The temperatures are getting warmer, and the days are getting longer.  Spring is finally here. It is a time for renewal and growth in all areas of our lives, including club work.  How can we best continue to advocate for the youngest members of our community as we close out this club year?

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. According to the Center for Disease Control, child abuse and neglect are serious public health problems that can have long-term impact on current and future health, opportunity, and wellbeing. This month we are given an important opportunity to help ensure each child has the opportunity to grow up happy, healthy and prepared to succeed in all areas of life.  So how do we get started?

Prevent Child Abuse America, a national organization dedicated to child abuse prevention, is a great resource for project ideas.  Here are a few:

• Host a pinwheel garden in your community for Prevent Child Abuse America’s Pinwheels for Prevention These easy-to-identify, blue pinwheels serve as a visual reminder that childhood should be whimsical and fun for everyone.
• Use social media to promote Healthy Families America (HFA), Prevent Child Abuse America’s signature home visitiation program. HFA addresses the prevention of abuse and neglect by providing family-focused and empathic support in the home. This free program is available nationwide and helps prevent abuse and neglect, one family and one child at a time.
• Encourage club members and your community to participate in the Digital Day of Advocacy on April 27, 2022. Contact your lawmakers and urge them to reauthorize and increase funding for programs designed to prevent child abuse and neglect.

For more information and project ideas to help make the most of your advocacy efforts this month, visit the Signature Program section of the 2020-2022 GFWC Club Manual located in the digital library available on the member portal of GFWC’s website.

Christy Frisbee

GFWC-NC Juniors Special Program Chairman

“Let your joy and good work bloom like the flowers of spring!” – unknown

Our local communities rely on us. The programs, projects, and fundraising we provide improve the lives of women, children, and families, whether it is feeding the neighborhood through food drives, adopting nursing homes and sending the residents birthday boxes or cards, or adopting a school to support teachers and students each year. Simple projects can have lasting impact and transform our neighborhoods.

There are many opportunities to serve your community with Done-in-a-Day projects that have lasting impact! At the GFWC-NC Arts Festival, we created upcycled bird feeders, art kits for students, and activity kits for the children at Ronald McDonald House. Many, many thanks to GFWC-NC Program Chairmen Mary Pendill, Jennifer Richards, Rebecca Duffy, and Christy Frisbee for your time and creativity! Be sure to read Christy’s article this month, which focuses on National Child Abuse Prevention Month. April is Cancer Control Month, Keep America Beautiful Month, National Financial Literacy Month, and National Poetry Month. National Library Week is the second full week of April and Earth Day is April 22^nd.

And Federation Day is April 24th! It falls on the day after the State convention in Winston Salem this year. The deadline for entry for this year’s Federation Day Contest is May 25, 2022. Click here for details. The winner will receive a $100 gift card to use for projects in their community. Be sure to join in the fun and share your projects on Facebook!

The GFWC of North Carolina Top Ten and Club Creativity projects for each CSP, ESO, Special Program, and Advancement Plan have been submitted to GFWC, as well as the GFWC-NC State Statistical Report. We will be preparing the GFWC-NC Top Ten list over the next month, and we will have the opportunity to share our Clubwomen’s achievements at the Convention in Winston-Salem on April 22^nd-23^rd, so make your plans to attend. Our sincere appreciation goes to our GFWC-NC and GFWC-NC Jr. Program Chairmen who worked many hours reviewing entries, coordinating judges, and writing summaries. They did an outstanding job!

We appreciate you for sharing your club’s programs and all the details with us. We know it took time to tally hours and donations, write narratives, and send in your CP&S forms and award entries. Thank you for recording our history! There will be a day when we look back and wonder how we accomplished so much, especially during the pandemic!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at any time.

Karen Throckmorton, GFWC-NC 1^st Vice President

Pam Mediano, GFWC-NC Dean of Junior Community Service Programs

April brings showers, spring, GFWC-NC Convention, and recognition for clubs and members!  As the club year ends, we want to remind everyone to CELEBRATE your club and CELEBRATE your members!!  We are in the final season of the GFWC Seasonal Recruitment Campaign – Recognition, what better way to end the year than by lifting our spirits??

