May 2025 Volume 9, Issue 5 | |
Hello WCI Sisters!
Here we are at the last month of our season before the summer break, ending May with a fun and busy schedule.
April was the month for Bingo, De Anza District Annual Convention, new member orientation, an incredible ESO meeting, the Easter Basket Assembly, the Card Writing Workshop, and CVRM Meal Prep & Serve. Our volunteer time is at the heart of our efforts, and I cannot thank everyone enough for their participation.
Eight of us attended the De Anza District Convention, and our very own Mary Martin-Akhigbe supported the event as a vendor. District President Mickie Reed did a great job, and it was a full day of nonstop activities, learning, and voting. To view a copy of the Convention Program, click here. You'll start to get an idea of all we accomplished!!
At our meeting on May 7th, after we conduct some business, we will have our very well-deserved MemberSHIP party for increasing membership. That and one or two other fun things will make your attendance worthwhile. As for the bit of business to attend to, members can vote on the board's recommended disbursement of scholarships and grants. Look for the meeting reminder notice early next week to review it. And while you're at it, please take a moment to RSVP for our Second Annual Scholarship & Donation Day Brunch on Saturday, May 31st. You don't want to miss this very heartwarming event.
First up is our May 7th luncheon meeting. Reservations are due by Thursday at the latest. Don't wait—submit your reservation now!
I look forward to seeing everyone on May 7th. Until then, as we close out Child Abuse Prevention Month, Sexual Assault Prevention Month, and National Poetry Month, Happy Mother's Day to every mother who mothers another (whether it be two-legged or four-legged):
Mother
[muhth-er] noun
1. A person who loves unconditionally
2. Maker and keeper of memories
3. Finder of all things
4. Someone who sees the best in her kids, even when they drive her crazy
See also: cheerleader, teacher, angel, secret-keeper, peace maker, loyal friend.
Also see: Superwoman!
With Joy,
Sylvia Baran
president@womansclubofindio.org
| | Birthdays & Anniversaries | Domestic Violence Prevention |
Epsilon Sigma
Omicron (ESO)
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Are You a Veteran?
Is a family member serving in active duty now, or are they a veteran?
We'd like to recognize WCI members who have served, and those who have family members who have served or are serving. Even though May is the month of Memorial Day observance, it's never a wrong time to say thank you for serving. Please take a minute and let us know how military service has been part of your life. Click Here.
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Coming Events
MAY
3rd Rotary Math Field Day, 8:00 am - Noon
John Glenn Middle School
7th Monthly General Meeting,
11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Collection: School Supplies/Backpacks
22nd Board Meeting, 6:00 - 7:00 pm, Zoom
26th Memorial Day Ceremony, 9:00 - 11:00 am
Coachella Valley Cemetery
31st 2nd Annual Scholarship & Donation Day Awards Ceremony 10:00 am - Noon
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Save the Date
JUNE
17th ESO Meeting
28th CVRM Meal Prep & Serve, 9:45 - 11:45 am
JULY
26th CVRM Meal Prep & Serve, 9:45 - 11:45 am
AUGUST
Pack and distribute backpacks
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Lunch and Dinner Reservations
- Reservations are due by noon on the Thursday before the meeting.
- Cancellations are due on that day, too.
- Please register online when possible. If you can't RSVP online, please contact the Treasurer (Claire Whitney) or me by noon on the Thursday before the meeting.
We appreciate your cooperation and can’t wait to see you at our next meeting.
Arlene Handler-Smith
amenities@womansclubofindio.org
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Memorial Day Ceremony to Honor & Remember
We will honor veterans at the Coachella Valley Cemetery located at 82925 52nd Ave, Coachella. The Ceremony begins at 9:00 a.m., and all Woman's Club members and their families are invited to attend.
Please email the WCI President if you have questions: president@womansclubofindio.org.
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The 2025 Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Coachella Valley
Save the date!
