Oct 2025

Volume 20, Issue 8  Member of the General Federation  of Women's Clubs The GFWC of Holden Beach  October 2025 Promote Native North Carolina Plants Can you name them?  see page 8 for the key  Communique` Kelly Imbody GFWC-HB President kevnkell@hotmail.com Embracing Change . . . Change is hard. Change is most often for the better, though it's sometimes difficult to see it in the beginning. We tend to get "stuck in our ruts". Change interrupts the comfort level and can bring many unknowns. Unknowns can be scary. Autumn is a time of change. Our lives tend to slow down after a busy summer with friends and family. Autumn is predictable...colors change, the time changes (ugh!), we start the club year anew. This change brings new members, new ideas, new opportunities, and new experiences. Now is the time to think about changes you may want to make. What about serving on a different committee, or chairing a committee for the Gala? Offer up ideas for change that you feel would make the club better. Suggest new project ideas for your CSP. Change can be fun! It can be liberating. We learn new things about ourselves and others when we embrace change. Admittedly, change can be a bit rocky. Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. Change is hard at first, often messy in the middle, and usually beautiful in the end. As Mahatma Gandhi said "Be the change you wish to see in the world." GFWC of Holden Beach Message from President Kelly Text Page {{page}} Linda Sturgill, Editor,  linda.sturgill@gmail.com  To see any photo larger, Just CLICK on it! GFWC of Holden Beach Text Text Click on any Title to go directly to that page. Click on at the bottom of each page to return here! Page {{page}} Message from our President Kelly - page 2 Calendar - page 4 Message from President-elect Debbie - page 5 Message from 1st VP Kandace - page 6 Message from Membership VP Amanda - page 7 October Meeting - page 8 September Meeting - page 9 Club Information - page 10 Trunk or Treat - page 11 Charity Gala - page 12 Arts & Culture CSP - page 13 Civic Engagement and Outreach CSP - page 14 Environment CSP - page 15 Education & Libraries CSP - page 16 Domestic Violence Workshop - page 17 Illuminate to Eliminate - page 18 ESO Corner - page 19 WHRC - page 19 GFWC-NC News - page 20 Municipal Elections - page 21 How to see my voting record - page 22 Fall Poem - page 23 Collect - page 24 Find your page listed here. . . Nov 7-8 Holden Beach Chapel 6:15 pm refreshments &  Club Chatter 6:45 pm meeting hosted  by Environment CSP Text Woman's Club of Raleigh Clubhouse Raleigh, NC Oct 31 Roanoke Hotel Roanoke, VA Nov 18 SER Holden Beach Chapel 6:15 pm refreshments &  Club Chatter 6:45 pm meeting hosted  by Education & Libraries CSP Text Holden Beach Bridgeview Park 5:00 - 7:00 pm Come in Costume Text Southport, NC  8:00 am Dec 16 Page {{page}} GFWC District 7  Fall Meeting Text GFWC of Holden Beach Trunk or treat Club Christmas Party Our calendar of events Club Meeting CCWC & GFWC-NC  Fall Meeting Home of Linda Sturgill 6 pm Oct 21 Club Meeting Oct 23-26 Oct 18 Are you interested in a Cape Fear's 'Sip and Sign' Ticket on November 15th ?? Call Kelly Imbody for information. Just a quick FYI . . . Text Page {{page}} It’s that time of year again! Time for our annual review, and if necessary, revision of our Bylaws and Standing Rules. The documents with the recommended revisions were emailed to you on September 17, 2025. Please take the time to review the documents in preparation for the upcoming October meeting. Message from  President-elect Debbie GFWC of Holden Beach Message from  1st VP Kandace Page {{page}} Jump in . . . Text When thinking about joining and or being involved in one of our Community Service Programs (CSP) remember it is a bit like planting, “right plant, right place” motto isn’t just for gardeners—it’s clever life advice too! Why not put yourself somewhere you’ll shine brightest? Take a minute to wonder what fires you up, what skills you have, and where you can really feel good about participating. