Each of us has had a lasting impact on another person at some point in our lives and likely to a fellow clubwoman. These connections have not only helped others but have cultivated friendships you will treasure for a lifetime. Mentoring takes on all shapes and sizes and could be a quickly found solution or acting as an advisor for a much longer period of time.
If you are a newer member who do YOU consider your mentor? Does she KNOW you look to her for advice and guidance through club work? Often, we help other clubwomen and friends/acquaintances without really thinking of ourselves as mentors and it would be refreshing for you to take a moment and thank her. You will make her day!
Invite new members to travel with you to District or State meetings when safe to do so. This will allow the newer member to ask questions before and after the meeting and will give the more experienced member time to provide context for the meeting. Hopefully, this will help the newer member engage in all levels of GFWC!
If you are a seasoned member take some time to find a newer member or another seasoned member and become her mentor. Help a new member acclimate to your club’s activities or help a returning member become re-engaged in club work. Those extra few minutes you allow for conversation will show compassion and perhaps the kindness they need to brighten their day!
Mentoring is all about building the connection between members. It is not always a seasoned member mentoring a new member – it could be a newer member has talents a seasoned member may need. The time it takes to mentor is minimal compared to the lasting impact YOU will have on another and think of the friendships you will make that will last a lifetime!
Don’t forget our incentive for this club year! The GFWC-NC Membership Committee is drawing at the end of each of the four “seasons” for a $25 gift card to help your club celebrate its newest members! There will be another drawing at the end of the year for a $100 gift card and other fun stuff for your club. Your club must submit the GFWC Seasonal Recruitment Campaign Report to GFWC and send a copy to Kim Fulcher. Be sure to submit for each “season” your club adds new members. Even if you only took in one new member – REPORT it and your club will be eligible for the drawing. Congratulations to the Outer Banks Woman’s Club for winning the Fall gift card – the next drawing will be in March!
Kim Fulcher, GFWC-NC President-elect, kefulcher@gmail.com
Hope Hockaday, GFWC-NC Director-elect of Junior Clubs, hopelynn@gmail.com