CFWC QuickBytes

November 1, 2021

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT

My October has been thoroughly wonderful, how about yours? This month in the Quick Byte articles I’ve shared with each of our readers, it has been my pleasure and honor to update you on the Area Meetings. Each have been splendid and I have met so many of the members of the GFWC California Federation while traveling up and down the State.

This week’s share is about a “Road Trip”. Enjoyed by four of us over the course of three days from the Southern California to Northern California. As I write this I sit in the lovely home of Stephanie Zichichi, who graciously hosted both Barbara Briley-Beard and I for both Friday and Saturday night. Our other two Roadies were Sonja Hults, who was invited into the home of Valerie Barnes for two nights and Debbie Pietraszko, invited into the home of Carol Lopez-Lucey. Thank you Hostesses of Area A, we so very much appreciate your kindness and hospitality.

Area A was held in Tracy this weekend. Cindy Sanders did a really great job at planning our final weekend of October, making it yet another Saturday to remember in our memories of a lovely October 2021. About 70 Area A Members gathered from all of Northern California and met for the first Area A Meeting in-person during this Administration. The laughter, the friendship, the fun, and the presentations were stellar. Like our other Area Meetings, the food was fabulous and the prizes, vendors, auctions, and raffles were fun too. I love how the Area Meetings bring our Members together to enjoy the company of one another.

This year’s four meetings were especially important as we begin to venture into what the California Federation is headed for. Although we do not know what that is: it will be fun! Just ask any of the approximately 400 of our GFWC California Members that attended and they will tell you it was fun.

I have never been on an all-female Road Trip, I can’t wait for the next one, because the interstate has never been so enjoyable as it was this time. I am ready and kept insisting we plan another Road Trip soon, are you ready too? I learned over this weekend to play a new game with dominoes, I was the biggest loser, but had the best time laughing in the company of great women with whom I got to know better…in the end, I did not lose at all. I won and I won big, each of us playing the game won…we won a very special memory we shall carry in our hearts forever.

Yes, I shall remember this October of 2021. Thank you to all of our CFWC Area VP’s and Sonya Matties for making Membership in Federation truly come to life after so much at-home time. Thank you to each of the committee members that helped with the Area Meetings and all of those that came to the Area Meetings. Each Meeting was special and took on it’s own personality, I shall hold these memories close, for they will bring a smile to my face.

There are many Roads in the life of a Federation Member, each Trip we take is special and all of the roads and trips do indeed converge at a special place called GFWC!

Luv, Pam

SUNSHINE AND SHADOWS

We are saddened to share the loss of CFWC Financial Secretary, Jill Drescher’s husband, Gordon. There are no current plans for a Service, but you may send cards to Jill and her family at:

1001 Poplar Avenue, Wasco, CA. 93280

PUBLICATIONS AND UPDATES

Toni Lima, CFWC Chair

Publications and Updates is a fairly new chairmanship and like renovating an old house, you try to keep the original structure intact but make it new and fresh again. I would like to say how much I have enjoyed this chairmanship; it has been a lot of fun, and I have learned so much about several popular computer programs and guess what, all those tiny arrows in Microsoft Word do have a purpose!

This year’s focus was on the books that are the most in demand or were the really outdated. We did get requests on certain information at the CFWC meetings, so those publications were done first. To ensure that correct information is published, current officers or chairmen are asked to review or sometimes rewrite their sections. Publications were (or will be) expanded on to include new information, such as Zoom meetings, Facebook and other social media platforms.

Other things that need to be reviewed are:

o The elimination of all gender specific terms.

o Looking for outdated terminology and replace.

o Making sure any procedure mentioned is in line with current practice as well as the bylaws or standing rules.

o Verifying that any item from “Robert’s Rules of Order” is correct and from the newest edition.

o Add proper technological terms and practices such as email, and other forms.

Call for Resolutions

Mickie Reed, CFWC Resolutions Chair

It is the time of year when the Resolutions Committee meets to review existing resolutions, research new ones and prepare our final draft for submission to our CFWC President and Executive Committee. At our convention earlier this year, there were several resolutions that were sent back to committee. I want to thank Marina District and Alycia McCord for providing updated environmental resolutions. There were several other resolutions that received vigorous comments, but we have yet to receive any proposed amendments or replacements.

Now is the time. Don’t wait until the next convention! The Resolutions Committee will be meeting on November 10^th, and we want to be able to prepare a final draft on that date. Please go to our website and take a look at our current resolutions and send any requests to retire amendments, proposed revisions to existing amendments or new amendments. Send your requests to Mickie Reed, indioclubwoman@gmail.com.

