GFWC of Holden Beach
Communique`
The
Member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs
Kelly Imbody, GFWC-HB President kevnkell@hotmail.com
Volume 20, Issue 1
Linda Sturgill, Editor, linda.sturgill@gmail.com Carol Gardner, Copy Editor
January 2025
Yep, it’s that time of year again — time to set a goal or goals to work toward for the next 12 months. With the holidays behind us, January provides a mental fresh start and the freedom to say goodbye to whatever happened in 2024. The key to setting good goals is making them aspirational and yet attainable at the same time — something you want to work toward, and you can honestly see yourself achieving. The practice of New Year’s resolutions might be one of our longest-running traditions. It is said that the Babylonians made the first annual resolution each year as part of a 12-day festival. Fast forward four thousand years later, and we are still resolving to quit bad habits and change our lives for the better. Unfortunately, failing to keep our New Year’s resolutions is almost as much of a tradition as making them. A study of holiday goal-setters reveals that 19% of us keep just some of our resolutions and only 7% of us keep all of them. Most have given up or forgotten their goals by February. So, if most of us don’t keep our New Year’s resolutions, why bother with them at all? What has kept us resolving to make change for the last four thousand years? Hope. Life would be pretty sad and boring if we didn’t hope for anything new. Making goals, aspiring to change keeps things interesting. Making goals can be beneficial even if we don’t reach them. Sometimes what we think of as failure can make us more resilient. So yes, New Year’s resolutions work---even when you don’t keep them. As the saying goes, “If you aim at nothing, you hit nothing.” What are you aiming at for 2025?
Text
Enjoy Life More
New Year Resolution
Message from our President ... Kelly
Happy New Year - 2025 Page {{page}}
CLICK ON at the bottom of each page to return to this page
Do something fun everyday
Looks what's in this issue ...
Message from our President Kelly - page 2
Calendar - page 4
Club News - page 5
January Meeting - page 6
Club's Christmas Party - page 7 & 8
Charity Gala - page 9
Arts & Culture CSP - page 10
Education & Libraries CSP - page 11
Civic Engagement and Outreach CSP - page 12
Environment CSP - page 13
Environment and "The Arts" - page 14
ESO Corner - page 15
Membership - page 16
GFWC-NC - page 17
Note from Teresa Nelson - page 18
A Message from Kandace - page 19
Women in 21st Century - page 20
Shop Here - page 21
A Fork in the Sand - page 22
REMEMBER -- to see any photo larger, just click on it!
Club meeting
Mark your Calendar !
1:00 PM Holden Beach Chapel All are welcome
District 7 spring meeting and Arts Festival
St. Paul's Luthern Church Wilmingtom
April 25-26
May 20
January 21
Laugh a lot
March 18
March 22
GFWC-NC convention
Charity Gala
GFWC-NC spring meeting and Arts Festival
February 22
April 12
April 15
January 9 February 6
February 18
Holden Beach Chapel Hosted by Arts & Culture CSP 6:15 pm refreshments & Club Chatter 6:45 pm meeting
Charity Gala Meeting
Holden Beach Chapel State President Special Program 6:15 pm refreshments & Club Chatter 6:45 pm meeting
Who will be the first to find our state president, Karen's logo. You must find the one that is less then 1/2" in size. You will be recognized at our next meeting. So read every page, then email Linda Sturgill and tell her where you found it.
It is time to select nominees for the 2024 GFWC-NC Individual Awards! What does that mean? It means that this is your opportunity to nominate our own hardworking club women to be considered for these awards at the State level. By now you have received the information sheet on the criteria for each award and the 2024 ballot sheet to be filled out with your choices. Please take time to familiarize yourself with the information provided. You may not nominate the same member for more than one award. Please print a copy of the ballot and bring it to the January general meeting on January 21 to drop in the ballot box that will be provided or you can get it to Kelly by emailing it to kevnkell@hotmail.com or mailing it to her at 3523 Concordia Ave. SW, Supply, NC 28462. The deadline for ballots to be received is NO LATER THAN JANUARY 30th!! If you have any questions about any of this, please contact me.
