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Jackson Women of Today The Phoenix Newsletter |
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Home | February Food Pantry Distribution Canceled | Gift Auction | Pancake Breakfast and Easter Egg Hunt | Our Purpose | Executive Board 2009 - 2010 | JWOT In The News | Becoming a Member | Member News | The Phoenix Newsletter | Food Pantry | Calendar of Events | New Jersey Women of Today | Contact Us
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HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MEMBERS! PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Suzanne Rogalsky It is winter outside,
but you didn’t need me to tell you that! This winter has been especially
challenging – and I think I now know the definition of the term “icy cold.”
On King day, which was a balmy 50 degrees, Ken and I went for a walk at the beach.
We were joined by many other people out running and walking their dogs, but of course the beach itself is closed. There are no coffee shops or ice cream stands open.
People have their Christmas ornaments still on their lawn. (Note to self: next year I want the blow-up Santa in the Hawaiian shirt with the surfboard!). It is during a stretch of bleak, dreary days that I say to my husband, “I hate
winter – let’s move to FROM THE INSIDE Jodie Long We've been talking
about family recently and a few people even submitted their thoughts on the idea of what family means to them. Please take
the time to read them as they all have something very touching to say. I hope that everyone takes the time to be with their
family, not just for this last week of January, but always. Family is precious, through good times and bad, family is that
vital part of our lives. For me family is the most important part of my life. My mom is my best friend and the one person who knows me and loves me for the person I am. With all my faults and
all my strengths I know she will always be there for me. And those of you who have known me know that Friday nights at Grandma's
is a big part of my life. So much so that I even asked that our New Member Orientation be at 8pm so I can make it to grandma's.
I also extend that feeling of family to my friends. Someone once told me that your friend's are G-d's way of making up for
your family. Well, sometimes that is true! So please come
out and spend some time with your JWOT family in February. Our dinner meeting will be February 8th at 6:30pm at Scala Trattoria
in the Have a Lovely Valentine's Day! A word from the External Vice President Susan DeCarlo First of all, I’d like to wish you all a healthy,
peaceful and prosperous new year 2010 Soldier Care –
Operation One of our Own We have teamed
up with other community 501c(3) Chapters to help with raising money for a young man from Gift Auction/Fashion Show –this
event will take place at the Volunteer Fair – was on Monday, January 18th at the
Jackson Library. A big “THANK
YOU” to Kathy Muller who spent the day there on behalf of the JWOT handing out information on our Chapter as well as
the Food Pantry and signing up potential new members. Memorial Day Parade & Observance – I think it would be great
if the JWOT were to march in this year’s parade, something to think about over the next couple of months. We are looking for a chair to help coordinate our participation. Please take the
time to review the External clip board at each meeting, we have a busy calendar and will need your support to make these events
successful. As always, thank
you……………………. MEMBER SPOTLIGHT “Susan DeCarlo” Born in JANUARY SUNSHINE Happy
Birthday! Mary Ellen
Grelis NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION First I want to say how happy we are to have so many new members joining Jackson Women of Today.
You bring new ideas, energy, enthusiasm and spirit to this organization and we want to make sure that is nurtured. So, please
come to our New Member Orientation on Friday January 29th.It will be a fun and informative evening. Vested members are
also invited. It will be at 8pm and we ask that you bring an appetizer, dessert or drink. This will be at Vickie Vitale's
home: This get together also happens to fall between the dates of
January 24-30 which is Family Week. Since Jackson Women of Today is somewhat of an extended family for many of us it ties in nicely with the goal of that
week and that is...Spend some quality time with your family that week. Take some pictures to share with us. Tell us something
about that experience; tell us about what your family means to you. All my best, Jodie Long Internal VP What Does
Family Mean to Me? Vickie Vitale Coming from a large family with 7 children, family has always meant sharing, a lot of laughing
and crying, good times and not so good ones, big holidays with all of us plus husbands (and or boyfriends) and nieces/nephews
and plenty of home cooked traditional foods all day and night. It also means many weddings, birthdays, babies, graduations
and more. I am currently the proud aunt of 15 nieces and nephews and 1- 3 yr.old great-nephew.