Saturday, November 1, 2025
Please join the GFWC Woman's Club of Indio as we support the Alzheimer’s Association in its annual fundraising event. This event provides a unique opportunity to connect with others who share the same commitment to ending Alzheimer's. By walking together, we honor those affected by this disease but also demonstrate our collective strength and determination to make a difference. Every step taken and every dollar raised brings us closer to a world without Alzheimer's. The event is more than a fundraiser; it's a community movement that inspires hope and fosters solidarity.
Please mark your calendars, lace up your walking shoes, and join us in making strides toward a brighter future. Your participation and support are crucial in helping the Alzheimer's Association continue their vital work in research, care, and advocacy. Together, we can create a lasting impact and bring hope to millions of families. Let’s walk to end Alzheimer’s!
Join our team at the link below: GFWC Woman's Club of Indio
http://act.alz.org/goto/GFWCWomansClubofIndio
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Interested in Volunteering?
You've come to the right place!
WCI is dedicated to serving our community, and we would like to say that our business is volunteering. We have a list of nonprofit organizations we support with contact information for learning more about them. Click on the "Who We Support" link below to learn more. Volunteers are always needed and genuinely forever appreciated.
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DID YOU KNOW? A Closer Look at Shelter From the Storm
Did you know that Shelter from the Storm (SFTS) operates a home where families can stay for up to six months? In addition to that shelter, they also support 30 families across the Coachella Valley who live in rented housing. This vital support includes food, housing assistance, and other daily living essentials. SFTS further provides access to medical, dental, and mental health services—meeting the full spectrum of basic needs.
You may be wondering about the Christmas gifts our Club provided to families through SFTS. One of the families had requested an air fryer, a handheld vacuum, and movie passes. Several members asked, “Why not clothing or toys?” Those items are often covered by organizations such as the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission and the Galilee Center. This particular family was living in a one-room casita with no kitchen or bathroom. A shower curtain offered minimal privacy around a toilet and shower. Handwashing took place in the small food prep area, which included only a bar-sized refrigerator and an outdated microwave. The air fryer was the only practical way the mother could prepare warm, healthy meals for her children. The movie passes provided a much-needed escape from the confinement of their space. The handheld vacuum helped her clean up dust and dirt that blew in through the open doors and windows.
Where do families helped by SFTS get their food, groceries, gasoline, and other essentials? Stay tuned—we’ll explore that in a future article.
As always, thank you for your generosity.
In Gratitude
Barbara Fairbairn, Chair
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Members enjoyed a wonderful Italian-themed ESO meeting on April 15th. They met author Adela Edgecombe, who shared her family’s compelling story in her book, Whispers of Betrayal. She brought letters, photos, and books. It was a very enjoyable evening!
The book for the ESO meeting on June 17th will be Mecca by Susan Straight: One of The Washington Post's Ten Best Books of 2022. Finalist for the 2022 Kirkus Prize and the 2023 Dayton Literary Peace Prize. One of the New York Times' 10 Best California Books of 2022 and one of NPR's Best Books of 2022. A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice.
This book could fall into several different categories:
- American History
- California History
- Fiction, General
- Fiction, Historical
- Social Science
- Authors from California
- Books about or talking about places in California.
For more information about this and other ESO events, please contact Mickie Reed ESO@womansclubofindio.org.
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School Supplies/Backpack Drive &
August Giveaway
It’s time for our Annual WCI Spring School Supplies and Backpack Drive for kids in the Coachella Valley. All donations will be delivered to the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission (CVRM) in Indio and the Galilee Center (GC) in Mecca.
Members are encouraged to bring their donations to the May 7th monthly meeting. If you cannot make the May 7th meeting, you can contact members of the Health and Wellness Committee at health@womansclubofindio.org to arrange an alternative pickup of your items.
MOST NEEDED SCHOOL SUPPLIES
backpacks - #2 pencils - notebook paper - spiral notebooks
box of 24 crayons - glue sticks - rulers - colored pencils
safety scissors - pencil boxes/pouches- highlighters
pink erasers - folders - 3” binders - calculators - index cards
sharpeners - lined paper - lined notebooks
Monetary donations are also welcome - CLICK HERE to contribute. Please indicate that your donation is for the school supplies/backpack drive, and we’ll do the shopping for you. Due to the anticipated hot weather, there will be no separate donation event in June or July.
