2006 In Review
From the President…
With the blessings of our Lord, God of all creation, we are called to “Walk In the Light of Christ” as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of the Christ child in this Blessed Advent Season.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, what glorious blessings God has allowed The Rochester Church Women United Unit to encounter. As we reflect on the blessings of the past year, we have wonderful highlights to share:
- We welcomed our new energetic Executive Director Colleen Vogt to Church Women United.
- We thank our Office Manager Joan Clark for all of her support and patience through our transition.
- In March, Alberta Hunt led our annual World Day of Prayer worship service which was written by the women of South Africa. It was a spirit filled service, and the Church Women United Choir sang melodiously.
- Vice President Betty Allinger challenged us with our first Education, Insight and Action initiatives (EIA) in April, May and June.
- Our June Action meeting culminated with a luncheon and a fun-filled auction!
- In July, several of us met at Red Wing Stadium in celebration of Women’s Day at the Ballpark. They announced Church Women United on the loud speaker and our name (CWU), and pictures of our group were on the billboard. And…the Red Wings won the game!
- In September, our State President, Carol Deys attended our Board of Directors meeting and spoke to us from her heart. President Deys also acknowledged Marie Barker as our nominee for the 2006 Humanitarian Award.
- In October, our Executive Director Colleen Vogt led us in a beautiful Taize service of prayer and music for our Day of Reflection. Lura Masters provided musical accompaniment.
- In November, our World Community Day service was led by a new board member Eloise Mulligan. Sally Dodgson led us in Bible Study, followed by worship. Our guest speakers represented the Muslim, Jewish and Baha’i traditions. In light of our chaotic world situation, each spoke a message of peace and good will. After worship, we were pleasantly treated to a delicious “Salad Buffet” luncheon.
- And now, we come to this celebration, our Advent Celebration! Jean Murphy, thank you and your committee for your gracious hospitality and welcome! We know that you have worked diligently preparing for this meeting and Advent Service.
I want to personally thank all the celebration and program chairs for their diligent contributions to Church Women United. There are so many of us who continue to make CWU transcend as a lighted candle throughout the Rochester community:
- The choir - under the direction of Linda Moore.
- Task Force on Courts - collaboratively led by Executive Director, Colleen Vogt, and Sue Soper.
- Daily Hello calls made under the direction of Marie Barker.
- Claire Crump and Joan Clark - coordinated the distribution of our afghans under the Warm-Up Rochester program.
- Ellie Newell and her volunteers who work with the Housing Advocacy Coalition.
- Ellen Kimbrough and the Community Food Cupboard.
- Betty Allinger for coordinating the collection of hygiene kits.
We’re had quite a year collecting books for the Rochester Education Foundation, attending the volunteer Fair at Marketplace Mall and learning about other organizations and programs by participating in the Rochester Area Administrators of Volunteer Services (RAAVS), which is a non-for-profit organization; the Girl Scouts and the Children’s Zone program. And there is still more to come! We will kick off our 85th Anniversary year with our Annual Tea on December 16th!
Church Women United….celebrating 85 years of ecumenical prayer and service!
Come help us write the next chapter!
CWU Celebrations Report
Regular readers are well aware that CWU is excited about the new direction begun in 2006 and is now moving forward into our 85th anniversary year. Last spring’s E.I.A. (Education-Insight-Action) celebrations searched for areas of concern in our community and looked for specific needs where we could begin to help.
As education and parenting skills and housing rank high as areas of concern, we set in action our new directives. They include a reading group at a Rochester city school, providing formula and diapers to mothers at a shelter for homeless mothers and children (the median age of children at the shelter is 4 years). We have also begun a new partnership with the Monroe County Facility providing health kits for inmates on their release.
Watch for The Sundial (CWU newsletter) in December for details. Reserve the first Friday in March 2007 for World Day of Prayer, and in April, May and June for E.I.A. events.
