SWINGING INTO SPRING

 The 13 Annual Spring Luncheon and Fashion Show was held on March 19,2022.

The theme was Swinging into Spring. The tables were beautifully set and ready for over 300 women, and a few men,  to attend.

There were many lovely items tor women to bid on at the Silent Auction.

Margaret Lay, Andrea Beaver, Carol Lane, Pat Herring, Jan Becherer and Sandy Gravil-Ries worked several months getting about 50 beautiful opportunity baskets created.

The hardest part for those attending was what bag you wanted to put a ticket in,  the best thing to do was buy more tickets.

The lunch was a variety of  delicious salads.

Table 36 remembered their friend Linda Moles, who always had a table at the luncheon. She was missed.

A special thanks was given to Jim and Betty Johnson, owners of the Village Goldsmith in Clermont which has now been closed.  Jim has been a strong supporter of UMW for many years, and also to many other organizations in the area. His concern for others is amazing. Customer satisfaction was the hallmark of the establishment. For the ladies, your spirits were lifted as you were handed a carnation at the conclusion of your business. Jim will be sorely missed and we wish him and Ms.Betty good health and many blessings as they embark on this new phase of life. 

Betty was the very efficient chair person of this luncheon. Time to relax with a picture at the photo booth.

Dottie was glad all the luncheon tickets had been sold and people were ready to come.

Janet and friends from Well of Hope enjoying dressing up from the items at the photo booth and having a picture taken to remember the time spent together.

The volunteers praying together and getting last minute instructions before the doors opened to guest at 10:30.

The room was full of talking and laughter.

 Many beautiful opportunity baskets to try and win.

At 11:30 Diane welcomed everyone.

She introduced two of the recipient organizations that will benefit from the money raised this year.

Pastor Broadway shared about Find, Feed and Restore.  Their mission is for housing for all people at all times.  A video was shown that highlighted the program of providing a home for a homeless family with children. Giving them a place to live till they can obtain self-sufficiency. Feed, Find and Restore  have recently purchased property, Restore Lake. It will  house more individuals and have a Women's Domestic Violence Shelter.

Pastor Michael has Well Of Hope Food Bank in the Four Corners Area. He told of their connection with the Methodist church since working with his church to help house some individuals that had been displaced by Hurricane Katrina, and for the past few years members from our church who help at the Food Bank.

Pastor Dawn expressed her gratitude that the luncheon was being held. She said the blessing and then everyone enjoyed a delicious lunch.

Before the fashion show began Jan announced the winning ticket for some of the opportunity baskets. Shouts of joy and hands were waved as women realized they were the winner.

Maxine from Fashion Labels in Leesburg put on the fashion show. There were seven models, all  members from our circles or from the recipient organizations. They modeled three sets of clothing. The first set of clothes were casual attire. 

Sherry Pilon

Kathy Werner

Shannon Herrera

Lorna Broersma

Mavis Sonaram

Betty Johnson

Sandy Osten-Sacken

Diane also wore an outfit from Fashion Lablels. 

 The next set of outfits were more dressy.

Sherry

Shannon

Lorna

Mavis

Betty

Sandy

The last set was getting dressed for a special occassion, like a cruise.

Sherry

Kathy

Shannon

Lorna

Mavis

Betty

Sandy

All the opportunity baskets were given out and women were informed if they had won an item at the silent auction. Then the  winner of the dine around town gift card tree was announce. The grateful winner was Marilyn, a lady who works with Faith Neighborhood. There were over $400 worth of gift cards and it raised over $900.

 We are thankful to the many people and businesses that donated gift cards and items to make this a very profitable and fun event. We appreciate that so many women attended, purchased opportunity tickets and bid on the silent auction items.  Many people will be helped by everyone's generosity. 

2022 SPECIAL MISSION RECOGNITION RECIPIENTS

Sherry Pilon is no longer a UMW member due to her work with the We-Care program, Sherry works very hard on UMW projects. Each year on her own time she makes an amazing number of jars of jam, tomato sauce, pie filling, and pickles to be sold at the Holiday Bazaar. Recently she prepared and served lunch for over 100 volunteers who built beds for "Sleep in Heavenly Peace"  Sherry serves with Pastor Dawn on the We-Care team to help shepherd and care for members of our church community. She truly has a servant's heart.

