Friday Morning Message

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May 29, 2020

SurveyMonkey “Survey” is Coming to Your Email
Planning New Approaches for Funding Our Charitable Support
Another One Bites the Dust: Clothing Drive
Babies Will Be Showered with Love: Lady Putters Love Babies
2021 Fashion Show: It Can Be Done
Memorial Scholarship Opportunity
Community Connections: Hands of a Friend Foundation, Homeless & Hospitalized Veterans, and Women Warriors
Upcoming Programs & Events (+ updates)

Watch for a Survey Coming to Your Email

A survey from President Elect Becky Ashin will be arriving in your email on Friday, May 29. This survey only takes about 2 minutes to complete. It will be provided through SurveyMonkey. (Be sure to check your spam file if you don’t think you received it.)

Your input is critical to the future of our organization as membership interests change and new ideas are generated. COVID-19 has also changed our ability to get together and your thoughts on when you think you will be ready to attend events and what will make you comfortable when attending will help us decide what activities we should plan. We are hoping our entire membership will respond. Thank you in advance for participating!

Planning New Approaches for Funding Our Charitable Support

The leadership of TWOQC has heard the members in recent years as they speak of how often they are asked to contribute money or items to support various charities near and dear to our club. We have also seen how difficult it is for our various committees to solicit items for auction or raffle when so many local businesses are always asked for support. The impact of the pandemic on small businesses in our area will only increase this difficulty.

To support all our charitable committees and to turn us to a more organization-wide approach to charitable fundraising, TWOQC has now created a Fundraising Task Force comprised of both seasoned and new members.

Tessie Hagerich and Carin Kaiser are very pleased to have the opportunity to co-lead the new Fundraising Task Force. They look forward to meeting with this new team in June to begin the work assigned to them by the Executive Board, namely identifying new ways and collaborative ideas for fundraising that will benefit all of our charitable concerns and making fundraising recommendations that are compatible with TWOQC’s mission. Look for more information on the task force and updates on their progress in future issues of the FMM.

If you are interested in sharing ideas with the task force or would like to learn more, contact Carin and Tessie at taskforce@womenqc.com.

Another One Bites the Dust

Unfortunately, this has nothing to do with the rock group Queen. We are sad to report that the VA Clothing Drive scheduled for October 17 has been canceled. After a thorough review of the procedures necessary to have a successful drive and the associated risks to public health and safety, it was decided that cancellation was best. Committee chair Tessie Hagerich is exploring the possibility of a small, specific drive but at this time it is unclear whether the VA can accommodate such plans. Stay tuned for future updates. And, thank you to all the Clothing Drive team leads who were preparing for the event.

Babies Will Be Showered with Love!

Once again, The Women of Quail Creek and the Baby Shower Committee demonstrate their resilience and determination by creating an alternative to the Military Baby Shower event that was to take place June 13th. Since social distancing is still in practice and safety is the primary concern, the National Guard Base and the Baby Shower Committee have decided to schedule a pickup time for each expectant family to come to the base and receive all their baby gifts and essentials that we have collected and made for them. A skeleton crew from the Committee will be on hand to pass out the items and congratulate the families. In this way we can still maintain our mission to provide support and care for our active military families and their newest patriots!

Lady Putters Love Babies!

The Lady Putters under the guidance of Janet Wegner collected various baby items for the upcoming Military Baby Shower. They also provided a cash donation of $320 which will be used to buy assorted baby clothes. Many thanks to the Lady Putters for their generosity and support of our active military families.

2021 Fashion Show: “It Can Be Done”

Want to get involved in this worthwhile cause and have fun at the same time? Planning for our 2021 Fashion Show to benefit the American Cancer Society is underway and we need YOUR help. Honor a survivor or loved one lost to cancer, help save lives of people in our local community and around the world. It only takes a little time to do a lot of good.

