Happy July!
A message from WPF President, Cecelia Anderson
It’s hard to believe the first half of the year is behind us. It feels like just yesterday that I was starting my role as your President for the year, yet here we are about to enter the home stretch.
Although summer is still in full swing, I know how fast the longer days will soon shorten, my flowerpots of basil and thyme will stop growing, and spending Saturday afternoons at the pool will be swapped for back-to-school shopping and sports. I often find myself wishing that time would slow down (especially after my oldest turned 13 in June!)
I also wonder why there aren’t more hours in the day. As professional women, I’m sure we can all relate to that.
I recently attended a seminar about time management. A large number of the attendees were women. And although we had different backgrounds and different careers, it was helpful to hear that I am not the only one struggling to complete everything I need to get done each day.
The advice and tips shared at the seminar were many things I had heard before (prioritize, tackle the most difficult task first, delegate, etc.), but it was helpful to be reminded of them.
I learned a few new tips — little things like having Outlook open to my calendar instead of my (overflowing) Inbox; how to turn off the instant messaging feature on Teams (if it’s important, they’ll call); time blocking for the small stuff such as replying to nonurgent emails all at once instead of allowing them to interrupt my day as they come in.
I also learned something that surprised me — multitasking is no longer considered a good habit.
According to the American Psychological Association, multitasking (or “mental juggling,” as they call it) involves switching costs that slash productivity. Studies show that multitasking also increases your risk for errors.
I don’t have the secret to slowing down time or making more of it. But I do know that the world isn’t going to end if I don’t get everything done on my to-do list today.
So, as we enjoy the second half of summer, maybe to-do list item number 225 can wait until tomorrow (especially if my new-found tips helped me finish items 1 – 224)!
JULY MEETING …Wednesday, July 12 from 12:30pm – 1:30pm at Starmount Country Club
Welcome Maria Gonzalez, CEO Club Fitness & WPF Member
Maria Gonzalez is a native of Colombia and moved to the United States in 1998. She arrived to this country speaking no English but was never an obstacle to build a successful career. Maria studied Accounting in Medellin, Colombia but growing up was a competitive swimmer and played water polo all the way to a national team level, her lifelong passion has always been helping people live a healthier lifestyle, feel better about themselves, and to help the community to embrace diversity by building bridges through social activities. Once in the US, Maria began her career at ClubFitness as a lifeguard and swim instructor and progressed over time to become the CEO.
Maria is an active member of the community and is on the boards of a number of different organizations (too many to list) including the Cone Health Board of Trustees and is the Board Chair of the NC Folk Festival. She is a founding partner of the International Dance Day at Lebauer Park, where you can find her on First Fridays teaching a Latin Dance at Noches Latinas. We are excited to have Maria as a WPF sister. In July she will introduce us to Casa Azul of Greensboro and a group of Latinas who are making a difference in our community. Bring your dancing shoes or comfortable ones- we will have some fun with a lesson in Latin dance. As Maria says: dance has the power to breakdown barriers, stereotypes, and to form community. Todas listas a bailar!
UPDATE: 2023 Holiday Bazaar Silent Auction
New this year to our fabulous WPF Bazaar will be a mini silent auction. We are inviting members to join in the fun by donating “experience” related items for attendees to bid on during the Bazaar. Examples:
• Vacation home week/weekend
• Theatre and dinner for a small group
• Spa package
• Golf package
To make this a significant donation to the WPFF, we are setting the minimum value for the silent auction donations to be $1000. (Several members could put together one silent auction package, if desired). We are seeking just a small number of silent auction items for this year’s Bazaar. Please contact Sue Pedaline susan.pedaline@conehealth.com with questions or to arrange for your donation.
New Member Summer Social!
Thursday, August 10, 6-8pm at Tuggle Duggins, P.A. – 400 Bellemeade Street, Suite 800
Pop on over and chill with us! Join us for the 2023 WPF Summer Social on Thursday, August 10 from 6-8 PM at Tuggle Duggins, 400 Bellemeade Street, Suite 800.
This event is free for WPF members. We will also be welcoming our New WPF sisters at this event so be sure to come and get to know them.
Contact Jennifer Mencarini or Nicole Hayes if you have any questions.
WPF FOUNDATION NEWS
From Kim Eder, WPF Foundation President
I hope this finds all of you enjoying your Summer. The WPF Foundation has issued all of our grant awards to the recipient organizations and they are now about the business of putting it to good use in their programs. We look forward to hearing back from them in the coming months. Please continue to recommend our grant program to organizations throughout Guilford County that support women and girls. We will likely open the window for application earlier in our next cycle. More to come on that later in the year.
Special Interest Group Upcoming Events
BOOKS & ARTS
Eastern Music Festival Events
July 10 @ 5pm – Dinner & Concert
Dinner at Green Valley Grill followed by Concert at Dana Auditorium, Guilford College
July 24 @ 8 pm Concert
Dana Auditorium, Guilford College
Summer is here in Greensboro. And, summer in Greensboro means Eastern Music Festival! Join us for a two-part exploration of EMF’s Conducting Scholars program and a behind the scenes view of how orchestral music is made. On Monday, July 10, we will meet at Green Valley Grill at 5:00 pm, where one of the EMF faculty will join us for dinner and conversation. From there, we will go to Dana Auditorium on the Guilford College campus to attend the first rehearsal of the student conductors with the Eastern Festival Orchestra.
