Renewal Letters went out April 18. To make sure your Areas of Interest are considered by the Research Committee, renew (with pledge, check, credit card, or gift of stock) by May 9. Also please talk with the friends whose names you gave us for membership invitations. Thanks to Carol Palladini for organizing the mailing and to the members who helped, including our Short Term Project Volunteers and Committee Members.

Must Reads: Research Co-Chair Sarah de Tagyos sums up the April 17 panel discussion in the first article below. In the second, Oversight Committee Membership Chair Parm Williams describes group members’ creativity in organizing their groups.

Rotary Award: Congratulations to Founding Chair Carol Palladini on receiving the Paul Harris Award from the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara for her volunteer activities, with emphasis on developing our Women’s Fund.

Email Subcommittee of Oversight Gets Us on Track: Thanks to Fran Adams, Oversight Co-chair, and her committee of Carol Betker, Dana Istre and Yolanda Van Wingerden for updating members' email addresses so that all receive the monthly newsletter and other information. Remember to put us on your receiving list so that the newsletter is not caught by your anti-spam programs.

Last Two 2007 Recipients Receive Checks:

Left: LuAnn Miller, Executive Director of Isla Vista Youth Projects and Board Chair Giulia Brofferio (center), receive the grant from member Sue Vincent.
Right: Member Jane Honikman (in blue) presents the grant to People's Self Help Housing Executive Director Jeanette Duncan. With them are board members (from left) Ray Gately, Michael Towbes, Dr. Geoffrey Phillips, M.D., and Rev. Don Carey.

It is very gratifying to see your renewals pouring in…to make a difference in our community. Happy Spring.

Jo Gifford
2008 Oversight Co-Chair

Both are groups of friends who formed a Women’s Fund Group. The Care Givers started the first year of the Fund in 2004 and are still active. Benevolent Babes formed in 2007. In between are 28 other groups—all with very creative names!

From A-Team to Z Group are groups from neighborhoods as Birds of a Feather(hill) and Buena Vista Social Club to altruistic named groups as Friends for Giving, and Women on a Mission. Foreign names abound: Ayudamos, Esperanza, Les Femmes du Monde, The Brits. How about Terrific Twosome or Fearsome Foursome?

We’ve got Educators, SB Women’s Healthcare Professionals and MOMS 1, 2. Some groups are named for names: GK, Kathleen’s and Sheridan’s groups. From Fab 5 to Take 5 to Legacy 5, the women forming their groups show their creativity and generosity.

There are now almost 200 members in groups who contributed $81,000 last year—25% of total Fund income. Several women are individual AND group members.

How do I form a group? It’s easy – a few phone calls to friends will do it! Co-workers, neighbors, book club, bridge group, golf, tennis or hiking partners, church group, college alumni group, even a non-profit group that you’re already involved in…the possibilities are endless! Come up with a fun name for your group, and the Women’s Fund membership committee will take it from there.

Membership is $2,500 per year: 10 women at $250, just 5 friends at $500, you and one other at $1,250, or any number in between. With a donation of $250 or more you will receive an invitation to the Annual Presentation of Funds, an inspiring event. Also you have a say as to where the grant money goes. The Research Committee develops the ballot, and each group has a single vote. Many groups enjoy deciding their vote by email or by getting together over lunch or coffee.

So…start making those phone calls and get your group together. There are LOTS of fun names that haven’t been taken yet! And, you will be making a real contribution to the needs of families, women and children in our community.

If you have any questions, call or email: Parm Williams, Membership Chair, 683-5775; parmw@cox.net.