January 11, 2021
FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT
 
2021 has arrived! I think each of us is glad for the proverbial passing of one year into the other and welcome the New Year with hopeful change and healing of our World.
 
I want to talk this month about the passing of one year into another and the baggage we carry over from one year into another. What is in your suitcase, what are you bringing from 2020 into 2021? Oh, I am not talking about lounge wear and toiletries, I am talking about the “things”, the “stuff”, the “burdens” we cannot seem to shake because we think it is our duty, our right to carry these items on into a New Year. Why, because you always have done it that way, or have you martyred yourself for the sake of stuff, perhaps you feel it is your duty to save everything and everyone around you?
 
STOP!
 
It is commonly believed that January is named for the Roman Mythological God Janus. Janus could see both the past and the future and is associated with transitions, time, portals, and doors. If we are to believe in this Mythology, or even if we do not…ask yourselves why do we carry our unwanted baggage into one year from another when we can see from the past the some of our baggage was no good for us, too heavy and cumbersome?
 
When we carry the burden and baggage of what does not belong to us, our spirit is heavy with weight; you have heard about carrying the weight of the World on your shoulders, it is heavy, and you can get squished. Carrying around a suitcase of “things”, “stuff”, and “burdens” makes little sense unless you can literally control Nature and the World. Quite a feat, but one I do not want any part of. Let it Go…leave it behind. Especially during covid I have noticed that we want to carry even more of what is not ours to carry.
 
When we look at the door from 2020 to 2021, we need to look with a discerning eye and pack to take with us what we need for our spirit, our family, our journey. We should pack only what is ours. As volunteers, we feel the need to save everyone and everything around us, that is a heavy burden, for people must want to be saved and must want to be enabled. Our very empathic nature as a volunteer tells us that we just need to try harder and the club, thing, ideal, or person will come around. If only you can get through and help them realize that our point will save them, this is an extremely dangerous bag to carry with us and it is a life cycle we must endeavor to break. The time is now, go for it, throw that suitcase away.
 
We do not need to bring with us that which weighs us down into this New year. Be responsible in your choices of what you are packing in your suitcase: You have only 2 arms, 2 hands and can carry only so much before you are lost and buried under what is out of your control anyway.
 
What is it we do bring with us, we all have things to carry forward, you have heard me speak of gratitude often and that is what we pack in our suitcase for 2021. We carry what is true to ourselves: love, family, volunteerism, spirit, health, we work towards a Higher Power that feeds our Souls!
 
What is in your suitcase for 2021, maybe we need to take a truer and deeper look, then head for the trash can and let some of that “stuff” go.
 
Luv, Pam

CALLING ALL CFWC MEMBERS!
 
The CALL for the February 2021 CFWC Executive Bord Meeting has been distributed to the Board members. This series of Zoom Meetings is being held between February 10 – 27, a total of 14 meetings total that includes 1 General Session Meeting of the CFWC Executive Board where any member of the California Federation is invited to attend. If you would like to attend the Friday, February 26, 2021 Meeting please contact Debbie Pietraszko, CFWC Zoom and Video Chair and ask for an Invitation. This meeting requires a pre-registration, more information can be found in the CALL attached in this Quick Byte.
 
Debbie’s email is:
 
We hope to see you there. As a member of GFWC California we invite you to see for yourselves how the State Federation is working for each Member, each Club, each District, and each Area!

MONTHLY OPEN HOUSES WILL CONTINUE ON ZOOM
 
What a fun time we had on our Holiday Open Houses! I met new friends, laughed, and generally had such a great time I have decided we need to continue these events for our own self-care. With that said we so deserve the time together to just be us!
 
I am happy to announce that we will set aside a 2-hour block each month during lock-down where we can meet and have some fun just getting together online.
 
Scheduled during “Happy Hour”, I do hope you will join us for 5 – 7 pm on Saturday, January 16, 2021 to share with friends, have a laugh and smile! Bring a drink if you want, I am sure others will and let us just celebrate knowing that we each belong to such a fabulous group of volunteers.
 
This is a time to reach out and be with one another, albeit electronically. Remember we can only hold up to 300 of you, so registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Invites will be sent bi-weekly in the order they are received.
 
For your invitation, just send me your name and email address with the date or dates you want to attend. I can be reached at:
Reservations must be requested by Wednesday, January 13, 2021.
 
The only business is monkey business for these get-togethers; see you there.
 
Luv, Pam

JANUARY 2021 ZOOM WORKSHOP SERIES
 
What a great way to begin our New Year, the first of our series offered for January Workshops was a huge success. Engaging Members was fun and informative. To keep in touch and stay active with our many California programs and projects, we will be offering 3 more one-hour Workshops during January on Zoom. You must pre-register to attend and registration is open to the first 300 participants that sign-up.
 
In order the Workshops will be held at various times and days:
ESO- LET’S READ! will be on Thursday, January 14th at 11 am
TID-BITS LEADERS will be on Friday, January 22nd at 2 pm
WE CARE FOR THE FUTURE will be on Wednesday, January 27th at 3 pm
 
We are hoping you will make time in your schedule to attend the hour of fun! Presenters will each offer an in-depth perspective to their area and answer your questions regarding their ideas on their presentations.
 
