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JUNE /JULY
2016
SOUTH WEST
DISTRICT OFFICERS
PRESIDENT
Shelley Davidson
863-599-9070
VICE PRESIDENT/
COMMUNICATIONS
Mary Van Tol
239-271-0161 (c)
SECRETARY
Sissie Lumpkin
863-228-3186
TREASURER
Dorris Ann Wasson
941-412-0847
CHAIR OF NOMINATIONS
Diane Killmaier
609-774-6350
PROGRAM RESOURCES
Sandy Segur
941-249-8726 (c)
941-626-8384 (h)
MN&O
Sharon Wilson
561-313-3641 (c)
863-983-2788 (h)
SOCIAL ACTION
Betty Mayberry
941-875-0658
SPIRITUAL GROWTH
Roberta Swords
305-323-2432
E&I
Marti Daltry
239-997-0673
SOUTH WEST
DISTRICT SOJOURNER UMW Publication Florida Conference
Greetings my South West District Sisters!
I recently returned from South East Jurisdiction (SEJ) in Charleston, South
Carolina. SEJ works as a team in the fulfillment of the PURPOSE. The SEJ
promotes the programs of United Methodist Women through education and
training as determined by the National Office.
SEJ was held June 3-5 and over 700 women were in attendance! The theme
for the event was “A Fresh Wind Blowing” and boy did we experience a
beautiful fresh wind! We were able to participate in song, worship, focus
groups and fellowship. There were different rooms set up for browsing
including a program resource room and a prayer room.
Harriet Jane Olsen, General Secretary and C.E.O. as well as Yvette
Richardson, President of the National Office were there to share what’s been
happening with our organization and to give encouragement for the future.
We were blessed to hear the Rev. Jasmine Smothers, Associate Director of
Connectional Ministries of the North Georgia Conference of the United
Methodist Church. She was an inspiration to every single person there,
creating such a spirit-filled room. It truly was an awe-filled experience! We
also got the pleasure of listening to the Rev. Dr. Robin Dease, District
Superintendent of the Hartsville District, South Carolina. She too gave quite
a testimony leaving everyone in the room wanting to hear more!
All in all, the experience was one I will treasure and I look forward to being
able to attend my next SEJ and hopefully, you can join me too!
Love & Blessings,
Shelley Davidson
District President
United Methodist Women’s PURPOSE
The organized unit of United Methodist Women shall be a community of women whose
purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ;
to develop a creative, supportive fellowship and to expand concepts of mission through
participation in the global ministries of the church.
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A Note From Your Vice President...
Greetings Women of South West District!
It’s hard to believe, but it has been seven weeks since we were last together at our May Social Action
and Program Resources Event! I want to thank all those who participated in making it a meaningful and
enjoyable event! A special thanks to the women of Venice Grace UMC who provided a wonderful meal,
favors, and hospitality. Our District is blessed to have such enthusiasm for all the work that needs to be
done to make our events special. It goes without saying that I love working with the District team who
are so willing to step up and participate in making the event go smoothly as they have my heartfelt
thanks.
A special thanks to Carrie Brown for substituting as our speaker for Cornerstone Family Ministries as
Cathy Stone was unable to attend due to a conflicting event. Another District was holding a baby shower
for them on the same day and Cornerstone was twice blessed with items for their ministry. Our District
collected 24 laundry baskets filled with items plus lots more that couldn’t fit, but filled Carrie’s van. Be
sure to look at the photos in this newsletter.
Blessings and keep up the good work of being Women in Action!
Mary Van Tol
SEJ 2016 Highlights from Charleston, SC
Photos courtesy of Shelley Davidson
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Social Action Speaker & Leaders
Carrie Brown, Lori Perkins, & Betty
Mayberry
Program Resource Leader
Sandy Segur
Helen Boruff
Venice Grace UMW President
Our helper Gabriel manning the
program resource table with
Sandy
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2016 District
Team
With Rev.
Denise Sawyer,
Lori Perkins &
Carrie Brown
Thanks to the Venice Grace United
Methodist Women hosting our
event!
Photos courtesy of Mary Van Tol, Denise Sawyer, Lori Perkins & Jannett Hawley
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Event Updates
"Sarasota Trinity UMW hosted "A Portrait of
a Bride" Event on April 9th. The event was a
huge success with 105 attending. All were
stunned with the gorgeous displays of
wedding gowns across the front of our
sanctuary.
Speaker Leigh-Anne Brown delighted us
with the stories about the women who wore
the gowns...from the early 1800's to
present day, and how women have evolved!