Diane Wells has the special honor of having a 50 year UMW membership pin. In her 9 years at FUMC, she has been a leader of Daughters of Lydia, SMR pin chair, and head of the mission Selection Committee, deciding which local missions will receive funds. A very special project of Diane's has been organizing the Christmas stockings to place newborn babies at South Lake Hospital in for their trip home.  With her continued membership in the National Association of  Social Workers, she is drawn to delivering supplies to Faith Neighborhood Center to Faith Neighborhood Center, Lov Extension, and Forward Paths.
 

Fred Staudt is the husband of one of our members and frequently attends UMW functions, assisting where needed. He willingly sets up equipment and carries supplies for our special events.  Fred is a participant with eh Weekday Warriors on the church campus as he helps with landscaping, painting, and carpentry projects. As a weekly volunteer at Faith Neighborhood Center, he and his wife, Mary Sue, have a special project of going to garage sales to purchase children's books to give away when a child accompanies their parent.  Fred always has a positive attitude and is an example of the UMW motto "Putting Faith, Hope and Love into action"

Rula Roberts shines her light throughout her activities within the church and the community. Her ability with finances has made her a valuable treasurer of Circle of J.O.Y. and Searchers Sunday School Class, along with handling the sales and reservations for the Spring Fundraising Luncheon. She is part of a Life Group at FUMC that focuses on helping Faith Neighborhood Center, where she and her husband are volunteers.  Within the community, Rula and her husband attend most city council meetings and provide transportation to medical appointments when needed. She was a dear friend of Opal McClanahan for many years and prayed with her in her final days.

Dallis Wehr is the food ministry manager and is very supportive of UMW fundraising events, especially with a wonderful luncheon for our Spring Fashion Show.  Dallis prepared over 13,500 meals in 2021 for the church Food for Friends program, serving approximately 100 clients a week plus lunches for the Wesley Christian Academy. Her support of community activities helps to promote FUMC.

 motto "Putting Faith, Hope, and Love into Action".

BUILDING BRIDGES TO LEADERSHIP

The East Central District (ECD)  leadership meeting was held by zoom January 29th.  One of the goals of UMW is to support women to become leaders, so this meeting was for all our members. 

Anne Winn, President of  ECD welcomed everyone..  Our unit had a good representation of officers .

Mary Ann is the district's new treasurer.

Her presentation  helped to  understand all the ways we give to missions.

Your pledge is important and usually the largest amount you give every year to missions. 

Ann Vogt has Gift in Memory cards. You give your contribution (a minimum of $5) when you use the card.  

We are a five star unit.

We had seven Rainbow Givers in our unit last year. Maybe more can do it this year.

We also support missions through these programs.

This year the Prayer and Self Denial offering goes to help support deaconesses and home missions.

Almost half of the United Methodist Women Revenue comes from our Mission Giving.

How our giving is at work around the world.

Doris presented about the importance of growing our membership.

We need to think of new ways of doing things.

Women who are not in any UNW unit seek spiritual women's group that have fun and service/action activities. 

Talk about UMW and invite a women to join you. Keep in touch with each other.

Use the UMW Program Book, plan an activity. be social active, and include several  members.

Ester  Kim was our guest presenter from conference.

She talked on nurturing each other so we can grow. Just like a garden, some plant some water.

These are things a leader does to become a good leader. Are you ready to lead?

Anne talked about being the President in UMW.

When we say we can't we are really saying we don't want to.

This is often what is said when someone is asked to become the President. Anne then told how each is not true or can be overcome. 

There are others to help on your team and you should be delegating the work. 

Don't let the title scare you.

The job description is in the pledge we say at each meeting. 

Women supporting women to grow.

All of us are leaders in our homes and some at jobs so lets bring these skills to UMW. 

 Next there were breakout groups for each of the offices on the leadership team. This gave the opportunity to learn from each other and give support.

 Join the team and become a leader in your circle, unit or district.