Looking back on 2011.

It is January 2012 and that can only mean one thing in the world of Women's Club's....it is "Reporting" time.  It is the time when we look back at the previous year and put in writing all the time, money, and energy we have spent on activities throughout the year.  Even though this sounds easy enough to do, it is not; in fact it is quite hard.  Thank goodness we have some club members who are good at writing down everything they do and are willing to help those of us who aren't as through.  Let's start with December:

A Christmas auction was held at the Grundy Presbyterian Church and 16 members and 4 guests attended.  A total of $830.00 was raised to go toward our general fund.  The GWC tried really, really hard to give away money to various charities.  We succeed in donating $250.00 to the Social Services to be used to purchase food for a Christmas dinner to feed local area children.

Ginger giving a check to Cecil Stiltner for Social Services

We also donated $200.00 to Heritage Hall's resident aide fund so that they could purchase need articles for 5 new residents.  A DVD/CD player and a digital camera were also donated to the center to be used throughout the year at their functions.

Sandy, Bertha, and Tania presenting to Heritage Hall.

Socks, blankets, toiletries, and various other gifts were donated to the local Woman's Shelter.  The shelter had 3 children and 5 women in residence for the month of December.

Glenna, Bertha and Sandy showing some of the gifts.

Two scholarships were awarded.  The Appalachian School of Law and The Appalachian College of Pharmacy each received $500.00.  These scholarships are to be awarded to a woman from Buchanan County.

Tania presenting Dean Mayhew with a check.

96 pairs of socks were also collected from club members and donated to the local Woman's Shelter.  Each pair of socks were put in a plastic bag with a note that read:

As you begin your new life and Step Away from Abuse,
we hope you will find comfort and warmth as you walk into your newly found freedom.

Peggy, Sandy, and Ginger giving Kristi sock for Woman's Shelter.

November:

SER was held in Kentucky this year and 5 members and 1 guest attended.

?, Sandy, Bertha, Tania, Liz, and Shirley at SER in Lexington, KY.

November is also the month we hold our largest fundraiser.  The 6th annual Holidays in the Hills was held November 19th.  This year's event was sponsored by Consol Energy and had over 40 vendors attend.  This year the Mt. Mission Choir had a small concert and a professional photographer was on hand to take Christmas Card pictures.  A total of over $3400.00 was raised.

October:

The Southwestern District meeting was held in Hillsville, VA and eight members attended.  We even preformed a skit entitled "When I grow old I shall wear purple".

Jenny, Sandy, Tania. Ginger, Betty, Peggy, Liz, and not pictured was Shirley.

A 5 gal. jug of "pull tabs" were presented to District President Jenny Martin to be donated to the Ronald McDonald House.

Tania giving Jenny the pull tabs as Sandy looks on.

Ladies Night Out is a Relay for Life event that 10 members attended.  We wore our decorated bras on the outside of our shirts to bring awareness to breast cancer.  We attended a Town Council meeting and asked that October be declared Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

  
The Town of Grundy asked the GWC  to take over their annual Spiritfest.  A small event that was free to anyone who chose to come.  Lots of work went into making the event a huge success and we have already been asked to undertake this event again next year.

Betty, Bertha, Tania, Sandy, Pam, Liz, and Nikki accepting a check from Consol Energy.

September:

We held our first Roundup Rodeo membership drive.  We send out invitations to past members encouraging them to re-join and also to potential members that had expressed interest in joining.  One new member was added, Tamara Neo.

Looking good in our hats and boots.

Nikki Stiltner walked in the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk in Philadelphia.  The Liberty Garden that was replanted to remember the events of 911 and a new sign was added.

Tania Bertha, and Sandy in front of the garden.

August:

The Grundy Woman's Club was acknowledged at the Relay for Life event as a Gold Level Corporate sponsor.  
We had 5 members attend GFWC VA LEADS in Lynchburg, VA.  We had a lot of fun learning new ideas and making lots of friends.

Tania, Liz, Sandy and Bertha with Lori Chevalier and Hope Royer, GFWC VA Presidnent.

July:
A well deserved break.

June:

GFWC International Convention was held in Milwaukee, WI and Sandy Stiltner and Liz Stiltner attended.  Sandy was chosen as GFWC Virgina's LEADS candidate.  She garnered lots of knowledge from the seminars and shared it with our club. 

Sandy accepting her certificate from GFWC Int. President Carlene Garner

The 1st annual Vintage Fashion Show and Jewelry Sale was also held in June.  This was a great fundraiser and also took advantage of recycling jewelry and clothing.  We raised over 1100.0 to go toward our scholarship funds.

Betty, Sandy, Pam and Ginger enjoying the Vintage Fashion Show.

May:

The annual College Shower was held in May.  This year we expanded from two participants to three.  They were provided blankets, gift cards,  lamps, clocks, computer accessories, etc.    We also attended Family night out, a Relay for Life sponsored event. 

Margaret, Ginger, Kristi, and Peggy with our plaque.

April:

A yard sale was held at Margaret Wakeland's house.  Even though it was cold and windy we managed to raise close to $400.00 and recycled a lot of nice clothing.


GFWC Virginia held its State convention in Richmond Virginia and eight member attended.  

Liz, Sandy, Betty, Tania, Peggy, Ginger, and Bertha with Sue Meredith.

April was also Child Abuse Awareness month and the GWC sold pinwheels, the national symbol of child abuse prevention, and planted a pinwheel garden.  The proceeds from the sale was sent to Prevent Child Abuse Virginia and a book was donated to the Imagination Library in the memory Ethan Stacy a local child who suffered and died at the hands of a child abuser.

Planting a pinwheel garden to prevent child abuse.

March:

At our March meeting we honored June Croley, the founder of GFWC, and Ginger Robertson dressed as June and gave a speech. Past presidents of our club that were at the meeting were also honored.

Present and past presidents of GWC Sandy, Betty, Ginger, Anna Ruth, and Jessie.

We also had eleven members go to the Southwestern District meeting held in Richlands, VA. 

February:

  In honor of February being American Heart Month the members of the GWC wore Red to their meeting.  Members brought watches to be sent to the American Mural Project.  Five new members joined our club.

 

 Cammy Crockett, Donita Estep, Pam Wolford, Debbie Bostic, and Mary Stacy all joined.  Glenna is congratulating the ladies.


January:


A reporting meeting was held at the Buchanan County Library.  One member attended the Legislative Reception in Richmond, VA.

If after reading this you think that being a member of the Grundy Woman's Club is time consuming, you are right.  This is only a FEW events that we did throughout the year, there are many, many more that did not get listed.  If you think that being a member of the Grundy Woman's Club is rewarding, you hit the nail on the head.  Come join us and  make a difference in someone's life.