I am very lucky to have great in-laws also and that both families all got along. Family is also about all the great
recipes for traditional dishes (Italian of course) handed down from generation to generation, as I see my nieces
and nephews now using them. That's Amore'!! “WHAT DOES FAMILY MEAN TO ME" Valerie Jasiecki When most people think of family, they think of blood relatives, such as brothers, sisters, parents, children,
etc. When I think of family I think of a whole group of people that have come and gone in my life. These people have made
me who I am today. I have learned to be independent and patient. I have learned to be strong for my children and to defend
my beliefs. I have worked hard to get where I am today, so work ethics is a part of my life which I can credit to my hard
working parents. I try to be less critical of others, but sometimes I fail, which is human. But putting the effort into not
criticizing should count for something. We sometimes are more critical of family members than we are of friends or strangers
if they do something to hurt us. That is
not right, so forgiveness should be at the top of the list, depending on the severity of the problem. Now my blood family
is a whole range of different ethnic, religious and political backgrounds. We always get along because we understand that
is what family is all about. To understand each other is what is needed to sustain a common balance for peace. When your family
is so diverse in many areas, you have to adapt. Otherwise you will lose out on many enjoyable family gatherings. I realized
at a young age that family is important because no one is with us forever. People have come and gone through the years, so
missing those that have gone, should bring the ones left behind closer. Having a strong bond in hard times and good times,
can help you through a difficult situation. Caring for each other is a plus. Family is there to back you up. To keep you strong.
To give advice when you need it or even when
you do not want it. Family is good times and bad times. Time to share things and to tell stories of days gone by. To pass
mementos on. To give important information to each other. To laugh and enjoy the company of each other. To fight and argue, but also view each others differences
with an open mind and
still remain on friendly terms. Family does not mean
controlling someone, but helping them out through your own experiences that you gained in life. Family doesn't keep count of who did or didn't do something
to your satisfaction. Family is formed through friendship and hope. Through a common goal or interests. Family is not always formed by blood. Family is formed through
love, birth, marriage, adoption, friendship, through work and a purpose to achieve something that you feel is important. Getting
together as often as you can, whether for 5 minutes or 5 hours or 5 days, is something that should be cherished. That
is my idea of what family means to me. I could go on and on, because I love my family and all the different aspects that come
with it. But keeping in mind that we are here for such a short time, makes you appreciate what you have today in your family! “What family means to me." A family means being together in good times and in bad times.
Kathy Mueller “What does family mean to me?” Family is special! Caring and sharing and always being there for each other. Special memories will forever be with you. Vacations
are a great opportunity to spend special times together. Family love leaves special
feelings in the heart. Have fun with family members! Diane Stanaway Family. What does family mean to me? It means warmth, security and
comfort. It means having a place to “be”. Be yourself, be among trust and be among love. That is what “family”
means to me now. That is not always what it meant to me. I will say merely that
I did not have the best of childhoods. I left home at 16. Never did I have the parental support I now give my children. No
one came to my concerts or cheered for me at events. I had to scrounge for rides
and the money to participate in activities. I worked full time and put myself
through college. I was married at 21 and Ken and I have raised our 4 children
completely on our own. I will not go into any more detail than that because I
really try not to dwell on the past or use “my parents” or “my childhood” as an excuse for vices or
bad behavior even though I am sure that it is some of the reason for all of the choices I make. How can we spend the first 16 years of our life with our first introduction to trust and belonging and
NOT have our experiences affect us whatever their quality? My plan for my
life was to graduate from college (I did) and work full-time at a high-profile accounting firm – make lots of money
– and travel the world (I did not. I still plan to travel someday…). Ken and I were childhood sweethearts so I always knew I would marry him. I did not know we would have children – that was not part of my plan.
It was, however, part of God’s plan. I felt ill-equipped to be a
mother to one child and I ended up with 4. To top it off, I evaluated child-care
facilities while pregnant for the first time – and that experience was the end of my career plans. It makes me laugh
now when I think of my past plans – and I suck in my breath and my heart stops beating when I think about those four
children. Each is spirited, smart and talented.
How did THAT happen? I will admit that my mothering techniques have been
,at times, “unique”.
I have definitely felt that I had no idea what I was doing. But they turned
out ok! Better than ok! We have
moved from the phases of “caretaking” and “disciplining” to more “mentoring”, “supporting”
and “guiding”. My oldest daughter (now almost the same age I was
when I was married!)- has frequently “hated me” and two seconds later loved me – has become more of a companion
and a friend. There was a time
in my life when I longed for a family. A time when I wished there was someone
out there who had made me their first priority – and considered me their precious gift.
