Did you notice? The days are finally getting longer and you can feel a bit more energy in people.

Spring is a very active time for the Sunriver Women’s Club. Each week we highlight a different aspect of the club to share the wonderful impact we are making as well as the events and activities that are coming up. If you miss something or forget, the calendar on the website is always a great place to check.

Come to the Giving Luncheon in April and hear firsthand how we are impacting South Deschutes County through our Community Grant Program; it is a spring highlight. You will walk away changed and humbled. Art Meets Wine event in May is not to be missed. Invite friends, family and neighbors to participate in the virtual cooking class, wine pairings and top it off with the live event enjoying wine tastings, music, auction items and great food.

Our Happy Hours, Let’s do Lunch and Coffee Hour have been held at various locations in and around Sunriver. It is a great way to support our local businesses and at the same time we show the community how fun we are!

Come and connect,

Debbie Baker

Something Special

We welcomed many new members the last few months. It is fun to see long-time members engaging our new friends and creating a feeling of belonging to something special, the Sunriver Women’s Club.

We come together to connect with each other and at the same time, we give back to our South Deschutes community.

In this week’s newsletter, you will read about some of our fundraising efforts. I am so proud of how our organization balances social opportunities with each other and at the same time reaches outside ourselves to help the greater community.

The Philanthropy team is currently evaluating grants to share the fruits of our fundraising efforts with those in need.

Check out the calendar and come connect at any activity. Hope to see you soon!

Debbie Baker, President

president@sunriverwomensclub.org

Sunriver Women’s Club a Place to Connect

It's a wrap on the celebration of our 50th anniversary.

And what a year 2022 has been.

Throughout the year, we honored the women who created our thriving Sunriver Women's Club. Their efforts have allowed us to sustain our mission for 50 years.

We celebrated this remarkable achievement with a 50th anniversary party, connected in new ways after enduring the pandemic restrictions and welcomed new members.

Congrats to all of you for helping us successfully reach our $50,000 goal for our signature project, "The Power of 50 for Education." See the details below.

Some organizations slow-down in the winter. The Sunriver Women's Club is the exception as activities are offered in every season. There are indoor and outdoor activities for members to attend and stay engaged while building new friendships. Check out the calendar to learn the various ways you can connect with fellow members and help our organization.

Cheers,

Debbie Baker

President 

Sunriver Women's Club

Thanksgiving for me was extra special this year. Some of you know my husband John and I were involved in a head-on crash on Hwy 58 the Sunday before Thanksgiving. The driver of the other vehicle was impaired and her 5 year old daughter was killed. We are very lucky to be here and are doing well healing from our broken bones. The outreach from the Women’s Club members and the greater Sunriver Community has been heartwarming. It reminds me of the many reasons we join together as a community.

My message for our membership is to find multiple ways to connect with each other. It is more than just signing up to be a member of the Sunriver Women’s Club. Join an activity, participate in a book club, help with a committee, an event or serve on the Board. All these things will provide opportunities for greater and deeper connections with each other. The weekly newsletter regularly highlights information about the various opportunities.

As I am very thankful for my family and community, I wish all of you health and peace this Holiday season. Don’t forget your year-end giving to help us change lives in south Deschutes county.

Debbie Baker, President

president@sunriverwomensclub.org

Sunriver Women’s Club a Place to Connect

Our luncheon in October was a smashing success, although no pumpkins were sacrificed. Thanks go to Brigitte Bourret as the new Programs Director, she did a great job! This was the first time since early 2020 that we were able to fill the room. There was energy as we came together in person with old and new friends. We are also scheduling monthly Coffee Meet & Greets as well as Happy Hours for informal gatherings. Be sure to check the calendar for upcoming opportunities to connect.

As we are wrapping up celebrating 50 years of SRWC, the Power of 50 for Education fund has about $41,000. We believe our goal of $50,000 will be met by the end of the year. This will be transformational for south Deschutes County at a time when educational lapses have affected so many. What excites me most is our $50,000 will not be the only support. It is seed money for other service providers working through a collaborative to deliver a sustainable educational impact. We have been committed to south Deschutes County for more than 20 years. With this significant project, other existing and new providers are seeing what a difference we can make together. Cheryl Storm, as the Chair of Power of 50 for Education is able to answer any questions about the initiative. Check out her update below.

The Sunriver Women’s Club really is the catalyst for this unprecedented expansion of educational services in our community and I am so proud of us!

Debbie Baker, President

president@sunriverwomensclub.org

Sunriver Women’s Club a Place to Connect

We had a successful Welcome Back event, seeing old friends and new ones as we started a new membership year.

As the season changes, so do our activities.

For example, we are looking forward to monthly luncheons with interesting speakers, upcoming Mistletoe & Merriment holiday party, monthly gatherings for Birthday Lunches, continuing with Happy Hours and connecting for Coffee.

Thank you to Bev and Liz for so many great summer hikes.

Full-time and part-time members can always find something fun all year round.

Hope to see you soon!

Debbie Baker, President

president@sunriverwomensclub.org

Sunriver Women’s Club a Place to Connect

Has your summer included activities with Sunriver Women's Club friends? Perhaps, you have been hiking mountain trails, discussing great summer reads or volunteering at the Art Fair. Do you have friends or new neighbors who would also enjoy these activities?

Invite them to join you for the Welcome Back event 4 to 6 pm Tuesday, Sept. 6 at the SHARC. This event kicks off our membership renewal month! Welcome Back is a wonderful time for members and prospective members to visit, reconnect with old friends, meet new ones, learn about the many social activities and volunteering opportunities the club offers. Come connect, have fun and let us help you fully realize the benefits of SRWC membership.

