The Saddle River Valley Junior Woman's Club
December 2010 Christmas is here. The hustle and bustle of the season is about to end. We can then enjoy time with our families, friends & loved ones. Christmas is a season of giving, sharing & loving. Looking back on 2010, we have done our best to open our hearts, spread kindness and give, the best we can, to those who are less fortunate. We are so fortunate to be able to do this. This was emailed to me by Judi Mottle and I replied to her “how true”… The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree is the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other” ( May the timeless message of Christmas fill your heart and home with joy today and throughout the coming year.
Reflecting on 2010, we have coordinated the collection of new pajamas for the children and women of Strengthen Our Sisters. We were able to give PJ’s to each & every person currently staying at the domestic violence shelter. We have collected bags & bags of food for The Center for Food Action, The Nieman Marcus/Christian Dior event benefitted the NJ Chapter of Pajama Program. Since its inception, the program has provided 600,000 pairs of PJ’s & books to vulnerable children-many in foster care, homeless shelters & domestic abuse shelters in all 21 NJ counties. The NM Fashion Show benefitted The Valerie Fund~children with cancer & blood disorders. The Midnight Run was a successful effort to collect clothing, toiletry items and other necessities for the homeless of NY. The Extravaganza benefitted West Bergen Mental Healthcare; those with Mental Health disorders. More important than doing these things is…why we do it.
Denise Mercier ~ President
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August 2010
The last month of summer is upon us. Time sure does fly! The children will be back to school before we know it.
This message is primarily an update so you can remain informed as to what has been happening over the summer with several committees and some other pieces of information….
We are on FACEBOOK !!
Join our page: Saddle River Valley Junior Woman’s Club. This will be a place for updates, information & virtual socializing! Feel free to post comments, etc…
Mark Your Calendar ~1st Meeting
I would like to announce that we have secured the Bishop House in Saddle River for our business meetings. It is a charming old house with plenty of space to accommodate us. Our first meeting will be on Wednesday 9/22/10. Since it will be our first gathering since May, there will be a social hour from 7:00 PM-8:00 PM (get there when you can) and the meeting will begin promptly at 8:00. For the few of you who have not paid dues, please bring your check/cash to the first meeting. The Bishop House is located at 176 E Saddle River Rd. It is directly across the street from the Saddle River Post Office. There is parking around the back of the house & the adjacent lot behind the house @ the police dept.
Here’s What’s Been Happening…
Website~
Thanks to Jocelyn Minervino, the website is up & running. The member area is still under construction. We will have a member directory in this area as well as general member information. Username and Password were included in the emailed version of this President's Message. This is a go to place for information.
Yearbook~
Yearbooks will be distributed at the first meeting. If you have not submitted your photo or information ~ 8/15 is the last day before we “go to press.” Get in touch with Jeanine Matthews @ 201-236-9009 or jambm1@aol.com
Updates~Fundraising & Community Outreach
CASA- (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Jocelyn is still working to raise funds for CASA. You, your family and friends can enjoy the benefits of detoxifying from environmental pollutants while helping local children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect.
The Rescue Wash removes chlorine from your skin & hair after a day at the pool, Jocelyn is offering a Detoxifying Rescue Wash and a Re-Mineralizing Body Lotion at a discount with all proceeds going to CASA. Call Jocelyn Minervino at 201-665-9454.
Midnight Run~ Chaired by Judi Mottle, we have teamed up with Immaculate Heart Academy’s Chapter of Midnight Run to help the homeless. Midnight Run is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to finding a common ground between the housed & the homeless. Several times a year, Midnight Run travels into NYC and hands out food, clothing & toiletry packages to these individuals. The committee is made up of MaryAnne Arber, Julie Belardinelli, Jeanine Matthews, Malissa Piazza & Nicole Reimbauer. They have already collected 100 toothbrushes, 100 toothpastes, 100 deodorants, over 200 soaps & shower washes, 230 pairs of white socks and various clothing. Very impressive work ! They will be collecting through mid October and still are looking for trial size shampoos, body lotion, razors, men’s boxers, men’s white undershirts…to find out more call Malissa Piazza at 201-825-9244. There currently is a drop box at the USR library for donations
Food Drive~Center For Food Action~ The Center for Food Action (CFA) provides emergency food, rental and utility assistance, counseling, and advocacy to our neighbors in need in Bergen County and in the Upper Passaic Valley. Joanne Florio will be conducting a monthly food drive starting in September for CFA. For the month of September, the following items will be collected: -Gift Cards, Peanut Butter, Jelly and Mac & Cheese. Donations can be dropped off at Joanne Florio’s Office @ 715 E Saddle River Rd. (shortly past SRV Tennis & Swim Club) Call Joanne Florio at 201-327-1080 for questions. A list of the foods that will be collected for the remainder of the year will be posted on our website soon.
