GWC members and guests gathered on Tuesday, January 8^th to enjoy our “Shake Off the Winter Blues” winter social at Wild Hare Productions, located in Hampton Place Shopping Center. Numerous members contributed savory appetizers and/or sweets which resulted in overflowing tables of delicious treats and beverages.

Bess Park opened the entertainment portion of the evening with a quick introduction to her Wild Hare Productions which consists of both nonprofit dance and theatre. Scenes from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night were performed by six of Wild Hare’s Youth Shakespeare cast members, along with a quick synopsis by Bess between the scenes. Mary Woodiwiss then welcomed our members and guests, extending our GWC invitation for guests to attend all of our regular meetings and to consider joining GWC in 2019. Mary also emphasized our strong pool of 16 grant applicants for our first GWC Grant awards to be made in February. Nearly all of our 2018 members have renewed their memberships for 2019 and we have also welcomed 14 new members so far this year.

Thank you to all members and guests, especially to those who contributed our evening’s refreshments. Many thanks to Bess Park for opening up the theatre portion of her Wild Hare Production to us and providing us with the delightful scenes from Twelfth Night.  We look forward to seeing all members of GWC at our very important February 25^th  Quarterly Meeting at The Museum.

GWC Highlights 2017-2018

June 29, 2017   1^st meeting of original GWC Steering Committee of five women

October 10, 2017   1^st GWC Charter Membership checks received!

October 2017 – April 2018   Eight informal gatherings hosted by GWC Steering Committee and Charter Members to introduce GWC to community women and invite their participation

February 20, 2018   1^st GWC Quarterly Meeting, held at The Museum

Attended by 53 GWC Charter Members and ~ 40 guests

Reception, followed by presentations by: Teresa Goodman (Executive Director, Community Initiatives), Anne Craig (Executive Director, Arts Council of Greenwood County), Megha Lal and Mary Woodiwiss (GWC Steering Committee)

April 30, 2018   GWC Charter Members’ Celebration, hosted by Wesley Commons

Attended by 75 of our 104 Charter Members, featuring musical performances by Louise Robinson

May 15, 2018   2^nd GWC Quarterly Meeting, held at The Arts Center

Attended by 55 GWC Charter Members and ~ 20 guests

Reception, followed by program “Offering Hope: Services for Women and Children in Crisis” featuring presentations by: Cathy Miller (Executive Director, Beyond Abuse) and Alice Hodges (Executive Director, Meg’s House) and GWC Committee updates

August 28, 2018   3^rd GWC Quarterly Meeting, held at Church of the Resurrection

Attended by 50 GWC Members and ~ 10 guests

Reception, followed by program “Back by Popular Demand: The Penguin Project” featuring presentations by: Stephen Gilbert (Executive Director, Greenwood Community Theatre) and Lacy Gunter (parent of Penguin Project actor) and GWC Grants Committee presentation

September 2018 GWC Grants Cycle and application process announced to Greenwood County nonprofits and community

September 26 and 27, 2018 GWC Grants information meetings held for nonprofits

October 1, 2018   GWC Fall Social “A Farm Drop-In”, held at the DiBenedetto farm

Attended by 45 GWC Members and ~ 15 guests

October 15, 2018 GWC Grant Writing Workshop offered to all interested participants

October 1- December 15    GWC Grant Applications acceptance dates

October – December 2018 Informal gatherings hosted by GWC Members and GWC presentations to other community groups to introduce GWC to community women and invite their participation                         

November 13, 2018   4^th GWC Quarterly Meeting, held at St. Mark United Methodist Church, Rivers St. campus

Reception, followed by program “Homelessness and Hunger in our Hometown” featuring presentations by: Wendi Andrews (Executive Director, Food Bank of Greenwood County) and Ken Kelly (Executive Director, Greenwood Pathway House) and GWC Grants Committee and GWC Endowment presentation

December 31, 2018   GWC 2019 renewal due date

GWC’s Grants Review & Awards Committee held a workshop entitled “Grant Writing 101” that was open to the community and welcomed 31 attendees. The workshop was developed by GWC Members Wendi Andrews, Sandra McMullen, and Kathy Emily, and included a panel of four local funders: Selynto Anderson (Self Regional Healthcare Foundation), Marisel Losa, (United Way), Mamie Nicholson (Self Family Foundation), and Mary Woodiwiss (Greenwood County Community Foundation and Greenwood Women Care). Attendees learned about principles and practical steps for writing effective grant proposals to assist them in seeking funding through GWC grants or other sources.

Greenwood Women Care conducted our 3rd Quarterly Meeting on Tuesday, August 28^th, at the Church of the Resurrection.  Approximately 60 members and guests enjoyed a reception along with an inspirational and informative agenda.

Sara Kummer welcomed us to the Church of the Resurrection and Rhonda Merritt introduced our program speakers. (Sara and Rhonda serve on GWC’s Programs and Education Committee.) Stephen Gilbert, Executive Director of the Greenwood Community Theatre (GCT), shared with us the impetus for establishing The Penguin Project at GCT. The Penguin Project is a nationwide program that engages actors with special needs and peer mentors in a full-length theatre production.  GCT is the only site offering The Penguin Project in the state, and one of the first in this region. Stephen then introduced Lacy Gunter, the mother of last year’s youngest Penguin, who described the positive impact The Penguin Project has had on her daughter, their family, and the local special needs community.

We then turned our attention to the GWC Grants Review and Awards Committee.  Trish Hartung described the work of the Grants Committee over the past months, resulting in GWC grant guidelines, grant application form, and review and voting processes.  Laura Bachinski discussed our grant application and Nadine Gilchrist informed GWC members about materials that will assist us in our voting process in February. Mary Woodiwiss, convener of the Grants Committee, fielded questions from members.  Summer Booker, convener of the Membership Committee, concluded the program by thanking our speakers for their presentations and our members and guests for their attendance, reminding us that memberships for 2019 may be renewed between now and December 31^st, and encouraging us to continue to spread the good news about GWC.