Newsletter January 2020

What Will You Say “Yes” To This Year?

A message from WPF President, Adrienne Jandler

What will you say “yes” to this year? As members of WPF, we are so fortunate to be surrounded by vibrant, creative women who are leaders in their fields and communities. It’s a powerful bunch, with influence, connections, vision, and the abilities to achieve it. What a remarkable group—one that inspires me every time we meet. There are so many accomplishments, so many who have made a deep impact for others, and those who say “yes” to commitments of time, or to rolling up a sleeve in order to fulfill dreams.

I think of Anne Smith and the impact she and her husband have had with the Christmas Balls by not only collecting food and raising funds for Greensboro Urban Ministry and the Second Harvest Food Bank but also creating a wonderful holiday tradition that brings neighbors together and is enjoyed by the entire city. Which brings to mind another gift which can be enjoyed by the entire city: the Healing Gardens at Cone Health Cancer Center at Wesley Long, thanks to Sally Pagliai, Mary Magrinat, and Pam Barrett. I think of Kelly Graves, and the impact her Kellin Foundation makes on a daily basis. I think of our (now award winning) WPF Foundation which has been impacting girls and women in our community for 35 years and continues to grow. I think of Princess Johnson’s Dancing Dreamers program and the many women among us, like Amy Meinecke and all the sisters who participated in the Habitat build project, who seek out opportunities to serve. These WPF women inspire me to want to do more, and better, for our community. They are “being the change” they want to see.     

Beyond inspiration, WPF sisterhood provides a level of friendship and support that surpasses simply doing fun things together (though we certainly enjoy more than our share of laughter, great outings, trips, and great wine). We support each other as women; we celebrate the victories, lift each other up in times of trial, and feel safe to share vulnerabilities. We push ourselves and each other to expand our horizons both personally and professionally.

One of my favorite meetings this past year featured Jeanie Duncan sharing the details of her motorcycle trip across Alaska. And did you know that Ashley Wigglesworth took a solo Foodie trip to Portugal? Two great adventures which fuel the imagination and possibilities for our own travel plans. These are just a small handful of the WPF stories from this past year; there are so many others, and so many more to come in the months ahead. This year, I ask that you take us with you. Share your challenges and your victories. Let us know what you did and how you did it, so we can all learn from you and be inspired.

Take the time to fully enjoy WPF this year: try a new SIG, and at the next meeting, sit at a table with women you have not yet met. Plan now to join in on one of our trips!

The year 2020 is more than just a new year; it is the dawn of a new decade. What will you say “yes” to? My hope is that we will each be awakened to the possibilities, to seeing things differently, and to making things happen for ourselves, our loved ones, Women’s Professional Forum, and our community. I am honored to serve as your President this year, and look forward to an amazing year together.

 

JANUARY PROGRAM

“A friend may be waiting behind a stranger’s face.” – Maya Angelou, Letter to My Daughter

“Let’s Talk Race”

Presented by Ernestine Taylor & Maria Hanlin

Have you ever found it difficult to talk about racial issues and stereotypes?  That question, along with the increase in racism across our nation, prompted the “Let’s Talk Race” program that St. Matthew UMC (predominantly black) and West Market Street UMC (predominantly white) began two years ago here in Greensboro. The objective is to create friendships where people connect beyond the color of our skin, stereotypes or differences.  People of both congregations paired together to get to know each other beyond the color of our skin and societal stereotypes.  Questions were provided for each of 4 meetings to encourage courageous cross-cultural conversations.

We are excited to share all that has grown out of this partnership!

We invite each member of WPF make a new friend of a different race (or religion or political party!) – or maybe lead something similar in another organization or house of faith.  We will gladly share the list of the questions we used, and details of the programs we led.