Sunday, September 28, 2008
We're so grateful for all of your help!
I'm grateful for the opportunity to make a difference. I was part of a crew that assembled gifts for an upcoming conference for leaders of homeless shelters. Not something you think about, right? That those people also get together to exchange what in the corporate world we called "best practices"? We also learned that the average age of people passing through the Holland Rescue Mission these days is--what would you think? I've asked a few people, who've said 38? 47? 29? Nope. The answer is 12. Twelve years old, on average. That was shocking to me.
But I digress. What I meant to do was to create a place where other folks could share their stories from Women's Volunteer Day 2008. What did you do? How did it feel? Wasn't it a beautiful day?
Thursday, September 18, 2008
What to bring and expect on September 25
- We're holding a raffle, so bring some cash! See the terrific donated raffle prizes in earlier posts below.
- We're collecting donations for Holland Rescue Mission; the items they need are listed below.
- Bring work gloves (and rubber gloves if you prefer to use them for indoor cleaning).
- Wear (or bring, just in case) CLOSE-TOED SHOES to protect your toes.
Here's what the day will look like:
8:00-8:15 a.m.
- Arrive at Hope Church, centrally located at 77 West Eleventh Street in Holland (between River and Pine Avenues, just south of downtown Holland and west of Centennial Park).
- Drop off your donations for Holland Rescue Mission just inside the door.
- Check in at the Welcome Table (we're requesting a breakfast donation of $5) and buy raffle tickets ($1 each, 6 for $5, or 14 for $10).
- Draw your table number, which will also indicate your crew assignment.
- Distribute your raffle tickets among the artwork donated by four talented women.
- Go to the table number you received and meet your crew and agency representative.
- Help yourself to the breakfast buffet and network with your crew while you wait for the raffle drawing results.
- Adjourn with your crew to your work site. Remember to take along a crew assignment card from your table, as well as an apple and granola bar for a snack at your work site.
- Plan to have lunch with your crew and wrap up by 3:00 p.m. Unless, of course, you're in the groove--then stay at your work site as long as you like.
Our donation drive this year is for women and children at the Holland Rescue Mission's Family Hope Ministry Center, which shelters women, children, and intact families experiencing homelessness.
For women, the Mission needs: new panties and socks; shampoo, conditioner, hair gel/spray/mousse/etc., combs, brushes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, disposable razors, lotion, and feminine hygiene products.
For children, the Mission needs: diapers, wipes, sippy cups, pacifiers, bibs, onesies, and toddler/preschool snacks.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Raffle Prize: Painting
Raffle Prize: Oil Painting
Raffle Prize: Handpainted Wine Glasses
Raffle Prize: Custom Pillows
Monday, September 8, 2008
Why our geographic focus?
This year we've decided to extend our network more deliberately beyond Herman Miller employees; for the planning team it still feels right for us to center our efforts in Holland/Zeeland--this is also the common ground among the seven of us on the planning team.
While our own ambitions haven't called for developing events in other geographies, we certainly understand and applaud the desire from other folks to contribute in their own communities. We'll happily share our experiences, planning documents, and expertise to give anyone who'd like to plan a comparable event in another place a head start!
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
If you've registered but plans have changed. . .
Hope to see you on September 25!
You can still register--and invite your friends!
The event is an opportunity for volunteers to offer their time, skills, and talent to several nonprofit organizations in the Holland/Zeeland area, to increase awareness of issues for women and children in West Michigan, and to promote networking among women in our community.
It's time to sign up if you're interested! This year's Women's Volunteer Day is scheduled for Thursday, September 25. Capacity is limited and you must be registered prior to the event to participate. The number of participants will be limited to first-come, first-served.
In the spirit of spontaneity, you'll discover your work assignment the day of the event. Plan to arrive between 8:00 and 8:15 a.m. at Hope Church in Holland, where you'll check in and assemble with your crew at the breakfast table. (We're asking for a $5 donation.) You'll set out with your crew to begin your tasks around 10 a.m., working for 4-6 hours and having lunch on your own.
Organizations you may be assigned to were listed in an earlier post; scroll down to follow the links and learn more about each.
During breakfast, we'll hold a raffle for artwork donated by talented women from West Michigan. Proceeds will go to Holland Rescue Mission, an organization that addresses homelessness and poverty. Also, we'll collect donation items for women and children at the Holland Rescue Mission's Family Hope Ministry Center, which shelters women, children, and intact families experiencing homelessness.
