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In Her Words:
A message from the Chair
Welcome to our new Hestia newsletter. With this new format, you begin to see the results of our first-ever Hestia Strategic Plan.
The Strategic Plan was created by seven of us, including two of our founders, over the past year. Thanks to our participants Carole Winnard, Lisa Blanchard, Jan Mancinelli, Sheri Hansen, Sarah Cohen, Kari Vandenbrink, Martha Lancaster, and Karen Strough Donnelly. The committee developed goals, objectives and action steps to guide our work for the coming years.
The Marketing and Communications Committee has created this first newsletter in our new format which will be sent quarterly. In between, we’ll send email updates to announce upcoming events, activities and news.
Please check out our updated website too! Thanks to Dena Sydow for her wonderful design work on the website, the newsletter and the plan.
We are also excited to announce our second Hestia Learning Series, detailed below, beginning with our first in-person event November 5. Watch for announcements of upcoming social events, too.
Thank you to all our committee chairs and members who have worked hard to bring this to you. We are seeking new members for all committees which include Marketing/Communications, Finance, Membership, Education and Events...please reach out to info@hestiacircle.org to express your interest. Please enjoy this first edition!
Warmly,
Karen Strough-Donnelly
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Strategic Plan Completed
In addition to awarding $75,000 in grants to 20 organizations helping local women and girls, our biggest accomplishment of the past year was the adoption of our Strategic Plan.
You’ll see that Hestia intends to increase our visibility and impact in the community. We also plan to increase the engagement of our members. Take a look at the list of committees and see how you’d like to help bring Hestia’s plan to fruition. For more information or to volunteer for a committee or an activity, contact us.
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2025/2026 Hestia Learning Series
Hestia’s Education Committee announces our 2025/2026 Learning Series. The series will include monthly presentations on community needs and issues facing women and girls in Emmet and Charlevoix Counties. With these programs, we are building upon last year’s learning series to explore additional community challenges.
How our Community is Supporting Women and Girls through Cuts in Services and Funding is the first program in the Series. It will be held November 5 from 5:00 (note new start time) to 7:00 p.m., both in person at Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan (WRCNM), 2225 Summit Drive, and on Zoom.
The presentation will provide a general overview of emerging community concerns and strengths especially those related to women and children. It will feature DJ Jones, Executive Director of the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation, and Sara Ward, President of the Charlevoix Community Foundation. Community Foundations have the pulse of the communities they serve. A Q and A session will follow the presentation.
For those attending in person, there will also be an opportunity to tour the new WRCNM. Wine and light appetizers will be served. Please bring a donation for WRCNM's Safe Home Harvest Supply Drive. Thanks to sponsors Donna Stine and Sarah Cohen and to WRC for hosting the program.
If attending in person, please RSVP to info@hestiacircle.org.
If you plan to join us online, here is the Zoom link.
The remaining sessions will be held on Zoom and will focus on specific challenges facing women in our community. See those sessions below under the Hestia Happenings calendar of events.
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Social Events in the Works
Hestia’s Social Events Committee is planning a range of social events over the coming year.
“We are planning to hold small gatherings to encourage membership and opportunities for members to come together socially,” says committee co-chair Jan Mancinelli.
Events will be held at various locations throughout Charlevoix and Emmet counties, offering opportunities for new members, prospective members, as well as the full membership community.
“We would love to have help planning or hosting events. If you are interested, please email us,” says Jan.
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Hestia Hero:
Health Dept. of Northwest Michigan
After Planned Parenthood abruptly closed its Petoskey health center in April, the Health Department of Northwest Michigan jumped in to help fill the void. The Health Department expanded its clinic hours for Family Planning and Reproductive Health Services for women and teens in Emmet, Charlevoix, Otsego, and Antrim counties.
They also added services, including IUDs. Since supporting reproductive health services through Planned Parenthood has been a core value of Hestia, we are pleased to see the Health Department expanding its reproductive health care.
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Grantee Profile:
Community Recovery Alliance Women’s Recovery Group
In 2025, Hestia awarded a $2,000 grant to the Community Recovery Alliance to support its Women’s Recovery Groups. This is the first time we’ve supported this organization. Hestia’s Grant Committee found its mission and services for women very compelling.