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, try something totally new, you might surprise yourself! Jump in, join the fun, and make memories with fellow Federation sisters beyond those usual meetings. By finding your perfect spot, you help build a community that’s as colorful, connected, and lively as a field of wildflowers! GFWC of Holden Beach Read our Collect on Page 24 Text At each GFWC of Holden Bach meeting we stand and recite the Collect For Club Women but do you ever stop to think about why it was written and how it became a uniting part of every GFWC Club throughout the Federation. For many years, women’s clubs in Canada, United States, Britain and other countries have used this poem/prayer for the opening or closing ceremonies of their meetings. Sometimes it is simply read by one member, at others it is repeated in unison by all those present. They have usually called it Our Creed or The Club Women’s Creed and as such it is widely known and popular on this continent, especially in small towns and rural districts. Widespread usage has resulted in some changes. The author gave it a title: “Collect For Club Women,” when it first appeared in an obscure corner of a well known American magazine. Ms. Stewart reported “It was written as a prayer for the day. I called it a ‘Collect For Club Women,’ because I felt that women working together with wide interests for large ends was a new thing under the sun and that, perhaps they had need for special petition and meditation of their own. This must have been true for the Collect has found its way about the world, especially wherever English speaking women get together. Indeed it has been reprinted in many forms in many lands.” Mary Stewart worked for women's suffrage nationally and attended the meeting in St. Louis, where the National Federation was launched. She was elected its first corresponding secretary and thereafter took an active part in the growth of the young organization by service as chairman or member of a number of national committees. GFWC of Holden Beach Message from  Membership VP Amanda Page {{page}} Collect For Club Women Sand Coreopsis  (Coreopsis lanceolata) Spotted Horsemint  (Monarda punctata) Seashore Mallow  (Kosteletzkya virginica) At the NC Botanical Garden, his primary responsibilities were to oversee the conservation and management of approximately 1,200 acres of natural areas, acquire additional lands and easements for conservation preserves, administer conservation seed programs, help direct rare plant recovery projects, and serve as an “ecological extension agent.” Promote Native North Carolina Plants Climbing Aster  (Ampelaster carolinianus) Our Standing rules and by-laws Why we need to keep our time and in-kind donations for reporting Membership Handbook update Coming Events Quarter collection for President's project for the Woman Suffrage monument and much more! October 21, 2025 Butterfly Weed  (Asclepias tuberosa) Don't miss our October meeting Johnny Randall was the Director of Conservation at the North Carolina Botanical Garden (1998-2023) and continues as adjunct faculty in the UNC-Chapel Hill Program in Environment, Ecology, and Energy (EP3). GFWC of Holden Beach Also at Our October meeting -- Learn about. . . Hosted by the Environment CSP Fireweel  (Gaillardia pulchella) Guest Speaker will be Johnny Randall Text Page {{page}} Page {{page}} Text District 7 President Sandy Alford Sorry you missed it ! . . . Sorry you missed our September meeting It was a very busy meeting . . . It all started with a new venue, because our Chapel HVAC was not working so we met at the SeaScape Clubhouse. Visit from of District 7 President Sandy Alford Tribute to Elene Bush and Juanita Bryant Domestic Violence Program presented by Civic Engagement CSP with some shocking statistics All about becoming a LEADS Candidate Cape Fear's Sip and Sign Fundraiser Update on Privacy Statement Kelly announced our Charity Gala Chairman for next year is Julie Lopez Coming Events such as trunk or treat and Festival of trees GFWC of Holden Beach According to our by-laws, the 2026 membership dues of $85 are due by November 1st. Checks payable to GFWC-HB and send to: GFWC of Holden Beach October Birthdays . . . October is synonymous with Halloween; a holiday rooted in ancient Celtic traditions marking the end of harvest and the coming of winter. Today, jack-o’-lanterns and costumes create a carnival of spooks and sweets. Another October fact: It is National Pizza Month in the U.S.—not so scary, unless you’re out of mozzarella! In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday of October, reflecting the earlier harvest season. Club Information Page {{page}} or bring to the October meeting. Linda Sturgill  3637 Natchez Street SW  Supply, NC 28462 September Gem of the Month May's Gem of the Month, Geri Bills presented the Gem for September to Julie Lopez. She is from Davidson, NC and has only been in the club for a couple of years, but she stepped right up into leadership by being co-chair of our Gala last year and is chairman of the Gala this year. She always has a smile on her face and has never met a stranger.   