Happy new year! With the holidays behind us, our attention turns to selecting the nonprofits that will receive Women's Fund grants from the combined donations of our members. Thanks to all our 2013 members - new and returning - for creating the 2013-14 grants pool which we will award on April 28.

Our diligent Research Committee is narrowing the potential grantees for our 2013-14 ballot - which will be shared with all 2013 members in March via e-mail.

Here are some important dates for you to note on your calendars:

VOTING to select our new grantees

March 9 - Ballot worksheets and background information will be sent to all 2013 WF members via our electronic newsletter. This information will be useful for planning your individual or group vote. The actual ballot will be e-mailed separately on March 14 to eligible voters.

March 12 - Group Captains will meet at 9:30 am to discuss ballot choices, get tips on leading their group meetings and learn how to vote electronically. Next month captains will receive an electronic invitation to the March 12 meeting. Captains may want to set up a meeting for their group to decide on their group vote sometime between March 12 and the April 4 voting deadline.

March 14 - Individual Members will meet at 9:30 am to discuss the ballot and learn how to vote electronically. If you are an Individual Member, look for your invitation the last week of February.

March 14 - Eligible voters (Individual Members and Group Captains) will receive an e-mail from Survey Monkey that includes a link to cast their vote electronically.

April 4 - Deadline for electronic voting by eligible voters.

CELEBRATING our 10th Anniversary

April 28 - SAVE-THE-DATE for our 10th annual Presentation of Funds Luncheon at the Doubletree. This is the exciting event where we gather to celebrate our new 2013-14 grantees. These nonprofits will join the 47 other agencies who have received $4.1 million in Women's Fund grants since 2004.