Newsletter November 2023

Come ready to shop! 25 vendors offering  art, gifts, accessories, jewelry, fashion, and tasty indulgences. Proceeds benefit the WPF Foundation whose mission is to create opportunities to empower women and girls in Guilford County to achieve their leadership and professional dreams.

There will be two unique “experiences” to bid on during our “Silent Auction” this year!  All bids start at $1,000.

A Performance by “Taboo Sue”

Enjoy a two-set musical experience in your setting – and enhance your fundraiser, party or birthday celebration with positive energy and uplifing music spanning the genres of rock, folk, funk, and more. Taboo Sue covers Bonnie Raitt, REO Speedwagon, Rolling Stones, Toto, Fleetwood Mac and more! Band members include WPF members Frenesa Hall and Christina Rama, Lyn Koonce (married to a WPF member) and Kami Rowan.

Value $ 1,500! Performances are available in the greater Greensboro area, including sound equipment and sound technician.

One Week in Duck, NC on the Outer Banks

Enjoy a week of relaxation and fun at “RX OBX PRN,” a 2-story, 3-bedroom, 2-bath condo in the Barrier Island Station.  The condo is convenient to Duck’s restaurants and shops, with a short walk to the beach and many amenities including a large outdoor pool, tennis courts, pickle ball courts and more.  This condo sleeps six and is well-equipped for your stay.

Value is $1500-$3900 depending on season. Owner will be as flexible with dates as possible.

PRESENTING SPONSOR: 

LUNCH SPONSORS:   .     

BAG SPONSORS:

BAG SPONSORS:  A Fine Line Striping Service, Belvedere Properties, Davenport & Company LLC, Hutchinson Family Offices, Mobility Plus, Smith Partners Wealth Management, & Window Works Studio

During my college years, I learned an important design rule: “Form follows function,” a concept by American architect Louis Sullivan. This rule became my life’s guide, making me regularly check if my current shape and purpose stick to the basics.

My life’s path has been a mix of different experiences. I began as an art teacher while studying, then worked at a print shop. After undergrad school, Kyunghee university, I became a glasses designer Seojeon optical company in Korea and Isiyama optical company in Japan. I designed OEM models for Christian Dior, Masuda, Louis Viuitton etc.

After marriage, I was studying at Academy of Art University, San Francisco, to earn my graduate degree, but family issues led me back and I completed my master degree, Kyunghee University, in Korea. I’ve worked as a pharmacy manager to help with my husband’s family business. After moving to America, I also had other jobs such as working at a hotel and a restaurant.

Marriage and moving to the United States brought big changes with both tough times and opportunities. Despite the challenges, I found my true passion after unexpected problems following my move. I realized that I was best at crafts and design. This discovery led me to open and run my own handmade craft shop, Craftroomgso in Greensboro, which has been very satisfying. I’ve been making handmade bags, crochet dolls, and small pottery. Through my craft, I’ve met great people, including those who excel in the world of WPF.

For me, learning a new language and culture has been a powerful way to broaden my perspective. In any field, language helps you express yourself. My work involves finding meaning by exploring new things and pushing my limits. Living in the United States as a Korean-American showed me subtle cultural differences that challenged my initial thoughts. I’ve always been intrigued by reinterpreting elements from different cultures. This often means taking things apart, breaking them down, and putting them back together in new ways.

Steve Jobs’ speech at Stanford University has been a big inspiration. It talks about being yourself while recognizing connections, reminding me to keep moving forward no matter what life throws at me. My ongoing design research and experiments continue to explore how my different roles and experiences shape my life’s form and purpose. This journey keeps evolving, and I’m very grateful for the chance to share my story as a new member of 2023

NEWS & UPDATES

FOUNDATION NEWS

From Kim Eder, WPF Foundation President

Welcome to November, and the season of Thanksgiving!  The Foundation Board wants to thank all of our Sisters for the help and support you give the work of our Foundation.  None of the impact we make is possible without you.

Have you been thinking about your 2023 gift to the WPF Foundation?  Now is the time!  Again this year the Foundation Board has combined to create a $1500 matching fund! Your gift of $50 or more by November 30 will be matched by $50 from the Board. Why?  Because we are really excited about the Foundation’s work for girls and women and we want more of you to enjoy knowing that you are helping create these opportunities.

Whether you’ve given before or this is your first gift, we’ll match your November gift to the WPF Foundation.

Here are four ways you can make your gift:

• You can donate at our table at the November Bazaar

• You can click here to donate:  www.wpforum.org/Donate

• Mail a check – payable to WPFF – to: PO Box 38594, Greensboro, NC 27438

• TEXT to GIVE at: “WPFF” to 44-321

Thank you in advance for your generosity and support!

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Proposed Revisions to our Bylaws

The Board of Directors is asking WPF members to approve a set of amended and restated Bylaws. The notion of amending the Bylaws came up in 2022 in connection with a reconsideration of the duties of the Secretary, given the organization’s engaging an administrative assistant. WPF’s Bylaws were first approved by the membership in January 1982 and have been amended 10 times thereafter in various ways. Much has changed since 1982. The North Carolina Nonprofit Corporation Act has been amended and electronic transactions have become a way of life. Although the Bylaws could have been amended simply to address the question of the Secretary’s duties, scrutiny of the Bylaws showed that a greater overhaul was warranted than merely making that one change and perhaps correcting typos.

The following describes the more significant items set forth in the proposed amended and restated Bylaws that do not appear in the current Bylaws or are dealt with in a different or more comprehensive manner:

• The name of the organization has been corrected. “Inc.” has never been part of the name of WPF. The name is set out in the WPF articles of incorporation. The Bylaws should conform to the articles.

• The statement of purpose has been deleted. The statement of purpose already appears in the WPF articles of incorporation. It need not be repeated.

• Clarified that membership in WPF is open only to women.

• Clarified that “greater Greensboro area” means Guilford County. This change or clarification was previously adopted in the Policies and Procedures.

• Added that Supporting members may not sponsor new members. This has been the practice and is set out in the Policies and Procedures. The Policies and Procedures may not override the Bylaws and hence this change is necessary.

• Added provisions about electronic transactions, voting by written ballot, electronic voting, and remote meetings.

• Included provisions for proxy voting, which is already permitted to WPF members because neither the articles of incorporation nor the current Bylaws disallow it.

• Added clarification about who is on the Board of Directors, including who is elected by the members versus those serving in an ex officio capacity, and what other persons are elected by the members to various positions, notably membership, programs and nominating committee positions.

• Added standard conflict of interest language.

• Expanded the indemnification provisions.

Membership will have the opportunity to vote on the approval of these changes at the December 2023 meeting. Please contact Cecelia Anderson, WPF President, with any questions.