NOVEMBER 2018 PRESIDENT’S REPORT
President Marj Snyder
It’s been a busy late summer and fall for our community. Now that the Thanksgiving season is upon us, I’m thinking about all the NFWFWF-related activities for which I’m thankful.
I’m incredibly grateful to all of you who supported the Janet T. Swanson Summer Sunset Benefit at Founder’s Landing on September 1st. We took a chance and made big changes this year and you embraced it. Nearly 300 people either bought event tickets, silent auction items or raffle tickets. It was a beautiful evening to support the mission and enjoy ourselves while we listened to and sang along with the sweet music of the Mudflats.
As I mentioned in my last letter, the board and community members have been working on a three-year strategic plan for NFWFWF. In these turbulent times, it’s critical that NFWFWF is prepared to meet the needs of our community and I’m pleased to say that we are making progress on the plan. We agreed that our vision is a world where the lesbian community of the North Fork of Long Island has the access and resources to live safe, active, and healthy lives. Although we are not changing the mission, we do want to make sure that our programs are responsive to your needs.
We have three working committees – Outreach, Capacity Building, and Rebranding – that will put meat on the bones of the plan. I’m appreciative to the more than 30 women who have so far contributed to the progress we’ve made. Soon you will receive a survey giving you the opportunity to weigh in on what the future direction and activities should be. Thank you in advance for taking a few minutes to provide feedback.
Many thanks to the more than 50 women who supported our October 20th Oyster and Pizza Extravaganza and enjoyed all the Little Creek oysters and 1943 pizza they could eat. No one left hungry!
Chris P’Simer and Matilde Busana earned a big thank you for agreeing to join the NFWFWF Board this year. They bring new energy and expertise to the board. In fact, the entire board deserves deep appreciation. They are dedicated, full of fabulous ideas, and fun.
Thanks to all of you who have continued to support First Friday Friends (FFF). They’ve been a rousing success, averaging 40 people at each gathering. Since August we have hosted events from Riverhead to Orient. As Kathy Bresnan noted in her Facebook post about FFF – “We are strengthening our community by consistently meeting in a variety of North Fork locations, communicating our mission to those we meet, while supporting local businesses”. Bring your friends and family to the next one on December 7th at noah’s in Greenport.
Finally, I’m especially thankful for the women who joined us on October 27th for our first ever Breast Cancer Survivor and Supporter Breakfast at the Hellenic. We shared our stories, our tears, and even our laughter. Everyone agreed that this should become a regular event.
A happy and healthy holiday season to everyone. There’s a great deal to be thankful for.
Marj Snyder
NFWFWF President
president@nfwfwf.org