July 2017 Newsletter

A Letter TO Our Outgoing President, Joanne!

Dear Joanne,

How grateful we are for your committed, wise, competent, positive and visionary leadership! Just look at all we’ve accomplished during your term: crossed the $2,000,000 mark in grants given; expanded membership to over 300 women; gained status as a non-profit (501c3) organization; established an endowment fund; created the President’s Council; and ensured that dozens of constructive activities have been carried out for the benefit of our community. We wish you more hours for tennis (another championship?) and hope you will enjoy forever the satisfaction of a job extremely well done!

With heartfelt admiration and thanks,

The Board
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Deadline Approaching! Annual Meeting Registration — We extend an invitation to members, friends, and guests to join us for our 12th Annual Meeting and Luncheon on Monday, July 31 from 11:30 am – 2:00 pm at Sun Valley’s historically important Trail Creek Cabin with views of the ski runs and the river running through! Register by July 24th as this event sells out every year and we cannot accept people at the door. The cost is $35/per person and your guests are invited to attend. We look forward to seeing you there as we take care of annual business, meet and talk with our new Board members on the lawn, and celebrate this year’s grant recipients! [Click here to register]

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2017 Grantee Spotlight: The Senior Connection, $25,000 for Available, Accessible and Affordable Transportation for Seniors

The Senior Connection Board of Directors, staff, and most importantly, senior members and clients, are honored to have been awarded this major grant from the WRWF. Transportation is instrumental in connecting seniors to essential services and meaningful programming. The new para-transit van that will arrive in the Fall of 2017 is being made possible through your collective giving. A new service of getting seniors to and from out-of-town medical appointments will finally become a reality because of your network of women who care deeply about this community and those who live in it. Older adults are valued assets in a community, but can sometimes be overlooked. Thank you for validating their worth through your generosity.

–Teresa Beahen Lipman

Executive Director, The Connection
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2017 Grantee Spotlight: The Wood River Community YMCA , $25,000 for Power Scholars Academy Camp

Funding from the Wood River Women’s Foundation allowed Power Scholars Academy Camp to expand from serving 68 scholars to 127. In addition, we are serving two more grade levels in the 2017 summer program. The WRWF grant allowed the Y to continue our work and our mission of providing youth with positive summer experiences. We continue to work toward eliminating the summer slide in student achievement in partnership with the Blaine County School District. Thank you for helping us serve more youth in the community by helping them find their “genius within.”

Also, you are invited to our Power Scholar guest tour dates. We’ll give a 30 minute program overview, join the scholars during meal time, and then visit the program classrooms.

Tues, July 25 – 12:00-1:30 PM, and Wed, July 26 – 8:00am-9:30 AM

-Teressa Johnson, Program Director, YMCA
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Announcing the President’s Council

Convened to advise the Governance Committee and the Board on request, the President’s Council includes past and current presidents: Marcia Liebich, Jan DeBard, Barbara Thrasher, Joanne Wetherell, and Peggy Grove (incoming).

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MEMBER EVENTS

The Founders Brunch –WRWF was founded by 40 individuals 12 years ago, largely on the initiative of Barbara Thrasher and Jo Murray. On July 10, Barbara hosted those first members at her lovely home for a celebratory brunch. Founding members, current and past Presidents, and current Board of Directors gathered to share a sense of accomplishment and pride in what the organization has achieved, and to participate in an informative conversation around the newly established WRWF Endowment Fund.

June ‘Tini Party and New Member Orientation

Carrie Morrow and her husband Bill hosted over 80 members and guests at our annual, new member ‘Tini Party. Attendees were serenaded by a string quartet of students who have come up through the Sun Valley Summer Symphony’s Elementary Strings Program – one of the WRWF grantees from 2016 and 2017. Much appreciation to the Membership Committee for a very successful event!
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Brief Notes:

• Membership is now at 305!
• Contact Charlotta Harris (charlotte.harris@gmail.com) if you want to attend the social media workshop on Monday, July 24th from 2:00 to 4:00 at the Community Library. Space is limited!
• Power Scholars Visit, Wood River YWCA — Tues, July 25 – 12:00-1:30 PM, and Wed, July 26 – 8:00 AM-9:30 AM. No registration necessary.

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President’s Closing

Here we are at the end of my tenure as your President, ready and delighted to pass the baton to Peggy Grove! This experience has been tremendously rewarding because I have been able to work with so many dedicated, energetic, capable individuals who carry out the work of our organization week after week. How proud I am of all we have accomplished and how grateful I am to have collaborated with so many caring women! Thank you all.