The celebrations this fall followed National CWU guidelines and our local traditions. The Day of Reflection, World Community Day and Advent helped us reflect on our inner beings and brought us back to the strength that helps us meet the challenges of the world (E.I.A.).
I am grateful to the celebration chair persons and their committees for helping set up a successful year. –Betty Allinger, Vice President
CWU Finance Committee
Our special Financial Projects for this year were:
- December 2005 – Christmas Cards given in honor of friends or relatives totaled $785.00
- June 2006–Auction at the Picnic totaled $281.50
- November 2006 - Bake Sale at World Community Day totaled $121.50
– Dee Jones
Warm Up Rochester - Afghan Project
Once again, there were many participants in the Warm Up Rochester Project, including those knitters who made the blocks, those who pieced the blocks in afghans, and the women who delivered them from their organizations to the CWU office. Also Margaret Adams and Claire Crump delivered the finished afghans and lap robes to the various organizations who distributed them to needy people.
This fall, the following were delivered:
- 8 lap robes were delivered to Day at the Park-Adult Medical Day Care
- 7 child size afghans - St. Monica’s Preschool
- 6 adult size -Kidney Dialysis Unit
- 10 adult – AIDS Rochester
- 7 adult - St. Monica’s Sojourner House
- 10 adult - Step by Step
Task Force on Courts
This year has seen the beginning of the transfer of leadership of the Task Force from Sue Soper, long-time Coordinator, to Colleen Vogt, who is also the Executive Director of Church Women United. Beginning in February 2007, Colleen will chair the monthly meetings of TFOC, while Sue continues to receive observations from members and write the newsletter.
We now have fewer than a dozen regular court observers, mainly due to declining health of either the observers or their loved ones, and so we have concentrated on a few courts. Last Winter and Spring we observed mainly in Family Court and Town Courts; lately County Courts were added to the list. With few exceptions, the courts in our county seem to be well run.
Vince Rizzo, Supervisor of the Assistant District Attorneys, spoke to our group about his office and problems he sees, such as having fewer ADAs, 70, today than we had eight years ago, which means lower quality service to those who need it. (Funding which doesn't keep up with the needs and maternity leaves have left both public defenders and ADAs with heavy caseloads.) District Courts would save money over the current system of courts for each town and some villages, but it would involve changes in the law and public thinking.
Another area of possible injustice is for migrant workers who may need a translator but don't get one in some town courts, or whose cases aren't handled promptly enough. Mr. Rizzo felt that TFOC has played a hand in the gradual improvement of our court system to be more professional.
Another pat on the back was received by Sue in a letter from Eugene Pigott, Presiding Justice of the New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division, Fourth Department, in Buffalo. He wrote to her "complimenting you on the outstanding work that the Church Women United do for Bench and Bar in taking time to observe the many courts of Monroe County. I only wish we had such a service here in Erie County, and indeed, all of the 22 counties of the Appellate Division, Fourth Department."
The need for our services and more were pointed out in an October series of articles in the New York Times. It described the state of town justice courts, which often lack the trained personnel and financial resources to provide professional service to their residents. In response to this article Sue wrote an op-ed piece for the Democrat and Chronicle on November 14, "To Uphold Justice, Repair Town Courts."
Sue has continued to obtain grants to fund the Task Force, such as paying her salary and to reimburse observers for parking fees paid downtown. Audibility in the courts has been an on-going issue, and recently 19 more microphones were provided for city and county courtrooms. We can only hope they will be used! We also hope that a promised article in the D&C by Mike Ziegler will entice more healthy volunteers to join the Task Force.– Alison Wilder
Daily Hello
- New Callers 0
- New Callees 1
- Callers Discontinued 2
- Callees Discontinued 3 (Died)
- Total Callers 4
- Total Callees 7
–Marie Barker
The Community Food Cupboard of Rochester
The Cupboard continues to see a strong demand for its services. Our Senior Program serves more than 155 households each month, many of which include children. Referrals to the Emergency Program have increased to an average of 42 families per month.
