Arts:     Iris Will    FIRST REPORT RECEIVED January 2012
Congratulations to Jonnie Smith and Page Peyser who won FIRST PLACE in writing - Poetry and Short Story respectively.  Their entries are on the way to the District Level.  We hope lots of our members will be entering their handiwork on January 30th.
Monday, January 30th is the date for our ARTS AND CRAFTS CONTEST.  Entries must be brought to the West End Community Center between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

 All entries must be accompanied by a registration card filled out by the entrant.  Extra cards will be available at the door.  All entries will be exhibited at our February 2nd club meeting.  Blue Ribbon winners will be entered into the Lee District Show on March 3rd.  All other entries may be picked up after the February 2nd club meeting.

No members or entrants will be allowed on the floor of the show during the JUDGING which will take place that same afternoon.  Tri Club only gives each judge a small honorarium, which does not include individual consultations.  Thank you for your cooperation.

The Tri Club Art Group will be assisting with registration and setting up the show between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.  Your help is greatly appreciated.

Tri Club art classes are held on Monday  from 1:30 - 3:30  pm at the Gayton Kirk  Presbyterian Church USA at 11421 Gayton Road, Henrico VA 23238.  Talk to Page Peyser, Doris Glisson, Lea Lightner, or our wonderful teacher Shirley Spangler, if you are interested in taking art lessons and working on your art projects.
Autism: The Unity Project
  Eunice Bailey & Anne Hunnicut


Central Virginia  Autism Society          
Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability. "Today, as many as one in every 110 children are diagnosed with autism - that's a new diagnosis every 20 minutes - making autism more prevalent than Down Syndrome, childhood diabetes and childhood cancer combined"  reported by the Easter Seals Disability Services.  http://www.easterseals.com/

On a different note, statistics show that parents of a child with autism have a very high divorce rate, reported at 85% to 90%

Bylaws Committee: Sherry Kerley
The Bylaws Committee, a Club Standing Committee, is reviewing our Bylaws to see what changes are needed. These will be presented to Tri Club and voted on later this year.
Conservation Committee
 Lynne Moore   lmoorern54@yahoo.com

I'd like to invite Tri Club members to participate in a new recycling program, Coups for Troops, starting January, 2012. This program takes expired coupons and sends them overseas to military families who can still use them in commissaries and exchanges six (6) months past their expiration date.        

At each meeting there will be a collection box for the coupons. Please bring in any unused / expired coupons, already clipped, and just drop them in the box. I will then forward them to the appropriate source, on an ongoing basis.
 
Reminder:
Please dispose of any expired or unused medications correctly by using mailing envelopes available at most neighborhood pharmacies.

Thanks for your help. Lynne Moore
Education:    Gretchen Bradley, Evelyn Kerschbaumer, Karlyn Gleason and Jane Hosletler
 
 In recognition of National Book Month, we are sending a gift of $50 to both of our sponsored schools, Ridge and Crestview.  These amounts will be for additional books in their respective libraries.

Please check out our Book Swap table.  We have recently received newly donated books. Many thanks to those members who donated the current and interesting books.

In our Books Galore department, the list of books read is detailed in the every issue of the Tri Club Tribune attached on the  Forms & Publications page of this website.

Our box top collection was filled to overflowing this past month.  We will continue to collect the box tops.  Look for the heart-shaped tin for your donation.                                                           

School supplies: glue sticks, non-toxic markers, pencils, & children's scissors, crayons, rulers, spiral notebooks, notebook paper, and pens for students at Ridge and Crestview Elementary Schools..
Education: Focus on HOBY






What do you know about HOBY? 

HUGH O'BRIAN YOUTH LEADERSHIP (HOBY)

HOBY was founded by Hugh O'Brian in 1958 in response to Dr. Albert Schweitzer's remark "The most important thing in education is to teach young people to think for themselves." HOBY seeks out, recognizes and rewards leadership potential in high school sophomores by giving them the opportunity to build their leadership skills during a three day seminar. High school sophomores are chosen because their age is critical in focusing on future goals and forming opinions for adulthood. These students have the unique opportunity to create a "ripple effect" from their HOBY experience by utilizing their remaining time in high school to lead others and lay the foundation for a strong future. HOBY challenges students on NOT what to think but HOW to think.

For more information, click HOBY

The national website is http://www.HOBY.org/           
The Virginia Seminar website is http://www.VaHOBY.org/

FUNDRAISING:  Coordinator Pat Thiel
 
The card party was a BIG success.  SPECIAL THANKS to Jean Ray and Mary-Meade Lee as chairs and to the club members that helped with the party.  The party raised $780 and the jewelry sales were $76.
 
Members assisted at the Bizarre Bazaar December 1-4.
 
The Fundraising Committee met at the conclusion of the Tri Club meeting on Jan. 5, 2012.
FUNDRAISING:      "Glitz Galore"   Jean Ray
 
 At the February meeting we will be selling Glitz  ! BLING !    We are asking members to bring in their jewels of any kind, costume or nice that you are tired of  wearing. We would like each item individually packaged in clear Ziploc baggies to be sold for $3 that day. Remember someone else's jewels may be just what you are looking for, for yourself or granddaughter or any other family members!
 
