Fall 2016
Blue River Ripple
August 2016
Blue River District United Methodist Women
This newsletter is published twice a year. If you would like to
receive a print version or via email, please contact Sandy
Blankenship at [email protected] or 402-560-7920.
From the President
Dear UMW Sisters:
As I write this note in late July, I’m looking forward to Mission u in
Kearney. Each year our three studies are timely and relevant to our
purpose. We have several other educational resources available to
us, such as our annual program book, reading program, the UMW
website, and Response magazine (now available digitally through
the national website, including back issues.) These educational
opportunities help us grow spiritually and in our understanding of
UMW mission. It enables us individually and collectively to
transform the world. This is transformative education!
In this Newsletter
Sept. 16-17
Annual Meeting for
Great Plains UMW—see
page 16.
October 15
Blue River District Fall
Event—see page 14.
In 2019, United Methodist Women will be celebrating 150 years of
fellowship and mission work. There were eight members in 1869
and now we are 800,000 strong. Many things have changed over the
years, including women’s right to vote and be in ministry, the civil
rights movement, women in the workforce, modern technologies,
just to mention a few. But our purpose and commitment remains the
same: to be in mission to women, children, and youth. We can help
ensure our important work continues for the next 150 years by
Continued on page 2
Blue River District Annual Meting
October 15, 2016
Trinity United Methodist – Lincoln See page 14 for details.
Dec. 10
Last Deadline to submit
2016 pledge
Febr. 11
Ecumenical Legislative
Day
See page 8 for 2016 calendar
of events for Blue River
District UMW!
Blue River Ripple | August 2016 contributing to the new Legacy Fund.
Consider how your unit can raise money for
this special fund. This is a
permanent endowment created to
provide a regular source of
support to ongoing core expenses,
so that more of our pledge dollars
can flow directly to our mission institutions
and initiatives. This is our legacy!
I admit that I still struggle with technology,
but it does offer us some terrific tools and fun
ways to be connected.
www.unitedmethodistwomen.org
is our
National website. Explore this user-friendly
website to find the latest news and resources,
mission maps, seasonal devotions, the reading
program books, social action alerts, Response
magazine, etc. We’re also on the Great Plains
UMC website www.greatplainsumc.org/umw.
Here you can register for events and even find
our Blue River District board meeting minutes.
If you’re a Facebook person, try ‘liking’ Great
Plains UMW and Friends and United
Methodist Women.
Thank you to all our Blue River District UMW
members and local and district officers for the
work you do each and every year to embrace
and continue this wonderful legacy we share.
This is our purpose!
Ann Cerveny
Blue River District UMW President
[email protected]
402-440-2420
Page 2 UMW Fall Event October 15
Keynote Speaker:
Dr. Marilyn Moore
I am Susan Harris, the Blue River District
United Methodist Women Vice President and
a member of Lincoln Trinity UMC and UMW.
As the Blue River District Vice President, it is
my responsibility to plan along with a team of
other BR officers the UMW Fall Event. We
are excited to share with you that this year’s
Fall Event will be on Saturday, October 15,
2016 and hosted by Trinity UMW located at
7130 Kentwell Lane, Lincoln. We will start
the day with registration and muffins at 8:30
a.m. and our gathering beginning at 9:00 with
music by Dr. Michael Tully, Music Director
with Trinity UMC. Dr. Marilyn Moore, St.
Paul UMC and UMW member and recently
retired President of Bryan Health, will be our
keynote speaker. (more information regarding
Marilyn can be found on the registration form
on page 14.) We will also be gathering In-kind
items for the United Methodist Ministries “The
Big Garden” in Omaha. We will have several
options for everyone to gather further
information during our break-out sessions. It
takes a lot of time and joint planning to find a
date, hosting location, speaker’s availability
and deciding food items☺ On behalf of the
Blue River District Officers, our Fall Team,
and myself we hope you will be able to
garnish our day with your presence.