The need for donations of staples, especially soup, tuna and canned fruit is great, as we strive to provide a balanced diet for those who come to us for assistance. At times, some of our shelves are rather bare.
We also have a need for volunteers who could work a few hours a month packing food bags or stocking shelves.
Thank you to all who support The Community Food Cupboard of Rochester; it is only because of you that The Cupboard is able to continue to serve our community. –Ellen Kimbrough
CWU Video Presentations
Anyone viewing the CWU VIDEO knows how heart-warming and inspiring it was in showing the dedication of women of faith in Rochester who constitute Church Women United. The presentations gave some of the history of the celebrations and projects and portrayed how these important actions of justice and peace-making have helped many in Rochester to cope in an often unfriendly world. Many women's groups have been refreshed in past years by learning about CWU activities.
In 2006, women in the Evening Circle of Bethany Presbyterian Church had such an opportunity on April 4. As we move on to visions in CWU, the VIDEO will remain an important record of faith-in-action. It is still available for viewing by arranging a date for presentation with Esther Hammer (244-2706) or by calling the CWU office (342-2790). –Esther Hammer
2005 In Review
From the President......
The light of God is shining in and through Church Women United of Rochester and Vicinity! Our year has been full with celebrations, programs, and education as we celebrated our unity in diversity.
As we looked toward the future, the executive committee began to re-vision CWU this past summer. Working with the executive committee members Ellen Kimbrough (our superb leader!), Audrey Davidson, Dot Borden and Shirley London, our re-visioning of CWU began to take form. When the re-visioning plan was presented to the board this fall, the discussion was full of energy. With suggestions made and taken, the plan was adopted unanimously. The re-visioning has produced amazing results: a new job description for the Executive Director, revised job descriptions for our officers and various board positions, revised by-laws, revised celebration check list, and a new approach to our programs.
We folded the annual meeting into our Advent Celebration and our spring programs will focus on education, insight, and action. It is an exciting time at Church Women United.
In late summer, Mary Ellen Denio (M’Ellen), our Executive Director, tendered her resignation. M’Ellen had the opportunity to move back to Old Forge, her hometown, and to work at the Old Forge Hardware. To M’Ellen we say thank you for her years of service to Church Women United and the greater community.
Many of you know Sue Soper, chair of Task Force on Courts, and the incredible work she has accomplished with the court watchers’ program. As Sue is moving toward retirement, volunteers are needed to help with the various administrative tasks as well as court watching. Training is available… just call the CWU office if you are interested in working with the Task Force.
I want to thank all of the celebration chairs for the thoughtful worship services they planned and executed. We were blessed to hear Rev. Violet Fisher, Bishop of the United Methodist Church, this past World Day of Prayer. Our May Friendship Day brought the choir and its glorious voices to our service. We were inspired by our own Sally Dodgson who led us in Bible study at the fall Day of Reflection. In November, World Community Day took us to West Henrietta Baptist Church for lunch and message by Rev. David Hess. Our upcoming Advent Celebration will include Bible study with Deni Mack, a short business meeting, the installation of new officers and board members, and a choir-centered worship service.
In January, our Annual Meeting guest speaker was Rosemary Mitchell, Executive Director of the Women’s Foundation, who spoke to us on the lack of economic justice for women and children in the Rochester and surrounding area. Our Legislative Institute, in collaboration with the Downtown Community Forum and the Rochester Education Foundation, focused on education issues in our city. In April, our Urban Causeway took us to Cameron Ministries and helped us understand the impact this ministry has in its neighborhood. Our picnic in June brought smiles and fascination as we watched clown Joyce Hitchcock transform into her clown character. The auction was fun and the food was excellent!