A reception in the fellowship hall after the
program was elegant and delicious. A
highlight at the reception was a display of
our own Pastor Lisa's wedding gown
handmade and beaded by her mother.
We profited $815 from the event which will
help our Unit be in mission in many ways for
women, children and Youth."
Submitted by Sherrill Carr,
Sarasota Trinity UMW President
Sarasota Crossroads held a Unit Meeting
on April 19th on the topic of "Human
Trafficking" put on by Bonnie Pentecost.
Below are the photos from the event which
was highlighted in the May Sojourner.
Photos courtesy of Ila Detweiler
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Program Resources: 2016 Reading Program!
FOUR READING PROGRAM PLANS:
TITLES READ FROM THE 2011 LIST WILL BE CREDITED THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2016.
PLAN I - 5 BOOKS PER YEAR: One book from each category: Education for Mission, Leadership Development, Nurturing for Community, Social Action and Spiritual Growth. Selections can be from the 2011-2016 reading lists if not included in previous reports (including Youth titles). Regular reading of response magazine.
PLAN II - 10 BOOKS PER YEAR: Two books from each category: Education for Mission, Leadership Development, Nurturing for Community, Social Action and Spiritual Growth. Selections can be from the 2011-2016 reading lists if not included in previous reports (including Youth titles). Regular reading of response and New World Outlook magazines.
PLAN III - 15 BOOKS PER YEAR: Two books from each category: Education for Mission, Leadership Development, Nurturing for Community, Social Action and Spiritual Growth. Plus 5 additional books from any category. Selections can be from the 2011-2016 reading lists if not included in previous reports (including Children and Youth titles). Education for Mission, Leadership Development, Nurturing for Community, Social Action and Spiritual Growth. Regular reading of response and New World Outlook magazine.
PLAN IV - 20 BOOKS PER YEAR: Two books from each category: Education for mission, Leadership Development, Nurturing for Community, Social Action and Spiritual Growth. Plus 10 additional books from any category. Selections can be from the 2011-2016 reading lists if not included in previous reports (including children and Youth titles). Regular reading of response and New World Outlook magazines. Bonus Books Bonus Books count as two books—either as two books in one category or as one book in two categories. For
example, Just Mercy and We Shall Not Be Moved count as two books in Social action. Unbound and Uprising
both count as two books in education for Mission.
United Methodist Women mission studies can be read for credit in the following categories: Spiritual growth study for Spiritual Growth. Geographic study for Education for Mission. Issue study for Social Action.
However, you must also have attended the study either at Mission u or your local Unit presentation in order to get credit for reading the study book.
Peace be with you,
Respectfully,
Sandy Segur
If you were not able to attend the May 21st United Methodist Women Social Action and Program Resource Event, you were missed! Our Reading Program for this year is coming to a close. Please submit the Plan you have chosen, listing the books you have read, to your Program Resource Secretary or to your President by the first part of July so that she can submit the listing by July 15th. You will receive your CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION at our South West District Meeting in October.
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https://www.facebook.com/
southwestdistrictumw
If at anytime throughout the year you
or anyone in your unit have updates to
contact listings for your ladies, please
forward that information to District
Secretary, Sissie Lumpkin. She is the person re-
sponsible for maintaining our database for the
entire District. Once she updates the database,
she then forwards the information to your district
counterparts so they know how you can be
reached.
863-228-3186
The Sojourner is YOUR newsletter to
let others in the District know about
your challenges and triumphs work-
ing to help those women and children
in need. Please send me anything
you wish to share with the District
Units by the 25th of the month.
Mary Van Tol
VP/Communications Coordinator South West District [email protected] Cell: 239-571-0161
Article Deadline
2nd quarter pledges due July 5
Send to District Treasurer, Dorris Ann Was-
son ([email protected])
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Reading Plan Participants due July 15
Send names & book numbers to Secretary
Program Resources, Sandy Segur,
479 Northview, St., Port Charlotte, FL 33954
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August 6
Mission Team Meeting—District Team only
Good Shepherd United Methodist Church
North Ft. Myers
9:30 am—(bring a sandwich), salad, snacks &
drinks provided
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September 17
Mission Sampler at First United Methodist
Church in Bonita Springs
Registration 9-10, Program 10 am
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October 22
11th Annual Meeting at Venice Christ United
Methodist Church in Venice
Registration 9-10, Program 10 am
Be sure to visit and bookmark our website to
find forms and information about our District.
www.southwestdistrictumw.com