For women, the Mission needs: new panties and socks for women; shampoo, conditioner, hair gel/spray/mousse/etc., combs, brushes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, disposable razors, lotion, and feminine hygiene products.
For children, the Mission needs: diapers, wipes, sippy cups, pacifiers, bibs, onesies, and toddler/preschool snacks.
Just complete this online form as soon as possible to register. You'll receive a confirmation that we've received your information, and you'll be on an email distribution list for future event communications. We encourage you to build our community network by inviting to your sisters, friends, mothers, grandmothers, aunts, daughters, nieces, partners, and colleagues (aged 18 and older, please).
Thank you for your willingness to help!
Friday, August 15, 2008
What to wear, what to wear. . . .
Bottom line: We're not volunteering anyplace where you can't be casual. And we'd rather not have you regret damage to favorite clothing!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Agencies we'll serve on Women's Volunteer Day
Center for Women in Transition
Community Action House
Evergreen Commons
Girls on the Run
Good Samaritan Ministries
Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity
Holland Rescue Mission
Hospice of Holland
My Sister's House, an adult foster care facility sponsored by the Holland Deacons' Conference
Monday, August 11, 2008
Starting location for Women's Volunteer Day
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Introducing the WVD Planning Team
Who are these women? The specific answer first: In the back row, left to right, Waltraud Beckmann, Carrie [Schroeck] Ypma, Lois Maassen, Avril Wiers, and Cheryl Murdoch; in the front, Marcia Davis, Cindy DeGraaf, and Sue Gadbois.
More generally, we are women who've had the privilege of knowing one another through intersections in our careers (except Avril, who has a family connection). We discovered common values in a couple of areas:
- Issues facing women and children everywhere, but especially within our community, where we feel some ability to pitch in
- The power and joy of working together to make a difference
- The belief that women can support each other, across many divides that we sometimes let stop us too easily, if we tend to our networks
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Our Save-the-Date Message!
This year we're embarking on our 7th annual Women's Volunteer Day, a grass-roots event that began in 2002 with some women from Herman Miller volunteering to work on a Habitat for Humanity house for a single mother, and resulted in a team of 50 women—more than one Habitat house could accommodate. Every year the event has grown, reaching a record 149 participants last year!
It's an opportunity for volunteers to offer their time, skills, and talent to several nonprofit organizations in the Holland/Zeeland area, to increase awareness of issues for women and children in West Michigan, and to promote networking among women in our community.
Activities we've done in the past include cleaning and organizing, painting and finishing, landscaping and weeding, cooking and baking, washing windows, assembling boxes of lesson plans and materials for coaches of a spring running program, organizing and leading after-school activities for middle school girls, and making homemade cards for families with loved ones who are terminally ill or living in nursing home facilities.
This year we're planning our Women's Volunteer Day on Thursday, September 25. For those who have participated in the past, we wanted to make you aware of a change in format: Volunteers will begin the day at 8:30 a.m. with breakfast at Hope Church in Holland, and start their assignments around 10 a.m., working for 4-6 hours and having lunch on their own. Instead of choosing an agency or task when you register, you'll be assigned a task when you come for breakfast the day of the event. Both the work crews and sharing a meal as participants are fun ways to meet new people and make connections among our community of women. The number of participants will be limited to first-come, first-served and you must be present at breakfast to get your assignment.
Also different from previous years will be our extended invitation to women outside of Herman Miller. While we've always welcomed "outside" participants, we've never actively pursued their participation before. This year, we'd like to promote our community network by encouraging you to include your sisters, friends, mothers, grandmothers, aunts, daughters, partners, and colleagues (aged 18 and older, please).
This message was sent via e-mail to folks who've participated in past years, folks who told us they'd like to participate, or folks someone else thought would like to participate. Please let us know the names and e-mail addresses of those friends, family members, and coworkers you think would like to participate. We'll be sending a registration e-mail later this summer, so remember to save the date!
The Organizing Committee
Women's Volunteer Day
Waltraud Beckmann, Marcia Davis, Cindy DeGraaf, Sue Gadbois, Lois Maassen, Cheryl Murdoch, Carrie Ypma