Special Club Anniversaries   GFWC-NC wants to share these special times with your club!  Send information on your anniversary and a few photos so we can share on FaceBook and Instagram.  We also will recognize clubs at our GFWC-NC Annual Convention – please send information to Kim Fulcher at kefulcher@gmail.com.   GFWC lists clubs with special anniversaries (25, 50, 60, 70, and every 5 years after) in their weekly GFWC News & Notes electronic publication and it just takes a quick form to fill out and submit to GFWC.  The form can be found under the GFWC Member Portal, click on your photo, select My Digital Library, Resources, the letter C, and then Club Anniversary Order Form.  Submission instructions are on the form.  Anyone wishing to purchase club anniversary pins can do so on the GFWC Marketplace.

Special Clubwoman Anniversaries   GFWC-NC asks for your help to recognize clubwomen with special anniversaries!   Please send anniversary information to Kim Fulcher (kefulcher@gmail.com) so these special clubwomen can be recognized at our annual convention later this month!  GFWC will share the special anniversaries (50 & 75 years) in their GFWC News & Notes electronic publication.  AND these dedicated clubwomen will also receive a special Gold or Jubilee pin as a courtesy from GFWC!  The form can be found under the GFWC Member Portal, click on your photo, and select My Digital Library, Resources, the letter P, and then Pin Order Form.  Submission instructions are on the form.

Club Annual Meetings & Celebrations    End of year celebrations are wonderful ways to thank members collectively but don’t forget to recognize them often.  Members work hard all year and sometimes frequent praise can make more of an impact and even a morale booster as the activity ends.   Need ideas?

• Add a Member Spotlight to your monthly club newsletter
• Post special member/club happenings on social media
• Present fun certificates at club meetings
• If you have a club house or other space with parking, designate a special Reserved spot for a deserving member each month
• Send a personal handwritten note – everyone loves to receive mail!

Kim Fulcher, GFWC-NC President-elect, kefulcher@gmail.com, 919-630-0553

Hope Hockaday, GFWC-NC Director-elect of Junior Clubs, hopelynn@gmail.com, 704-401-4364

We love reading because:

Reading is exciting

• Reading takes us to unfamiliar places, enchanted lands, and even faraway galaxies. When we read, we can be detectives, explorers, and heroes. Ever stayed up late to finish a book by flashlight under your covers? Or missed your bus stop because you were so engrossed in a chapter? Reading adds excitement to our lives!

Reading makes us smarter

• Did you know that reading increases your brain power? It is true! Regular reading can slow the decline of memory and brain function that comes with age. And of course, as Dr. Seuss says, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

Reading is relaxing

• Even reading for just six minutes can reduce stress, according to research. In fact, reading is more calming than listening to music or going on a walk! Curling up with a good book and cup of tea (or another favorite beverage) is one of life’s great joys — and relaxers.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”- Dr. Seuss

Every year, the month of March is National Reading Month. The start of this is initiated with ‘Read Across America Day’ on March 2, which is also the birthday of one of the most beloved children’s book authors of all time — Dr. Seuss. Reading stories and antics about his wonderful characters is a rite of passage, and the perfect way to get children interested in reading books.

Read Across America Day is more so a reading program, which calls upon everyone to read and engage with children to make reading a more fun and interactive experience. From the time when the building blocks of our character are laid, to adulthood when we seek to escape from the humdrum of daily life in the pages of a book, reading plays an integral role in shaping us into who we are. With the advent of smartphones and tablets, it is more essential than ever to motivate children to read.

The National Education Association (NEA) has been leading the Read Across America initiative since 1998. Their primary purpose is to work for the betterment of public education. Reading has been promoted across the nation with events organized in libraries, schools, book clubs, and communities. Teachers and group organizers can also take a pledge and post their idea on the NEA’s website. This way, more attention and attendance are drawn to the event.

But it is not only teachers and librarians who are doing their part in creating another generation of readers, but celebrities as well. Ever since the day has been official, actors, sports stars, and other popular figures have used their platforms to spread the message of the joys of reading, and some have also participated in children reading circles to put a spotlight on this cause.

NEA has found new and exciting ways to inspire readers with all kinds of stories, the art of storytelling, and authors and poets who tell stories well. Each month NEA posts recommended books, plus suggestions for discussions and activities. For the month of March readers are encouraged to Play with Stories. The Elementary grade suggestion is:

Jump at the Sun: The True Life Tale of an Unstoppable Storycatcher by Zora Neale Hurston

Middle Grade suggestion:  We Belong

Young Adult suggestion: With a Star in my Hand: Ruben Dario, Poetry Hero

Reading parties are hosted at homes, schools, and libraries. Local persons of interest or celebrities are sometimes present at these events. Alongside reading, tasty treats are served, mostly from books that are going to be read out on the day (like a variation of green eggs and ham). Book clubs are also started on this day to continue the reading tradition after the day is over. It is a great way for parents and children to socialize and share ideas and their favorite books.

