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May 15, 2020

• President’s Message: Our Multi-Faceted Organization is Hard at Work
• Get a Zoo Refund, or Help Our Charitable Causes
• Members Corner: Survey Coming Soon; Great Reponse on Name Badges Request
• Add a Designer Mask to Your Wardrobe 
• Updates from Scholarships: It Takes a Village
• Community Connections: Local Food Banks, and Homeless & Hospitalized Veterans
• Upcoming Programs & Events (updates: cancellations)

The Women of Quail Creek is so much more than it appears on the surface. As I gather information for meetings by Zoom online video conference and talk with various members to answer questions, I am constantly reminded just how many layers there are to our wonderful organization. Since I last communicated to the members so many things have happened that I risk not acknowledging all of them. You can read more about some of these accomplishments below, but here is a snapshot of recent activity.

• The Scholarship Committee has selected all the 2020 recipients now, awarding a total of 8 scholarships. All of this was done via Zoom, a platform most of us never heard of before March.
• The Military Baby Shower Committee has been working with Target to purchase strollers for each participating family in anticipation of the June event. Those strollers are made possible through donations given before coronavirus.
• The VA Clothing Drive Committee is beginning to plan for the October event and using email as their primary mode of communication right now. 5/19/20 Update: This event has been cancelled for 2020.
• The YOTO Committee is working on the creation of masks and new designer masks to raise funds to support upcoming YOTO needs.
• Your membership dues are being put to good use through donations made to both local food banks, Hands of a Friend (Genesis House), and the Go Fund Me Campaign for Quail Creek employees.

Your Board has met several times via Zoom either in general Board meetings or as an Executive Board. We have made decisions, some of which will seem logical, and others which may disappoint some of you. Know that each of these decisions is in the best interest of our membership and the health of both our members and our community.

The Board has determined that no large group gatherings generally sponsored by TWOQC or its committees will be happening until at least December, and perhaps not then. It will be impossible to have our June or October luncheons and remain at a safe distance. It will also not be possible to hold a major fundraiser, the Javelina Hoedown, in a safe, socially responsible way. Whether the VA Clothing Drive can take place will depend upon the needs of the VA in the COVID environment and a plan by the committee to protect all participants. The Military Baby Shower, now scheduled for mid-June, will occur if the committee and the National Guard feel appropriate. While a gathering may not take place, the gifts will be distributed safely.

Monthly programs may still happen if the ballroom can be set up in a manner consistent with public health guidelines. Large events that are being canceled might be rescheduled in 2021 but it is simply too soon to tell. It will be important for you to keep reading the FMM’s to know what will be scheduled, when and where.

These changes are potentially devastating to our fundraising and charitable support efforts. Several committees may be impacted by the need for social distance. We are exploring ways to continue fundraising so that those whom we have supported in the past can still feel our commitment to them.

Stay tuned. It is going to continue to be a very different kind of year!

Many members bought tickets to the zoo field trip that was canceled. Because of social distancing, most of those funds have not been returned. We have decided it is time to start getting those funds out of our general account. You have a choice, have Nancy Jacobs write you a check or donate your $60 ticket price to one of TWOQC’s charities. Ticket value cannot be held for a future event or membership renewal.

Contact Nancy at treasurer@womenqc.com and tell her how you want your refund handled. If you would like to donate your ticket price you may choose from Fashion Show (American Cancer Society), Military Baby Shower, Scholarship, or Youth On Their Own (YOTO).

Please watch your email for a survey from TWOQC through SurveyMonkey. As our membership needs have changed and Covid-19 has changed our ability to get together, we would like your ideas on small group activities you would be interested in attending or leading/teaching. We also need your thoughts on when you think you will be returning to get togethers.

The survey will be coming your way within the next week or two. Thank you in advance for participating. We need all of you!

Great Response on Name Badge Requests

We had a great return rate on the request for how you would like your new TWOQC name badge to read – 250 out of 370 members responded on the 1^st day! If you haven’t yet replied, you will be receiving a 2^nd request from Membership. Please complete the online form right away so that we can order the badges soon. Thank you!

