternity. In your most holy name, Amen

What an Awesome group. Everyone had a great time and there was plenty of great food.

Secret Pals were revealed and started again. Beautiful flowers were given to each of the creative members that created a table for the scholarship dinner.

There was even several door prizes.

A great time was had by all. It was a great kick off to a new club.

25th Anniversary arrangements at the Baypoint were announced.

Dinner 30$ per person. October 16. Mark your calendar

Thanks to all that made it happen!

Special thanks and prayers to Wayne and Marie Finkbeiner who graciously allow the use of their polebarn for the event. Happy 65 years to them

Blessing to all

Amy

 

     We chose to support an entrepreneur with a micro loan representing the Book Club.  This was in response to last month’s book, BANKER TO THE POOR.  We chose a Cambodian woman in the grocery business with a $50.00 donation. Because that woman’s need was met a couple of hours before I got on line, I stayed with “Cambodian” and “Food Service” and donated in our name to Maisom Ly.  She lives near Phnom Penh, Cambodia.  She is 42, has 6 children, and needs $700 to buy a replacement motor and several new fishing nets for use in the Mekong.  We have joined others including lenders from Germany, UK, Australia, and 5 from US (IN, CT, AL, NV and another MI).  About half her loan is now met.  She will have 16 months to repay and must give something back every month.  You can see her picture and our own Book Club entry by going to KIVA.  Then hit LEND and put her name in the search box.  Then hit “MORE INFORMATION” next to her name.  Scroll down for our name.  In addition to those attending, Becky Sassaman, Marsha Hicks, and Ruth Newhouse joined in the donating.  When the loan is paid off, we can re-lend it to another, donate it or withdraw it.  I will track her progress and give an update at the next meeting.