Activities You Might Like to Do:

1. Make a date with a book – When you have a good book, you’re never alone. Celebrate National Reading Month by taking your favorite book for a coffee, or even out to dinner. Sit at a table for two and get lost in your book.
2. Go to a reading – Check out what your local libraries and bookstores have on offer, and if you have kids, see what their schools are planning. Some events may be looking for volunteers to read aloud to kids – what a treat!

Luck is when opportunity knocks, and you answer

– Author Unknown

March means spring, a time for new beginnings, so when opportunity knocks make sure you open the door! If there is a need in the community, done-in-a day community service projects can be the answer.

For Education and Libraries, March is National Reading Month. GFWC-NC CSP Chairman Eva Jackson has provided us with some great ideas to celebrate reading. Be a mentor, donate a book or just take the time to enjoy a good book yourself.

Arts and Culture’s focus is National Music in Our Schools Month and Youth Art Month. The decrease in funding for the Arts means that children and students need your support now more than ever! Art is good for the mind, body, and soul. It builds character and creates balance in life. Sponsor a performance or youth arts contest this month.

Civic Engagement & Outreach can plan a seminar to share the tools people need to avoid scams and identity theft during National Consumer Protection Week – March 6-12, 2022. Partner with the local police department or library.

International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8 every year around the world. It is a focal point in the movement for women’s rights. The United Nations began celebrating the day in 1977. International Women’s Day grew out of efforts in the early 20th century to promote women’s rights, especially suffrage. The Socialist Party of America in 1909 held the first National Woman’s Day. Today not one country can claim to have achieved gender equality. Multiple obstacles remain unchanged in law and in culture. Purple, green and white are the colors of International Women’s Day.

Since 1993, March 22^nd has been World Water Day. This year’s focus is the importance of groundwater. Environment CSP’s can visit worldwateday.org to learn more about this year’s theme and learn how to raise awareness of the 2 billion people living without access to safe water.

Health & Wellness CSP’s can support American Red Cross Month by donating blood, hosting a blood drive, or volunteering. And promoting the importance of making informed food choices and physical activity habits is always in season. This year’s National Nutrition Month’s theme is Celebrate a World of Flavors! Select a new recipe and plan a healthy meal with family or friends!

We look forward to seeing you in Mebane on March 12^th for the Arts Festival to celebrate the arts. We will have some hands-on projects for the children at Ronald McDonald House and creating upcycled birdfeeders.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day. We wish you the luck of the Irish!

Karen & Pam

We are in the “Season” of Recognition of our Members, and we want to share few ways you can do this as we roll into SPRING!!

1. HONOR A CLUBWOMAN!! Do you have a clubwoman that your club wants to honor for her outstanding service, commitment, and dedication to your club?  Consider awarding her with a GFWC-NC Honorary Life Membership!  This special honor is presented during the GFWC-NC Annual Convention in April and is bestowed upon a member by her club, her district, her family, and her friends.  It is a one-time fee of $750 and once received the member is no loner required to pay the GFWC-NC annual dues, currently $50.
2. Does your Club have a special anniversary coming up? GFWC-NC wants to share these special times with your club!  Send information on your anniversary and a few photos so we can share on Facebook and Instagram.  We also will recognize clubs at our GFWC-NC Annual Convention – send information to Kim Fulcher at kefulcher@gmail.com.   GFWC lists clubs with special anniversaries (25, 50, 60, 70, and every 5 years after) in their weekly GFWC News & Notes electronic publication and it just takes a quick form to fill out and submit to GFWC.  The form can be found under the GFWC Member Portal, click on your photo, select My Digital Library, Resources, the letter C, and then Club Anniversary Order Form.  Submission instructions are on the form.  Anyone wishing to purchase club anniversary pins can do so on the GFWC Marketplace.
3. Any Member Special Anniversary special anniversaries approaching? GFWC-NC asks for your help – please send the information to Kim Fulcher (kefulcher@gmail.com) so these special clubwomen can be recognized at our annual convention in April!  GFWC also prints these special anniversaries (50 & 75 years) in their GFWC News & Notes electronic publication.  AND these dedicated clubwomen will also receive a special Gold or Jubilee pin as a courtesy from GFWC!  The form can be found under the GFWC Member Portal, click on your photo, and select My Digital Library, Resources, the letter P, and then Pin Order Form.  Submission instructions are on the form.