As mentioned above, our choir, under the direction of Linda Moore, continues to sing at our celebrations and in the greater community. Esther Hammer took our CWU video to various churches and spoke to community issues and concerns such as lead poisoning. Marie Barker continues to speak to shut-ins through our Daily Hello program. A new slide program that highlights affordable housing is being developed by the Housing Advocacy Coalition volunteers Ellie Newell, Doris VanVechten, and Joan Palmer. Our Warm Up Rochester project is alive and well as volunteers continue to knit and crochet afghans for donation to various agencies in our area. Although personal items are no longer accepted in the Monroe County jails, we continue to collect personal hygiene items for emergency and non-emergency programs such as St. Joseph’s House.
It has been an amazing year! Our churches supported our work for victims of the hurricanes, we worked with the Rochester Education Foundation to collect used musical instruments and money to refurbish them for our city schools, and we continue to stand for justice and peace through our community work.
Thank you for all of your support this past year, and remember, you are Church Women United! –Blessings, Sue!
Daily Hello
- New Callees 0
- New Callers 0
- Discontinued Callees 4 (2 died; 1 entered assisted living home and 1 now being cared for by family)
- Discontinued Callers 2
- Total Callees 9
- Total Callers 6
–Respectfully submitted, Marie Barker
The Community Food Cupboard of Rochester
The Community Cupboard continues to provide both emergency food support for families and long-term support for senior households. In the first nine months of 2005, 276 adults and 426 children were served in our Emergency Program. The Senior Program provided food to 175 adults and 46 children/grandchildren each month. In October, 2 families relocating in Rochester from New Orleans were given an initial supply of food.
The food items we are able to provide vary from month to month depending on what is available from Foodlink, what is donated directly to The Cupboard and how much money is available for food purchases. Your donations of food and cash are very much appreciated.
Volunteers are always needed to pack food bags, stock shelves and maintain food storage areas. To volunteer, please call 325-4990. –Ellen Kimbrough
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina, one of the most devastating, destructive storms, is responsible for the displacement and suffering of millions of people along the Gulf Coast. In response to this devastation, the Rochester Church Women United decided to partner with the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in collecting donations to be distributed through contact churches throughout the regions in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and New Orleans, Louisiana. A truck load of items were taken to the Wesley United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, one of the contact churches and distribution centers. These items were equally distributed to other Parishes in New Orleans and New Iberia, Louisiana. Phone cards and monies were sent to two churches in Alabama, one church in Pensacola, Florida, and one church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Monies only were sent to Mississippi. Many new and nearly new clothing was sent for children along with the specified items requested by the evacuees. The Belle Grande Shoe Company in Rochester donated 90 pairs of new shoes. Total monies collected and distributed were $15,000.00. From this amount, $500.00 was paid to the truck driver. For further planning, we must consider this outreach ministry a long term mission project effectively empowering and enabling our sisters and brothers in time of need in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.– Audrey Davidson
Warm Up Rochester - Afghan Project
Church Women United profoundly appreciate all of the women who are illuminating their "Light" by sharing their love, gifts, and talents by nurturing others through the warmth of afghans. We appreciate women from: Bethany Presbyterian Church; Webster Presbyterian Church; Pine Grove Senior Group; Lake Ave. Baptist Church; Asbury First United Methodist Church (supplied squares). May you continue to use your talents to serve the Lord and others.
Afghans, lap robes, and crib-size afghans were taken to various local agencies to be distributed to needy people. –Audrey Davidson
Task Force on Courts
TFOC has lost some of its observers this year. It is to be expected in this group of retired men and women. We have lost to sickness, travel, grandparental duties and even the death of some of our most dedicated observers.
We have continued to meet monthly and get out a newsletter much respected by the courts. Meeting attendance had fluctuated from 6 to 18 people. Since attendance has been low, we have not invited many speakers. Our July meeting featured Dan DeBruin, who is the Resource Coordinator for the Juvenile Drug Court.
With the loss of observers, we have also gained a few new members who were trained by Mary Davis, Roberta Bradley, Alison Wilder and Katherine Thomas. Trainees appreciate the help given to them by court personnel.
Court observing has been concentrated in the Family Court and Town Courts with some observations in City Court.
We have been supported by grants from Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation, the Rochester Area Community Foundation and the First Unitarian Church donated a Sunday plate collection in September.
