“Live in the sunshine, swim in the sea. Drink in the wild air.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
A little summer brings a lot of joy. There is so much to do and so many ways to support your community during the summer months. With the new CDC guidelines, we will be able to enjoy family, friends, and the great outdoors together. It also means that in-person service projects are welcome.
Tomorrow, June 5th is World Environment Day and in June we celebrate National Great Outdoors and National Aquarium and Zoo Months. It is a chance to relax and appreciate the world around us. Some ideas for outdoor activities include hiking, fishing, organizing a field trip, or taking part in volunteer programs. There is no better place or time to raise awareness about the protection of our national resources than North Carolina; trips to the Blue Ridge Parkway, one of the most popular destinations in the National Park System, Aquarium, North Carolina Zoo, or Museum of Natural Sciences, are fun for the whole family.
June, July, and August holidays are occasions to fly the flag. June 14th is Flag Day; passed on June 14, 1777. The flag of the United States represents freedom and has been an enduring symbol of the country’s ideals since its early days. Educate your community on how to take care of, display and dispose properly of their flags and/or organize a celebration highlighting the flag and our freedom.
June is also National Safety Month, so programs to encourage sports, water and fire safety are important. Enjoy festivals, barbecues, parades, and fireworks and avoid trips to emergency rooms!
African American Music Appreciation Month is a good fit for June since Juneteenth falls on June 19 in recognition of slavery’s abolition in Texas in 1865. Observe by enjoying the music of your favorite black musicians. Discover new sounds and genres while revisiting long lost loves. Whether it is jazz, blues, fast rhythms, or raps, let the singers and songwriters speak to you. Share the best and the undiscovered using #AfricanAmericanMusicAppreciationMonth and #AAMAM on social media.
Visit Black Music Month – National Museum of African American Music (nmaam.org) Thursday, June 17, 2021, thru June 19, 2021 for concert events. Nightly they will honor icons in music and culture and showcase the story of Black music as told by our Museum.
Domestic violence and abuse are not seasonal as Sharon Day, GFWC-NC Signature Program Chairman, tells us in her article, so continue to focus on this especially important issue and help Break the Silence. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), initiated by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization is June 15th. Raise awareness as elder abuse continues to grow. Approximately one in six seniors experience some form of abuse. Scams targeting seniors and negligence of caregivers, who do not provide necessities, healthcare or hygiene are the biggest issues. If you see something, say something.
Have a success story to share? Email us a picture and short write-up and we will share on our GFWC-NC Facebook Page and with GFWC. Every summer has a story. Tell us yours and enjoy your summer of service!
Thanks for all you do!
Karen & Pam