“Holiday Boutique @ Saddle River” Fundraiser~Weekend Event
Chaired by Leslie Weiss and Co-Chaired by me, this event is falling into place nicely. The event will be held at the Bishop House commencing on Friday November 19 through Sunday 21st. There will be various events ranging from live music, a wine tasting, Gilbert & Sullivan Players will be performing & attendees will mingle with the cast after the show, a silhouette artist, art from local artists & some of the holiday’s best shopping brought to us by 25 vendors …more details to follow soon! Mark your calendars ! Proceeds will benefit The Bishop House & West Bergen Mental Healthcare.
See you soon….
Denise Mercier
President
As we move forward, the Installation Dinner will take place on May 25, 2010 at the Ho-Ho-Kus Inn & Tavern. This will be an exciting night, as we will be inducting many new women that have joined our cause to help make a difference, have fun and form memories.
Our new fiscal year began on 4/1/10. With a new year comes the opening of all positions and the opportunity for everyone to take part. These positions include fundraising events as a chairperson or co-chair, involvement in a charitable outreach program, and other various causes throughout the year. Prior to the Installation Dinner, you will receive, by email, a detailed listing of these positions to review at your leisure. If you are interested in any of them, you can sign up the evening of the dinner. New members need not worry - previous year’s chair people will assist you if you like! As always, we welcome new ideas, in fact, they are strongly encouraged!
Following the Installation Dinner, a late June Family Fun Social is being planned. The details will follow shortly. Generally, we take July and August off. Some committees that are meeting to plan future events do meet. If someone would like to plan a July social, we are always open for that as well!
Current Events/Updates:
1) Our updated website (SRVJWC.org) still under construction, is changing almost daily. We can primarily thank soon to be installed Jocelyn Minervino for that! We envision that the website will be the “go-to” place for all past, present & future information about our group. Thank you Jocelyn for all of your work! And check out the website when you have time.
2) Our annual plant sale, under the direction of Virginia Halprin, will be wrapped up this weekend. The plants are incredible, and why buy them elsewhere when the proceeds go back into the community? Thank you Virginia for doing such a great job!
3) Annually, we march in the Upper Saddle River Memorial Day Parade. Your children & husbands are welcome, as are strollers, wagons, bikes, etc. (or your family can line the street & cheer us on). It’s a great way to start the day before !! A sign up sheet for interested members will be available at the Installation Dinner.
4) In the early planning stages, soon to be installed, Leslie Weiss, is developing a “Holiday Shopping Event.” It will be a weekend event that will have various vendors to start your holiday shopping. Leslie is currently negotiating locations and is lining up fabulous vendors!
If you have not already done so, PLEASE RSVP for the Installation Dinner, as we need to get a final headcount for the Ho-Ho-Kus Inn. Click on http://www.SRVJWC.org , go to New Member Installation Dinner under “Upcoming Events” on the main page & click on “View Evite”. This will take you right to the invitation where you can reply.
As your newly-elected President, I dedicate myself to creating a rewarding year of building a powerful group of women who are interested in building new friendships, exceeding charitable fundraising goals, and participating in outreach programs, while at the same time, having a great time doing so! We can all achieve this by joining together and by allowing the vision of our club to guide what we all can & will do together. Take pride in the fact that you are part of an influential organization of strong women that helps those in need & has fun in the process!
Coming together, sharing together, working together & succeeding together.
Denise Mercier, President