Susan Harris, BRD Vice President
Great Plains UMW Conference Library
The Great Plains UMW Conference Library is located at Christ UMC at 46th and "A" Streets in Lincoln. If you would like to participate as a unit or individual in the Reading Program we have books free for the pickup or small charge of mailing.....books of interest. We also have sets of 4 to
11 books that can be purchased at the nominal charge of one dollar per book. Since they become
yours you can find a group of friends, read and then discuss them while building knowledge and friendship! Call with questions 402-421-8264. The library is open the first three Thursdays of each month from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Thanks! Mary Ann Bede Blue River Ripple | August 2016 Greetings from Your Blue
River District Treasurer
In the first six months of 2016, the Blue River District has submitted 55% of our District Pledge to Mission for 2016. If we add the other categories (Special Mission Recognition, Gift to Mission cards, Gift to Memory, World Thank Offering, Corsages, Dedicated Light) to the actual Pledge to Mission amount, our units have submitted a total of over $35,000 or 61.5% of the 2016 Pledge. Please continue the timely contributions for the next five months and we should meet our pledge for this year. Just remember that the last deadline for submitting your 2016 pledge is December 10, 2016. Your unit’s pledge for 2016 must be paid on or before the deadline in order to qualify for the 5 or 7 Star Award in 2016. Any other monies that you want to be included in the 2016 calendar year must also be received on or before the December 10th deadline. Remember that the timeframe for the 5 and 7 Star Awards in 2016 runs from January 1, 2016 through December 10, 2016. The dedicated light will burn for the honorees at the District’s Spring Event in 2017. The units’ treasurers should have been receiving the certificates for the dedicated lights throughout the year after she submits the request on the monthly remittance form. Recognition of the 5-­‐7 Star Awards earned in 2016 and Special Mission Recognition pins during 2016 will also be recognized at the Spring Event of 2017. The form (on next page) can be used by the unit treasurers to assist in keeping track of the unit’s submission of monies to the District Treasurer. Upon the completion of the qualifications for the 5-­‐7 awards, it is advisable to send a copy to the District Treasurer to make sure that the unit’s information coincides with the District’s Page 3 records. Unfortunately, due to a report error, two units did not receive recognition at the 2016 Spring Event for qualifying for the 7 Star Award. The units are Milford and Lincoln-­‐Trinity. The Great Plains Conference’s Annual Meeting will be held on September 16-­‐17, 2016 at Topeka, KS. Therefore, The Blue River Annual Meeting will be held on October 15, 2016 at Lincoln-­‐Trinity United Methodist Church and we will have up-­‐to-­‐
date information to share at our meeting. Corsage for Missions and Gift to Mission Cards will be available for sale at our District Annual Meeting. If you have a large order, please call or email in advance so I can have your order ready for you. If you have any questions, please call or email me. Carol Wilhelm Blue River District Treasurer P. O. Box 247 Elmwood, NE 68349 402-­‐310-­‐6627 (cell) [email protected] For 7 Star Awards
Beatrice Centenary
Crete Grace
Dorchester
Douglas
Friend
Hallam
Lincoln Aldersgate
Lincoln Christ
Lincoln New Visions
Lincoln St. Luke
Lincoln St. Mark’s
Lincoln South Gate
Lincoln Trinity
Milford
Raymond
Waverly
Wilber
Page 4
5 STAR AND 7 STAR CHECK SHEET
January 1, 2016 through December 30, 2016
This form is available for the Unit’s recordkeeping and
needs to be sent to the District Treasurer upon completion.
5 Star Award:
Pledge To Mission – (2016 pledge paid in full by December 10, 2016)
Date Paid ___________________________ Check No. ________________________
Special Mission Recognition – ($40 minimum)
Date Paid _______________________
Check No. ________________________
Honoree ______________________________________________________________
Gift to Mission Cards – (greeting cards for $5 each)
Date Ordered and Paid ________________________ Check No. _________________
Number of Cards Ordered __________________
Gift in Memory – (minimum $5 each, increase in increments of $5)
Date Paid ______________________
Check No. _________________________
World Thank Offering
Date Paid ___________________________ Check No. _________________________
7 Star Award: Complete the 5 Star Award requirements plus the two listed below.
Corsages for Mission – ($1 each)
Number Ordered __________ Date Paid __________________ Check No. _________
Dedicated Light – ($45 per named person per minute) In Honor _______ In Memory ________
Name of Person(s) _______________________________________________________
Date Paid ________________________________ Check No. ____________________
NOTE: For local units to receive either 5 or 7 star awards, money must be received by the
District Treasurer on or before December 10th of each year.
Blue River Ripple | August 2016 From Journey in Action
The National United Methodist Women have
set 4 new priority areas for mission work.
They are Climate Justice (check out the 13
Steps to Sustainability), Maternal and Child
Health, Ending Mass Incarceration and
Economic Inequality. More information about
these four missions can be found on the web at
www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/gc2016
.
There are articles and resources on the web.
This doesn’t mean we should stop educating
ourselves and our units about other mission
work, such as human trafficking.
We have two local girls from the Lincoln area
that need our prayers as they pray about a
vision that have for a mission. They have been
working on a mission to open a house to help
girls aging out of the foster care system (youth
ages 19-22). Without guidance these youth are
vulnerable to perils such as homelessness and
sex trafficking. Checkout their website at
www.fundheiresshouse.com
Thank you for coming through with lots of
homemade cookies last fall for Project
Homeless Connect Lincoln. Project Homeless
Connect Lincoln is a one-day, one-stop event
where individuals and families who are
homeless are able to receive a wide variety of
immediate, on-site services and support for
unmet needs. For more FAQS about this,
check out
www.lincolnhomelesscoalition.org/projecthomeless-connect-lincoln/faqs
Page 5 2016 Project Homeless Connect Lincoln will
be October 20, 2016. They could once again
use your help with homemade cookies for this
event. If you would like to help supply cookies
contact Jan Hauser at Community Action 402471-4515. Cookies can be dropped off at
Community Action, 210 O St, Lincoln NE.
(Cookies should be packaged in Ziploc
baggies, 1 larger cookie or 2 small cookies,
saran wrap doesn’t work well) If cookies are
not an option for your UMW, money can be
donated for small bags of chips. Your cookies
were really enjoyed last year!
http://www.epworthvillage.org/support.html Find ways to help Epworth Village at this page
through monetary, time, and in-kind gifts.