CFWC Health and Wellness Program, Myrna Binford, Chairman

Medicare Open Enrollment Period is from

October 15 to December 7, 2021

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Area D meeting on October 23. It was well organized and informational.

I announced that Shot@Life (who had their Mobilize to Immunize call-in day on October 21)

said that the Senate had released its proposed funding bills for the program and it included an increase for USAID and the CDC global polio activities. The bills aren’t finalized yet so our work goes on.

November is National Diabetes and National Lung Cancer Awareness Month (among other causes). Diabetes has reached “a crisis level over the last several decades.” (per Endocrinologist

Dr. Rashmi Muller. The objective is to prevent Type2 diabetes. Dr. Muller says It can weaken every organ in our body over time and is usually secondary to another chronic condition – hypertension, heart disease, etc. Since 2018, it was estimated that 10.5 % of the US population has diabetes (or pre-diabetes). This includes both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. This is why it is necessary to have a yearly physical. I usually request an A1C test vs. a blood sugar.

Several clinics have recognized diabetes as a health problem and have started pre-diabetes classes. The one I went to was every week for one year. I did lose 30 pounds and kept it off, but haven’t taken more off since. The nice thing is that I can contact the instructor and go to another session when I want to.

What can I do? The same things that keep you healthy – lose extra weight, exercise, eat fruit, non-starchy vegetable, whole grain, healthy fats, fiber, legumes, skip fad diets, and make healthier food choices. (we all know this, but don’t necessarily do it).

What can the club do? Contact a nutritionist to speak, organize and work with your community center and have a dr. or nutritionist speak there. I always check my paper to see what webinars or community speakers are being offered. Your club can sponsor either and invite the community. After all, Health and Wellness is a Community Service Program. Your club can also organize a weigh-in for those who want to participate. (some may already be involved in a Weight Watchers Program and they can join also).

Dates to remember in early November:

It is now time to get your flu shots. The lines at many pharmacies can be long due to both flu shots and COVID-19 boosters so schedule now. And in a couple weeks, ages 5-11 will be getting their initial shots.

November 10 – Forget-Me-Not-Day Keep in touch with family and friends who you haven’t talked to in a while. Can use all types of social media.

November 11 – Veterans Day Honor America’s heroes by thanking veterans for their service or donating to an organization that serves vets.

November 13 World Kindness Day Do a good deed by writing (emailing) a note to a friend, ask a neighbor if they need anything from the store, etc.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT & OUTREACH Yolanda Petroski, Chair

Check with your local AAA branch to see whether they are offering Real ID licenses that we previously had to obtain at DMV offices. Go to the Auto Club’s website, www.aaa.com, and follow the directions which include uploading documents to the DMV site. Real ID’s can be used to board domestic flights beginning May 3, 2023 when a federally accepted ID will be required. Those applying for the Real ID for the first time can start work on their application online but must go to a DMV field office to be photographed and complete the application process.

Also good to hear is that those 70 and older can extend their driver’s licenses for another year online or by mail for through December 2022.

Environment - Jane Thomey, Chair

How do donations to Penny Pines help in the regeneration of forests affected by the recent wildfires in California and in the West? The job of restoring them belongs to the U. S. Forest Service, the agency charged with managing and protecting wilderness areas on Federal land.

Forests have a natural burn cycle. Fires, in general, are beneficial. Some tree species require fire to reproduce; burnings clean out dead material and keep forests from getting overgrown. Nature heals itself. The California fires, for several reasons, have been so vast and intense that natural healing may be questionable in some places.

In severely burned areas the Forest Service responds with a team of specially trained professionals consisting of hydrologists, soil scientists, biologists, engineers, vegetation specialists, archeologists and others even before the fire is contained. They initiate emergency action to prevent further threats to life, property and natural resources, especially in anticipation of storms that will cause excessive water runoff.

The longer-term effort to repair damage begins after the fire is out and continues for several years. Rehabilitation focuses on the lands unlikely to recover naturally from wildland fire damage. Actions include reestablishing native species, repairing damage to facilities such as buildings and campgrounds, restoring habitats and treating invasive plants. And, here is where Penny Pines comes in. An important element in the restoration is planting trees. CFWC has long partnered with the U. S. Forest Service. Now more than ever, your donations of tree plantations will help in the critical job of restoring our forests.