Two weeks later, on July 24, we will attend the Conducting Scholars performance with the orchestra at Dana Auditorium at 8:00 pm, preceded by dinner at Melanie Tuttle’s home. There is no cost to attend the rehearsal. For the concert, EMF asks only that you “pay what you can.”
If you are interested in attending either the rehearsal or the concert or both, please let Melanie Tuttle know (336-210-1280 or mstuttle54@gmail.com). Also, please let her know if you wish to join us for dinner on the 10th at Green Valley Grill or at her home on the 24th. Reservations and space are limited.
SIPPIN’ SISTERS
Wednesday, July 12 @ 6 pm
Home of Erica Parker
Join us again this year for Christmas in July!!! Wear Christmas / Holiday Pajamas to the party!!! VENMO $30 / RSVP to Erica Parker at ericagreggparker@gmail.com. A jolly HOHOHO to you!!!
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WORKING MOMS
Tuesday, July 18th from 12-1:30 pm
Scrambled Southern Diner – 2417 Spring Garden Road
Join us for lunch at Scrambled. Open to moms of all ages! RSVP to Marlee Foster at marlee.foster@conehealth.com
LADIES OF LEISURE
Thursday, July 20
10am – 1:30pm
Greensboro History Museum Tour & Lunch
Greensboro History Museum docent, Tim Hanlin (Maria Hanlin’s husband), will lead us on a tour themed “The Women Take Charge.” We will explore both the Museum itself and the beautiful cemetery hidden in back. We will learn about some of the more important women in our community’s past and how they stepped out of the roles that society had set for them to make a difference for our city, state, and nation.
The tour will last approximately 1:45 minutes, some of which will be in the cemetery, so be prepared for a warm day and wear comfortable shoes. Then at noon we will walk over to Café Europa for lunch. This will be an amazing LOL outing that you will remember and be talking about! Also, the tour is free, and we suggest making a donation to the museum.
Please RSVP to retired@wpforum.org . Please contact Maria Davis Hanlin with questions.
FINANCIAL DIVAS
Wednesday, July 26
from 9-10 am
Weaver Park Center Bldg
324 W.Wendover Ave, Suite 140
We’ll discuss “Senior Living Options – Making the Right Decision When One Size Fits One.” We’ll dig into the What, When, Where, Why and How of It. Whether for your clients, your spouse’s parents, your parents or you, what should you be thinking about in exploring:
• Should I stay at home, aging in place, move into a Continuing Care Retirement Community or something else? What are the pros and cons?
• What are the local options? What if I want to explore options beyond the Triad?
• What resources are available to help find the option that is right for my unique situation?
• What mistakes are often made in deciding between senior living options? What do seniors often report as positive findings throughout the process?
Join us in the “O” to share experiences and stories that underscore why it is never too early to plan and what you learned in the process. Questions? Contact Paula McMillan at pmcmillan@stearnsfinancial.com or 336.337.9507.
DINING OUT
Wednesday, July 26 @ 6:30pm
Cille & Scoe 312 S. Elm Street
We have a private room for up to 25 people. There will be 5 or 6 entree options for $40 each. Host: Amy Baradell. Click here to RSVP!
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BOOK CLUB
Tuesday, August 1 @ 7 pm
Home of Louanne Arrington
Join the WPF Book Club as Kris Landrum leads us in the discussion of Firefly Lane by Kristen Hannah. Our host is Louanne Arrington so please RSVP to her at larrington314@gmail.com. 7:00 light appetizers and social – 7:30 book discussion .
About the book: In the turbulent summer of 1974, Kate Mularkey has accepted her place at the bottom of the eighth-grade social food chain. Then, to her amazement, the “coolest girl in the world” moves in across the street They make a pact to be best friends forever; by summer’s end they’ve become TullyandKate. Spanning more than three decades and playing out across the ever-changing face of the Pacific Northwest, Firefly Lane is the poignant, powerful story of two women and the friendship that becomes the bulkhead of their lives.
WOMEN OF WALL STREET
Thursday, August 24
@ 6:00pm
Mt. Pisgah Church
The WOW Investment Club will not meet in July as many are on holiday. The third quarter Business Meeting will be Thursday, August 24, at 6:00 pm at Mt. Pisgah Church. Please go ahead and mark your calendars now for the Topic Meeting on Thursday, October 19th, which is the second session covering the basics of finance. Have a great summer!
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LADIES OF LEISURE
Friday, August 25
@ 11 am – 1:30 pm
Cooking Class &
Lunch at Culinary U
1709 Fleming Road
We’ll be cooking and eating a seafood lunch together! Cost is $58 per person and is limited to 12. Everything except alcoholic beverages is provided; you’re welcome to bring our own wine/beer, etc. RSVP to retired@wpforum.org.
Venmo $58 to Jennifer McCain Thomas @JMThomas2 or call to make other payment arrangements 336-254-4325.