Jan 8 Delores Lail Jan 10 Bennie Hall Jan 18 Cindy Lee Jan 25 Suzanne Gurski
Last month, Dee Lail found the I spy Logo on page 8. Will you find it this month?
Note from President-elect Debbie
If you’re born in the month of January, carnations and snowdrops are the most meaningful to you. Carnations are known to symbolise love, distinction, loyalty and fascination. Snowdrops, symbolise hope and rebirth, and are attached to personality traits such as loyalty, genuineness and being down-to-earth.
HINT: it's not on any clothing, bag or this page!
Improve Self
I spy with my little eye
Club Information
January Birthdays
Don't miss the display of Club Women and Student Art and see who will win first place blue ribbons.
Club Art Festival
There will be a chili bar for the refreshments. “Warm Up, View Art and Enjoy an Interactive Musical Program”.
Hope to see you at our January Meeting
Enjoy the Arts
A preview of the art from North Brunswick High School -- this is the first year we have had entries from the High School.
Hosted by Arts & Culture CSP January 21st
Don't miss this!
Sorry you missed our Christmas Party
36 ladies attended our annual Christmas party. We had 5 guests also in attendance and everyone had a fabulous time. We talked, laughed, sang, and ate lots of delicious appetizers and desserts.
Smile more!
If you answered the trivia question correct you picked your gift to open -- or the GRINCH (aka Ann) chose your gift!
Lots of presents to open
Approach the New Year with resolve to find the opportunities hidden in each new day.
Volunteer more
Gala
"Blooming for a Cause" Charity Gala
Plans are coming together for our Gala event! There are many committees that make the Gala successful so if you can help, please review the areas we still have open. Sponsorship Kandace Hill Solicitation Holly Coleman and Debbie Yorio Solicitation and sponsorship letters are now finalized! We will provide copies to all members and we encourage you to use these letters to help with solicitation and getting the word out. If you know of any merchants that would like to donate to our cause reach out to either Holly Coleman or Debbie Yorio. February Charity Gala planning meetings are scheduled for Thursday, February 6 and Thursday, February 20 at 1 pm. We will meet at Holden Beach Chapel. All members are welcome! Questions? Suggestions? Come to any planning meeting or visit our sign-up table at the January 21 club meeting.
Learn something new
Arts & Culture CSP
The Arts and Culture CSP had a wonderful meeting right after the holidays hosted by Holly Coleman. Holly fed us a wonderful healthy soup on this cold evening and the members shared snacks and dessert. We went over the school submissions and did the judging for the poems and short stories. We also finished all the planning for the upcoming Arts Festival. It is so heart warming how everyone on the committee jumped in to handle all the necessary activities for this event. We will be serving Chili with all the fixin’s at the January monthly meeting. We are very excited to see what all the members will be submitting for the festival. We will be at the church from 9-1 on the morning of January 21st to setup and accept your submissions. Or you can reach out to Maureen or Holly before hand to get them your submission. Judging starts at 11 AM. We also did more brainstorming that evening and have so many wonderful possibilities for upcoming events or projects. We will be following up on these ideas in the coming months.
Ellen Hollis Chairman
I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, and changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re doing something.” –Neil Gaiman
Read more!
The New Year is often associated with a fresh start and setting new goals. It is also a time of reflection. Looking back over the past year, the Education and Libraries CSP had a successful year in meeting its goals of fostering schools, as well as other educational opportunities. Members volunteered time and participated in events sponsored by the Brunswick Interagency Program; Brunswick Community College and Women in Philanthropy and Leadership of Brunswick County in support of higher education. The CSP members promoted literacy in the elementary grades through collaboration with area middle schools by participating in various school reading challenges and promotions. Looking ahead to the new year, the Education and Libraries CSP will again partner with the schools to promote education and literacy. The new year is also a popular time to set resolutions. What are your resolutions? Do they include continuing education, increasing your reading, learning a new skill or craft? There are numerous studies showing a positive correlation between more education and improved health, finances, and career opportunities. Make sure to check out the resources and events offered by the Brunswick County Library System.