Presently, our main concern is to find a replacement for coordinator Sue Soper, who feels she will have to retire this year.– Sue Soper
Church Women United Choir
The CWU Choir is currently scheduling senior citizen organization and nursing home concerts for the winter and spring months of 2006. –Linda S. Moore
2004 In Review
From the President......
What a busy, fruitful year we have had at Church Women United! We have come together in worship, advocacy, and education as we pursue our mission of working for peace and justice in our community and the greater community.
In April, we danced, sang, and celebrated during our Urban Causeway celebration which was held at Monroe Community Hospital, in collaboration with Merging Two Worlds, Finger Lakes Development Disabilities Services Office, and Monroe Community Hospital. It was a Sunday afternoon celebrating the gifts of the developmentally disabled.
Two of our faith-filled women were honored this year by CWU. Sally Dodgson was honored at our May Friendship Day celebration with the Valiant Woman Award for her faithful contributions to CWU and the community. Duk Sun Lyu, who has faithfully served on our CWU board for 25 years, was honored at the Greater Rochester Community of Churches Faith In Action dinner in June.
We hosted the Finger Lakes Sectional of CWU units in June with our State President, Barbara Shuck and Sectional Leader, Carol Deys. We worshiped together, ate together and played together [remember the fun we had with our auction?]!
In November, we collaborated and celebrated World Community Day with members of the Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School and the greater community as we shared worship together in the tradition of our Native American sisters.
We continue to advocate in our community through our participation in the Task Force on Courts and the Housing Advocacy Coalition. In February, our Legislative Institute focused on lead poisoning in our city and greater community. Our choir continues to sing in nursing homes; calls continue to be made to shut-ins by our Daily Hello callers; and hand-made afghans and lap robes continue to be distributed to various agencies in our community. Our voice continues to be heard in the community through our representatives to the Interfaith Forum, the Greater Rochester Community of Churches, and the Women’s Interfaith Coalition. We continue to interface with Church World Service.
During our monthly board meetings, we have heard speakers from the Education Foundation, Metro Justice, Step by Step, and Action. We were blessed with Bible studies led by Sally Dodgson, Peg Ridley and Joy Swanton and Dr. Paul Hammer. We prayed together with other Christians around the world on World Community Day. We continue to speak about our mission at various churches and organizations with the help of our video.
As we review our year, one sees how alive we are in the light and love of God. BUT we must also face our challenges: an aging volunteer population and little money. We will assess our programs, celebrations, and services this coming year as we vision the future for CWU. We are far from finished with our work in the community and the greater community. With hope, love and support, we will continue to make a difference in our community. Remember, we are Church Women United!
–Rev. Sue Forsyth
Daily Hello
- New Callers 0
- Discontinued Callers 4
- New Callees 0
- Discontinued callees 5
- Total Callers 8
- Total Callees 13
– Marie Barker
CWU Video “As Jessica’s World Turns”
On January 10, 2004, twenty persons were present to see the VIDEO and participate in the discussion before and after the presentation at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, 141 Adams Street, Rochester 14608. We were invited by Mary Ann Henry.
On February 9, fifteen persons attended an evening circle meeting at the First Congregational Church in Fairport, where the VIDEO was presented with discussion, invited by Marge Meyer.
On April 18, twenty persons enjoyed the VIDEO and discussion at a Pot Luck Dinner after church at the South Livonia Congregational Church in Livonia, NY. We were invited by Rev. Sue Forsyth.
On April 22, twelve persons at the Brighton UCC Church in Henrietta received the VIDEO and discussion at an evening meeting, invited by Joan Palmer.
On November 22, six members of the Elizabeth Circle of the Henrietta UCC Church enjoyed the VIDEO and discussion in an evening meeting at the home of one of its members, Barbara Widmer.
