MEMORIES of HADASSAH, FRIENDSHIP and FUND RAISING
The other day the Boston Globe had an article titled, "Age, changing society imperil the mission of women's clubs."

The article was about the Cabot Club of Middleborough Ma. that was founded in 1897 and over the years raised hundred's of thousands of dollars for scholarships for local students and many other causes.

After decades of shrinking membership the club is the state's largest women's group to shut down. They are just not getting enough younger members to join.

Now, like a growing number of women’s groups nationwide, the ladies in Middleborough have decided to disband.

“It’s a real shame,’’ said Margaret Atkins, 84, who joined the club in 1950 and is its longest-serving member. “We just are not getting enough younger members to join and learn the ropes. It’s sad because we have put thousands of hours into volunteer service into this community and the state. Who’s going to fill that niche?’’

Today's young women have careers and families, they just don't have the time to devote to a women's club.

How times have changed - there I go again - I've said it before and I keep saying it - nothing stays the same, everything changes and "CLUBS" are no exception.

The WAY IT WAS

I remember when I was a newlywed, moved into a new community.

I didn't drive and did not know a soul.



How lonely I was until I met a neighbor who told me about "Hadassah."

HADASSAH, the Women's Zionist Organization of America, was founded in 1912 by Henrietta Szold. Since its inception, Hadassah has remained unwavering in its devotion to Judaism, Zionism, and American ideals.

As the largest volunteer organization and the largest women's organization in America, Hadassah is committed to strengthening the unity of the Jewish people. In Israel, we accomplish this through progressive healthcare, education, youth institutions, volunteerism, and land reclamation. In the U.S. we reach our goals through Jewish and Zionist education programs, Zionist Youth programs, and health awareness programs, as well as by advocating for issues of importance to women and to the American Jewish community.

I joined that group, became very active, made friends, and learned a lot about raising funds by running various events.


Photo: Hadassah Friends

I learned on the job - for example, when I first started out I would appoint a committee of eight women to help plan the event, come the night of the event my phone wouldn't stop ringing - she couldn't make it because the baby was sick, she couldn't make it because she couldn't get a babysitter and so on and on.

WHAT I LEARNED

I learned you have to have a committee of twelve!

I learned when you put out the cream cheese for a crowd, don't let them help themselves - you will run out!

I learned how to arrange for good "no charge" entertainment!

I learned if you do not want to chair an event, "do not make a suggestion about what to serve." They just might like it and say, "You should chair the event!

I learned that even though I can't carry a tune, I could still be in the show!

All in all, being the member of an organization that does good work, not only benefits the group, but the individual gets a feeling of accomplishment, makes friends,and has fun along the way.

Too bad the young people today are on a different track, many are working hard and have to do what they have to do.

I'm glad I had the opportunity to have had enriching life experiences and contributed to a worthy cause.

How about you, what's your "club experience?"

More:
Hadassah on Twitter
Hadassah on Facebook
Hadassah on YouTube

posted by millie garfield @ 9:00 AM | Permalink | I LOVE COMMENTS >> 2 comments

 
A Jewish Joke Could Win Millie an iPad


Video Title: Millie's Yiddish Class: A Jewish Joke

Hi.

Steve here.

My mom entered this Jewish Federation of the North Shore video contest to win an iPad.

Here are the rules:

VOTE NOW for your favorite #ish video!

Watch the eight #ish video entries on Facebook.

Then vote for your number one video choice either using the Facebook form or by emailing mail@jfns.org.

Voting runs from November 16 through December 1. The top three winners will be announced on the first day of Hanukah-December 2.

Votes must be accompanied with email and video title to be considered valid.

ONLY one vote per email per day will be counted.

The First place winner will receive an Apple iPad, the Second place winner will receive an Apple iPod Touch and the Third place winner will receive an Apple iPod Shuffle. Prizes are generously sponsored by Lowell Gray.

For more information contact Liz Donnenfeld at ldonnenfeld@jfns.org

It's ironic that this contest has similar rules to Dancing with the Stars.

It ends up being a web popularity contest.

It's up to you to decide how you want to vote.

Thanks for considering voting for my mom.

VOTE HERE EVERY DAY:

Click here to vote for my mom via email.

It'll start an email for you that looks like this:

TO: mail@jfns.org
Subject: "VOTE: Millie's Yiddish Class: A Jewish Joke"
Body: "I'm voting for Millie's Yiddish Class: A Jewish Joke"

Feel free to customise the email however you'd like.