At Community Recovery Alliance (CRA), recovery takes many forms — and it’s not just for those facing substance use challenges directly. Many of the women who walk through their doors come seeking support as family members, friends, or loved ones of someone on their own recovery journey.
One woman, S, first came to CRA looking for understanding and connection as a family member of a person starting their recovery journey.
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Member Profile:
Carole Winnard
Although Carole has been a Hestia member for only three years, she has become deeply involved. Carole was a valuable member of the Strategic Planning Committee and also serves on the Finance and Executive Committees.
When asked how she got involved with Hestia, Carole said, “A friend invited me to the 2022 Annual Meeting. When she told me that Hestia focuses on the well-being of women and girls in our area, I said, ‘I’m all in!’ and joined immediately.”
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How our Community is Supporting Women and Girls through Cuts in Services and Funding
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Discussion of emerging community concerns and strengths especially those related to women and children. This series features DJ Jones, Executive Director of the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation, and Sara Ward, President of the Charlevoix Community Foundation.
For those attending in person, there will also be an opportunity to tour the new Women's Resource Center of Northern Michigan, 2225 Summit Dr., Petoskey. Wine and light appetizers will be served. Please bring a donation for WRCNM's Safe Home Harvest Supply Drive.
If attending in person, please RSVP by email.
If you plan to join us online, here is the Zoom link.
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Emmet County Plan
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
The Learning Series on the Emmet County Plan is presented by Planning and Zoning Director Tammy Doernenburg, who will cover questions such as:
- What are the issues identified by citizens?
- How are they being addressed in the planning process?
Request the Zoom sign in by email. Indicate which Learning Series event(s) you are interested in.
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Health Department of NW Michigan
Wednesday, December 10, 2025
5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
This Learning Series is presented by Health Department of NW Michigan Director of Family Health Melissa Hahn, who will cover questions such as:
- What are the health challenges of our community?
- What impact have state and federal budgets had on our citizens?
Request the Zoom sign in by email. Indicate which Learning Series event(s) you are interested in.
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Mental Health
Angie Linsenman, VA Medical Center, Indian River
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Stay tuned for details of our January 2026 Learning Series event.
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The Manna Food Project
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
The Learning Series on the Manna Food Project is presented by Executive Director Carrie Klingelsmith, who will cover questions such as:
- What impact have state and federal budget cuts had the provision of food?
- How are the food banks addressing the issues?
Request the Zoom sign in by email. Indicate which Learning Series event(s) you are interested in.
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To Be Announced!
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Stay tuned for the announcement of our March 2026 Learning Series event.
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Sex Trafficking
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Women's Resource Center of Northern Michigan will address the issue of sex trafficking, covering questions such as:
- What is the extent of this problem locally?
- How has our community organized to address sex trafficking?
Request the Zoom sign in by email. Indicate which Learning Series event(s) you are interested in.
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Hestia Annual Meeting and Celebration
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
SAVE the DATE for our Annual Meeting to be held at Pond Hill Farm in Harbor Springs. It will be a gathering that blends celebration, purpose, and connection. Members come together to enjoy one another’s company and are encouraged to bring a friend who may be interested in learning more about our Circle.
During a brief business session, we elect officers for the coming year and hear updates from our grantees, who share the inspiring work made possible through Hestia’s support. The energy of women coming together to uplift women and girls is truly powerful!
All members will receive an invitation by mail once the event details are finalized. If you’re not yet a member but would like to attend, please contact us by email.
| | The Learning Series schedule is subject to change. Updates can be found on Hestia’s Facebook page. | | |
We are developing a Sponsorship Program to raise funds specifically for events and activities including the newsletter, website, annual meeting and other gatherings, and our Learning Series. This will allow us to use all of our membership funds for grant-making, rather than administration and communication.
We are still finalizing the sponsor and recognition levels, but if you or your business would like to help support our activities, email us.
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Because our grants are funded directly through member dues, we encourage both new and returning members to consider joining at the $1,000 level to deepen our collective impact.
Please reach out to us for questions or assistance.
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Help us promote the economic self-sufficiency and well-being of women and girls in Emmet and Charlevoix counties by renewing your Hestia membership, or joining as a new member.
There are three membership levels to fit your giving budget, each with full membership privileges:
Be sure you’ve renewed or joined by Dec. 31 for your gift to go toward Hestia grants in 2026.
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