Take Care of Yourself

Women always put everybody else first. We can be better nurturers, however, if we take care of ourselves first.

Best Foot Forward: 

• Invite a local retailer or boutique owner to share techniques for dressing for success.
• Plan a workshop on public speaking and presentation skills.
• Hold a workshop for leaders in your club to train members how to run a meeting.

Stress Reduction:

• Share meditation techniques with club members in meeting and/or through newsletters.
• Take care of your mental health and spiritual well-being by learning how to reduce stress.
• Schedule a monthly girls lunch group, aka “Me-Time”.

Personal Finance:

• Plan programs to help clubwomen understand their finances, retirement planning and credit reports.
• Start an investment club to learn about the stock market. Visit www.betterinvesting.org for more information.
• Plan a program on clipping coupons. Visit www.southernsavers.com for more information.
• Plan a program on estate planning.

Take Care of Yourself “Done in a Day” Projects

• Plan a program to demonstrate dressing for success in the world of work and volunteering.
• Host a retirement planning seminar for women and open up to the public.
• Hold a leadership training workshop.
• Have a book swap at monthly meetings. Donate remaining books at the end of the year to the library.

The President’s All About Me Award – Awarded to the club with the best program to encourage and promote personal growth among their members.

Take Care of Family and Friends

Health Issue Awareness:

• Ovarian Cancer Awareness – September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month. Wear teal to increase the awareness of ovarian cancer, the silent killer among women of all ages. Educate women on the symptoms of ovarian cancer. Visit these web sites to learn more and order materials, many of which are free. www.ovariancancer.org    www.scovariancancer.org

• Breast Cancer Awareness – October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Wear pink to show your support for breast cancer education. Continue the fight against breast cancer by supporting annual mammograms for women over the age of 40. Educate women on the importance of monthly self-exams and annual exams.

• Women’s Heart Health – February is Heart Health month. Wear red to show your support. Educate women on the risks of heart disease and the symptoms that are unique to women. Participate in health screenings to learn your risk of heart disease. Visit www.goredforwomen.org for information.

Healthy Lifestyles:

• Exercise and Fitness – Encourage members to exercise. Plan club walks at local parks, neighborhoods and even the mall. Invite a yoga instructor to a meeting and learn a few basic yoga moves. Encourage members to move by parking further from the store and using stairs rather than the elevator.
• Healthy Meals – Encourage members to prepare and eat healthy meals. Visit the web sites www.eatbetteramerica.com  or the Healthy Cooking tab at www.allrecipes.com for new recipes. Share recipes in your monthly newsletter.

Club Fun Night:

• Game Night – Plan a game night with club members. Play bunko, card or board games.
• Theatre Night/Arts Night – Plan a night out at the local theatre. Attend a musical performance. Visit an art exhibit.

Take Care of Family and Friends “Done in a Day” Projects

• In September, distribute teal ribbons and wear in support of ovarian cancer awareness.
• Order ovarian cancer literature and distribute at your club meeting, schools, libraries and other places.
• In October, distribute pink ribbons and wear in support of breast cancer awareness.
• Participate in walks in support of ovarian, breast, heart or other health issues.
• Invite a dietician to speak about preparing healthy foods and meals.
• Encourage members to click daily on www.thebreastcancersite.com to help fund free mammograms.
• Plan a health screening in February and invite your girlfriends to participate.
• Participate in National Wear Red Day in February to support for the fight against heart disease.

The President’s Friends Award – Awarded to the club with the best overall program taking care of family and friends.

Take Care of Community

Issue Awareness:

• Stroke Awareness – Work to raise awareness of the symptoms of stroke. In SC, only 4 hospitals have received the Joint Commission’s Certificate of Distinction for Primary Stroke Centers. Three are located in the Charleston area and one is located in Anderson. Encourage local hospitals to become a certified stroke center. Visit the Know Stroke web site to learn more about strokes and order materials, many of which are free, at www.stroke.nih.gov or learn more at www.strokecenter.org .
• Sponsor candidate debate forum.
• Invite local elected officials to speak at club (county council, school board, mayor, etc.).

Home Assistance Program:

• Adopt a Family – Adopt a family for the holidays or any time of the year.
• Coat Drive – Collect coats, hats, gloves and scarves for your local shelter.
• Food Drive – Collect food and paper items for your local shelter. Partner with a local church or organization to stuff backpacks with healthy snacks for children over the weekend and long breaks from school.

Conservation:

• Beautification of Community – Sponsor Yard of the Month or Storefront of the Month contests.  Work with local public parks to plant flowers and trees and assist with cleaning the park grounds.
• Elimination of Alien Invasive Species – Learn about invasive species in South Carolina at www.defenders.org/resources/publications/invasives/south_carolina.pdf
• Conservation of Native Species (plant, animal, insect) - Learn about South Carolina’s native species at the SC Native Plant Society www.scnps.org .
•  Look for community projects and plant sales in your area to support.

Take Care of Community “Done in a Day” Projects

• Place Know Stroke handouts at the local library and other public places.
• Plan a Know Stroke program to show the video from the Know Stroke web site and invite the public to attend.
• Write letters to local hospital asking they become a primary stroke center certified by the Joint Commission.
• Plant flowers/plants at parks and schools.
• Encourage members to click daily on www.thehungersite.com to fund free food to those in need.
• Order or deliver casseroles to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Baptist Hospital in Columbia or start a similar program at your local hospital. Visit www.caringcasseroles.org for more information.

The President’s Palmetto Award – Awarded to the club with the best overall program in taking care of their community.

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