You can watch more of My Mom's videos on YouTube.

posted by Steve Garfield @ 3:39 PM | Permalink | I LOVE COMMENTS >> 9 comments

 
Me and DANCING WITH THE STARS
Year after year when vacation time rolled around my husband, our son and I would make plans with our friends and their children to vacation the third week in July at Grand Lake Lodge in Lebanon, Connecticut.



It was a great family place, lots of activities for the adults and a day camp for the children.



On a sunny afternoon the pool was the place to be - you could swim, you could just sit and chat, you could participate in "Simon Says" or learn the latest dance steps. That's where my husband and I learned the Cha-Cha, the Tango, the Mambo and whatever else was IN at the time. We weren't the greatest dancers but we loved dancing!

Evenings at Grand Lake were spent in the Club House where there were nightly shows. No name talent like the Catskills but it was always a fun evening.

One evening they held a dance contest. The master of ceremonies asked for lady volunteeres - I don't know whatever possessed me - I put my hand up and was called to the stage with the other ladies. I was an ok dancer but had no business entering a competition.

The next thing I know, I'm doing a Cha-Cha with the gentleman. After that he danced with the other contestants and THEN he held his hand over each dancer and asked the audience to applaud - well, what do you know, I got the most applause and won a bottle of champagne!!!

You could have knocked me over with a feather - me - win a dance contest!!! When I pulled myself together I figured it out.

We'd been going to Grand Lake for years, not only did we go with our friends and their children ,and there were lots of them, we knew many of the guests who also came year after year!

They all clapped for ME!

What a thrill.

Now, I'll tell you what inspired this post

DANCING WITH THE STARS

I'm not a big fan of Dancing With The Stars but there have been times that I got hooked because I wanted to see certain celebrities perform.

This season I was especially interested in seeing Jennifer Grey dance.


Image Courtesy: ABC

Seeing her dance with her partner Derek Hough reminded me of her dancing with Patrick Swayze in "Dirty Dancing."


Image: Wikipedia

Oh, what a movie that was! The Grand Lake Lodge experience was just like that.

Watch: Dirty Dancing - Time of my Life (Final Dance) - High Quality

Now about Bristol Palin - She's still in the running - better dancers have been knocked off the show but she and her partner are still in the competition.


Image Courtesy: ABC

You can have lots of talent, be charming and good looking but if you do not have the right connections or know a lot of people you just might not win.

On the other hand if you "have a name" and know a lot of people you can be a winner!!

Look at me!!

posted by millie garfield @ 8:31 AM | Permalink | I LOVE COMMENTS >> 13 comments

 
A QUESTION FROM A LURKER
I recently found out that a young lady who works with my daughter-in-law Carol, is an avid reader, loves my blog and is a lurker.

In Internet culture, a lurker is a person who reads discussions on a message board, newsgroup, chatroom, file sharing or other interactive system, but rarely or never participates actively. Research indicates that "lurkers make up over 90% of online groups".

She's been following me for some time and recently asked Carol how I was doing since I had my hip surgery in May.



What a timely question - For a while now I've had a question I've wanted to ask the surgeon but since my check-up visit was coming up, I decided I could wait until I saw him.

All this time I've been following precautions that where outlined to me by the physical and occupational therapist. I was very careful not to move the wrong way or do anything that would cause the "new hip" to pop out of place.

One thing I had to learn was "how to get dressed and not bend what I should not bend."

I used a sock aid to put on and take off socks. I also had a grabber that helped me put on underwear and pants.

What I was not able to do was wear shoes with laces. (I'd have to bend in order to tie the laces.) Fortunately I have several pairs of shoes that I can just slide my feet into so that was no problem.

Well, last week I saw my surgeon, he took x-rays of my hip and told me "it looks great." My question to him was, "can I bend down now to lace my shoes?"

His reply, "YES, YOU CAN!"


MARC CHAGALL limited edition giclee titled "CIRCUS CLOWN & DANCER"

It so happens that I saw the doctor on Monday. That Thursday I was going to attend the last of five lectures on the life of Marc Chagall. It rained heavily that night - a perfect night to finally wear shoes that I could lace!!

Thanks to the lurker who asked the question - gave me something to blog about!

Anyone else have a question for me - I'd be glad to respond - That would help me out when I don't know what to blog about.

It does happen!! ;-)

posted by millie garfield @ 8:07 AM | Permalink | I LOVE COMMENTS >> 9 comments