FWC NE Jan. 2013

From your State President…………………………………………………………………… … … … …Patricia Gage

The middle of January is here before I have blinked my eyes and so much to do looking ahead to the Board Meeting, Fine Art Shows and up to the 2013 State Convention! We are thinking and working on Sharon’s Randall’s visit, too, and are very pleased with ticket sales to date.

Most important to remember are all the deadline dates! Wanda would like the news articles for the NE CLUBWOMAN by FEBRUARY 1st and that means the State Convention REGISTRATION will have to be ready then, too. The LEADS CANDIDATE Application is due to Jan Jones by JAN. 15th. This Info. and Form are found on pages 13 and 56/57 of the Guide Book. REPORTS are due FEBRUARY 1st to Cindy Pickel. We are all going to be extremely busy these next two weeks and then we can relax a bit. Remember to get your COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT projects send to Lois Havel by MARCH 1st. This is a two year project and can be continued on the next two years if there is more to come. Call Lois for help or questions you might have.

Have you purchased your tickets for Sharon Randall’s presentation April 18th yet? Tickets continue to sell and we will have advertising and articles running again the first part of February. I still get at least one phone call a week wondering if there are still tickets available. She is loved by everyone who reads her so continue to ‘talk it up’ and invite people to come.

Our State Convention will take on a little different look this year so plan to come and see what it is all about. As we continue to Stick our Neck’s Out for GFWC NE we hope for a new excitement and awakening of pride in our organization, our clubs and new memberships. Ladies, we are worth joining! Our accomplishments show it. ASK! ASK! ASK! All members attending convention for the first time will receive something special along with getting in a drawing for a fantastic prize. Oops! The Board has to okay that. Stay tuned.

Get your entries ready for your District Art Shows and be proud of your work. Should we talk about turning the Art Shows into a Baking Contest or limiting it to just a few projects? I don’t think so, but let’s put our heads together and see how we can make them even better. We do good work, ladies, let’s show it off!

Did you vote for your favorite tag line? Polls close on TUES. JAN. 15th and I did vote but now can’t remember which one of two I voted for! They were “Living the Volunteer Spirit”, “Showing we care…Everywhere” and “Volunteering at its Best”.

LET’S WEAR RED ON FEBRUARY 1, 2013. This is for the National Wear Red Day and in support of The Heart Truth’s Lifesaving Awareness Campaign. How about wearing it the whole week end?

Did you read your News & Notes from Headquarters yet? They suggest getting a new member to bring another new member with them and it’s two for the price of one membership. Doesn’t that sound like fun? They call it a “BOGO” recruitment plan and would someone explain to me what “bogo” means? I must not shop enough!

We are having the Executive Board and Board of Directors Meeting at 9:30 AM sharp in Seward at the Civic Center on Feb. 2nd. Come at 9 AM to get coffee and rolls and settled in for the 9:30 AM meeting. We hope to accomplish a lot in a short time. Thanks for always trying for Robert’s Rules of Orders which I certainly have to work on, too. Does make the meeting go smoother if we use them. We will have the Sharon Randall Meeting before lunch if there is time or right after lunch is served by those Seward gals. It is a great place to meet but wish we were all closer together but that is what makes us so special, the diversity of our locations.

I can’t wait to read the upcoming Clubwoman as I know you all have great articles to contribute with pictures, etc. The reports will have to be in before the Clubwoman comes out so let’s make it a fun event filled issue with notes from the Chairmen and club events featured, etc. I hear whispers of things you have done and let’s tell them now. There will still be lots to reveal by the Chairmen at the State Convention and you clubwomen, too.

As our reporting is from Jan 1, 2012 to Dec. 31, 2012 you may feel that you haven’t been very successful at supporting my State President’s Projects but we know that the best to come is in 2013 so please don’t fret about it. Your clubs always have great projects and we are happy with all your successful projects which continue to improve your communities, your clubs and yourselves. I’m proud of you!

I know there are some clubs who say their membership has gotten older and frail and they wonder if they do accomplish enough to keep going. Ladies, I assure you that you do. Meeting together is important and planning just one small project that can work is ok! Thank you for staying in there and asking that one woman who has had circumstances change to join you and maybe she can add electricity to your club again. Give it a try.

Those “Proud Member” Flags will look great hanging in your yard’s this spring. They are $25 and show a lot of pride as well as look cute hanging above your spring flowers and all summer long. There are hot pads, note cards, book marks and a few “We’re Sticking our Necks out” buttons. Thanks for supporting the fund raisers.

We want to continue to remember our fellow club members who have suffered losses, illnesses and continue to. Cheryl and Ron Strickler can certainly use our prayers as cancer has shown its face again. Ron was so brave last time and went through so much and we pray that he again can win this fight. Karen Randall’s hubby has a mystery illness he hopes to have pinned down while at the Mayo Clinic this month. Jan Jones is also at Mayo’s with her daughter who is looking for treatment for a very serious condition. We know there are others and do let us know so we can put the needs in our prayers.

If we get rain for all our foggy days it is going to start off to be a wet spring. Umbrellas might be what is needed at State Convention. Remember Chairman to be planning your displays for Thurs. & Fri. of Convention.

I hope you had a warm family filled Christmas as I did. This year instead of all exchanging gifts we saved change for Heifer International and what fun the kids had counting “all that money”. A lot of pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters and we had enough for a goat and a flock of chickens. The three year old helped everyone count getting them all confused so it took quite a while and next year they want to save for Operation Smile. I’m proud of the grandkids for wanting to do this.

I can’t resist putting this little clip in this Newsletter as it really hit home with me.

“Christmas is not a retreat from reality but an advance into it alongside the Prince of Peace!

Christ did not come to shield us from the grief and pain of life;

But those who have his peace inside can thrive within the Strife”! Sper

Have a great New Year and how quickly it will progress. See some of you at the Board Meeting and others at their Fine Art Shows if possible or at the April 18-20, 2013 State Convention. Let’s aim for a record breaking attendance!

“Sticking my Neck Out for GFWC NE” . Pat g.