district sojourner
TRANSCRIPT
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FEBRUARY
2017
SOUTH WEST
DISTRICT OFFICERS
PRESIDENT
Shelley Davidson
863-599-9070
VICE PRESIDENT/
COMMUNICATIONS
Mary Van Tol
239-271-0161(c)
239-574-1963(h)
INTERIM SECRETARY/MN&O
Sharon Wilson
561-313-3641 (c)
863-983-2788 (h)
TREASURER
Dorris Ann Wasson
941-412-0847
CHAIR OF NOMINATIONS
Diane Killmaier
609-774-6350
PROGRAM RESOURCES
Sandy Segur
941 249-8726 (c)
941 626-8384 (h)
SPIRITUAL GROWTH
Roberta Swords
305-323-2432
E&I
Marti Daltry
239-997-0673
Website:
www.
Southwestdistrictumw.com
Facebook:
www.facebook/
Southwestdistrictumw.com
SOUTH WEST
DISTRICT SOJOURNER UMW Publication Florida Conference
And you no doubt know that Jesus of Nazareth was anointed by God with the
Holy Spirit and with power, and he went around doing good. Acts 10:38 (TLB)
Greetings to my Sisters in Christ!
Twenty-eight-year-old Eugene Yoon wanted to make a difference in someone’s
life. But he never dreamed God would answer his prayer in such a dramatic
way.
One day a video crossed his news feed about a man named Arthur who’d been
paralyzed. When Eugene saw that story, he felt God leading him to be part of
Arthur’s solution. But how could he help this young man to walk?
Eugene discovered a machine called an exoskeleton device that cost $80,000.
Somehow, he hoped to raise enough money to buy one for the young man. Eu-
gene left his lucrative job with a research company and hiked from the Califor-
nia border to Canada, posting videos and raising money on social media.
The first time Eugene watched Arthur walk with the new machine, he knew his
act of kindness had been worth it all. Random acts of kindness are nice: spon-
taneous moments of generosity. But intentional acts of kindness are even bet-
ter: preplanned, faith-filled determination that refuses to surrender until the
blessing has been delivered.
How many times have you “thought” about doing random acts of kindness for
someone? How many times have you actually “performed” random acts of
kindness, especially to total strangers? When I read Eugene’s story from
Guidepost Devotionals, I couldn’t help but share his story. I couldn’t help but
stop and ask the same question to myself. Eugene’s experience was truly a gift
from God. More importantly, God spoke to Eugene and Eugene listened and
responded to the call!
So the next time you hear God calling, remember to “act” on that calling. And
who knows, you might just be the recipient of a random act of kindness!
Remember to put Faith, Hope and Love into Action!!
Blessings,
Shelley Davidson
South West District President
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The District Team would like to thank Grace at Venice UMW for hosting
our annual officers training event on January 28, 2017! Pictured above is
a puzzle of the team photo taken last May at our Social Action event
which was also held at Grace. We had a wonderful day with lots of good
food and fellowship. The theme for the day was “Being an Officer is a
Community Thing” and we are each a part of this puzzle! The backs of
the puzzle pieces had names of the leaders in our district which each of
us were given to bring home and pray for them.
A special thanks goes out to Unit President Helen Boroff, Dorris Ann
Wasson, and Nancy Vanderwall who helped us make this a successful
event. Thank you also for all those who attended. If your unit needs
extra copies of the Training Booklet that was given out, you will find it on
our website by clicking on the Forms tab or by copying and pasting the
link below in your browser.
<http://southwestdistrictumw.com/forms>
President
Shelley Davidson
Treasurer
Dorris Ann Wasson
wearing her special wig!
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Above is a photo of Sarasota First UMW members at their January
meeting. Intercept The Traffickers is UMW's theme for the Trafficking
Awareness Campaign that we do each year in conjunction with the
Super Bowl. Besides taking the picture, members shared some of the
ways they are involved in the community. It was an inspiration to us all
to hear about the many varied ways that those in the group are
contributing to making life better the people around us.
