We're so grateful for all of your help!

Because of our new format this year, we needed extra help during breakfast, getting everyone signed in and fed before we headed out to our volunteer assignments. That was another half-dozen folks to be grateful for--along with all of the women who are happy and energized to give much of a day to others in the community. The artists and craftspeople who donated their work for our raffle, too, didn't need to be asked twice.

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?

What to bring and expect on September 25

Because this year is different from previous years, here's some more detail about what to expect. First, what to plan to have with you:

• 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.
  

Plan to get dirty, not to make an impression; dress accordingly!

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.

8:30 a.m.

• Help yourself to the breakfast buffet and network with your crew while you wait for the raffle drawing results.

9:30 a.m.

• 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.

Holland Rescue Mission Donations
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.

Raffle Prize: Painting

"Autumn Birch" by Kathy Stanton
Size: 16" x 20"
Based on a photograph taken on the Leelenau Peninsula, then digitally enhanced to exaggerate the essence of the scene.

Raffle Prize: Oil Painting

"Lift Your Name—From the Cross, to the Earth, to the Sky" by Kim Harris
Size: 9" x 12"
Oil on canvas, black canvas floater frame

Raffle Prize: Handpainted Wine Glasses

Handpainted Wine Glasses by MaryJo Campbell
Four 18 oz. red wine glasses with large purple petals around goblet, green stem swirled around glass stem, and two purple flower buds on a black base.

Raffle Prize: Custom Pillows

Set of two pillows, donated by Cathy Brooks
"Small Dot" Maharam pattern / Luna fabrics & many other choices classified as C.O.M.s. Raffle winner may take pillows on display on Women's Volunteer Day or choose other fabrics or sizes to be custom-made and delivered after the event.

Why our geographic focus?

Every now and then, the planning team is asked why this event is in Holland/Zeeland instead of in Spring Lake, for example. There are a couple of reasons. In the first few years, all of us on the planning team worked at the Holland/Zeeland Herman Miller facilities, and understood that employees come from the north and south and east (not the west so much, but only because of the water). Holland/Zeeland seemed to be the common ground, with the advantage of having enough active agencies to assure that we had enough places for volunteers to work on the same day. When we had a half-day event, it also made it convenient for most people to pop into or out of the office. And because one of our objectives was to give women an opportunity to connect or reconnect with lots of other women, we wanted to be able to bring everyone together for part of the event--lunch or, this year, breakfast--so we didn't want people spread too far around the area.

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!

If you've registered but plans have changed. . .

Because of the way the Women's Volunteer Event is planned, it's important that we have pretty accurate information about how many participants we'll have. Otherwise, we may need to disappoint some agencies or leave some work undone. So if you've registered for the event but now find you can't attend, please let us know. The most foolproof way to notify is is via e-mail to wvd.planning.committee at gmail.com.

Hope to see you on September 25!

You can still register--and invite your friends!

A grass-roots event that began with 50 women working on a Habitat for Humanity house for a single mother has blossomed into an annual event over the last six years: Women's Volunteer Day. Last year there were 140 participants! The spirit of giving—time, talent, and donations—in the West Michigan community is alive and growing.

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!

What to wear, what to wear. . . .

We didn't mean to make this perennial question more difficult by giving crew assignments the morning of the event. We think the best bet is for you to wear casual, comfortable clothes you'd wear to do projects indoors or out at home. Layering will help you adapt to the day's weather as well as project-site conditions; you might throw a paint shirt and a rain jacket in your car.

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!

Agencies we'll serve on Women's Volunteer Day

We've worked with a number of agencies in the Holland/Zeeland area; what they have in common is programs or services that support women and children. To learn more about each agency--or to explore other opportunities to volunteer or donate needed items--check out their websites or contact them directly:
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

Starting location for Women's Volunteer Day

We start our day at Hope Church, which graciously supports our event through the use of their facility. It's right downtown in Holland, 77 West 11th Street, just west of Centennial Park; if you haven't been there before, here's a map that will make it easy to find. Please plan to arrive between 8 and 8:15 a.m. Carpooling is always a good idea; otherwise reserve a few minutes for parking. There's a church parking lot, but it's small; there's also city-parking-lot and street parking a block or less away.

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
  

2008 is the seventh year we're undertaking this project together. During those seven years, we've sent children off to elementary school and college, changed jobs, gotten married, graduated from high school, retired, and so much more. It's been a pleasure to share it with one another.

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

Blog to keep folks updated about WVD

This blog will help us communicate about plans for the 2008 Women's Volunteer Day event in West Michigan. Bookmark, Delicious, subscribe to the RSS feed--or do whatever it is you do to stay connected so you've got up-to-date information on the event as it's developed!