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Silpada fundraiser

 Spring Bling Fundraiser

for

Quota International of Grand Rapids

Thursday May 2, 2013

5:00pm to 8:00pm

Complimentary Appetizers! Cash Bar; Happy Hour Prices until 6pm!

Sundance Grill and Bar–Downtown Grand Rapids

40 Pearl St. NW

Grand Rapids, MI 49503

We’ll be showcasing the hottest selection of .925 Sterling Silver Jewelry from the current Silpada Collection! Start your Spring gift shopping for Mom, Grads, Bridal events, and of course your personal wish list! Our Silpada Rep will donate 50% of her cash profits to Quota International of Grand Rapids.  All of those who order are automatically entered into a drawing to win a $50 Silpada Jewelry Gift Certificate!

 

Easy On-Line Ordering!

If you are unable to attend in person, you can support Quota International of Grand Rapids with an online order at this website:

www.mysilpada.com/sue.marsh

Be sure to Specify Quota International of Grand Rapids/Sue Scharf as your hostess when ordering on-line!

 

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2013 Quotarian of the Year

Drumroll please…

Pat was supposed to be here to present this award. Due to some travel logistics, she was unable to attend (it’s difficult to make the trip back from China). However, she wrote this beautiful speech to present the winner of the 2013 Quotarian of the Year:

She came to us with a big smile.  She came to us like a ball of energy.  She had resources that she was anxious to share and she had unique knowledge that she was anxious to impart.  She raised her hand and signed her name to volunteer requests as thought they were going out of style.  We all wondered if she was real or just a figment of our wishful thinking.

Then, we wondered how long would this enthusiasm last.  Surely, not too long, but she proved us wrong there.  She comes to each and every meeting or event with ideas and plans.  She was an impetus for our Junior Quota initiative with her camp plans that evolved into a big hit with and two great experiences for the young hearing impaired people in our midst.  She jumped right in to our first conference with her ever present positive attitude.  She joined the walk committee and took off with the Duck theme.  And now, she is on her way to a position of leadership. It may be safe to say that she will be our first and only juggling club President.

Cathy Kaiser, we thank you for bringing to us your friend Martha.

Martha Herman, we thank you for sharing yourself and we happily honor you with our 2013 Quotarian of the Year award.

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2013 Installation Ceremony

As I mentioned in this post, Robin did a very nice job with the Installation Ceremony at our banquet. Since we all write on computers these days, it’s very easy to share with you what she said. Without further ado, here is the ceremony (and photos!):

This was another great year for Quota under the strong leadership of the outgoing board. We added new members, established our Junior Quota Club, made lots of money working on great fundraisers and continued to serve our mission to help the deaf and hard of hearing and disadvantaged women and children. A special thanks to Kim for her steady, strong leadership. We are lucky to have had her guidance over the last year and for another year to come. Our group is small but we are strong – and optimistic for the future of our Club and the good things we can do to help those we serve through our mission. We have had interesting programs and fun social get-togethers in a wonderful new location. We continue to move forward using efficient communication through technology. And we got some great PR this year!

And maybe most importantly, we have continued to have fun together.

Thanks to the new Officers and Directors

Leadership in Quota is a big responsibility. Our leaders give many hours to their roles. Thanks to each person for accepting the challenge. Each position carries unique and important responsibilities. You make a difference.

Responsibilities

The Directors are charged with helping to lead the Club, acting as liaisons to all Club Committees and handling any other responsibility as requested by the President. Returning for the 2nd of two year terms:

Barbara Griffin (Barbara was unable to attend.)

Emily Uebbing joined Quota in January of 2007 and has served in many capacities, including as President. She agreed to be on the Board again because she enjoys knowing what goes on behind the scenes and being in the know is important because Emily’s also our blog editor! (Have you checked the blog lately??)

Emily has lived in West Michigan for a total of fifteen years – the first 8 years of her life in Niles and the remaining seven here in Grand Rapids with her husband, Bill. Emily current works as the Jr. High Youth Director, Wedding Coordinator and Support Staff for Adult Education at the First United Methodist Church of GR. And if that’s not enough, she will have a “summer job” helping a friend with her landscape business in Mt. Pleasant.  A little known fact about Emily? She’s is very afraid when crossing bridges!

New Directors:

New director Sandi Aten just joined Quota in February of this year. She agreed to step immediately onto the board so she can make new friendships, learn more about Quota and participate in activities that benefit others. She has lived in West Michigan for 47 years and she retired in 2011. In her free time, Sandi volunteers at Shawnee’s Oral Deaf School and for Gilda’s Club’s LaughFest. Little known fact about Sandi? She likes to garden.

Robin Keith – she has agreed to be a director for the next two years as well. She joined Quota in 1989 and have been on the board many times, including a stint as president (when she had the chance of a lifetime to attend the only international convention held in Singapore!) She has lived in GR for 35 years and currently work as the Community Relations Manager with Warner Norcross & Judd LLP. A little known fact about Robin? She could live on popcorn.