While members enjoy a variety of activities and social connections, we are also committed to making a difference in our community through philanthropic grants. The club is proud of the long history of committing all net proceeds of fundraisers to grant programs serving South Deschutes County. Our track record of giving to nonprofit organizations who serve this high-needs area is amazing.

The details of our donations can be found on the SRWC website. Membership dues cover operating costs of the organization. Operating costs include things such as liability insurance, CPA fees, state filing fees, storage unit, supplies, equipment, etc. Currently, there are needs for a new laptop to manage finances, updated software for the treasurer and communications team and we must shop for a new liability insurance policy after the Art Fair coverage was cancelled.

As inflation has hit us all, these operating costs have risen beyond the current year’s operating budget forcing the utilization of reserves.

After careful deliberations and based on our commitment to protect philanthropy funds, we believe a modest increase in the annual dues is necessary. If members join or renew by Sept. 30 dues will be $50 for 2022/23. Effective Oct. 1, annual dues will be $55 per year. You may renew at the Welcome Back event or online. Contact Membership Director Kathy Garofalo at 925-408-0180 to request a paper form to mail in. We look forward to seeing you at the SHARC on Sept. 6.

Debbie Baker
President
president@sunriverwomensclub.org
Sunriver Women’s Club: A Place to Connect

August is everything Art Fair

The Sunriver Art Fair is one of the biggest fundraisers for the Sunriver Women’s Club,
and every dollar of profit supports our Community Grant Program. The people in South Deschutes County are resilient, however, at the same time many of our neighbors have great needs. The women’s club works alongside nonprofits to improve the lives of all our community members. Throughout the year, we will highlight various nonprofits by sharing the important work they do. 

It truly takes a village to host the annual Art Fair. There are a few big jobs and many small ones. Thank you to everyone who has signed up to volunteer. Many hands make light work. It is also a wonderful way to meet members that you haven't met at other events. 

I chatted with long-time member Pat Arnold at the Community Picnic. I told her of the many new members in the club and how we are looking for ways to engage all members, offering a variety of ways to meet or re-acquaint with others. She told me how she values her friends and how she met people by serving on a women’s club committee.

Find ways to connect with fellow members 
This year's theme is about connecting with one another. I met Carol Dockum, a new friend, at our first Happy Hour, and she hiked with us the following week. I also met Kristi Walhood on the same hike. After we finished, our hiking group shared a beverage on the deck at Mt. Bachelor Lodge as we watched zipliners and mountain bike riders. There are countless ways to connect with members in the women’s club. Each of our 280 members have incredible, varied backgrounds with interesting stories to share.

I encourage everyone to take a step to become involved in an aspect that brings you joy; it helps create a sense of community. A few ways to connect with fellow members include going on a hike, joining a book club, serving on a committee, helping with an event and attending the welcome event on Sept. 6, monthly informal Happy Hours and monthly luncheons. Hope to see you around!

Debbie Baker, President
Sunriver Women’s Club a Place to Connect: Sharing Fun, Talents and Philanthropy

Do you think about the milestones in your life and ask, where did the time go?

Well, the Sunriver Women’s Club has been around for 50 years, and that is something to celebrate.

And boy did we!

The Celebrate 50 party on June 2 was Awesome with amazing food, an amazing band, amazing raffles and an amazing presentation of our Power of 50 project.

Thank you to co-chairs Kathleen Meyer and Linda Rico as well as their whole team. We had an inspiring slideshow of club history showcasing the women that came before us making this organization work. Today, we are building on the foundation set before us with deep gratitude. Someone said, “they looked like they had so much fun."

Thank you to the powerful women who began this organization and served, thank you to those still serving and to those new members who have joined to carry us forward for another 50 years! We have made a difference in each other’s lives and those of our South Deschutes County neighbors.

In an effort to offer multiple ways for our members to connect, we are hosting informal Happy Hours, beginning with 4 pm Friday, July 15 and 4 pm Friday, Aug. 1 at Mary McCallum Park. Come and connect with old friends while meeting new friends. 

I welcome your questions and comments. Please feel free to reach out to me at president@sunriverwomensclub.org. 

Debbie Baker

The new board was installed at the luncheon on May 17th. I am honored to serve as your new president. Thank you to Nancy Fischer for her passion and serving three years as President. The theme for the coming year is Sunriver Women’s Club a Place to Connect; Sharing Fun, Talents & Philanthropy. There are many ways to connect in our organization which can provide a sense of community; connection is so important to our wellbeing. Most of us left former communities and family when we moved to Sunriver. For me it was my family, coworkers who were also my friends and my weekly running buddies. When you spend 4 hours on a training run, a strong bond is developed and no secrets left untold. The Sunriver Women’s Club offers social activities, service on committees, small and big volunteer opportunities. In addition to the social aspect of our club, the impact to the lives of our neighbors in south Deschutes County through our grants is powerful and amazing!
 
A survey was recently sent to all members. Our desire is to ensure there is value to members in ways that enrich each other’s lives as well as how we give outside the organization. Results will help guide the priorities throughout the year. Please take a few minutes and tell us what you think. You can find the survey here.
 
There is so much information in this “hot off the presses” Newsletter, don’t miss any of the latest. Key upcoming events are hikes throughout the summer, the Community Picnic on July 20th and the Annual Art Fair August 12 -14, 2022.
 
I welcome your thoughts at president@sunriverwomensclub.org. Come and connect.