Let us speak this week about Constructive Criticism. You know my background is theater, and Constructive Criticism is a must if you are to survive the life of stage work. You rely on the outside eyes of another to see and coach on the BIG picture, you embrace their words and find it in yourself to derive that part in you that makes it better. But how do we deal with Constructive Criticism in Club or District, and in the many stages of Federation we belong to as Members?

I believe that with Constructive Criticism comes from a place of both self-awareness and mutual respect. When we can see in ourselves a better way of how something could have been completed, or if we hear it from someone else and know it to be true it is Constructive Criticism. We must respect the words of others as being helpful, we need to be aware of our own selves and self-worth enough to know that what we are hearing is something that will only make whatever we are doing or have done stronger. Constructive Criticism and Staying in Your Lane are quite different, and it requires much practice in the delivery of how one gives Constructive Criticism to master that.

Constructive Criticism can never be personal, nor may it come from a place of power. It may come from the leader, but the leader needs to create an open and friendly environment where members feel safe enough to state their feelings and ideas. Constructive Criticism never cites names or titles, it must always remain impersonal, it never blames or shames. Constrictive Criticism is a tool to modernize, it speaks to how something may be made better next time, a new way of thinking, a proposal of fresh concepts. These positive viewpoints from the many persons involved will create novel and innovative ways to make something work better.

I believe that if we can get past our own bias to the definition of the word “criticism”, we may be able to better accept what we hear others remark upon. Again, Constructive Criticism in its basic form may never become personal in any way at all. If it does become personal it is up to all involved to stop all discussion at once. The subject of Constructive Criticism is a trickster, do not get bogged down in words like “wrong”, “you”, “horrible”, “fault”, etc. Instead focus on the positive and how to make it more positive.

So, in theater we have something called a Postmortem. It is a meeting after the show to share what went well and what could be done better next time, everyone is invited to be part. I love this idea! I think Postmortems work for all of us as part of the planning stages of projects, meetings, and the other aspects of what we do as members of the General Federation. In other words, perhaps the last step is not the event or meeting, but instead the Postmortem where discussion and Constructive Criticism is shared to make it better next time. I hope that you will take into consideration implementing the practice of Postmortem into what you are currently doing and planning. Afterall, we are each going through upheaval and change in the way we meet and volunteer. Ask your membership how it is working and how to make it work more efficiently.

Lastly, Constructive Criticism is an Art. Anyone can tell someone else how to do something. We all have members that say it is their way or the highway. We have heard some members say it has always been done like this, so do it that way again. We have members that think the sun and moon rise on their words of wisdom and therefore they must be obeyed. When utilized properly as a tool for development, for the betterment of all, Constructive Criticism moves a group forward with a common goal of making what was great even more magnificent the next time round. 

                                              

                                               Jennie Award 2020

California Federation of Women’s Club will have a committee to review all applications that are received. Applications are due anytime until the deadline of March 1^st.

      Buzz…did you hear that the CFWC Membership Team, also known as the “Honey Bunch”, is busily getting ready for the Area Conferences in October? 

Aka “The Queen Bee”

Please RSVP to twcpresidentcindy@aol.com

The annual CFWC Area B Conference will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2020 from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm.

You will have the opportunity to meet the California Federation of Women’s Clubs (CFWC) officers; President, Pam Ament, 1^st Vice President, Barbara Briley-Beard, 2^nd Vice President, Sonya Matthies, and Area B Vice President, Patsy Wilson, hear stimulating speeches, Report Writing information, and ask questions.

Patsy Wilson, CFWC Area B Vice President 

                                                                    BARBARA BRILEY-BEARD, CFWC 1^ST VP

                                                                    SONYA MATTHIES, CFWC 2^ND VP

                               HAPPY HALLOWEEN – SEE YOU AT THE AREA C CONFERENCE

   Autumn is for Area D

    Saturday, October 17, 2020, is this year’s Area D Conference. We’ll be gathering a new way, via ZOOM. Please join with your fellow members as we welcome our CFWC President Pam Ament. You’ll want to hear what 1^st Vice President Barbara Briley Beard will share about Report Writing and 2^nd Vice President Sonya Matthies will “BEE” buzzing about Membership.

   Invitations will be sent electronically to Districts and Clubs. Remember there is no cost and you won’t have to drive! Please circle the 17^th on your October calendar and BEE part of the change this year. Can’t wait to “see” you all and I’ll BEE the one with the antennae!

Plastics serve many useful purposes but, unfortunately, plastic waste is clogging our oceans and landfills.  GFWC Environment Chair, Karen Martinek, chose as her Challenge Project: Refuse, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle to address this problem. 

Reliance on recycling alone is not the sole remedy. Before heading to the recycling bin, consider the best solution: avoid plastics altogether. This sounds obvious but it is difficult to find items that are not plastic products or packaged in it.  When buying ask if there is a way to do without plastic. Every non-plastic choice will make a difference.

Reuse the plastic you have.  That empty jar can hold bulk foods or laundry supplies. It may be just the thing to organize your closets and desks. 

If you have reused all you can, use your creative skills to repurpose the container. The internet is replete with step by step ideas to change used plastics into new ones. Attached is a video with ideas to repurpose bottles. Some may be a stretch, but there are clever ones that show what is possible with some imagination.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1J8m4Ji7c0

Domestic & Sexual Violence Awareness & Prevention Signature Program

Diane Waterhouse, Chair 

Last year I was handing out purple ribbons to remind members to Commemorate October as Domestic Violence Awareness. This year my purple ribbons are “virtual ones” but the meaning remains the same. Let’s use this October come up with new and innovative ways to raise awareness about this complex issue. GFWC has added Violence Against Native American Women, Military Sexual Abuse & Campus Sexual Assault to Intimate Partner Violence, Child Abuse, Teen Dating Violence and Elder Abuse.

1.   Send and email to ament.pam5@gmail.com with the dates of the events you want to be invited to.

QUICK DOCS

These booklets are in .pdf format,

when printed they are ready to assemble into booklets

Change the way you look at things

and the things you look at change.