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The Treasurer is charged with managing the financial condition, records and obligations of the Club’s operating fund and the Charitable Foundation fund and will be accountable to report our condition to the Board and the membership.

Maureen Martin joined Quota in 1981 and has been on the board many times, including a stint as president. She has also served our district as governor. She agreed to serve as Treasurer because a very good friend asked her to serve and she couldn’t say no! She has lived in West Michigan all her life and although she has traveled far and wide, she still loves coming home. She is the Finance Manager at Home Repair Services and has served on the boards of the Girl Scouts, Grand Rapids Ballet and Lake Michigan Academy. A little known fact? Maureen likes to play pool.

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The Secretary is charged with keeping the minutes from all meetings of the Club and the Board and will handle all relevant correspondence of the Club.

Cathy Kaiser – We have a very experienced board as Cathy has also served on the board a number of times and was president for an unprecedented three years! She joined Quota in 1981 and agreed to serve as Secretary this year because the loves knowing the inside scoop! She has lived in West Michigan since she was 13 years old and currently is the training coordinator for MISBTDC (ask Cathy what that stands for) at GVSU. A little known fact about Cathy? She once made a jacket out of a tablecloth!

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The President Elect will act in the absence or inability of the President to serve and will perform such other duties as may be assigned by the President or the Board of Directors.

Martha Herman has only been a Quotarian since February of 2011 but has been very active from the start. She agreed to be in a leadership role to learn more about Quota and to use her energy and skills to help advance our Club. She has a master’s degree in leadership so she’s really prepared! She has lived in West Michigan her whole life and is currently self employed as a government contractor helping small businesses learn how to get long term contracts with federal, state and local governments. A little known fact? At the age of 26 she wrote a high school curriculum for blind and physically handicapped students to finish high school at home. One of her graduates was a gentleman with multiple sclerosis who was bedridden.

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The President is responsible to preside at all meetings of the Club and the Board, generally supervise the interests and welfare of the Club in the community, appoint committees, represent the club at District and International meetings and generally set the direction, with the Board, for the next year.

Kim Savoie joined Quota in 1995, the same year she got her first hearing aids. She agreed to lead our club now because her current employer, Stifel Nicolaus, allows her to do so (her previous employer would not due to industry regulations). She’s lived in West Michigan her whole life bout wouldn’t reveal how long that is! For 29 years Kim has been a personal financial planner – which she considers being the best job in the work because she helps empower people financially! She has been active with Hudsonville High school, were her daughter Katie attends school – Kim will be a prom chaperone and also volunteers with the Hudsonville Band and Winter Color Guard. She’ll have an empty nest next year when Katie flies off to college. A little known fact: Kim uses her left hand for some tasks and her right hand for others – but she’s not truly ambidextrous!

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At this point, the new Board was installed.

Please look for photos of the new board (to be posted soon, here on the blog) to help you recognize them. We are here to serve you and we want to hear from you. And we also want to thank you, the members, for your support of this club. We do make a difference!

Here are some photos from the evening.

Sandi, Maureen and Martha pose for a picture before eating dinner.

Gwen, Diane and Eleanor sharing laughter and smiles.

Kath and Pam share a hug before the program started.

Emily, Sarah, Anna Moore, Pam H., and Robin enjoying another Installation banquet.

The 2013-14 Board Members: Emily, Barbara (not pictured), Robin, Sandi, Maureen, Cathy, Martha, and Kim (look for mugshots, er, I mean head shots/close ups to be posted in the next few weeks).

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2013 Installation Banquet

We missed many of you at the Installation Banquet. For those who are sick, we hope you are feeling better. For those who are traveling, we hope you have fun and return home safely. For those who just missed it, we missed you. But we don’t want you to miss out on everything. That’s why we post on this blog. To keep you up-to-date, informed, and on the up-and-up (you know, the haps -it’s what the kids are calling it these days).

Robin did a wonderful job as Mistress of Ceremonies. Cathy gave a wonderful invocation. The club continues to impress us with their delicious food. Robin introduced the new Board (check back for some entertaining information on your incoming Board). Emily presented the Quotarian of the Year (check back to read all about the deserving Quotarian). Kim then shared her insight to the new Board. Here’s what she told us,

Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears, while the used key is always bright.  Benjamin Franklin.  These people are all bright keys.  

“Maureen” is a Celtic name that means – Great. In Quotarian, Maureen means a great vision.   Maureen can easily see “the big picture” and lends her vision to the Board and the Club readily.  In the coming year, she will be Maureen the Great, conquering the financial reporting for the Club and Foundation.

A Latin-American name, “Patricia” means – of noble descent. In Quotarian, Patricia carries our Club’s reputation nobly forward with our Service Projects and our Hospitality.

“Martha” is an Israeli name with the meaning – lady. In Quotarian, Martha is the lady with enthusiasm for all our projects, especially the Duck Walk.