Text Club Membership Dues Oct. 14 Colleen McDaniel Oct. 16 Christine Hudson Oct. 20 Sharon Michael Oct. 22 Sharon Pope Get ready for a spooktacular time at Trunk or Treat in Bridgeview Park on Halloween! Come by at 5:00 pm to join us for our Teal Pumpkin Trunk out of our trunk. In case you are not aware. The Teal Pumpkin project is a way to create a safe Halloween & allows us to promote inclusion for trick or treaters with food allergies or other conditions. Wear a costume, even if it’s just a fun hat! We'll be handing out non-food items again, such as pencils, crayons, games, and crafty activities (grab some from Dollar Tree!) are always a hit. Want to pitch in or donate? Reach out or sign up at the October meeting. This was a great success last year. We are looking for a fun “trunk” decorating idea too. Text October 31st spooktacular time . . . submitted by Kandace Hill GFWC of Holden Beach Page {{page}} Pictures from the past 2 years! trunk or treat "Blooming for a cause" Gala Text A big "THANK YOU" to everyone who signed up at our September meeting to help with the Gala! We're off to a great start! I'll be reaching out individually with the remaining committee openings. More information to come about our November Gala Kick-Off! Julie Lopez Chairman GFWC of Holden Beach Page {{page}} Ellen Hollis Chairman Pole Completed . . . reminder . . . Text Text The Art Festival is scheduled for our January meeting.  January 20, 2026  Get your project created. For more information on the different categories...  contact Arts Chairman Ellen Hollis GFWC of Holden Beach The Arts & Culture CSP met this month to decorate their pole. We decorated it with a music theme. One more piece needs to be completed and then we will install it on Holden Beach. Many thanks to the members that participated which included Jeri Bills, Page Blackwelder, Marie-Pierre Fletcher, Maureen Wright and Ellen Hollis. Nice job ladies!! Page {{page}} Arts & Culture CSP Page {{page}} Text Lisa Holmes & Robin Langley  Co-Chairman Support our fire Department Civic Engagement & Outreach CSP GFWC of Holden Beach So, you’ve moved to the beach. Do you wonder what type of landscaping to do? If so, native plants are a good choice and play an important role in the coastal landscape by reintroducing plant species often lost to development. Hear are some key reasons to use native plants. Wildlife rely on native plants for nourishment and shelter. Shrubs and trees native to the coastal environment are more likely to withstand the effects of storms (hurricane season is not over yet). Native plants are well adapted to the sunlight, temperatures, and soil of the coastal region, which means less watering. Some non-native plants do well in our environment as long as they are non-invasive. Unfortunately, most of the landscaping plants available in local nurseries originated from other countries, many of which have become invasive species. We are fortunate to have Coastal Native Plants in Southport to meet local demand. Here are some examples of the native trees, shrubs, and plants to use in your landscaping. Trees: Eastern red cedar, Bald Cypress, Longleaf pine. Shrubs: Southern wax myrtle, Yaupon holly, Highbush blueberry Vines: Climbing aster, Carolina Jessamine, Coral honeysuckle. Flowering perennials: Butterfly weed, Spotted horsemint, Black-eyed Susan You can do your part in helping our environment, benefiting birds, insects, and other wildlife by choosing native coastal plants  for our area. Page {{page}} Text What should I plant? Pam Foertsch & Cindy Lee Co-Chairman Submitted by Debbie Ballard Environment CSP GFWC of Holden Beach Text Learn about plants . . . Page {{page}} For those interested in formal education, the North Carolina Botanical Garden offers a Certificate and Advanced Certificate in Native Plants, providing a deep understanding of the native flora of the southeastern United States. (North Carolina Environmental Education) You can use the Brunswick County Library system to obtain books on native North Carolina plants and landscaping, just to name a few: Native Plants for Coastal North Carolina  Robert Thornhill (Robert Willis) Landscaping for Wildlife with Native Plants  Christopher E. Moorman Fire-Resistant Landscaping in North Carolina  Laurel Kays Education & Libraries CSP GFWC of Holden Beach  The North