Several things led me, as chairperson of the Girl Friends Spring Luncheon, to encourage the chapter members to “lean in” more to the organization’s CIVIC SERVICE purpose and to share that more broadly with the community.
One was just the state of the country/world, these days. Another was that while reading Coretta Scott King’s book, My Life, My Love, My Legacy, and revisiting the history/work/ accomplishments of individuals and various organizations (particularly, the NAACP), my civic service spirit was provoked.
I was also influenced by the passion of our chapter’s civic service committee chairperson, Sharon Ralls, as she engaged members in various service projects. This fiscal year, we partnered with Dress for Success, linked into programs for seniors at Mason Wright, volunteered with the Greater Springfield Chapter of the Mass Senior Action Council for phone banking to “educate” and get voters to the polls, and volunteered at the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts unpacking supplies, etc., in addition to continuing our history of supporting scholarships locally and through our national Girl Friends Fund.
I thought it important that Girl Friends be known as “boots on the ground” civic-minded women, who are looking forward to broadening and diversifying our civic service, as well as the fun-loving ladies in the fancy spring outfits and hats. Thus, we were happy to highlight and recognize the following organizations:
● Arise for Social Justice
● Springfield Unit of the League of Women Voters
● Springfield Branch of the NAACP ■