It’s not too late to get your mask or even have fun wearing a designer mask. Masks are probably going to be part of our dress attire for a while. Remember the proceeds from the masks go to help YOTO (Youth on Their Own) and volunteers are making masks available for friends, neighbors, and relatives. In lieu of a charge, we are requesting a donation to YOTO.

Detailed information may be found HERE which includes a display of many fun (& new) designer masks to choose from! To order, send an email to 2qcladies@gmail.com to include your name & phone number, number of masks requested, type of mask (if designer mask, provide Design #), and preference for elastic or ties. You will be contacted when the masks are ready for pickup. Send inquiries to 2qcladies@gmail.com.

And in this time of COVID-19, it takes a village plus one.

The creativity and resourcefulness of the TWOQC Scholarship Committee and the Zoom online video conferencing expertise of Jim Burkstrand succeeded in effectuating both the Women-In-Transition and high school 2020 TWOQC Scholarship interviews.

On April 9, six candidates for the Women -In-Transition scholarships were interviewed via Zoom and the following recipients were selected: April Escarcega, Fox Valley Technical College/Wisconsin (certification for logistics transportation, online); Jasmine Spear, Pima Community College (prerequisites for nurse practitioner); Marisa Acosta, Pima Community College (completion of teaching certification); Harley Plasencio, Pima Community College/Arizona State University (nursing).

Coordinators:  Clarice Sullivan and Jeri Collins

On April 29th the high school scholarship interviews, again using Zoom, for both Walden Grove and Sahuarita High Schools were completed. Seven candidates were interviewed. The recipients from Walden Grove High School are Samantha Witterstauter, Pima Community College (studying computer security); Haley Duncan, Pima Community College (studying business with emphasis on marketing). From Sahuarita High School recipients are Alexandra Hernandez, Pima Community College (studying Radiology);  Amaya Barnes, Pima Community College (studying Business Administration with emphasis on Human Resources).

Coordinators:  Jadine Hilt and Kay Martens

The TWOQC Scholarship programs could not happen without the generosity of the Quail Creek community and the communities of Sahuarita and Green Valley. With the uncertainty of the virus mandating business closures and resident social distancing, donations for the Scholarship Program will take on greater importance for the 2020/2021 scholarship year. We look forward to your continued support.

GREEN VALLEY and SAHUARITA FOOD BANKS

The Green Valley and Sahuarita Food Banks are in desperate need of monetary donations. They remain unable to receive material donations due to safety issues related to the COVID-19 crisis. All food must be contracted through commercial sources. Maintaining food security in the Green Valley area is an ongoing challenge for the foreseeable future.

To support our area food banks online please go to:

• Green Valley/Amado Food Banks communityfoodbank.org. In the Leave a Comment section indicate TWOQC for Green Valley/Amado Food Bank.
• Sahuarita Food Bank donations are found at, sahuaritafoodbank.org. In the comment section mention if you are a member of TWOQC.

You can also donate by mailing checks payable to:

• Community Food Bank of Southern AZ to the Food Bank at 250 Continental Rd, Green Valley, AZ 85614
• Sahuarita Food Bank, 17750 S. La Canada Dr., Sahuarita, AZ 85629

Your consideration is greatly appreciated!

HOMELESS AND HOSPITALIZED VETERANS

Please keep saving toiletries, reading glasses, paper products and summer weight clothing. We will let you know when we can begin making deliveries to the VA.

(♦) public event

• (♦) June 6-8 – Honor Flight#31 CANCELLED
• June 29 – Summer Luncheon/Tea CANCELLED
• July 27 – 6:30PM Event TBA
• Aug. 31 – 6:30PM Event TBA
• Sept. 28 – 6:30PM Tumacookery
• Oct. 17 – VA Clothing Drive CANCELLED
• Oct. 26 – Membership Gathering CANCELLED
• Nov. 16 – 10AM Honor Flight (program)
• Dec. 8 – (on-hold) Holiday Luncheon

FMM CONTRIBUTORS: Becky A. (survey), Marilyn B. (scholarships), Marianne C. (banner), Barb H. (new name badges), Pat N./Peggy M. (community connections), and SueAnn O. (designer masks). PUBLISHING TEAM: President, 1st Vice President, and Webmaster.