Fall and Early Winter 2013
A Summer of Change
Welcome back to the fall issue of The Weaver. We have lots going on this fall and you can find all the details of all our fall programs in this newsletter and in the weekly emails.
This summer we experienced and instigated a number of big changes at the FRWRC. Sometimes it is hard to keep up with it all. Following is a basic run down:
Our amazing Office Administrator, Kristin Iden, needed to resign her position with us due to an increased work load with her job at LFCC and childcare issues. She has however, offered to continue posting the weekly emails and managing our social networking forums. She is now an official member of the FRWRC board so we have not lost her invaluable contributions. Gratefully, we were able to attract another wonderful and talented woman, Jennifer Philbert, who has taken over as Office Admin. You will meet Jen later in this newsletter.
Soon after Kristin resigned we also heard from Carolyn Landis who has been our intrepid Treasurer and keeper of all monies and accounts for the past seven years. Carolyn understandably is looking to put her energies into some new directions but we are extremely sad to see her go. We talked her into staying until the November planning meeting so we would have time to find a new treasurer. As of now, we are in the process of finding the right person for this position. If any of you, our wonderful members, has experience in Quick Books, likes dealing in numbers and money and would like to become an active member of the board, please contact us – we need you!
We also undertook a much needed revision of our by-laws. We are so fortunate to have Beth Iden who has worked with numerous non-profits offer to guide us through the process of bringing our by-laws up to State Corporation Commission and IRS standards. The bylaws will be amended at the October meeting. You will soon receive an emailed copy of the by-laws. Do read them over and let us know if you have any suggestions or questions. We must have ten paid members (board and non-board) at the October board meeting so we hope some of you can make it.
By now, most of our Dare to Dream Grant recipients have received their grant allocations. Kristen Franco has a new MacBook Pro, Debbie Butler has a new HP and is continuing her classes at LFCC, Tiana Maxey has entered classes at LFCC, Takita Johnson is in the CNA program and will graduate on September 25 and Tara Waters, our Elaine Bromfield Scholarship recipient, has enrolled in classes at Strayer University. The other two women hoping to enter the CNA program are waiting to take the pretest. We plan to keep the recipients informed of our events and activities so they might become involved with the FRWRC in the future.
Finally, we also began the process of designing a new interactive web site. Read all about it in the following article. In and around all of these changes, Eka Kapiotis continues to do her masterful job of hosting our monthly radio programs; tune in on the first Thursday of every month. Nan Hathaway continues to find inspiring and informative books by and about women that we donate to Samuels Public Library on a monthly basis. If you are looking for a great end-of-summer read, we suggest you look at the list of donated books available on our web site or at the library.
As we move forward into the fall, we are grateful that you are all still with us, that we are attracting more members and that the community continues to discover us and our offerings. We welcome any input and suggestions – we love to hear from you.
FRWRC Meeting Dates
- Wednesday, September 11
- Wednesday, October 9
- Saturday, November 2: Annual Planning Meeting
See inside for details
We meet on the second Wednesday of every month unless otherwise notified. Monthly meetings are held at our office located at St. Luke’s Clinic, 316 N. Royal Avenue, Front Royal, from 5:30-6:30 PM. Meetings are open to all
Welcome to our new web site designed by Weathervane Graphics. Bob Way, Barbara’s wonderful husband, designed our existing web site and has been maintaining it for the past number of years.
Welcome Our New Office Administrator
We want to introduce you to Jennifer Philbert, our new Office Administrator. We are incredibly lucky and excited to have Jen with us. We had a number of wonderful women apply for the position that was vacated when we lost Kristin but Jen is tailor made for it. She has an Associate Degree in Business Management, Networking Certification, bookkeeping skills and twenty years of administrative experience, much of it working with non-profits. She’s already started working and will be in the office on Monday mornings from 10:00 AM until noon. You will get a chance to meet Jen at our September breakfast; she will be at the registration table so please introduce yourselves to her. If we had to lose Kristin to her LFCC job, we could not have found a better fit than Jen.
Newsletter Publication Change
We wish to remind you about the change in our newsletter publication dates. As nonprofits struggle to tighten our belts and put membership dollars to their best use, the FRWRC board voted to limit the newsletter to three issues per year instead of the usual five.
The Weaver will now be published seasonally: spring, fall and winter. This will equate to an issue containing news of August through November (fall), January through March (winter) and April through June (spring). There will be a special December issue. There will no newsletter in July as usual
Another big change is that we will no longer be mailing hard copies of the newsletter. If you prefer to read a hard copy as many of us do, simply download the printable version and print it. Hard copies will still be made available to those who don’t have access to a computer.