Members can also help sorting, packing, and distributing filled backpacks in early August at either CVRM or GC. No preregistration is required. The exact dates and times for these activities will be in our August newsletter.
| | Meal Prep & Serve Program at CVRM | |
The May 31st WCI Meal Prep & Serve Event at CVRM has been cancelled due to a scheduling conflict with our Scholarship and Appreciation Brunch. The Meal Prep & Serve Program will resume during the summer, with events scheduled for June 28th and July 26th. Thank you to Natalie, Sylvia, and Pamela for serving on April 26th. Although Pamela and Sylvia wanted to be at the card writing event, they said they were happy to help at the Mission, making PB&J sandwiches and serving meals.
Our members have expressed great joy and satisfaction in prepping and serving healthy, fresh food to the folks at CVRM. If you would like to be part of this meaningful program, please sign up at our May 7th monthly meeting or contact us at health@womansclubofindio.org
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Thanks to Our Members!
Let’s all give a BIG SHOUT OUT to the many WCI members who contributed thousands of items and hundreds of dollars for our Annual Spring Easter Basket Project. BIG THANKS too for the 21 members who gathered on April 12th to make 300 baskets filled with these donations. Many children at Coachella Valley Rescue Mission and the Galilee Center were the smiling recipients of our baskets!
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You Are Our History!
Please add your autobiography to the others our members create by filling out the form on our website. You deserve to be remembered for your life outside the club and your participation as a member. Go to www.WCIndio.org.
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Click on About Us in the top menu.
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Click on Our History in the dropdown menu.
- Scroll down to the biography questions.
- The questions are just above the blue club photo.
- Write as much or as little as you like.
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A big shout-out to Manuel and Delia Aguayo! They have been chosen as May’s Yard of the Month recipients. Manuel and Delia have lived in the desert for over 60 years. Both arrived as young children, along with their families; Manuel’s from Mexico and Delia’s from Texas. They were raised in the Coachella Valley and loved it so much that they decided to stay and raise their family here.They are the proud parents of two adult children and five grandchildren.
Manuel is retired from many years of golf course maintenance, finishing his career at the Eldorado in Indian Wells. After retiring and finding extra time, he continued maintaining their beautiful yards, doing all the planting, trimming, and maintenance himself. They have several fragrant, flowering plumeria trees and many colorful flowers. Some are annual, and some change with the desert's seasons. Let's give well-deserved recognition to our newest Yard of the Month recipients, Manuel and Delia Aguayo.
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AVOID GETTING SCAMMED: Know the Warning Signs
We often hear about a neighbor or friend who has fallen victim to a scam. While it’s upsetting, many of these situations are preventable with the right knowledge. The first step is knowing how to recognize a scam and protect yourself.
At this time of year, two common scams are especially active:
- IRS/Tax Scams
- Grandkid Scams
Take a moment to click the links below to learn more about these scams and how to stay safe. If you are unsure about a phone call, email, or message, stop and pause before acting. Ask yourself:
- Can I verify this independently?
- Am I being pressured to act quickly?
- Am I being asked to share personal information or send money?
Don't send money or give out personal details unless you’re absolutely certain it's safe.
And remember: Sharing is caring. Spread the word to friends and neighbors—awareness is one of the best defenses against fraud.
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Editor's Note
We hope the newsletter is a valuable resource for everyone. Remember that anyone can submit an article; submissions are due on the 15th of each month. Please share the amazing stories, events, and updates that make our club so special.
Yours in Service,
Lorelei Ceja
editor@womansclubofindio.org
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CFWC AND GFWC
The California Federation of Women’s Clubs is a statewide non-profit service organization, and the General Federation of Women’s Clubs is a non-profit international organization. Both are dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service.
Please send articles, questions, and corrections to Editor Lorelei Ceja at editor@womansclubofindio.org.
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