EDitorial! Hannah Lin
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
This is a pivotal time when we reflect on the past year and look forward anticipating new events and new relationships.
There are so many things to be grateful for from 2016.
We watched ‘Wonder Women’ together on International Women’s Day. We had 9 staff out in community delivering programs and the help of over 60 volunteers. 44 men joined us in the 2nd Walk a Mile in Her Shoes Muskoka. The YWalk for Women and Girls was completed from Georgian Bay to Dwight with several new walkers joining in to raise both funds and awareness for the mental health of women and girls. The fun and feisty Petticoat Power Cruise drew a crowd to celebrate 100 years of women getting the vote. A series of 12 Art and Health workshops for senior women ran in South Muskoka and we celebrated the accomplishments of Muskoka women at our 15th annual Women of Distinction Awards Gala.
YWCA Muskoka was nominated by the Canadian Women’s Foundation and shortlisted for the With and For Girls Award for its girls programs. The organization was also awarded the Paul Harris Certificate of Fellowship by the Rotary Club of Bracebridge Muskoka Lakes for its contribution to Muskoka communities.
A special thank you to Tracey Mellersh who stepped off the board in August to become our Development Coordinator for 6 months. Without her we would not have launched the GU100 Campaign at Thanksgiving – her initiative and the ‘spread it’ power of social media raised just over $11,500 for Girlz Unplugged programs in 2017 – we have secured enough to run 4 programs this winter have funding pledged for 2 more in the fall and that’s just the beginning.
We anticipate with great excitement throughout 2017 as YWCA Muskoka celebrates its 20th anniversary!!! – We invite you to share stories and pictures with us - we’d like to start a blog to share women’s voices and as this organization is made up first and foremost by people and we hope to hear from you!
On January 16th, after months of preparation and together with our partners and several Leaders and Allies, we launch the Circles™ initiative in Huntsville to build relationships to reduce poverty. We are also taking registrations for Women in Business, Girlz Choice, Quest and Girlz Unplugged programs We’re planning another great night of Women in Film; a March Break girls leadership camp; organizing an Enterprising Women Conference in March, and another YWEncore this spring for any women who have experienced breast cancer and are looking for camaraderie and a gentle free exercise group.
In 2016, YWCA Muskoka’s membership grew to 67 members - that’s a 40% increase over the previous year. We hope that means we are engaging you and that our members are finding value in the difference that YWCA Muskoka is making in the quality of life of women and girls across our region. I encourage you, if you haven’t already, renew your membership in this, our year of being ‘20 years Young’ – it’s going to be a spectacular year full of opportunity and wellbeing.
And of course there’ll be cake!
|