We hope that this change will not inconvenience anyone and that you will still be able to receive news of our doings and upcoming programs in a timely fashion. Of course the weekly email is the best place to find out what is happening in your FRWRC. If you aren’t receiving our weekly emails, do email Jen at and ask to get on our mailing list. Do let us know if you have any questions or complaints about this change, we are always anxious to hear from our members
Editorial – Beth Iden
Literacy is a Women’s Issue
The second Sunday of this month was International Literacy Day. Back in 1965, some years before “women’s issues” were at the political and social forefront, literacy was considered a global priority and a human right. Since 1965 International Literacy Day has been observed annually on September 8. Established by UNESCO, the annual observance focuses on global literacy. This year more than 774 million of the world’s population, cannot read or write. It is estimated that 123 million children also lack literacy skills and do not have access to education.
So is literacy really a women’s issue? You bet it is.
Nearly two thirds of those 774 million are women.
Since 1965 it has become clear that focus on literacy puts women squarely in view. Evidence is irrefutable that literate women change and transform their families, their communities and the wider world.
In his address on International Literacy Day in 2010, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed that transformative power. “Literate women are more likely to send their children, especially their girls, to school,” he said. “By acquiring literacy, women become more economically self-reliant and more actively engaged in their country’s social, political and cultural life. All evidence shows that investment in literacy for women yields high development dividends.” Investment in women’s literacy, “improves livelihoods, leads to better child and maternal health, and increases girls’ access to education,” he stated. “In short, newly literate women have a positive ripple effect on all development indicators.”
In 2010 UNESCO and the UN Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT) announced a joint program to assist the Afghan Government reach its goal of reducing illiteracy by 50 per cent by 2015. Afghanistan has a 26 per cent literacy rate among people over the age of 15, and only 12 per cent among girls and women over 15.
Just two years after the program was announced, on the Pakistani-Afghan border, Malala Yousufzai, a 14-year-old Pakistani schoolgirl was shot in the head by the Taliban. She was shot for advocating education for girls. Is literacy really a women’s issue? Malala says it is and millions agree! The young schoolgirl sparked a worldwide movement from her hospital bed and with dignity and courage continues to speak out for women and girls’ education. She is in the running for a Nobel Peace Prize and has already won the Nobel Peace Prize for Children.
Nearly fifty years since the first International Literacy Day, women still need to advocate for their children, especially their daughters, to be educated. For many the struggle is harder than ever. Literacy is a global issue but it is women who hold the power to make change.
The Girl Grant goes to 4H Camp
This summer three middle school girls: Jasmine, Brooke and Danyi, were able to attend the Warren County Extension Service 4-H Camp through our annual Girl Grant.
Jasmine lives in a single parent household. Her mom has problems with addiction and is unable to overcome that so Jasmine knows and has seen a lot for her young age. Her counselor writes, “She is one of the most appreciative children I have met. She (will) cherish this opportunity and be very grateful. ”
Brooke struggles with self-esteem issues. She has a low opinion of herself and her self-worth. Brooke needed the opportunity to see that she could survive somewhere on her own at a camp for a week to know that she is strong and does have the ability to care for herself.
Danyi is a shy young lady who has had very few opportunities to do anything outside of school. She is a kind and caring girl who gets little attention from family and wants very much to do well in life. She has a lot of responsibilities in helping care for her family. Camp provided an opportunity for her to have fun, meet new friends, and enjoy being a young girl.
4-H camp was a perfect choice for these three girls as it provides many opportunities for boys and girls to learn skills through hands-on experiences. The camping program helps youth build self-esteem and challenges them to be innovative and creative. Participants had the opportunity to participate in exciting classes – about 20 to choose from. There were also swim and recreation times, special evening events, songs, games, and more.
The Girl Grant was initiated in 2006 by Mary Ellen South in memory of her daughter. The grant gives a “hand up” to girls between the ages of thirteen and seventeen who might not get recognized in the traditional ways but can use a validation of their self-worth. One or more grants are given annually.
The FRWRC Fall Breakfast
The Front Royal Women’s Resource Center’s fall breakfast will be held at the Shenandoah Valley Country Club on Thursday, September 19th. This is an annual event that brings women from throughout the county together for a celebration of the friendships that keep us strong (and sane!).
This year’s theme is “Educate Women and Change the World” and we are pleased to announce our speaker will be Liv Heggoy, Director of Development at LFCC, speaking on the impact of women’s education globally, nationally, and here in the valley. Time is 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. The cost of the breakfast is $30 payable at the door and all proceeds will go to support our local grant programs. The breakfast is a wonderful time to introduce potential members to our organization, so make plans to attend and bring a friend.
Sponsored by Lord Fairfax Community College, Beth Medved Waller, Inc.
and Anonymous Individuals.