 We did this at the card party and  it was successful and great fun for the members. Who doesn't like to shop for jewelry ...reasonably priced at that! This is a fund-raising activity and the proceeds will go into our treasury for our philanthropic projects.
GFWC VA State Project:  Prevent Child Abuse Virginia  (PCAV)   Pat Thiel & Sybil Telfian 
 
 Again this club year we will be providing two baskets for the Prevent Child Abuse Virginia "Be Mine Ball" in February.  Please bring NEW items to the January and February meetings.  One basket's theme will be "Toiletries" and the other basket will be "An Evening At Home."
              
Click here to read the Genieve Shelter Wish List  
Health:  Jean Martin & Martha Vermilya 
Walking to our state capitals                                                      
 
 We spent Christmas at home but are back on the road to see the state capitals.  Our last stop, in November, was Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  You walked 1018 miles in December/January.  We left Harrisburg in the snow and headed south for some warmer climate.  Our first stop was in Charleston, West Virginia and then on to Raleigh, North Carolina.  Later we arrived in Columbia, South Carolina and completed this leg of our trip in Tallahassee, Florida.  We have now visited 1/3 of the 48 capitals.  Do you think we might visit all of them by our May meeting?

 Do you wear your pedometer in your home or only when you are walking outside?  You might be amazed how many extra miles you can accumulate.
 
 February is Age-Related Macular Degeneration Awareness Month.  Although there is no known way to prevent macular degeneration, lifestyle factors can reduce your risk of developing the condition.  Don't smoke, eat a healthy diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in animal fat, exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight.  See your eye care professional regularly for dilated eye exams.
HOME LIFE:  Anne Hunnicutt, Eunice Bailey, Delores Apsley

 Many thanks to everyone who has brought food for Lamb's Basket and pull tabs. We will be collecting money for Christmas  Mother at our December meeting. Last year we collected $316.00 and we hope to do even better this year. This money helps needy families  in the Richmond area at Christmas.
HOSPITALITY:
 Ladies, we only have three more luncheons before our May Banquet.  It's hard to believe that time goes by so fast!  We do hope that our re-organization has helped all of you luncheon chairmen and your committees.  From our perspective, everything has gone beautifully.  We are definitely open to any suggestions that any of  you might have.  Please feel free to contact either of us.  See you at the February meeting.
  Margaret Vachet & Jean Ray

 



These Tri Club members attended the 2011 Spring Meeting of Lee  District.


Front row: Mariett Eggleston, Anne Hunnicutt, Jane Hostetler, Mary-Meade Lee, back row Eunice Bailey, Gracie Tingle, Mary Lee Pickett, Page Peyser, Alice Scott,  and Deloris Apsley, President of Lee District and member of Tri Club.           








Home Life - Meals on Wheels:   Beverly Lee

Tri Club delivers Meals on Wheels (MOW) the 1st Tuesday of months Sept. - May. We have 2-person teams deliver meals - one is the driver and the other one the rider. We provide Jackie at MOW with the names of ladies delivering for the month.
We also collect gifts for the recipients at the December meeting and then deliver them promptly to MOW for Christmas gifts for the recipients. The wish list for MOW recipients is detailed on page 5 in  the December 2010 newsletter issue on the Forms & Publications page.  
                    
MOW recipients are usually low-income people who cannot afford food. Sometimes we deliver to people who can pay MOW but need help with buying and preparing the food.


International Outreach:  Janet Cocke

 World Water Week, March 19-25 -- At the December club meeting the board's recommendation to send $100 to UNICEF'S Tap Project was passed. GFWC Virginia is in partnership with UNICEF.  The Tap Project raises money for clean water and basic sanitation programs for children in about 10 foreign countries.  UNICEF and its partners drill wells and install water pumps; help communities build latrines and teach lifesaving hygiene to schoolchildren; and truck safe water to those in emergencies. 

Just $1.00 can supply a child with safe drinking water for 40 days.
 
I'd like to add to the $100 club contribution by providing a basket at the February and March meetings for you to contribute to this extremely beneficial project. 

Please consider donating your dollars -- thank you!
Leadership:  Mary-Meade Lee, 1st Vice President, Leadership

Chairmen - Continue to keep your records of projects and hours. Your reports will help our President prepare her Annual Report for our Annual Meeting in May.  Continue to use the two forms Report Narrative Form and the Tri Club Time Record Sheet on the  Forms & Publications  page. 

 Our reports are on their way to the District, State and National GFWC. Ladies, again you did an outstanding  job. I will be giving you statistics at the meetings.

Remember that our year runs from January to December, so continue to record your projects and donations. The information you need for each project is number of volunteer hours, number of members involved, in kind donations and dollars donated.

Keep track of your hours and expenses. Turn them in every month to to 1st VP, Leadership,  Mary-Meade Lee, with your project reports.
 
 Don't wait too late! Do your report right after the project is complete.

