July 15, 2018 Learn ~ Live ~ Look Chris Burns, Editor

Welcome to the new 2018-2020 GFWC MI Administration

Meet you President, Sue Johnson

I want to welcome everyone to the 2018-2020 GFWC MI Administration. You will be hearing from your five state officers and a brief note from each District President highlighting an upcoming event or events in their District. My hope is that with advance notice of these events, members from other clubs in other districts would have an opportunity to attend. Sisters supporting other sisters, what

better way to get to know each other, get new ideas for your club and make new friends.

You will also get updates and information from Ed Foundation and Guiding Harbor along with Advisory Board Chairs from time to time. My goal is to keep each and every one of you up to date on all that is GFWC MI, as well as Great Lakes Region and GFWC International.

As I stated in the July Eyes, I have two special projects for this administration. 1. Canine Companions for Canine Companions for Canine Companions for Canine Companions for Independence (CCI)Independence (CCI)Independence (CCI)Independence (CCI) and GF’s focus on work with veterans in this program, in particular women veterans. 2. Elder AbuseElder AbuseElder AbuseElder Abuse – This is becoming an increasing problem in our nation, as well as our state. It involves adults in nursing homes, adult foster care and private homes. This is an issue that we all need to be aware of as it is something that could affect each of us or a family member at some time. Awareness can help with prevention.

I hope to see some of you at our annual visit to Bay Cliff on July 17th, and I’m looking forward to next month’s Advisory Board meeting in Big Rapids where we’ll hear about the new GFWC programs (see call at the end of this newsletter). This event is open to all members and is a great opportunity to learn what’s happening in GFWC and GFWC MI.

SueSueSueSue

Sue Johnson, President SJJ21950@gmail.com / 231-349-5137 or 231-796-9439 (w-daytime)

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GFWC Michigan

NEWSLETTERMember of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs since 1895

Meet your 1st Vice President - Ruth Ann Northon

Hello to all GFWC Michigan members. I’m in the process of changing hats from Membership to Reporting. Never a dull moment! I know some Clubs don’t meet in the summer and others meet only in the summer. But for all the Clubs that are doing Summer projects (like Strawberry Shortcake sales, National Night Out, Classic Car Shows) whatever you are doing, PLEASE keep track, as President Sue said last year: write down whatwhatwhatwhat you do in the way of projects, whenwhenwhenwhen you did it and your hours, how how how how much you

spent, what what what what the results were and whowhowhowho benefitted from it! Information folders for our 2018-2020 Administration should be ready for Club Presidents by our August 4, 2018 Advisory Board Meeting in Big Rapids at the Holiday Inn.

I would like to share that I was fortunate to be able to go to our GFWC International Convention in St. Louis, MO. I wasn’t able to stay for the whole Convention, but I have to say that the Union Station Hotel was definitely worth the “road trip”. Since 1st Vice President Sue was unable to go I got to fill in for her. I carried the Michigan Flag during the Opening Ceremonies. What an emotional and awesome event, watching 50 State flags and flags from other countries all march into the Convention Hall! GFWC certainly proves Unity in Diversity!

Hope to see as many of you as possible at the Advisory Board Meeting on August 4th in Big Rapids, any questions before, during or even after are always welcome. If I don’t know the answer, I’ll find someone who does! I’m looking forward to making new friends and catching up with old friends during this 2018-2020 Administration. Keep good records…it’s your Club’s History!

Ruth Ann Ruth Ann Northon, 1st VP/Reporting ruthann@hinklewitbeck.com / 231-734-3752

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Meet your 2nd Vice President – Kathy Lewis Membership Konichiwa ladies, I am so excited to serve as your state membership chair for 2018-2020! Our membership campaign kick-off will begin at the GFWC Orientation held in Big Rapids on

August 4th and you won’t want to miss it! If your club has a specific person in charge of membership, please encourage her to attend this meeting.

I personally am available to every club in every district with help and ideas to grow your membership. We can brainstorm by email, face time, or in person… just contact me and I will be at your service! New members are the future of our beloved clubs, so let’s spring into action!

KathyKathyKathyKathy

Kathy Lewis, GFWC 2nd VP / Membership kml@wowway.com / 586-871-7832 Page 2

Meet your Secretary - Karen Krumm

Hello GFWC Michigan,

Hope you are having a wonderful summer! While you are reading a good book, working in the garden, or enjoying a round of golf know that your GFWC State Officers are gearing up for the exciting next two years. Your District Officers and the host clubs for the Fall Meetings are busy planning fun and informative meetings. Your Club Officers are busy putting together a plan of action and programs for your club. All of us who do not fall into

one of these categories can be keeping our eyes open for areas in our communities that could use our GFWC volunteer help, and for new members who would like to join us in “Living the Volunteer Spirit!”