RSVP by September 13 to 636-7007 or
Half the Sky Community Event
OCTOBER 3, 5:45 – 8:00 PM. Samuels Library, 330 E. Criser Road, Front Royal, VA 22630
Join the Front Royal Women’s Resource Center for an abridged screening of a powerful series about empowering girls and women worldwide. Filmed in 10 countries, this documentary, Half the Sky, introduces women and girls fighting to change their difficult circumstances. The purpose of the community screening is to raise awareness of human rights issues that affect everyone in every nation and every community. We hope to:
- increase awareness of the oppression of women worldwide as a humanitarian crisis that affects all people everywhere including the local community
- spark local community conversation about how human rights and humanitarian issues globally affect life in the Valley and Front Royal area.
The evening will begin with light refreshments at 5:45 p.m., followed by the screening at 6:00. Segments from the series will be shown for about 1 hour, followed by a question and answer and discussion period. The discussion will be led by Dr. Rosalie H. Norem, who has worked in over 30 countries on issues related to women in development, both with the United States Agency for International Development and the United Nations system.
FRWRC Annual Planning Meeting
NOVEMBER 2, 9 AM – 1:00 PM. , Warren County Public Safety Building, Skyline Vista Drive, Front Royal, VA. (Near Skyline High School).
If you’ve thought about getting more involved with the FRWRC, this meeting is your opportunity. This is the meeting where we look over our year, discuss programming and set new directions for the following year. As we approach our 18th year of existence, we welcome your participation and inspiration to help us move forward into 2014.
We are amazed at how our organization has grown in the past several years. Social networking, younger members contributing their energy and creativity to programs and overall increased awareness of our existence has allowed us to attract 100 plus fantastic members and gain community recognition. We want to continue the forward momentum and we can only do this by getting more of our membership involved with the nuts and bolts of the organization. Can you make time to attend this important meeting and find out how you can become more involved? We need your creativity, your “sweat equity” and your inspiration to keep our organization vital and fresh. Even if you are too busy to volunteer any time, we still would love your input so come and join us for a morning of womanship.
This meeting is open to all FRWRC members and friends. The meeting starts at 9:00 AM and will end at 1:00 PM. We will go out for lunch following the meeting. Our meetings are dynamic, casual and fun! If you plan to attend, please RSVP the office at 636-7007 email at . Bring something to write on. Beverages provided. We hope you will join us!
Voices of Valley Women
Writing by and about Women living in the Shenandoah Valley
The Voices of Valley Women is a forum for women to share their writing with each other; a place where each unique voice can be heard. This can be in the form of a poem, a letter, a haiku, a story or your thoughts on any topic. A long term goal is to gather enough material to make a book featuring the voices of local women. We would love to hear from you and will gladly provide encouragement, editing assistance, ideas, whatever you may need to let your voice be heard. For inspirational examples go to our website at www.frwrc.org and click on Voices of Valley Women. Email submissions to or send to FRWRC, PO Box 1748 in Front Royal.
Samuels Library Book Donations
The Front Royal Women’s Resource Center and the Royal Oak Bookshop co-sponsor book donations to Samuel’s Public Library that are by and about women.
BOOK REVIEW FOR SEPTEMBER, 2013
LISTENING for MADELEINE
A Portrait of Madeleine L’Engle in Many Voices
AUTHOR: LEONARD S. MARCUS
Some likened her to an ostrich and being somewhat ungainly because she stood tall on giraffe-like legs. Nevertheless, her accomplishments as an author were anything but awkward and she was rewarded time and again for a literary acumen that has captivated and beguiled readers for decades. Thus was the genius of author, Madeleine L’Engle! Born in New York in 1918, Madeleine was exposed to people in the arts at an early age due to the fact that her father was a writer, her mother a pianist. Apparently her parents placed social interactions in a prominent position in their lives, leaving Madeleine in the care of nannies and private schools. As a result, she found comfort and solace through the books she read and the stories she would eventually create. Her friends were few in number and she was considered to be socially inept. It seems so ironic that she would later become sought after, revered and accomplished due to her ability to communicate with people of all ages.
Leonard S. Marcus chose an innovative method to furnish a portrait of this amazing woman. Many of the people who played an important role in her life were interviewed and asked to bring her into focus through their eyes. You will learn of a woman who spent an enormous amount of time communicating with many of the youth she encountered, using letters she labeled “Dear Ones”, mentoring them and instilling a desire to persevere in their craft. For a time, Madeleine worked in the theatre but writing soon became her passion and she was visibly crafting themes during every waking moment. She was incredibly gracious and a rare friend. Her faith was an important part of her life, allowing her to become known as one who could deliver a sermon almost as well as an ordained minister. However, she also appeared to be enigmatic. She was generous to a fault with those outside her family and a stellar grandmother yet, seemingly, distant and unnecessarily critical as a mother. It has been theorized that she often would not relate to reality but chose to see things as she wanted them to be, thereby not acknowledging problems from within her family circle.