Carolina Native Plant Society promotes the enjoyment and conservation of native plants through education, protection, propagation, and advocacy. They offer various events, such as plant & seed exchanges, picnics, and field trips educating the public about native plants and their habitats. (North Carolina State University) Nancy McDevitt & Kandace Hill Co-Chairman Text Page {{page}} Text submitted by Debbie Yorio Domestic violence is a topic that our club spends a lot of time fighting by bringing attention to this problem in our community and by supporting the agencies in our county that aid these victims. On September 24th, our club teamed up with our sister club, Cape Fear, to sponsor a domestic violence workshop. The seminar was held at BCC with the nonprofit Hope Harbor Home Executive Director, Kamen Custer, speaking at the presentation. The event covered how to recognize when love turns violent and highlighted the early signs, red flags, and when to reach out to the services available locally for victims of domestic abuse. Clubwomen provided decorations, handouts, water bottles and refreshments, as well as gift cards for a raffle as part of the seminar. The many club members that attended enjoyed supporting this worthwhile cause! GFWC of Holden Beach Love Shouldn’t Hurt . . . Domestic Violence Workshop submitted by Kandace Hill GFWC of Holden Beach illuminate to Eliminate! Page {{page}} "Just like a lighthouse, be a beacon of hope and guidance for others in the stormy seas of life." Text On September 27th, in recognition of the GFWC International Day of Service, members of the GFWC of Holden Beach organized a drive to collect light bulbs, flashlights, and nightlights for donation to local domestic violence shelters. The initiative resulted in the collection of 277 light bulbs, 51 flashlights, 19 nightlights, 3 small lanterns, and $160 in monetary donations, which will support community efforts to foster safety and security. These items will be provided to Hope Harbor Home, for use within their shelter and pantry for survivors, as well as Providence Home for their shelter serving teens. Like a beacon on a lighthouse these contributions are intended to offer tangible support of recovery and hope for those impacted by domestic and sexual violence. International day of Service Text Join GFWC ESO and receive a newsletter once a month filled with information on new books, ones that other members are reading, and old favorites. The chairman keeps track of the books you’ve read and helps you as you navigate through the levels. This is another free benefit of belonging to GFWC. ESO WHRC Page {{page}} submitted by Judi Stankowich GFWC of Holden Beach Do you love to read books? For more information -- contact Judi Stankowich submitted by Judi Stankowich Founded in 1984, the GFWC Women’s History and Resource Center (WHRC) collects, preserves, interprets, and promotes the history of GFWC. The WHRC documents the social and political contributions of GFWC clubwomen from 1890 to the present through the GFWC archives and related special collections. Our holdings are available for research by clubwomen, academics, and the general public. Visit WHRC. This is another free benefit of belonging to GFWC. Found on the site from the vintage cookbook section: Text GFWC of Holden Beach submitted by Kandace Hill Cha ching! So far, our club has collected $413 for the quarter project. Thank you to all who brought their change last meeting. Keep collecting them, our giant jar will be back at the October meeting to drop your coins in. Huge thanks to everyone who dropped in their spare change at the last meeting. Let’s keep the momentum going—the collection jar is making a comeback at the October meeting, so don’t forget to bring those coins! And guess what? Our fabulous blue logo change purses are still up for grabs at just $5 each. Every twenty-five cents goes toward our club’s donation for GFWC-NC’s donation to the Women's Suffrage Monument in Washington, DC—let’s continue to make history together! QuARTer report GFWC-NC News Text Page {{page}} VOTE GFWC of Holden Beach MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS WHAT IS A MUNICIPAL ELECTION? In Brunswick County, municipal elections are held in odd-numbered years to elect governing officials (mayors, city councils, town councils, etc.) This also includes sanitary districts and the governing board of Dosher Hospital. The municipal election is open only to residents of the municipality. Voters must have lived in