There were many lonely holidays and empty dinner plates. Now I have
what I always wanted. Our date book is full of soccer games, concerts and plays. Our refrigerator is empty. Our table
is full. Sometimes, there are so many people in my house that I cannot hear myself
think. When it is almost too much to bear and I want everyone to be quiet –
I remember what that quiet was like. So, “family”
to me now means many things. It means people to care for and love. It means voices around the dinner table and watching a winter movie and a lazy day at the beach together. It means girls ‘days out and boys’ camping trips. It means my children will never have to be alone or lonely. It
is the best of all things. Suzanne Rogalsky JAN 29 NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION – 8 PM –
VICKIE FEB 8
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP DINNER MEETING FEB 13
SATURDAY STOCKING 9-1 FEB 23 STOCKING FEB 24 WEDNESDAY
DISTRIBUTION FEB 25 THURSDAY
DISTRIBUTION – FEB 27 SORTING
Save the
date: FEB (TBA)
FAMILY BOWLING MARCH 19
GIFT AUCTION MARCH (TBA) PANCAKE BREAKFAST Running Projects: SECRET HEALTHY JWOT
2010-2011 ELECTIONS According
to the By-laws, a nominating committee shall be formed at the regular February meeting and shall consist of the Chair of the
Board and other members appointed by the Chair of the Board. No
member of the nominating committee can be a candidate for office by action of the nominating committee. A nominating committee member may be nominated from the floor. This
committee shall announce at least one nominee for each office at the March meeting.
Additional names may be placed in nomination from the floor at this meeting. The
election of officers shall take place during the April meeting. Eligibility
to run for office shall be limited to those members in good standing who belong to this organization for at least 6 months
prior to elections and who have attended 50% of the 6 meetings. All presidential
candidates must have served one year on the Executive Board. PRACTICAL PROGRAMMING State/National Director-Vickie Vitale Note:
Please make sure to read thru as there is some very important info for yearend that you don’t want to miss!!! I want to just
send out a reminder for filling out your programming certifications for the remainder of the year. With only 3 months left to go in the year, it’s never too early to get your paper work in for awards. Please also remember that I issued “A CHALLENGE” for all JWOT, back in
September which involves a FREE gift card and goodie bag if you complete all the areas, or most of them. So please take the
time to read all the info below and I will be resending the certification areas
by email in case you missed a meeting when they were presented. Also, if you
would like to complete any of the Personal Enrichment areas missed,
I will send you a questionnaire to complete. So let’s get your certs in
so we can bring home many awards for Yearend! Last Chance to compete for awards! The 2009-2010 year
has been in full swing for the NJ Women of Today with many events and fundraisers taking place in the community. Just remember that everything you do with the Jackson Women,
whether it is at a meeting, a social, or out in the community will apply toward any of the areas for certifications (the Personal
Enrichment 5 areas-effective writing and speaking, team building, effective listening, and leadership; Focus on Women, Chaplain,
and the STEP I, II, III areas). If you have any questions regarding these areas
and certifying, please drop me a line (vvitale@optonline.net or phone). Also, as an added benefit, many of the tasks you perform at home,
on the job, or at your local clubs, churches and schools also qualify for certification areas. So please take
a minute to jot down some of these tasks and create a list, along with the JW calendar so you have information at hand, to
fill in the certification forms. The programming team and I will be going over the areas at each meeting as the “emphasis”
months occur (which means, each month is assigned an area on the national JWOT calendar, i.e. Oct. = Chaplain). Remember these forms are also your record of YOUR accomplishments in JW and the community! Please contact me, Vickie, for forms and info and I will help you complete fast and easy. It really is an easy thing to do! THE YEAREND CHALLENGE FOR ALL!! So you think certifications are boring;
don’t have time to fill out the forms, or just don’t care???? Well
you may just care once you read about this year’s challenge for Year End awards! For those of you
that fill out the forms and try and complete all the required areas, there
will be a gift incentive (gift bag filled with lovely gifts worth up to $25) given to ANYONE who have the most areas completed. Those with less completed
certs will also receive a gift incentive. That means, the Areas listed in paragraph 1: personal enrichment 5, FOW, Chaplain,
STEP (any area). Anyone completing all the Areas, including a Project Recognition
report with completed File Folder, will receive a special gift card worth up to
$25 (of your choice from a select list), in addition to a gift bag!! So let’s get going and get your paperwork in, whether it’s online or in
person. Everyone wants a “free”
gift!!! These incentives
for certifications will run from September 1st to May 1st, 2010.
