I’m A Clubwoman

My mentor, Lois Handsaker was a charismatic elder Friend [Quaker] in my Monthly Meeting.  I met Lois when I was 11 years old.  I was 24, and with her, when she had her first stroke.  A mentor is not always a comfortable or a perfect person.  Lois was a difficult person to know, but I [...]

When I got the first assignment for the new GFWC blog I was puzzled as to what to write about! My mentor… Who was my mentor? I don’t have a mentor? A football game was on in background, my husband was watching a holiday bowl game & my mind kept wandering? Who is my mentor???

Have you ever met someone and knew right away that you could be fast friends? That was the feeling I had when I first met our club’s then president-elect, Norma Jean Swam. Within a few months we were comparing “mother stories” and leaning on each other for support through times when we both spread ourselves too thin or just needed someone to listen and understand.

A lot of people walk through your life and some mean more to you than others. Sometimes, just because!

A few people had influenced my life but if I have to pick one person who I consider a mentor, I’ll pick my dad. I don’t know where to begin to explain about his character. He was the best man I have ever met. He passed away about 17 years ago but I still miss him and wish for his wisdom everyday.

Everyone has their own version of success and the people in their lives who help them get there. True success for me is having my mom post something I’ve done on the fridge. So, this piece is dedicated to my biggest fans, my moms, all of them. I wouldn’t be where I am today without you.

Happy 2009!!! January is National Mentoring Month. The person that I believe made the most difference in my life and is my mentor is my Mom. She was a member of the Smyrna Federated Woman’s Club when I was young and I can remember being right by her side as she participated in club projects. The club was a very small group, but it held debates for local elections, manned booths for a petition drive to have early weather warning sirens installed in our county, held student art competitions and so many more projects. Mom showed me you can make a difference in your community everyday by your actions.

I claimed Nancy Malone as my unofficial mentor as soon as I joined the Mount Airy Junior Woman’s Club. She is not only an active supporter of the Arts (my passion) but also embodies the characteristics I admire in a woman – smart, funny, accomplished, and beautiful, inside and out.

Mabel Lou Weber has only been my friend for nine years. But in that time, she has recognized me as a potential leader and encouraged me to do things I would never have dreamt of doing. I think the thing I admire about her the most is her ability to recognize promise in others and her enthusiasm to bring out the best in them. She is generous and giving with her time and all her talents. She loves life and is positive and cheerful, even in the face of difficulties. In fact her old friends have given her the nickname, “Gus” for Gusto! She loves her family and friends, and we know it.

My mentor, my aunt, Dr. Helen Smith.

I have looked up to my Aunt Helen as long as I can remember. She was an example of New England (Vermont) steadfastness, honesty, loyalty, and wanted from me only the best I could produce. She set the standard and bar high. She encouraged me to aspire to higher education and to share any talents I had.

My life was a carousel of frequent moves when I was younger finding myself in a new home about every year and a half or so. However, since I’ve been married I have lived in my current hometown since 1973. After living here for a few years I became involved with my local GFWC Junior Club.