Submitted by Ann Eachus
Let's Box 'Em Up and Stack 'Em Up! Super Bowl LI is on February, 5, 2017
Join this virtual barricade of boxes! In football, the phrase "stack the box" is used when the defense puts its players in a rectangular formation ("in the box") to stop the offensive team's rush in its tracks. Traffickers run a game on the vulnerable and we aim to stack the box against them, to intercept their game and to box 'em up for prosecution. This annual awareness campaign gets real results. Last year a woman e-mailed the national office who had helped a trafficking survivor; at first she didn't know what to do, then she remembered that United Methodist Women has resources for prevention, protection and prosecution which she would not have known without our #umwumbrellas campaign. So put away your umbrellas and... Let's Box 'Em Up! Stacking the boxes will symbolize United Methodist Women intercepting the traffickers who bind the vulnerable within boxes of imprisonment. Our boxes will also embody our commitment to be in communion with survivors of trafficking.
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JANUARY
Local Unit
Officers Training
January 28
Grace at Venice UMC
Registration: 9-9:45 am
Program: 10:00 am
Lunch: $8
FEBRUARY
No District Activities
Scheduled
*MTM
February 11
Punta Gorda Cleveland
UMC
9:30 am
MARCH
Spiritual Growth
March 25
Sarasota Trinity UMC
Registration: 9-9:45 am
Program: 10:00 am
Lunch: $8
*MTM to follow
APRIL
No
District
Activities
Scheduled
MAY
Communication/MN&O
May 20
Sebring Spring Lake
UMC
Registration: 9-9:45 am
Program: 10:00 am
1/2 Day event: No Lunch
*MTM to follow
(budget /planning)
JUNE
No
District
Activities
Scheduled
JULY
Mission u
July 13-16
Bethune Cookman
Daytona, Fl
Spiritual Growth:
A Covenantal Community
(Part I)
Geographic: The Missionary
Conferences of the UMC
Social Issue: Climate Justice
AUGUST
No District Activities
Scheduled
*MTM
August 5
Carlson Memorial UMC
Labelle
9:30 am
SEPTEMBER
Mission Sampler
September 16
Cape Coral First UMC
Registration: 9-9:45 am
Program: 10:00 am
Lunch: $8
*MTM to follow
OCTOBER
Annual Meeting
October 21
Wesley Memorial UMC
Registration: 9-9:45 am
Program: 10:00 am
Lunch: $8
NOVEMBER
No
District
Activities
Scheduled
DECEMBER
No District Activities
Scheduled
*MTM
December 2
Charlotte Harbor Trinity
UMC
9:30 am
*Mission Team Meeting
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Reminder from the Secretary’s Desk
This note is to remind you to please send any
changes in the officers of your unit. These chang-
es should be sent to me as soon as you have
election of new officers. Please include their
name, address, phone number, cell number (if
available) email and their office. If you make a
book or booklet for your unit would you please
send me a copy.
Sharon Wilson,
Interim Secretary/MN&O Coordinator
613 Sabel Avenue
Clewiston, FL 33440
561-313-3641 (c)
Please note that all units are required to fill out the
census forms online on the UMW website. Please
use the following links to complete the census and
membership log by March 17:
www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/census2016
www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/myumw
The Sojourner is YOUR newsletter to let others
in the District know about your challenges and
triumphs working to help those women and
children in need. Please send me anything
you wish to share with the District Units by the
20th of the month. Digital photos are wel-
come.
Mary Van Tol
Vice President/Communications Coordinator
Phone: 239-571-0161
1216 SE 19th Terrace
Cape Coral, FL 33990
February 11, 2017
Mission Team Meeting at Punta Gorda
Cleveland UMC. Begins at 9:30 am
March 17, 2017
Update your UNIT membership online:
http://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/
Click on the icon that says “Census 2016”
and fill in the answers to the questions.
ALL UNITS MUST DO THIS ON THEIR OWN!
If you need help call Sharon Wilson
Phone: 561-313-3641
March 25, 2017
Spiritual Growth Event at Sarasota Trinity
UMC. Lunch $8.00 Reservations by March
20.
Be sure to visit our websites to get updated news
and find information about our District.
www.southwestdistrictumw.com
www.facebook/southwestdistrictumw.com
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