What’s in it for ME????

When you think of mentoring is often one member mentoring another.  You will see a newer member learning from a member who has been in the club a while.  You may see a member interested in a leadership role and seeks out another member for support and guidance.  Yet another form of mentoring is when one club mentors another club whether it be a Junior Club OR even new club.

Clubs mentoring other clubs is extremely important in the survival of that club as well as our federation.  You may be asking yourself why would a club need mentoring?  GFWC-NC Director-elect of Junior Clubs, Hope Hockaday, shared her own experience, “As our membership declined and leadership positions became harder to fill, the Charlotte Woman’s Club guided the Junior Woman’s Club of Charlotte through a restructuring that ensured the sustainability of the Charlotte Juniors.”  We are, unfortunately, finding some clubs across the state experiencing this same situation where membership numbers fall, and it becomes more difficult to fill leadership positions within the clubs, and further maintaining the success of the club.  Solution?  Follow the guidance of the Charlotte Woman’s Club – if you know of a club experiencing these same issues then talk with your own club, see if your club could offer a similar type of support ensuring their ability to flourish!

Each of us has had a lasting impact on another person at some point in our lives and likely to a fellow clubwoman.  Let’s shift some of that one-on-one mentoring and as CLUBS foster those connections into SUCCESSFUL clubs!!   Mentoring takes on all shapes and sizes and the results could be a quickly found solution or perhaps partnerships between clubs for a much longer period of time.

Mentoring is not only about building the connection between members, but also just as important to entire clubs – small or large.  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!  Clubs mentoring clubs = SUCCESS!!

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.  The next drawing will be in March – club presidents look for reminders!

Did YOU KNOW????  Navigating the Member Portal Digital Library

As a GFWC clubwoman, you have access to a wealth of information, resources, GFWC merchandise, and fun and informative events through the Member Portal. By signing into your Member Portal account, you will automatically gain access to this important source of information that will enhance your membership experience.

Once you have signed up for a GFWC Member Portal Account, you will be able to access the Digital Library by clicking on the profile icon in the upper right-hand corner of your screen and selecting “My Digital Library.” If you do not see this option available, please email GFWC@GFWC.org and we will help you access these valuable member resources (please allow 12-24 hours to receive access after signing up for an account).

The Digital Library “Resources” folder is organized alphabetically, but the quickest and easiest way to find the information you are looking for is by viewing the Index, which provides a list of the documents housed in the Digital Library and will identify the folder that holds the information you need. You can access the Index by clicking on the first “Index” subfolder in the “Resources” folder.

Kim Fulcher, GFWC-NC President-elect, kefulcher@gmail.com

Hope Hockaday, GFWC-NC Director-elect of Junior Clubs, hopelynn@gmail.com

 “Though, February is short, it is filled with lots of love and sweet surprises” ― Charmaine J. Forde

February means the end of reporting season, so you can relax and breathe a sigh of relief. You can celebrate with chocolate. All month if you want to since February is National Chocolate Lover’s Month! Be sure to mix in some dark chocolate. The darker the chocolate, the better it is for your health.

February is American Heart Month. In GFWC-NC Health & Wellness Chairman Chris Angotti ’s article this month, learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms for a heart attack and how to live well. National Wear Red Day is today February 4^th. To raise awareness wear red at your club meeting or organize a walk or hike to advocate for heart health. On Valentine’s Day, make a teacher, librarian, police officer, or healthcare worker’s day with treats and sweets or create a basket filled with all the ingredients for a meal for a someone special or in need.

February is National Cancer Prevention Month, African American History Month, and Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. For something a little fun, February 7^th is Send a Card to a Friend Day, February 11^th is National Make a Friend Day, and February 18^th is National Caregivers Day. A lot to focus on, so follow your heart!

Remember that March 1^st is the deadline for the Community Impact Award. The 2020-2022 Award Entries should be sent to the GFWC-NC 1^st Vice President. The entry form is available in the Awards & Reports section under the Community Service tab on www.gfwcnc.org. Select one to three projects performed from January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2021.