I have my pencils sharpened, I’m reading about the duties of the State Secretary, I am compiling a list of questions for Linda Foster our retiring Secretary, and I am looking forward to documenting Sue’s Administration. Let’s get off to a great start by having a wonderful weekend of meetings on August 3rd and 4th in Big Rapids. I hope to see you there!

Karen

Karen Krumm, Secretary krummk@msn.com / 906-748-4686

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Meet your Treasurer – Connie Hopkins I would like to thank the 2018-2020 board for appointing me as the State Treasurer for two more years.

There is no sisterhood like GFWC and the State of Michigan has the best. It will be a great honor to serve on the board and the membership as a whole. If you have any questions, never hesitate to contact me.

Connie

Connie Hopkins, Treasurer conniehopkins24@yahoo.com / 231-734-3970 or 231-388-2385 **************************************************************************

Newsletter Information

Just a reminder: the GFWC MI state newsletter comes out 6 times a year and it is for all members—share your events, special times, special recognitions and any tidbits of interest. The newsletter is only as good as everyone helps to make it! You can submit articles and/or pictures to this editor at any time, but the 10th of the month is the final deadline for the upcoming issue. If not received by the 10th, submissions will not be included in the current edition. On the 15th of the months of January, March, May, July, September and November, the newsletter is emailed to all members and also put on the Members Only website under the tab of Newsletters and Yearbooks. The rules are pretty basic: (1) type it in a 12 or 14 font, (2) the font being Arial or Times New Roman, (3) don’t worry about margins as this editor will format, (4) don’t use hard returns in the middle of sentences, (5) label pictures clearly, (6) send as an attachment, and finally, (7) please put your name or a title as part of your file name—don’t generalize, be specific. This editor looks forward to your good news!

Chris Burns, GFWC MI Newsletter Editor Chrsburns@aol.com / 248-647-1726

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Meet your Guiding Harbor Board President – Linda Clayton

Greetings from Guiding Harbor,

Summer is in full swing at Girlstown. Scheduled weekly activities include going to the movies, roller-skating, bowling, and church on Sunday. The girls attend a summer series every Monday at the Belleville Library, and have been shopping at JCPenney, Walmart, Meijer, Rainbow, and Forever 21. Our Summer Dreams program also includes

an outing at the Detroit Zoo, the Beacon Park Birthday Bash in Detroit, and in August a trip to Cedar Point. All is not fun and games, as they have daily chores in the house, therapy appointments and family visits. Two of our girls have summer jobs, one is working at Goodwill and the other is working at the Belleville Library.

At our 60th anniversary luncheon in June, our CEO, Jennifer Trotter, unveiled a new program for Girlstown. In her research through old scrapbooks, she learned that 60 years ago all GFWC MI members were asked to donate $1 to help build our agency, with the idea that we would provide a homehomehomehome, not an institution, for our girls. With that in mind, Jennifer and the staff would like to have a backyard vegetable garden available for our teens next summer. We are asking that all GFWC MI women donate $6 to commemorate 60 years (and still growing) toward this new program. I will talk more about this at our district meetings in the fall.

I hope you can join us for our second annual Wine Tasting event on Saturday, August 18th from 2:00-4:00 at Chateau Aeronautique in Onsted (Irish Hills area). Craft beer will also be available. Tickets are $35 each and can be purchased on our website at www.guidingharbor.org.

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In the March newsletter, I told you that we rebooked the Western Golf & Country Club in Redford for our Annual Auction. Unfortunately, that beautiful 1926 clubhouse burned to the ground on June 1st, so we had to find a new location for our November 3rd fundraiser. Keeping our speakeasy theme, we have reserved the second floor of the Historic Holly Hotel in Holly for our party. We know you will love it!

2017 Angel Award2017 Angel Award2017 Angel Award2017 Angel Award

Guiding Harbor’s Angel Award Angel Award Angel Award Angel Award honors any volunteer for outstanding, or ongoing, dedication to and support of Guiding Harbor. The 2017 Award was presented to our power couple Bruce and Marilyn Monroe Hart.

Bruce is being honored for his ongoing dedication and support of Guiding Harbor. Rotating off the Board in November after serving for eight years, Bruce chaired the Finance Committee and the Endowment Fund. It was obvious that he enjoyed the challenge of keeping ahead of the stock market, but every move he suggested was with cautious care and concern for our Agency and children. It has been difficult to replace him.

Marilyn is being honored for her expertise as a registered Parliamentarian, thoroughly examining and updating our By-Laws, a process that had not been done since August of 2009. It was a huge undertaking, and we thank Marilyn for embracing this project.