A total of 73 persons were exposed to the VIDEO and participated in discussion before and after the presentation during this 2004 year. Many expressed concern for the fact that there are fewer members active in women’s groups in churches today compared to previous years. It is our hope that these presentations will inspire women to want to be a part of the special fellowship and enrichment Church Women United celebrations and projects bring to the community.
–Esther Hammer, VIDEO Project Presenter
Jail Kit Project
Through the donations from many church groups and individuals, we were able to provide 94 jail kits for women in the Monroe County Jail facility. Unfortunately, the project is on hold. The facility’s personnel are not able to handle the project and we have been asked to discontinue the effort for the present. We will continue to search for ways we can be helpful to women incarcerated there.
In the meantime, we will accept personal items from the following list to be shared with community agencies, serving homeless, young mothers, group homes, etc. The list includes shampoo, combs, deodorant, Kleenex, tooth past, bar soap.
–Betty Allinger
The Community Food Cupboard of Rochester
2004 saw positive changes at The Cupboard, as interim administrator Ed Ristau accepted the permanent position. The Emergency Program was re-instated gradually and is now fully operational. The Senior Program, which was fully maintained during our time of transition, continues to serve about 140 households each month. Donations of money and food have increased and we are now able to meet most of the requests for assistance which are referred to us.
In 2004, 348 adults and 583 children were fed through the Emergency Program. Each month 170 Senior adults and 33 children/grandchildren were served through the Senior and Long-term Family Program.
Thank you to all who support The Community Food Cupboard of Rochester; it is only because of you that The Cupboard is able to continue to serve our community.
–Ellen Kimbrough
Task Force on Courts
The Task Force on Courts has grown to forty-one observers, as of December, 2004. While this is good news for the Task Force, it puts more burden on Sue Soper, as she finds it increasingly difficult to keep up with the many facets–and many faces–of her job. Nevertheless, the Task Force has continued to meet monthly, even in July, with Sue presiding.
Many of the meetings were enriched with the presentations by outside speakers:
- Cookie Waller, who leads Teen Court
- Ron Pawelczak, Chief Clerk of Family Court
- Justice Karen Morris, Brighton Town Justice
- Ed Nowak, Monroe County Public Defender
- Supreme Court Justice Thomas Van Strydonck and
- Kim Robinson, from the Fund for Modern Courts.
A multi-paged Task Force on Courts newsletter was published six times this year, up from five, due to the extra reports brought in by more observers. Funds to help pay for mailing 467 copies of the newsletter came from Daisy Marquis Jones funds, The American Baptist Churches, and a First Unitarian Church Social Justice Outreach grant. The grants also partially reimburse parking fees for observers and pay Sue a small stipend.
Looking forward to 2005, Kim Robinson has encouraged the group to study Family Court more intensively in the Spring, with assistance from the Fund for Modern Courts.
In order to keep the task force operating, Sue needs help with:
- training the new observers,
- writing the newsletter,
- writing grant applications, and
- disseminating annual court schedules and other information for the group.
- She also has been responsible for organizing and leading the meetings, preparing agendas and inviting speakers, and answering requests for information and presentations to other groups.
Anyone interested in helping with one of the above should call Sue at 586-6363.
–Alison Wilder
Church Women United Choir
The CWU Choir continues with rehearsals on Monday afternoons at the Gates Presbyterian Church.
During 2004, the choir sang in nursing homes in Brockport, Spencerport, Greece, and for the Senior Citizen's Center in Spencerport, and participated in the CWU May Friendship Day and Advent Services, in May and December, respectively.
The CWU Choir is currently welcoming new members. Anyone who might be interested in joining CWU Choir, please contact Linda Moore, at 225-7027 for more information.
Warm Up Rochester
More than 100 afghans (full size and lap robs have been delivered in 2004 to: Kidney Foundation, Step by Step, Sisters of St Joseph Day Care Center, AIDS Rochester, the Children’s Center at Strong Hospital and Ronald McDonald House. Fifteen individual women and women’s groups continue with to knit and crochet with great enthusiasm. This is a small and unsung service to the Rochester community.