Registration is easy, contact: ament.pam5@gmail.com with your name, email and date(s) preferred. You may sign up for as many Workshops as you like, we will register on a first come-first serve basis.
 
There is a flyer attached to this article to share with your members. See you there!


(Registration deadlines for any ZOOM meeting are definite, no exceptions)
MEMBERSHIP
Sonya Matthies, CFWC Second Vice President
The CFWC January Zoom Workshop, Series 2021, was a great way for this “Queen Bee” to get the New Year off and BUZZING! Debbie Pietraszko, CFWC Visual and Zoom Chair and I presented the first Workshop in the series with focusing on Engaging Members!
Points covered in the workshop:
First, an engaged member is an active member, and the effort to keep members active is ongoing and ever evolving. Member engagement is how you are going to earn the loyalty you need to thrive and grow... READ REMAINDER OF ARTICLE

Leadership Minute
 
One of the members in the club I belong too. Yes, I am currently Club President. I really didn’t want to do this after being State President, I felt it was too soon & I needed to rest. But I stepped up because the club didn’t have any one else to step up. Remember what I have said before – step up when asked. This Year has been another year of difficult challenges & of course not everyone in the club thinks I know what I am doing. That never changes, no matter where you are there is always someone who knows better. Sometimes they really do & sometimes they are just jealous.
Anyway, back to my point someone wanted to give the members a year off with no dues because we weren’t having a normal year. She felt we weren’t doing enough. I ask you all what is enough & how do we do it. We are all struggling with the idea of what to do to make this better. This member did give us some ideas. Which is better than most members do. Most just tell you what is wrong. I am not sure how her ideas will work. But I willing to put these ideas forward & see what the board members say & more importantly who on the board will do them.
We are back to the same old problem of that sounds great, but I don’t want to do it. It is time for every member who wants their club to continue being a club to stand up & be counted & say “yes, I will do my part”.
Will you say that at your next Club meeting? I certainly hope so

Dori Kelsey,
CFWC Leadership Chair
PS Check out the NEW Leadership booklets below in QuickDocs
- "Value of Clubs" and Women to be Proud Of"
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT & OUTREACH
Yolanda Petroski, Chair
 
Does your club belong to your local Chamber of Commerce? If not, there are many reasons why you should consider this. The benefits far outweigh the cost of annual dues – if you take advantage of them, that is. Chambers have directories, newsletters, and websites which can list and publicize your events. Chambers may have a Legislation Committee which reviews pending legislation affecting your community. In non-pandemic times, Chamber members host Mixers during which the community can be welcomed to your clubhouse. This is especially beneficial if you rely on rentals to meet your budget. Participating in ribbon-cuttings keeps your club name in the news. Chamber offices may be open to being a collection site for one of your club projects. Member-to-Member discounts may be offered. Participating in Chamber events is a good way to let the community know that there’s an active Woman’s Club in the area that would welcome their participation. Please consider and take advantage of this.

Honeybees Beware:
The Asian Giant Hornet has arrived in the Pacific Northwest.
A member of the wasp family, it is feared because of its size, its venom and its affinity for honeybee hives. Despite their murderous reputation the giant hornets are usually shy and otherwise beneficial to the ecosystem. As pollinators they serve an essential function to fruiting and flowering plants and as predators they control populations of unwanted insects.   It is only when provoked that they become aggressors.
Natives of Japan and Korea, they arrived in North America in 2019, probably through commerce. So far they have been found in British Columbia and northwest Washington State. 
Even among other hornet species, the Asian Giant Hornet is an exceptionally large insect.  Because of their size their long stingers can expel copious amounts of venom containing chemicals that can cause havoc to human tissue and the nervous system. They are dangerous creatures.
Unfortunately, giant hornets thrive on honeybees, deriving needed protein from them. They are especially fond of the honey found in hives. It takes only a small number of hornets to slaughter a bee colony in hours. 
Researchers in Washington State recently located a nest by attaching a radio tracker with dental floss to a worker hornet.  The colony contained approximately 500 Asian Giant Hornets in various stages of development,.   A total of 85 insects were vacuumed into a canister for further study. The rest were exterminated including 200 queens that were prevented from mating and proliferating. This was the first time such a nest had been found.
It is estimated that if left unchecked the Giant Hornet could reach northern California in 20 years. Before then, it is hoped that by locating a few more of these colonies and other defensive measures it is possible to eradicate them completely.   
Jane Thomey
CFWC Environment Chair

REPORT FORMS! REPORT FORMS! REPORT FORMS!
 
Revised 2020 Report Forms are now on the CFWC website! If you are having difficulty using forms pulled from the website prior to December 3, please re-visit cfwc.org (REPORTS tab) to find:
  
Linda Queen
CFWC Website Chairman


QUICK DOCS
Dori's Leadership Library
These booklets are in .pdf format,
when printed they are ready to assemble into booklets
QUICK LINKS

 Just a thought ......
The secret of change is to focus all of your energy,
not on fighting the old, but on building the new.
Socrates