The Board of Directors sincerely thanks Bruce and Marilyn for all they have done to support Guiding Harbor and its mission.

Marilyn and Bruce Hart

Linda Linda Clayton, GH Board President linda4guidingharbor@gmail.com / 734-355-2914

It is with deep sadness

that we report Bruce

passed away June 28,

2018 at home. Bruce gave

many hours to Girlstown,

and he was a great

supporter of our GFWC

MI organization. Bruce

will truly be missed. We

send our love to Marilyn, a

true GFWC sister and

friend.

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CLUB NEWSCLUB NEWSCLUB NEWSCLUB NEWS

GFWC Lake Orion

GFWC Lake Orion has celebrated milestones starting with President Donna Brown awarding Margaret Margaret Margaret Margaret UzelacUzelacUzelacUzelac a 50 years in GFWC pin & Certificate50 years in GFWC pin & Certificate50 years in GFWC pin & Certificate50 years in GFWC pin & Certificate. Also, GFWC Lake Orion has celebrated milestones starting with President Donna Brown awarding Susan ArmourSusan ArmourSusan ArmourSusan Armour in GFWC twentytwentytwentytwenty----five year pin & Cfive year pin & Cfive year pin & Cfive year pin & Certificateertificateertificateertificate. GFWC Lake Orion celebrates our club’s “Woman of the Year”, Co-Vice President Sharon Collins awarding Jeanette LacJeanette LacJeanette LacJeanette Laceyeyeyey as our “Woman of the YWoman of the YWoman of the YWoman of the Yearearearear” Jeanette joined in 2013 and soon to be the Treasurer. GFWC Lake Orion has a new Board appointed for 2018 & 2019: Jeanette Lacey, Treasurer; Suzanne Baber, Vice President; Trudy Zelezic, Corresponding Secretary; Renee Miron-Alimpich, Secretary; & Barbara Geppert, President; and doing the installation of our new board members was new Michigan President Sue Johnson.

Margaret Susan Jeanette 2018-2019 Lake Orion Board Uzelac Armour Lacey 50 Years 25 Years Club Woman of the Year Submitted by GFWC Lake Orion’s Historian, Linda Toothacker

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GFWC Convention Highlights GFWC Convention Highlights GFWC Convention Highlights GFWC Convention Highlights

Donna Brown, Past President Reporting . . . . . . . . .

The 2018 GFWC Annual Convention was exciting and memorable held in St. Louis, Missouri, in the beautiful Union Station Hotel. Our Michigan contingent: Ruth Ann Northon, 2nd Vice President, Connie Hopkins, Treasurer, Joyce Iltis, NWD President, Kathy Lewis, SED President, Fran Leonard, Past State President, Ashley Hopkins, our LEADS representative, and myself as State President. I was honored to walk in the Parade of Flags for the opening ceremony representing Michigan with our flag bearer, Ruth Ann Northon! Ashley Hopkins attended the LEADS Workshop at the beginning of the convention.

The 2016-2018 President Sheila Shea ran a top notch meeting each day with motivational speakers and fun-filled presentations. GFWC Michigan received 8 awards and they are listed in this newsletter. It was

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exciting to be called in front of an audience of 900 women to receive eight awards all at different times! Congratulations to our State Chairs who prepared reports from the hard work of our club presidents and the volunteer work of their members! I was thrilled to take part in the GFWC Conservation Runway Challenge modeling the beautiful two-piece silver fit and flare outfit. One more time to feel proud to be from Michigan in what was a very creative design with sewing by Bethany Perry, SED; last minute sewing by Fran Leonard, SWD, with assistance from Joyce Iltis, NWD; and to Kathy Lewis, SED, our chairman who saw that I was dressed properly and was so supportive! Bylaws and Resolutions were amended; workshops covered GFWC partners and advancement programs for 2018-2020; how to work with EXCEL, and a parliamentarian workshop. Our Great Lakes Region held their dinner and program with state presidents showcasing interesting times during their tenure and the officers for 2018-2020 were installed. The GFWC Juniors held a fun-filled evening with a Speakeasy theme. And 400 members were able to pack food boxes for the Rise Against Hunger Service Project. Our last evening was saying good bye to President Sheila Shea and saying hello to the new 2018-2020 GFWC administration with President Mary Ellen Brock by attending the beautiful installation and reception. There is nothing like attending a GFWC International Convention. I was proud to represent Michigan as the State President one last time!