We have several volunteer opportunities available this year and are happy to help find one that matches your unique talents and interests. We look forward to having you join our fun team! Winter residents and visitors are welcomed to volunteer and need not attend Spring/Summer meetings to participate (if we even have any!). Meetings will be scheduled once the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

For more information or to volunteer, please contact Paula (fashionshow@womenqc.com) and Lisa (Johnson333@cox.net).

New & Notable: Memorial Scholarship Opportunity

Sadness came knocking on the doors of the TWOQC Scholarship Committee very recently when we learned of the passing of Mike Sullivan, beloved husband of 62-years of our dear friend and colleague Clarice Sullivan.

In an email Clarice wrote: “Mike was, of course, not involved in the WIT process, but he had great interest in what Scholarship is doing for women in transition. He followed the selection of applicants and the interviewing of the winners and had some ‘favorites’, this year.”

In recognition of Mike’s interest and in gratitude to Clarice for all she does to enable the Women-In-Transition scholarship program, the committee unanimously decided to establish the Michael Sullivan Memorial Scholarship.

Those wishing to contribute may write a check to: TWOQC Scholarship Charity Account with the check memo: Mike Sullivan Memorial Scholarship

Checks or cash can be sent to:

TWOQC Scholarship Charity Account
Attn: Suzan Bryceland
618 N. Yucca Butte Lane
Green Valley, AZ 85614

This will be a wonderful living memorial to Mike and a token of our affection for Clarice.

Connecting With Our Community

HANDS OF A FRIEND FOUNDATION (Genesis House)

Who are they? Why do we support them?

Genesis House is a shelter for female victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse and their children. Located in the Green Valley/Sahuarita area, it was founded in 2007 by Patti O’Berry (1944-2019), herself a victim of violence. Recent renovations to the shelter have increased the capacity to 50 beds which is currently serving residents aged 87 to newborn. It costs $60 per night to support each resident.

A primary source of revenue for Hands of a Friend is DaZee’s Resale Shop, selling high end gently used women’s and men’s clothing. DaZee’s in Green Valley (399-4671), is temporarily closed due to COVID 19.

In addition to the safehouse, the Hands of a Friend Foundation provides residents access to resources such as the Poverty to Payroll Program (employment development), parenting classes, nutrition and health counseling, GED programs, computer classes, and medical and dental emergency work.

TWOQC has a long-standing association with Hands of a Friend, the foundation supporting Genesis House. It began in 2011 with a donation of $4,200 garnered from the sales of thermal totes and aprons. In 2015 the proceeds from the sale of the TWOQC cookbook, “A Shared Table” provided an additional $7,000. In April we donated $500. Thanks to strong interest from the membership, annual donations are provided and requests for specific projects are considered.

The Hands of a Friend Foundation is grateful to TWOQC for much needed monetary support. For more information, visit handsofafriend.org

HOMELESS AND HOSPITALIZED VETERANS

The VA is beginning to accept select donations at the end of the month. Toiletries to include sunscreen, reading glasses and snack items will be accepted for homeless veterans and greeting and playing cards, puzzle books and calendars are on the list for the hospitalized veterans. Please take any donations to Peggy McGee’s house, 1908 E Longspur Place on June 4. She will take them to the VA on June 5. They are not accepting clothing at this time.

WOMEN WARRIORS

Women Warriors, a 501(c)3 in Tucson, will accept women’s summer weight clothing to include sandals and purses. Take them to Peggy on June 4. If you want a receipt for tax purposes, please include your name, address, and phone number and approximate value of your donation.

PROGRAM DATES

(♦) 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

Check the Online Calendar for additional events, general & committee meetings, events reservation dates, ticket selling dates, & other deadlines (as they become available)
Programs & Events (topics, locations, dates, & times) are subject to change.
For questions, contact: programs@womenqc.com

FMM CONTRIBUTORS: Becky A. (survey), Karen B. (baby shower), Marilyn B. (scholarships), Marianne C. (banner), Carin K./Tessie H. (fundraising task force), Pat N./Peggy M. (community connections), and Paula T. (fashion show). PUBLISHING TEAM: President, 1st Vice President, and Webmaster.