So let’s get going fellow members, as the competition starts NOW!!! PLEASE NOTE: ALL PAPERWORK AND
PROJECT RECOGNITION REPORTS ARE DUE TO ME BEFORE APRIL 27TH, 2010 FOR MAILING TO NATIONAL. One last note,
Congratulations to those members (4 so far and Counting?) that have completed all the certification areas. Don’t forget your OAP’s that cover all the area’s and need to also be turned in to finish
the NJ challenge. So please keep challenging yourselves through “participation
and certifications” as you may be the next award recipient of the Good luck to everyone! PROGRAMMING YEAREND SCHEDULE TO BE COMPLETED First, all certification
forms, in all areas, due to Vickie Vitale by April 27th in order to postmark to national staff by April 30th. This allows me time to go over all the forms and make sure all dates, names and chapter
info are correct for submission. Please follow all requirements and check and
recheck for correct info and attachments allowed.
-
STEP I, II, III (Emphasis months or yearend) -
Focus on Women (Emphasis months or yearend) -
Chaplain (Emphasis month or yearend) -
Personal Enrichmt.Areas: Exercises
for Team Bldg, Leadership, Listening, Effective Writing/Speaking (done at meetings only during EM, except Eff.Speaking) -
FOW Essay Stat Sheet -
Effective Writing/Speaking Forms and
Stat Sheet for competition -
STEP II & III Resume Forms (Info
Below Also) -
Project Recognition report outlines,
requirements, and STAT Sheet
-
Feb. 2010 – National Charity
Buckets of Sunshine, Extensions, Ext.Area DV -
March 2010 – STEP areas (Phyllis
Lewis) (last 2 months to submit, sign a member and complete all requiremts); Membership, USWT Foundation. -
April 2010 – PE Area: Effective Listening (Marsha Wydra); Volunteer recognition, Ext. Area DV (last Time). ************************ S.T. E. P. NATIONAL YEAR END COMPETITIONS 2008-2009 AS JWOT/USWT MEMBERS, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO COMPETE IN THE STEP II RESUME COMPETITION,
IF YOU HAVE BEEN A MEMBER UNDER 1 YEAR. JUST FIND THE FORM ON THE uswt.org SITE OR CONTACT VICKIE FOR THE FORMS.
IT IS SIMPLE TO DO AS IT IS JUST ABOUT YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN WOT AND YOUR COMMUNITY/PERSONAL LIFE. ALL FEES ARE PAID FOR
BY NJWT. GO FOR IT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS! AWARDS ARE WAITING FOR THE NJWOT!! GOOD LUCK…..Vickie V.
STEP
II: Resume’ (ONLY) – see USWT forms Does not require attendance at National Convention For members who have belonged to Women of Today for 12 mos. or less. Great opportunity for 1st year members to receive recognition
for their hard work. Guidelines: Copy of completed STEP II Certification Form
4 Copies of STEP II Resume, not to exceed three (3) typed pages, securely fastened
Must use 12 point font size
Letter of Recommendation Cost: $5.00 – payable to USWT Deadline: May 1, 2009 postmarked Submit to National STEP PM (Vickie Vitale, STEP III: Resume’ and Oral Interview Requires Attendance at National Year End Convention for Oral Interview
in June. For members who have belonged to WT for over a year, and for any past member in good standing
that leaves organization for any length of time and rejoins at a later date. Guidelines: Copy of completed STEP III Certification form
4 Copies of STEP III Resume, not to exceed ten (10) typed pages, securely fastened Must
use 12 point font size Letter
of recommendation
Competitor will be asked to recite USWT Creed at competition Cost: $5.00 - payable to USWT Deadline: May 1, 2009 postmarked Submit to National STEP PM (Kim Troudt, 3506 22nd Ave, YEAR-END
ESSAY COMPETITIONS - NATIONAL 2010 FOCUS ON WOMEN
National Year
End Competition Essay Topic: How
I Make a Difference When I Share My Spirit! Guidelines: 800 - 1200 words; typed, double spaced; send 4 copies with 4 stat sheets -
each copy in a binder or folder Does not require attendance at National Convention Cost: $5.00 - payable to USWT Deadline: May 1, 2009 postmark Submit to National FOW/Chaplain PM (Cindy Umland, RE-GIFT BREAKFAST I would like to thank the ladies and gentleman who attended the project.
We were joined by a guest that enjoys the JWOT and we were also joined by members from the Diane Stanaway Chair of the Board Facts
Facts Board Members Diane Stanaway, President Diana Fraundorfer, Executive Vice President Suzanne Rogalsky, Treasurer Christine Sheridan, Corresponding Secretary Pat Rhein, Chair of the Board
I hope you enjoy the All articles are welcome. Please send them to me as an attachment with
February http://jacksonwomen.tripod.com
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