Legislative Report:  Gracie Tingle
FIRST REPORT RECEIVED November & December 2011

 Legislative Day flyer.pdf
 
  • Good news for most, the Supreme Court announced in December that it would hear arguments in late March to decide the constitutionality of President Obama's health care overhaul. Governor McDonnell said he wants Virginia to operate its own health insurance exchange if the court upholds the federal mandate that all individuals have health insurance and that his administration will continue to plan for a state exchange under existing law and seek additional legislation later if necessary.
  • The Republications in the House of Delegates picked up six new seats in the November 2011 election. The Senate gained two thus creating a 20-20 split.The Republicans declared a majority based on Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling's tie-breaking vote and elected Sen.Thomas Norment Jr., (R-James City) majority leader. Sen. Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover, will serve as Republican Caucus chairman and Sen. Stephen Newman, R-Lynchburg, will serve as vice chairman. Sens. Jeffrey McWaters, R-Va. Beach, William Stanley Jr., R-Franklin County, and Jill Holtzman Vogel, R-Fauquier, will serve as majority whips.
  • On January 11, Lt. Gov. Bolling used his tie-breaking vote to organize the 20/20 chamber in the Republican's favor. According to the Times-Dispatch, the Republicans gave themselves 93 committee slots and the Democrats 74 slots. This power show is not new. Last year with the Democrats having a 22 to 18 edge, they held sway over the Republicans. But the Democrats said the tie-breaking issue is not over. 
  • The 'deficit-reduction super committee' acting as a group in what the full Congress should have been doing failed miserably. Now they are talking about a "super super committee".
  • Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius overruled her own drug regulators and stopped the morning-after pill from being moved from behind the counters to the open shelves. This means the Plan B One-Step emergency contraceptive will be available only to 17 and older who can prove their age.
  • Again, Pres. Obama has bypassed the Senate and named three new members to the U.S. labor board as well as installing a national consumer watchdog.
  • Although there has been clearance for the Keystone XL pipeline (3 times by the environmental groups so far) Pres. Obama is still delaying the approval of this project.
  • Surprisingly, fuel was our top export in 2011.
The Virginia General Assembly began its 2012 session Wednesday (11th).
Congress is headed back to DC. Hopefully, we will have some action now. Maybe the Senators will vote on the truck weight bill that we have been urging them to vote against. Will keep you abreast of the situation.
 
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter." Martin Luther King. Jr.

Public Issues:  Nancy Krause Golden

Paperbacks for Patriots
Thank you for the overwhelming response to Paperbacks for Patriots...Tri Clubbers contributed five bags of paperback reading material to be given to the men and women of McGuire Veterans Hospital.  We will continue to collect paperbacks (No hardbacks please)  each month so that there is always a fresh supply.
Ideal books would be less than one year old since there is a possibility to transfer molds to the patients.

Any questions, concerns or suggestions should be directed to Nancy Golden, Chairman, Public Issues  SCGC4@aol.com.

Click here for instructions for knitting helmet liners. NEW
December: helmet liners & lap blankets (any soft fabric 40" x 60")

GFWC Signature Project: Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention            
GFWC has become a national leader in the fight to end domestic violence by raising awareness about this social issue, by supporting existing programs and initiating educational opportunities for club members and local citizens.
The ladies at Safe Harbor Shelter  are always in need of things that we take for granted, such as little things to help make their temporary shelter a bit more like home. The wish list is detailed on page 4 in the December 2010 Tri Club Tribune, attached to our  Forms & Publications page.

Jodi Ottaviano, Development Coordinator, Safe Harbor S       

(804) 249-9470, ext. 17

Safe Harbor 24 Hour Assistance Hotline (804) 287-7877
Safety: Johanna Gilbert  wieckmann@verizon.net
 
 If you own a GPS, when you put in your information to a destination you are going to do not put in your home address in, use a store or business that is close to you instead.  If anyone gets to your GPS they can pull up your information on where you live and that is an easy way for a robbery to happen.  Be smart and safe.

Webmaster:  Page Peyser     

Have you heard of Spybots? They are little computer viruses that break into your computer and send out phony emails to people on your contact list. If a recipient gets suspicious by a strange email from you, the recipient may send you an email asking "What's up? Why are you recommending Canadian pharmacies to me?" There are different types of software that will get rid of a spybot. Spybot Search and Destroy is one that worked for me and I recommend it to friends of mine.

Do a search on Spybot Search and Destroy and you will find a free download of this software. 
West End Community Center -  WECC President Page Peyser

The West End Community Center has published its Inclement Weather Policy. Please click the link below to read it.  

 In Case of  Inclement Weather Policy         Nov. 16, 2011

Prevent Child Abuse Virginia  (PCAV) photo
The pinwheel lapel pins &  pinwheel pendants are part of our fight against child abuse.            
Take time to save a child. Tri Club members bought and planted pin-wheels in front of the West End Community Center. The pin-wheel is the symbol of the project
.


We brought our screwdrivers and planted pin-wheels at the April 2011 meeting . The pin-wheels were left standing during the entire month of April - the Fight Child Abuse Month.