Nancy McDevitt & Marie-Pierre Fletcher Co-Chairmen
Education & Libraries CSP
submitted by Kelly Imbody
Lisa Holmes Chairman
Civic Engagement & Outreach CSP
Do random acts of kindness
January is National Poverty in America Awareness Month. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the official poverty rate in 2022 was 11.5 percent with 37.9 million people living in poverty. Poverty, according to the World Bank, is not having a job and fearing for the future, and living one day at a time. It has also been called the inability to meet the basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter. This month-long initiative is used to raise awareness of poverty and to take a look at the disparities in society and what we can do to help change the situation. National Poverty in America Awareness Month calls on people to show empathy and donate to those in need. Hunger and malnutrition, limited access to education and other basic services, social discrimination and exclusion, disabilities, restricted access to participation in the democratic process. These are just some of the many manifestations of poverty. More than 40 million Americans live in poverty. Black and Hispanic poverty rates reached historic lows of 18.8% and 15.7% respectively in 2019 but inequities persist. These were the lowest rates ever for both groups since poverty estimates were produced for these groups (1959 & 1972). Children tend to experience episodic poverty at rates higher than adults. Forty-four percent of children experienced poverty for at least two consecutive months between 2013 and 2016, according to a recently released U.S. Census Bureau report. As members of an international federation, we can impact poverty locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. Start small. Drop off a few extra groceries at a local food bank.The same goes for clothing. Cleaning out your closets? Donate gently used clothing to local thrift shops. Just one small act will have a huge impact on someone’ life.
Environment CSP
submitted by Cindy Lee
Pam Foertsch & Cindy Lee Co-Chairmen
Be kind to animals
National bird day was celebrated on January 5th. Birds have always held a special place in our hearts, but they are also a massive group under threat. Each year, millions of birds are captured from the wild or produced in captivity for commercial profit or human amusement, only to languish in conditions that fail to meet the instinctive behavioral and physical needs of these wild animals. The Avian Welfare Coalition created National Bird Day to raise awareness of the many hardships and plights of these beautiful birds. The fact that so many bird species are under threat due to illegal pet trade, disease, and habitat loss, means it’s more important than ever to raise awareness and VOLUNTEER at local sanctuaries and rehabilitation facilities. Fun facts: 10,000 is the estimated number of bird species 2.25 inches – the length of the smallest bird on earth – sweet hummingbirds Ducks keep one eye open when sleeping The Ostrich is the largest bird Birds have been around for 150 million years 95% of injuries to owls are due to being hit by cars at night Pelicans do not go blind from years of diving into the water for fish.
Reduce Reuse Recycle
Environment and "The Arts"
submitted by Pam Foertsch
Very Windy Day!
Members of our Environment CSP worked hard designing and painting our beautiful Garden Post. After getting approval from the officials at Holden Beach Town Hall, our post was installed in December 2024 next to the entrance sign for Bridgewater Park in Holden Beach. Our committee did an awesome job and all of us were very pleased with the garden post and its location.
Ann Landis Patti Hogan Suzanne Gurski Kandace Hill Holly Coleman Kelly Imbody Linda Sturgill Michelle Skultety Nancy McDevitt Jere Blackburn Jeri Bills Judi Stankowich
The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali
ESO provides clubwomen with a structured reading program that is educational and stimulates a desire for self-improvement. Members can participate in ESO as part of a reading group or on their own. The program provides membership, awards and certificates, pins, reading lists, a monthly newsletter, and a framework in which to pursue continued self-improvement through reading. Want to be a member of ESO and join these ladies? Contact Judi Stankowich for all the details.
