2014-2015 President's Report

It is hard to believe that my time as President of the Blue Stocking Club is coming to an end. I was so honored and completely surprised when I was asked to be your president. I have enjoyed every meeting and appreciate all of you bearing with my much relaxed following of “Robert’s Rules of Order.” I have had fun and I hope that you have too! We were saddened this past year with the loss of our dear friend and member, Peggy Rogers. We have also lost two of our sustainers, Eleanor Jackson and Sarah Sutter. These fine members contributed greatly to the success of our club and will be greatly missed. And it is with regret that we accepted the membership change of status of Harriet Harty from active to sustainer. We did welcome back sustainer, Lila Ray, to active status.

We are honored and blessed to welcome our five new members: Annette Cochran, Peggy Horner, Jennifer Kennedy, Brennan Rockett and Susan Solomon. We are looking forward to working with you in the years to come and forming the close bonds that come with membership in the Blue Stocking Club.

Our special event this past year was held July 20th, 2014 at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum.

BCMA offered to host a party and tour for us to thank us for all of our hard work on the fundraiser that the club held for the museum. Club members and large donors were invited. It was well attended and a huge success. BCMA honored our club by naming the educational classrooms “The Blue Stocking Club Learning Center.” It was a wonderful tribute to our club and our hope is that the museum will continue to grow and prosper and add to the quality of life in our community.

This year we have continued to serve our community by voluntarism. We gave of our time and energy to Bristol Faith in Action and Believe in Bristol. Members graciously donated $1065 for the Emergency Food Pantry in October. In November, we collected diapers and baby wipes for the Bristol Family Resources.

The annual Christmas luncheon at The Virginian always delivers a day of friendship, good food and great entertainment. This year our club donated 90 boxes of cereal to the Emergency Food Pantry and “the Blue Stockings” received $2,372 from the generous members and sustainers. With these funds, the club was able to assemble 240 boxes of cleaning supplies to be distributed by Bristol Faith in Action to their clients. We ushered in January with our assembly line of members who efficiently put together boxes and compiled all of the cleaning supplies….always a fun group activity. Members also donated healthy snacks for Girls, Inc. Assisting Healing Hands with their Valentine Cupcake fundraiser is becoming a tradition that is very rewarding for our members who are able to volunteer.

A horrific snow storms was predicted in March by our very own weatherman, Dave Dierks! Schools, businesses, churches and government agencies closed. Our Blue Stocking Club meeting was cancelled in anticipation of this Nor’easter. Not one flake fell from the sky! April’s meeting was very busy….combining March and April agendas into one, but we did it! Personal hygiene items were collected for Abuse Alternatives.

We have been very busy ladies this year and as always continue to seek new ways to help improve the lives of members of our community. As you are aware, this has been a very difficult year for me and my family. Presiding over our meetings has been a diversion for me and all of you have brought much joy into an otherwise depressing time in my life. Your support, encouragement and love has given me more than words could ever express. Without my wonderful executive board and committee chairs, I could never have continued as your president. Their thoughtfulness of trying not to disturb me was never unnoticed. Bless you ladies.

With a humble heart I would like to conclude by saying how much I appreciate your concerns and prayers for my precious daughter, Niki. Your support has meant more than you know.

Love you ladies!

Sincerely,

Joan Guest