The Community Impact Award is a two-year award. Be sure to highlight the following in your project narratives; increased community awareness, success and how you measured it, and lasting impact. The GFWC-NC first and second place entries receive a cash award, and the winner will be submitted to GFWC for an opportunity to win $2,500.00 to further their community impact initiatives.

March 1st is also the deadline for the Design a Little Free Library Contest to win a Little Free Library valued at $300. The contest form with instruction is on the Arts & Culture page. Please reach out to Jennifer Richards, GFWC-NC Arts & Culture Chairman, and Rebecca Duffy, GFWC-NC Arts & Culture Junior Chairman, with any questions. The winner will be announced at the March Arts Festival in Mebane!

Happy planning and Happy Valentine’s Day!

Karen & Pam

Thanks so much for taking the time to submit award entries and reports! If you sent in your CP&S report, and did not receive a confirmation from me, please let me know as soon as possible. – Karen

Heart disease is the #1 killer of women in America taking more lives than all forms of cancer combined. Learn how to make simple changes that could save your life.

Take Charge of Your Health

As women, we tend to put others ahead of ourselves. But if we do not care for ourselves, we cannot take care of others. If you do not make your health a priority, who will?

BE AWARE

Learn the sign and symptoms of heart disease and understand your family history and risk factors.

Signs and Symptoms of Heart Attack

If you have any of these signs, call 9-1-1 and get to a hospital right away.

1. Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back.
2. Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
3. Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
4. Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness.
5. As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.

LIVE WELL

Move more, eat better, and track your blood pressure. How do you want to live? Along with eating right and being active, real health includes getting enough sleep, practicing mindfulness, managing stress, keeping mind and body fit, connecting socially. The Go Red for Women website has tools and resources to help you take charge of your health.

MAKE AN IMPACT

Go Red for Women has provided a platform for women to come together, raise awareness, fund lifesaving research, advocate for change and improve the lives of all women.

Resources

goredforwomen.org -The American Heart Association’s signature women’s initiative, Go Red for Women, is a comprehensive platform designed to increase women’s heart health awareness and serve as a catalyst for change to improve the lives of women globally

#GoRedGetFit- join our Facebook community for online support from other women working to be active and eat well.

goredforwomen.org/join- get the latest tips, health, news and more by signing up for our Go Red for Women newsletter.

Projectbaseline.com/gored- Women especially women of color continue to be underrepresented in research. You can help by joining Research Goes Red and participating in research, surveys, focus groups and more.

Chris Angotti

GFWC- NC

Health & Wellness Chairman

.

National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month

Did you know??

There are three main types of human trafficking reported in the United States:

• Sex trafficking means the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act.
• Labor trafficking includes involuntary servitude; peonage; debt bondage; and slavery.
• Child soldiers are forced to fight but also used as: cooks, porters, messengers, medics, guards, spies, and sex slaves.

Traffickers will often use force, fraud, and coercion to compel victims to perform labor or services or commercial sex acts. So… what does this look like??

• Force may be drugging a person to incapacitate him/her, confinement (locked room, vehicle, bondage), or physical assault such as being hit, kicked, or punched.
• Fraud may include false advertising and/or promises of a better job, good pay, new life in the US, and/or better circumstances for one’s family.
• Coercion may be physical or psychological and may include blackmail, threats, intimidation, and threatening to hit/hurt/harm someone.

Traffickers prey on victims with little or no social safety net. They look to exploit victims for cheap labor by preying on individuals in vulnerable situations due to economic hardship, illegal immigration status, political instability, natural disasters, and other causes. Traffickers also exploit people who are vulnerable because of their age. It is important to note that legal migrants can also be vulnerable to trafficking.

National Human Trafficking Awareness Day on January 11^th raises awareness of the persistent issue of human trafficking. Though the entire month of January has already been recognized as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, this day is specifically dedicated to awareness and prevention of the illegal practice. This holiday is also separate from the World Day Against Trafficking Persons, as established by the United Nations. Since the Senate established this day of observance in 2007, it has drawn massive public support from individual donations to government-organized events. The horrific injustice of human trafficking can affect people of any race and background, and on this day, we are all called to fight human trafficking wherever it exists.

What can YOU do?

• Learn the signs and indicators of trafficking.
• Do not engage in prohibited activities.
• Report anything suspicious that you see to your chain of command or to your local DoD IG office, through the DoD IG Hotline at 1-800-424-9098, or visit their website at http://www.dodig.mil/

• Never act ALONE, you may want to help, but trafficking situations are dangerous.