ESO Club Members
ESO Corner
The story begins when Ellie and Homa are 7 years old, in 1950s Tehran. It spans 3 generations and follows these 2 as they become teenagers and then women. Although their lives take very different paths, they still have a special bond. Both women are strong ("Lion Women"), show courage and exemplify love. Regarding the character Homa, I respect her for the way she stands up for her beliefs and what is right. In reading this book, I also learned a lot about the culture and history of Tehran. If you like this one, I recommend another by Marjan Kamali: The Stationary Shop
submitted by Patti Hogan
Enjoy a good book and Join ESO
Invite someone to a club meeting
Our GFWC- Holden Beach monthly meetings are something that we all look forward to! We put them on the calendar knowing that they will be a time to get together and reacquaint with clubwomen that we might not have seen over the past month. We get to the meeting, eat yummy and creative snacks and listen to the newest projects and future plans that our club is involved in throughout the year. But does being a Good Member go beyond this monthly participation ....and are we all being the best member we can be to support each other, our club and our community? Additionally, are we doing everything to individually support our volunteer spirit and grow our skills and talents as women? Here are a few thoughts to go above and beyond and maybe get more out of your club membership in the process! 1. Be an advocate for your ideas!! Communicate with your fellow club members by speaking out respectfully. If you have ideas about how to develop a new project or reach a goal, share them. 2. Use your active listening skills when club members are sharing their ideas and opinions. Make comments and ask questions, if appropriate. Remember....you are not questioning the person, you are questioning or commenting on the idea and that is an important part of collaboration. 3. It’s OK not to be the leader all the time. Being a good and supportive follower is equally important. Be a reliable member of the club and your CSP. Show up to support projects and events. 4. Be reliable. You should be someone that our club can depend on to do what you are assigned or volunteer to do. 5. Trust your club members to do their parts. Don’t try to take on anyone else’s. Be kind and use manners. Remember and use the words ‘please’, ‘thank you’, and ‘excuse me’. 6. Compliment other members on their strengths rather than talking about the weaknesses or what they did wrong. It is so easy to be critical but supportive, thoughtful suggestions go so much further toward strengthening individual members and our club. 8. MOTIVATE, ENCOURAGE AND INCLUDE ~ reach out to fellow clubwomen and lift them up. You never know what a huge difference you can make!
Membership Information
Amanda Rollins, Membership VP
Margarita Monday for Members! Monday, February 2rd at 5:30 pm Mini Jalapenos on the Causeway Join us!
More Art Festivals
GFWC-NC District 7 February 22
GFWC-NC State Arts Festival will be in Mebane, NC. More information will be forthcoming as the date draws closer. Winners at the District 7 Arts Festival are sent to the State Arts Festival in Mebane, so again...we go to support and celebrate our club women that advanced.
GFWC-NC State March 22
travel more with the club - meet other club members
The CALL, along with the registration form, for the spring district meeting/arts festival will be available around January 15th. The meeting is at St Paul's Lutheran Church in Wilmington. The cost will remain at $21 for registration and lunch. The host club is Cape Fear Woman's Club. Let’s support our friends, the Cape Fear Woman’s Club and attend the event where we will view some great art, photography and crafts and meet fellow GFWC sisters.
GFWC of North Carolina News
A Note from Teresa Nelson
The Brunswick Interagency Program (BIP) at Brunswick Community College is a nationally recognized initiative that supports adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The Angel Tree provides a holiday wish list for these individuals. I would like to thank GFWC of Holden beach for stepping up at the last minute to provide a Merry Christmas to our students in the BIP program at Brunswick Community College. Because of your amazing generosity we were able to provide gifts for 15 students. The ladies of club donated money or bought gifts for the students for the Angel Tree. One picture of Jeri Bills and myself is the only picture I have of 2 GFWC-HB members with the bags. We had several ladies donate but I did the shopping. I am so blessed to part of this amazing group of women. You always help when asked and I am so thankful for each of you. With sincere Gratitude, Teresa Nelson Executive Director of the Foundation Brunswick Community College
Spread your generosity
Message from 1st VP Kandace
New Year, New ways to make a difference! When we receive your reports and put them together to send to the State it is so inspiring to look back and see what our club of 48 members has done. Supporting a National Day of Service locally giving over 700 pounds of food. Reading to our children and sharing the love of books by presenting one to them. Realizing some women are in need of the simplest things like bras and period products, being able to provide these personal items to those less fortunate. Caring for our four legged and feathered friends. Making sure the beach sand dunes stay strong. Caring for kids in foster care, giving them a backpack full of LOVE. Taking care of each other with cards, calls, texts and in person. We are GFWC of Holden Beach and We Empower each other, the town, county, state, and country! In case you need a reminder of our global impact here are a few facts. The General Federation of Women's Clubs... There are 60,000+ members in affiliated clubs in every state and there are 2,600 existing volunteer clubs across the globe. Our club is a part of a worldwide organization that has a positive impact on the communities they serve. Club members vary in age, talents, location, background, and profession, but are united in their dedication to actively improve the lives of others. We should all be proud to be a member of this great organization! Looking forward to 2025!