A Wrinkle in Time was Madeleine’s masterpiece and she traveled extensively all over the country promoting this fictional fantasy as well as her other extraordinary works. Imagine, if you would, watching this extremely tall creature glide across a stage, position herself then begin to take items out of a bag that appear to have no relevance to each other. As each one is removed, a story begins to evolve, and before long, her subjects are captivated by one of the greatest storytellers of that era. She enveloped audiences, mesmerizing all with her uncanny ability to create a rapturous daze while ‘listening for Madeleine’.
BOOK REVIEW FOR OCTOBER, 2013
NOT QUITE NIRVANA
A Skeptic’s Journey to Mindfulness
INTRODUCTION BY: Thich Nhat Hanh
AUTHOR: RACHEL NEUMANN
“What happened to the twenty years between the time I was eighteen and twenty-five and the one year between thirty and sixty?” Geoff Hoyle, Actor
Once in a while a literary jewel crosses your path that, although not earth-shaking, contains material that is thought-provoking. So much so, it stirs turmoil from within, causing reflections that question the scope of the completeness of your life. Not Quite Nirvana is such a book. You may wonder about the rapidity of the years gone by and pose a challenge by asking yourself what you have accomplished and what has been ignored. Many of us have been very successful in our lives: extraordinary professions; lovely homes; endearing families. But, can it earnestly be said that we have found the peace and spiritual nourishment that changes life from being comfortable to remarkable?
The Buddhist concept of mindfulness is the prevailing focus in this book. Ms. Neumann says, “Mindfulness is a deep awareness of both the singularity and transience of the present moment.” She professes the importance of being involved with what surrounds us in a solitary state. It is reiterated that meditation, peacefulness and a deep connection with spaciousness can provide a powerful, joyous transformation that soothes and calms one’s soul. She delves into suffering, death, depression, anger and shares insights that will cause the reader to reevaluate priorities. The importance of listening is underscored because so often we pay no attention to what is being said, due to the fact that we become desperately impatient to inject our own thoughts. These revelations may inspire a search for paths that have not, heretofore, been explored. It could force you to make more conscious choices, thereby enabling one to forgo regrettable decisions in the future. The possibilities are, seemingly, endless.
In a recent television commercial, Shaquille O’Neal quotes his mother (at the moment of his birth), as having said, “WOW!” We can assume the reference, but you may be saying wow for an entirely different reason after completing this book. Putting one’s life in perspective is, and should be, a never-ending process. This book encourages an exploration for nirvana that will challenge us to make time to stop and smell those roses.
Bulletin Board
Valley Women Today
Radio shows are aired on the first Thursday of every month 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM. WFTR 1450 AM, WZRN 95.3 FM. Our host is Eka Kapiotis. If you’d like to be on our radio show, contact Eka at 635-7244 or email her at . You can listen to Podcasts of the past 2 shows! Just go to www.theriver953online.com/ and click on Podcasts. Look for the Valley Women Today or look up by date.
September 5, Kathleen Crettier: Manager, Education Department & Planetree Coordinator, Warren Memorial Hospital: Holistic nursing: Back to the Future? “Holism” is a philosophy that comes directly from Florence Nightingale who believed in caring for the WHOLE human being, and understanding how life events, relationships with others and the environment impacts humans and vice versa. As we anticipate the changes the Affordable Care Act may bring, holistic nurses are poised to play key roles in providing a variety of low cost, low tech modalities to optimize wellness, prevent illness and injury, alleviate suffering and support people to find life balance.
Book Circle
All FRWRC members are invited to participate in this invigorating group. Please invite your friends to join us. Contact the monthly hostess or Barbara Greco for more information. We meet at members homes for lunch and discussion the third Friday of the month at 12:00 noon. If you’d like to host a month or switch feel free to choose a month and contact the hostess. We look forward to a year of informative, enjoyable and companionable reading.
September 20: Kindred, by Octavia E. Butler (Barbara Greco at )
October 18: The Paris Wife, by Paula McLain (Betty Tice at )
November 15: (Kathleen Hutchins at )
December 20: No Selection; book exchange. Jean Orsi
For information about a specific book or month please contact the hostess for the month. For general information or to be added to our mailing list, please contact Barbara Greco online at or by phone: (540) 631-4557
PLEASE NOTE: We send weekly emails to all our membership listing all of our events, our member events and Chamber of Commerce Events. If you are not getting these emails, please contact our office at and let Lori know. Your computer may think they are spam and they are going into the spam box. Do make sure that your computer will let our emails through. We communicate with you about all of our goings on and if something is cancelled, we let you know through email or our Facebook page. Please do take time to skim over the emails – we only send them once a week.