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Kathy Lewis, Conservation Project Runway Challenge Chair Reporting . . . . . . The 2018 GFWC International Convention took place at the Union Station Hotel, St. Louis, MO, and Michigan was there to represent! Among the highlights was the first Conservation Project Runway Challenge. States were invited earlier to submit an outfit made from recycled grocery totes and provide a model for their outfit. 49 states were present at the convention and 38 states created an entry!

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GFWC Michigan chose Kathy Lewis as Chair of this challenge. Bethany Perry of the Southeastern District volunteered to sew our piece, and the then current President Donna Brown was asked to model.

The show opened with a lip sync presentation of Momma Mia by the GFWC International Board members. They had on costumes and entertained us with well with their high-spirited act! Although Michigan did not place in the top seven finalists (one outfit per

Region was chosen as a finalist), we certainly were proud of our entry. Donna strutted her stuff on the runway, and our dress came to life! After the event Donna was asked to pose over and over as her dress was admired and pictures were taken by numerous attendees.

The overall winner of the contest was Delaware with a fabulous full costume depicting Wonder Woman. The outfit was amazing and the message fitting as we are all powerful wonder women!

Please consider joining us at next year’s GFWC International Convention to be held in Austin, TX in June. These conventions know how to balance business with fun & sisterhood!

************************* Awards GFWC MI won at Convention . . . . . CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL

1. Epsilon Sigma Omicron (ESO) 2. Home Life 3. Public Issues-Club Creativity Award – GFWC Manistique Woman’s Club “Sisterhood” – Assisting

those in need/joining forces with the GFWC South Texas District 4. Communications and Public Relations 5. Club Newsletter Contest – Third Place-Rochester Junior Women’s Club 6. Leadership 7. Women’s History and Resource Center 8. Photography-Volunteers in Action-Second Place-Brenda Fleck,

GFWC Manistique Woman’s Club – “Dirty Hands” 9. 2018 Charlotte Emerson Brown Award

For Exemplary Service & Excellence in State Leadership Donna Brown, President, GFWC MICHIGAN

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GFWC MICHIGAN TOP PROJECTS FROM THE 2017 AWARD ENTRIES

Signature Project: Domestic Violence Awareness & Prevention

GFWC Three Rivers Woman’s Club – Southwestern District Wrapped in Love Wrapped in Love Wrapped in Love Wrapped in Love ---- GFWC Three Rivers Woman’s Club began making blankets and Afghans for their area shelter in 2002. What began as a project to make coverings for the shelter’s 13 beds and 3 cribs became an on-going project when the members discovered that the residents became attached to their “lovey” and wanted to take it with them when leaving the shelter. To date, the club members have made 769 Afghans and blankets for the shelter, including 50 in 2017.

Education Community Service Program

GFWC Millington Junior Women’s Club – East Central District Book Swap Book Swap Book Swap Book Swap ---- To celebrate National Reading Month, the Millington Junior Women’s Club

sponsored a Book Swamp for the students at a local elementary school. Students could bring up to three books from home to swap for the same number of books brought by other students.

GFWC Menominee Woman’s Club Dictionary Project Dictionary Project Dictionary Project Dictionary Project ---- One of the annual projects of the Menominee Woman’s Club is giving

dictionaries to all third grade students in their county. A team of members goes to each classroom to distribute the dictionaries and then explains GFWC and their projects to the children, as well as giving an explanation of how to use the dictionary.

GFWC Manistique Women’s Club The Grind, the CampgrouThe Grind, the CampgrouThe Grind, the CampgrouThe Grind, the Campground, and the Little Free Library nd, and the Little Free Library nd, and the Little Free Library nd, and the Little Free Library ---- When looking for a site for their Little Free Library, the Manistique Women’s Club partnered with students from their local high school who were opening a coffeehouse called “The Grind.” While the students worked with a local credit union to remodel and operate the coffeehouse, the Woman’s Club applied for and received a GFWC Literacy Grant to build a Little Free Library inside the coffee house. The Woman’s Club also worked with the city to build another Little Free Library at a new campground in the area.

International Outreach Community Service Program

GFWC Manistique Women’s Club Operation Smile Operation Smile Operation Smile Operation Smile ---- The GFWC Manistique Women’s Club has a committee that makes and sells jewelry to finance Operation Smile surgeries. Members repair and repurpose broken jewelry items or just clean and resell jewelry donated by its members. The committee works on this project all year long, devoting 100 volunteer hours to this project. They hold two sales at club meetings and one at the Manistique’s Annual Folk Fest. They raised $762.60, enough for three Operation Smile surgeries.

Legislation and Public Policy Advancement Area Legislation Day

GFWC Michigan members throughout the state attended a Legislation Day which focused on Human Trafficking. Information on how to get involved was distributed and members were educated on how to identify possible indicators of trafficking and how to promote community projects and education to prevent it.

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