Communication from Margaret Noel
Province 1 Representative to the National ECW Board
National Episcopal Church Women's Board St. Michael's CathedralBoise, Idaho
Dear Women of Province 1,
Province VIII was the setting for the National ECW Board Spring meeting held in Boise, Idaho Friday, May 17th to Monday, May 19th. Evita Krislock, President of Province VIII came from the Diocese of Spokane, Washington to join us, especially for the event on Saturday at the cathedral. The three-day business agenda covered the upcoming 2021 Triennial Meeting Which will be held during The Episcopal Church General Convention, Baltimore, Maryland The Baltimore Convention Center, Wednesday June 30th to Friday July 9th, 2021.
Highlights and reports covered:
Keynote Speakers
Chaplin (five nominations)
Musician (four nominations)
Welcome Dinner
Distinguished Woman Luncheon
Design Logo and Cross
NECW Exhibit Booth
Friday evening, Christine E. Merritt, a member of St. Michael's Cathedral, brought her Labyrinth. She set up in the center an icon she had written of the Virgin Mary. After we centered ourselves we walked the labyrinth. It was a most powerful experience. Following the walk Christine stayed while people processed their experience. It was a great way to start the weekend.
Please take time to look at the updated NECW website: www.ecwnational.org including a welcome video from the National President ECW President, Karen Patterson. These videos will be updated with pertinent ECW news. Updates have been started on the By-Laws as well as the ECW Start Up Kit, which will include a new item many have asked for called, “Talking Points”.
The Rev. Georgene Gigi" Conner, 2nd VP (communications), noted the new ECW monthly on –line communication BRANCHES has had an excellent response. She encourages dioceses to submit information and photographs from your diocese about ECW ministries and projects for both BRANCHES and the Facebook page. Future articles will focus on Provincial Representatives and “16 Days of Activism.” She reported on the documentary being made about the first ordained women in the Episcopal Church known as the “Philadelphia 11.”
The Rev. Ema Rosero-Nordalm, Member at large-Social Justice, noted that the ECW Social Justice focus will include: Immigration, Human Trafficking and Racial Reconciliation. You are invited to share how you are making a difference in the world or how you wish to get involved with the ECW Social Justice ministries. Congratulations to The Rev. Ema who was selected to receive the Bishop Barbara C. Harris Award for her Social Justice ministries. Please go to the NECW website for more Social Justice information about the work on local or global issues affecting women and girls.
Did you know Women to Women is a program of the NECW that grants seed money to charitable income-producing projects? Application forms available on the NECW Website.
Jeanne Plecenik, Treasurer, will write up a synopsis/narrative of how the funds of the NECW are administered through the National Episcopal Church out of New York, so the general membership has a better idea of how the process works.
The Province Reps each presented what had transpired since February in their provinces and some of the upcoming events they are expecting. We in Province 1 will be gathering for the Province 1 Annual Meeting at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Londonderry, NH on Saturday, August 17th at which Ms. Marjorie Burke (a former NECW President) will be speaking on her new book: Pilgrimage on Ice and Sand. We will also have the pleasure of having the current NECW President Karen Patterson with us.
Saturday afternoon and evening was a special time for us at St. Michael’s Cathedral in downtown Boise, hosted by St. Michael’s ECW. Their most excellent hospitality at the Meet ‘n Greet, Eucharist and Reception were led by their President Maureen Sellars and VP Ellen Blackman. I had the best Idaho potato, a potato shaped scoop of vanilla ice cream covered in cacao, with a split top covered with a big dollop of meringue and sprinkled with Oreo cookie crumbs, nuts and hot chocolate. YUM. Karen Patterson, NECW President, gave a brilliant speech reflecting on ECW and her service attending the recent United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. The question and answer period was lively and productive. The event left us all feeling very blessed in fellowship, sharing our mission and ministries in the world through the love of God.
It is time to start planning your 2021 ECW delegation who will represent your diocese at the 2021 Triennial Meeting. Also it is time to start thinking about selecting a Distinguished Woman to be nominated from your diocese and honored at Triennial Meeting in Baltimore.
Our next NECW Board meeting will be in Ohio, October 17-22, 2019.