Give and receive Hugs
Don't sweat the small Stuff
submitted by Judi Stankowich
Halle Berry and Michelle Yeoh Aside from being a talented actor and fashion icon, Berry has left a special mark on Hollywood. In 2002, she became the first Black woman to win the Best Actress Oscar for Monster’s Ball. In 2023, she presented the same award to Michelle Yeoh—the second woman of color to ever win the award. Malala Yousafzai Yousafzai began fighting for girls’ rights to education in Pakistan at just 11 years old. After surviving an assassination attempt a few years later, she has courageously continued to be a worldwide voice for young women. In 2014, she became the world’s youngest Nobel Peace Prize recipient. Vera Wang Wang, a first-generation Chinese- American fashion designer, has become one of the most beloved bridal designers of all time. Before launching her own brand, she worked at Vogue and Ralph Lauren. In 2005, the Council of Fashion Designers of America selected her as the Women's wear Designer of the Year. Serena Williams Williams served as the face of tennis for years — alongside her sister Venus — and inspired young female athletes around the world. With 23 Grand Slam singles titles and four Olympic gold medals, she retired in September 2022 as one of the best players to ever step foot on a court. Rachel Balkovec Balkovec made history in 2022 when she was named the first woman to manage an affiliate of a Major League Baseball team. Before the New York Yankees hired her to lead its Low-A Tampa Tarpons, she worked as the team’s minor league hitting coach. Ibtihaj Muhammad In 2016, fencing star Muhammad made history as the first Muslim woman wearing a hijab to represent the United States at the Olympics. That same year, she won a bronze medal and was included onTIME’s 100 Most Influential People list.
Women Making History in the 21st Century
Terri Lynn
Headbands of Hope
Starfish Project
Support our shopping page
GFWC Marketplace
TO GO SHOPPING - CLICK here
Our club benefits from every purchase of premium nuts, snacks, and confections. These funds go towards our fundraising goals. Share the tastiest treats from Terri Lynn. These products can’t be found in stores, and there’s something for everyone! 20% of every product sold on this fundraising website benefits GFWC of Holden Beach & the community programs we support. Orders ship FREE directly to your door anywhere in the U.S. when items ordered total $30 or more! Otherwise, your order ships to you for a flat rate of only $5. Please order early. It may take up to 3 weeks to receive your products!
The Starfish Project helps exploited women and girls experience freedom, establish independence and develop careers. 100% of the profit from the jewelry sales goes back into the Starfish Project to help women, and with your purchase of the jewelry using the GFWC link, 25% of the proceeds from any Starfish Project products purchased through this dedicated link will go to GFWC’s Success for Survivors Scholarship! View Starfish and order your next favorite piece of jewelry today and help a survivor of human trafficking succeed!
Headbands of Hope was started by Jess Ekstrom, a UCSU student after interning with the Make A Wish Foundation. Children struggling with cancer wear headbands after losing their hair to chemotherapy. She realized no one was providing headbands specifically for these children. For every headband purchased, Headbands of Hope donates a headband to a child fighting cancer.
You can access the Marketplace from the GFWC website or click the link. Inside you will find the products you use and love and a new, easy to navigate layout. Note that this is a new system, and all users will need to create a new account before using Marketplace for the first time.
Need to go shopping?
I walk the shore to think about the year we leave behind, And unlike the tide that comes and goes, we cannot go back in time. Along the way I see an object, it’s in the sand of course, A small white item, as I get close, I see it is a fork. The saying goes If you see a fork in the road, you try to decide which path to take, But if it’s on the sandy shore, what does that mean for fate? Different from a hike or trail in the woods, the coast goes straight you see, This little item, in my sight seems to be reminding me To not to turn left or right but to continue forward and remember To cherish each hour, each day we live from January to December. Our stories are written in ink not in pencil, and cannot be erased Follow the fork the way we want to go, as we turn another page.
Learn from your mistakes
Written by Kandace Hill
A Fork in the Sand