An Irish name, “Kathleen” means – pure, virginal. In Quotarian, the name Kathleen (or Kathy with a K) means pure passion for our service projects and know-how to squeeze extra money out there for our cause.  And this up- coming year, she’ll no longer be a virgin to heading the Service Committee.

The meaning of “Sarah”, an Israeli name is – princess. In Quotarian, Sarah has been not just the princess, but the Queen of Programs and RSVPs for our meetings.

In Latin-American, the name “Emily” means – admiring. In Quotarian, her name is especially fitting because we all get to admire Emily’s handicraft when we look at the blog every week.  We’ll get to continue to see her work displayed for admiration in the new Quota year as she continues to work her magic with the blog and bring her knowledge to the board as a Director.

The meaning of “Cathleen”, an Irish name is – pure, chaste. In Quotarian, this Cathleen (or Cathy with a C) means purely ambitious for our members and their numbers, and in the next year, a desire for pure minute- taking for posterity.

A Greek name, the meaning of “Pamela” is – honey. In Quotarian, Pamela Goebel did a honey of a job in discovering our financial weak spots and then worked to make them run smoothly.

In English, the name “Robin” means – famous brilliance. In Quotarian, it’s the same in that Robin gives a famous brilliance to our efforts through the publicity covering our results.  She’s also brilliant at taking all the conversations and detail discussed at meetings and putting them so succinctly in the minutes.

“Barbara” is an English name taken from the Greek “barbarous”, meaning traveler from a foreign land.  The name became popular in medieval Britain after the 3rd century martyr St Barbara.  In Catholic custom, St. Barbara is a protectress against fire and lightning. In Quotarian, even though Barbara travels frequently, as a Director she protects our Board from the storms of bad decisions and will continue to do that in 2013-14.

As you know, the Greek meaning of “Pamela” is – honey. In Quotarian, Pamela Howland is as sweet as possible in coaxing extra funds out of folks to further our cause and will keep it going for another year as the Fin/Fun Committee Chair.

The name “Sandi” originated as a Greek name that means – defender, helper of humanity. In Quotarian, Sandi will be a helper of all who we serve for the next two years as a Board Director.

French in origin, the mythological ancient Roman divinity, Diana, or “Diane”, was noted for beauty and swiftness; often depicted as a celestial huntress. In Quotarian, Diane will apply her beauty and swiftness to advancing the membership of Quota of Grand Rapids.

Now, I didn’t know this until I searched my name last in this list, but the meaning of “Kimberly”, in English is – ruler. In Quotarian, with everyone’s continued support and help, I will do my very best to lead our group for one more year, and I thank you for the privilege!

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50/50 Raffle and what you need to know

Robin sent out an email that she shared with her friends and family to help sell her tickets. This is an easy and effective way to reach out to many of your contacts. Here is what she said and shared (feel free to use this!):

Quota International of Grand Rapids is holding a 50/50 cash raffle on May 16 as a fundraiser for our service projects to help the deaf and hard of hearing and disadvantaged women and children. Tickets are $5 each or 3 for $10. You do not need to be present to win nor do you need to live in West Michigan!

 Let me know if you are interested in purchasing tickets to help with this fundraiser.

 Thanks!

It must be working because Robin has sold over a hundred tickets!

Who will win the prize for selling the most this year? Will it be Robin, or could it be you?

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Quota Cares Month

March is Quota Cares month. Each year we strive to find a good cause and to do our best to support it. This last March was no different. At our meeting we collected items to donate to Sisters in Support.

We set up an assembly line. Quotarian’s were encouraged to pick out a gift bag, select several items off the table to put in the bag, and then bring the bag over for some tissue, ribbon and a gift tag.

Here’s what that looked like:

Pat looks over the donated items.

Maureen reaches for another item to put in a gift bag.

Sue adds another item to her bag.

We received lots of items and hope that these all find good uses in in the hands of Sister’s in Support! Thanks to all who donated items and helped pack bags!  It’s always fun to share.

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Sandi’s birthday

Happy Birthday Sandi!

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President’s Message – April 2013

We didn’t have any Quotarian birthdays in February, but we sure made up for it in March! The people who had March birthdays are:

Pam G March 4
Kim March 9
Diana March 19
Peggy March 20
Rachael March 30
Barbara March 31
Pam H March 31

My birthday wish every year is to have spring weather on my birthday. Well, it was in the upper 40s for my birthday, but after that things fell apart again. If your birthday was before and after mine, I’m sorry. Next year I’ll include you in my spring weather birthday wish!

For April, we only have two Quotarians with birthdays: Joyce’s is April 5 and Carolyn’s is the 23rd.

Did you know that you can look on our blog under Quota Documents to see the birthday list? The list now includes our newest member, Sandi. Be sure to check it out so you can wish her a happy birthday (hint, it’s not for a few months).

I hope to see many of you at the District Conference in Traverse City on April 26 through 28. The conference is good fun and with the changes in structure happening at the International level, it’s an interesting time. If you need another copy of the invitation, please let me know.

Kim

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