the municipality for at least 30 days before Election Day. In Brunswick County, municipal elections are nonpartisan. The party affiliation of candidates is not listed. WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION? Not all voters in Brunswick County are eligible to vote in municipal elections. The city listed as part of your address does not reflect that you live within a municipality. Your city is provided for mailing and 911 purposes. Municipal elections can only be voted on if your home is within the jurisdiction's limits. Find out if you are eligible to vote in the municipal election by looking up your voter record. Instructions are on the next page. A common misconception is that anyone who owns property or pays taxes to a municipality or county has the right to vote. The reality is that a person needs to establish that location as their permanent residence to vote here. AM I ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION? You are eligible to vote in this year’s municipal elections if you have something listed for Municipality, Sanitary District, or Rescue District under “Your Jurisdiction. " If you see Unincorporated for Municipality, you do not reside in a municipality. MUNICIPALITIES AND SPECIAL DISTRICTS IN BRUNSWICK COUNTY BALD HEAD ISLAND BELVILLE BOILING SPRING LAKES BOLIVIA CALABASH CAROLINA SHORES CASWELL BEACH HOLDEN BEACH LELAND NAVASSA NORTHWEST OAK ISLAND OCEAN ISLE BEACH SANDY CREEK SHALLOTTE SOUTHPORT ST. JAMES SUNSET BEACH VARNAMTOWN H2GO BRUNSWICK REGIONAL WATER & SEWER SOUTHEAST BRUNSWICK SANITARY DISTRICT DOSHER HOSPITAL Page {{page}} Text submitted by Donna Geise submitted by Donna Geise Text Page {{page}} To find your voting record in Brunswick County, North Carolina, you can use the Voter Search tool on the NC State Board of Elections website. This public tool will display your voter history, including the elections in which you participated, but it will not reveal your voting record. How to use the Voter Search tool Go to the Voter Search tool on the official NC State Board of Elections website: https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/. Enter your first and last name exactly as they appear on your voter registration. Click "Search". From the list of results, click on your name. Scroll down to the "Your Voter History" section. There, you will find a list of elections in which you cast a ballot. What is included in your voter history Your voter history on this site will show the following information: The election date. The county where you voted. The voting method used (e.g., absentee, early voting, or Election Day). For primary elections, the party's primary you participated in. Why are your selections not shown Under North Carolina law, which candidates or choices you selected on your ballot is confidential. Your voter record is a public record; however, confidential details such as your specific votes, full date of birth, and Social Security number are not disclosed. Contact information If you have trouble using the online tool, you can contact the Brunswick  County Board of Elections directly: Phone: (910) 253-2620 Address: 75 Stamp Act Drive NE, Building H, Bolivia, NC HOW DO I FIND MY VOTING RECORD IN BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA? GFWC of Holden Beach VOTE As summer ends the light dims here A spark of color will soon appear. Scarlet and amber will flicker and now, The air will turn cooler, and we know somehow That autumn is coming and soon we’ll see Another version of God’s majesty. For seasons change, and after all, With each leaf surrendering to earth’s gentle fall, I’ll savor the splendor before the cold winters call. submitted by Kandace Hill GFWC of Holden Beach Text Fall Poem Page {{page}} Text Keep us, oh God, from pettiness; Let us be large in thought, in word, in deed. Let us be done with faultfinding and leave off self-seeking. May we put away all pretense and meet each other face to face, Without self-pity and without prejudice, May we never be hasty in judgment and always generous. Let us take time for all things; Make us to grow calm, serene, gentle. Teach us to put into action our better impulses, Straightforward and unafraid. Grant that we may realize it is the little things that create differences, That in the big things of life we are at one. And may we strive to touch and to know The great, common human heart of us all. And, oh Lord God, let us forget not to be kind! --Mary Stewart Our Collect GFWC of Holden Beach Page {{page}}