Allison with new Junior friends and members of GFWC Staff

Wow, Wow, Wow is all I can say after returning from GFWC Annual Convention in Cleveland OH. This was my third time attending and I must say that this was my favorite by far!

The speakers were absolutely world class: Laurie Seligman (whose book I bought; and I NEVER read books but am halfway through this one…) Actress Victoria Rowell who was dynamic and engaging were just two of the amazing featured speakers.

I learned so much at the workshops I attended. The “Putting Your Passion into Practice” lunch and learn that was led by Kia LaBracke and Elizabeth Davy was inspiring and informative. I also really loved the “SWOT” workshop about identifying your club’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. I am so very glad I chose to attend as many workshops as possible because I think it will really make a difference in my club and elsewhere!

I have to say my very favorite part of convention was that I met the most new people this year of any year I’ve attended ~ I LOVED getting to meet new Federation sisters and hearing their stories and experiences and sharing laughs and advice. I want to send some “shout outs” to my new GFWC Sisters: Caroline and Michele from South Carolina, Rhonda and Candi from Illinois and my super fave, Suzanne Way from Wisconsin! What a great time I had meeting and getting to know you all ~ I love my Junior Family!! These are amazing ladies who give so much to the Federation in addition to everything else they do for their families and communities. GFWC Juniors are the best!

Allison with NC Senator Kay Hagan

Hi Everyone! I am so excited to report on my recent (and by recent, I mean last week) trip to Washington DC! I traveled with a group of clubwomen from GFWC of North Carolina to visit GFWC’s headquarters and see the sights. It was my first time visiting our headquarters and what an experience that was! However, this post is about my passion in life. If you kept up with the Passion Project last year, you know that I am an advocate for postpartum depression awareness and education. A bill called the Mothers Act was denied by Senate last Summer which would have funded education and awareness as well as a national PR campaign. I can’t tell you how much this is needed! My surprise came in the unexpectedly meeting both Senators from North Carolina. I had a few moments with new Senator Kay Hagan and seized the opportunity. I quickly told her about the Mothers Act (which is being re-introduced this Spring ~ thank you Senator Menendez!) and asked for her support. She was very responsive and I took her card with contact information and plan to follow-up so she will hopefully remember me and most importantly the Bill. I love being an advocate and am looking forward to the day that this legislation is passed!

Allison and Beverly at GFWC's 2008 Convention in Chicago

Happy Winter!!! I hope you are staying warm! BRRRR. It is positively Arctic here in North Carolina. Nine whole degrees this morning! This is the time to take advantage of the required indoor reading time although my reading time consists of magazines and news updates online!

Oh! Speaking of online, if you are familiar with Facebook please log on and join the GFWC group! There are over 300 members signed up. What a great way to chat with other Federation members, network and share club ideas! I know I’ve already talked before about the value in connecting with our Federation counterparts whether it’s a Junior, Juniorette or General club. I have found that their advice and fresh eyes are so important to have.

As January 22 is Thank Your Mentor Day we have been asked to write about our mentors. When I began the “My Volunteer Year” blog last year, I wrote about my mentor Beverly Lassiter. Well, nothing has changed except that our relationship is one year older, wiser and closer. I first met Bev in 2007 when I was selected as NC’s LEADS participant. She was heading up the LEADS program and training and immediately I knew that she was somebody special.

You see, Bev has this infectious enthusiam by nature but her love and her life (aside from her family) is GFWC. She has an enormous heart for our Federation coupled with knowledge and years of service. She loves GFWC and she knows GFWC. It completely rubbed off on me and to my good fortune Beverly took me under her wing and has been my mentor since then. I aspire to be like her although I may never have a resume like hers. I don’t think I ever asked her or told her she was my mentor but she is. I look to her (even if she doesn’t know it) for so much. For advice on public speaking, handling conflict, how to prioritize, “do I need this dress?” etc. Much of the time I just observe and watch her and learn from how she handles herself. You would never know that her shoes are killing her feet because she still has a smile on her face and handles the task.

This has spilled over to my family life too. She has created a diversion for my 3 year old so I could finish my lunch (she always has pennies on hand for the fountain) and has fed my newborn so I could leisurely enjoy my mac and cheese vegetable plate. She’ll tell me when to let something go or to go for it! I have never told her this but I try very hard to make her proud. I am so proud of her and the fantastic work she does for NC. Now that I think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever thanked her!

So let’s make this official – Thank you Beverly for your friendship leadership and love. I hope that I can make you as proud of me as I am of you.