As February gets underway, we are having another set of โ Blursdaysโ as Robyn reported, where each day resembles the last, they blur together. BUT we can take action and do some self-care and make the most of our stay home orders. Here is a short but helpful list of suggestions, do one or two a day:ย
Start your day with 30 minutes of exercise.ย
Meditate for 10 minutes.ย ย
Put out a bird feeder.ย
Take a bubble bath while listening to relaxing music.ย
Call a longtime friend and remind them you care.ย
Swap favorite recipes with a friend.ย
Burn your favorite candle.ย
Look for ways to continue to do service in the community individually.ย
Log in to YOUTUBE and search for Ask About Altrusa.ย Gillian Allen introduces Leanne Milligan, Linda and Brenda Smith, Katie McKenzie, Silvia Silverman and maybe others, begun in summer 2020.ย
Get YOUR Corona Virus Vaccine.ย
Attend our Zoom meeting on Feb. 15 for more ideas.ย
As a partial clarification to a comment made in Januaryโs newsletter, the 2021 Convention will still be held in North Carolina in July 2021, and will also be offered virtually to those who prefer. Watch for an update from Beverly Hardy and the International team.ย ย
It seems that many of our family members have been touched personally by this virus, continue to pray for them, care for them, and do all that we can to stop the spread.ย ย
Much love,ย
Ellen
March 10:ย Board Meeting, 4:30 pm (via Zoom)
March 13:ย Book Club, 10:00 am
March 15:ย Program/Business Meeting, 6:00 pm (via Zoom)
Hello and I hope this message finds you all doing well.
As I sit to write to you today, the weather is dull, gray, and wet!
A poem comes to mind-please enjoyโฆ
January cold and desolate;
February dripping wet;
March wind ranges;
April changes;
Birds sing in tune
To flowers of May,
And sunny June
Brings longest day;
In scorched July
The storm-clouds fly,
Lightning-torn;
August bears corn,
September fruit;
In rough October
Earth must disrobe her;
Stars fall and shoot
In keen November;
And night is long
And cold is strong
In bleak December.
-Christina Rossetti
February 2021-who knew we would be in the midst of a pandemic! The good news, is many of us, and our loved ones, are getting vaccinated, many schools will be reopening, and we can see โthe light at the end of the tunnelโ. We must still remain careful and respect this invisible enemy; we are not โout of the woodsโ just yet!ย
Altrusa recognizes The World Day of Social Justice. This day has been celebrated on the 20th of February every year since 2009 on the promotion of the United Nations Organization (UNO).
Theme of World Day of Social Justice 2021 is a โCall for Social Justice in the Digital Economyโ. The World Day of Social Justice guides us to work in a world where everyone is treated with justice and he/she is offered access to the opportunities he/she wants as per the international standards. The day tells us that we should never allow any kind of hate, bias, or social injustice to contaminate our diverse global world.ย
Please have a pleasant February and thank you for all you do, every day!
Guess what?
Jennifer is going to be a grandma! June is going to be a great-grandma!ย
Jenniferโs son Kyle and wife, Carly are expecting a baby GIRL in August!ย
Excited is an understatement.ย ย
Carol had great reasons to smile in January.ย She was finally able to see her grandchildren in Connecticut over the MLK holiday. ย Sophie is 5 and Philip is 2.ย They celebrated late Christmas.ย All of their decorations were up except the tree.ย Carol had to quarantine but we had fun on walks and at the neighborhood parks.ย Carol also enjoyed the previous weekend celebrating grandson Victor's fourth birthday in Midlothian.ย They visited the nature center at Maymont.ย ย
In January Blanch enjoyed harvesting and cooking container-grown collards and Swiss chard.ย She also picked lettuce. Thanks to a borrowed sewing machine from Fran, She was able to design and sew face masks.ย
Barbara S. had her left knee totally replaced February 4.ย The knee has been bothering her since an injury in college \- a long time ago.ย She is doing well and has a health care nurse and a physical therapist coming to her home for two weeks.ย She will then graduate to a Physical Therapy site.ย Barbara would appreciate cards, phone calls, and donations to Seton Youth Shelter.ย
Cindy recently noticed a young woman standing in a parking lot of her local Harris Teeter. Kelly is her name, and she told Cindy that she had indeed been living on the streets. She was well bundled up but it was a bitterly cold day. She had no gloves. I gave her mine.
Fran is happy to report she has completed her covid shots with no side effects. She has still making masks, now over 2300 total.ย Keeping busy babysitting her precious great grandbaby Remi a few days per week. She is the light of her life and loves going for walks even in the cold weather.
Shari has been working in front of the computer since the beginning of time (or at least that's what it feels like!).ย She received her first vaccination and will get the second next month.ย She enjoys being home with Phillip and Casey.ย ย
Ellen and Robyn have been walking to stay healthy.
Hi Everyone,
We flew down to Florida in March 2020 pretty much oblivious to the impeding pandemic. But by the time we got off the plane our plans to attend preseason baseball had been canceled and within several days we were back home again wondering what just happen.ย ย
Since then, Iโve been gardening, exercising, and attending many zoom meetings of clubs and groups that were previously in person.ย Also wrote lots of political postcards, listened to podcasts, read more books, finished Shutterfly photo books, worked on a few masks, cleaned out closets and visited my father-in-law in Delaware as well as my grandchildren in Richmond and western Virginia. We also managed to get together at the holidays with family at a rental home in Lake Anna. We have been extremely fortunate during this time and worry about those who have not been.ย
I try to stay informed and connected to avoid being consumed by the turmoil in our country. Iโve come to realize that our democracy can never be taken for granted.ย
Take care,
June
February 8 Frances Glover
February 14 Susan Corey
February 15 Tracey Garbers
Febraury 19 Betty Redfern
February 25 Ellen Barta
February Kathy Dalby
February 25 Blanch Wise
If you haven't reviewed the District Two Service Bulletin, take a look at it by clicking here.
Days for Girls is the winner of the ORG of the Year Award!
Exciting news! Days for Girls is thrilled to announce that we are now a ๐ต๐ธ๐ฐ-๐ต๐ช๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ธ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ณ at this yearโsย
Public Interest Registryย
#ORGImpactAwards! It is an honor and privilege to accept our award for both โ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐๐ฏ๐ข๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฌโ and โ.๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ซโ categories.ย
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The annual .ORG Impact Awards celebrate mission-driven organizations changing the world for the better. And this year, amidst extraordinary circumstance and struggle, it has never been more important to look for (and spotlight) the helpers.ย
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We are truly humbled to serve alongside this year's remarkable lineup of fellow helpers, do-gooders and changemakers. Our team has poured every ounce of our collective energy into supporting women, girls and communities throughout the #COVID-19 pandemic โ and weโre so grateful to be recognized for our efforts!ย
Read our full statement (and watch our inspiring video spotlight) on the blog . OR YouTube Video
Girl Scouts troop 505 contacted Susan Corey about participating in Days for Girls. Susan met with their leader Jackie Drotar and Becca.ย They shopped for fabrics and contacted Ellen via Zoom as they began making liners Sunday Feb. 7 We look forward to when we can meet in person for workshops!