Epworth Village has several opportunities for
helping out through the generous gift of your
time. Small landscaping projects, general
office duties, small maintenance tasks, and
other projects are an ongoing process in their
operation. Participation from churches and
community members in these projects is
always a welcome gesture. Interested in a
mission or setting up a volunteer work day?
Current I am reading the book (again), The 7
Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen
R. Covey. Excerpted from the book….”You
and I working together can accomplish far
more than, even at my best, I could accomplish
alone”
Stacey Brandenburgh |
[email protected]
Journey in Growth (Membership, Nurture, and Outreach)
I hope you have had a wonderful summer and have gotten to travel or to just stay home and relax
with family.
The unit membership registration procedures will be familiar to some units and new to others. We
have been requested by National UMW to submit our information online. I will assist those who do not
have computers or who are not comfortable with the procedures. You may still send the form to me.
I will be getting more information while attending the UMW Conference in September. I will share
that information at the Fall District meeting in DeWitt. The deadline for the report is January 31st.
Jan Hauser | 402 459-8207 [email protected]
Page 6
Blue River Ripple | August 2016 Page Journey in Learning, Ellie Quiring
It was great to see so many of you at the Spring
Event in April at Elmwood. I enjoyed the
meeting. Thanks to everyone who stopped at
the Journey in Learning Room to check out
the books. There was a sheet for you to share
your favorite book. Some of the books and
comments were: Just Mercy “Learned a lot
about death row.”; I Love Growing Older, but
I’ll Never Grow OLD, “I read it after the death
of my husband, and it helped me very much.”;
Sum It Up; and Miss Brenda & the Love
Ladies.
By now most you may have received the
Reading Certificates that were enclosed in the
packets that were distributed at the Spring
Event. Congratulations to everyone!
Just so we’ll all be on the same page the
reading schedule for 2016 goes from January 1,
2016 to December 31, 2016. Choose selections
from the 2011-2016 reading lists if not
included in previous reports. Turn these lists in
to me by the 15th of January 2017.
The 2017 list of books is out on
www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/readingprogram
Go down on the lower right side of the screen,
below Get the 2017 catalog, then click on
Download 2017 Program Catalog. You may
also wish to check the special prices of some of
the previous years’ books. You may also
notice that more of the books are available only
on Kindle. Many changes are on the way.
Please notice that at the end of the list of books
is a list of RECOMMENDED reading. Credit
can be given for these as well, but they are not
available from the UMW Mission Resources.
A good place to check for these may be your
local library or Amazon.
Are going to Mission u? There’s a bonus for
readers: You may count the books, The Bible
and Human Sexuality for Spiritual Growth and
Climate Justice for Social Action.
Happy Reading! Enjoy!
You may contact me at: [email protected]
or 402-223-1477; Address: 608 South 25th
Street, Beatrice, NE. 68310
News Flash!
New Program Books!!!!
“A Call to Community”
I’ve received new information on the new
Program Books "A Call to Community"
(2016-2017). They are available to be ordered
for $10.00 by individuals. I will order these
in October for the Fall Meeting and will send
a NEWSFLASH to remind everyone of that
in October. Ellie
Blue River Ripple | August 2016 Page 7
Blue River District Secretaries:
I am your Blue River District secretary, Mary Starr, from Saint Paul United Methodist Church in
downtown Lincoln. I am looking forward to working with you.
It is time to send me your 2017 officer information. Please send this as soon as you know your new
officers. The deadline is December 1, 2016. This information is needed for the 2017 Spring BRD
Directory. You or your president should have the 2016 Directory if you want to see how the
information is listed.
Information needed is:
a. Your church name (like Lincoln Saint Paul)
b. Your UMW Unit meeting day and time (like first Monday at 1:00)
c. Approximate number of members you currently have
d. Your pastor’s name, mailing address including zip, telephone number, email
e. Your officers’ names, office held, mailing address including zip, telephone number,
email
You can send this information by email or snail mail or you can call me.
It can be hand written, sent in an email, or sent as a spreadsheet attachment. If you want to use the
Great Plains UMW official spreadsheet, type in the address below on your search page.
http://www.greatplainsumc.org/files/umw/greatplainsumwdirectoryinformation.xlsx
If you have any questions, please contact me.
Mary Starr, Blue River District Secretary
3520 Cooper Avenue |Lincoln, NE 68506
H - 402-­‐489-­‐1122 | C - 402-­‐430-­‐5135 | [email protected] Below is sample of how your report could look:
Blue River Ripple | August 2016 Page 8
Calendar of Events
August 19-20, 2016
Mission u – Topeka, KS (Bible & Human Sexuality, Climate Justice)
Sept. 16-17, 2016
2016 Annual Meeting for the Great Plains Conference UMW Meeting
at the Countryside Methodist Church in Topeka, KS (Reg. deadline Sept. 1)
More Information and Link to Registration form:
gp-reg.brtapp.com/2016GreatPlainsConferenceUMWAnnualMeeting
October 10-14, 2016
Midwest Mission Distribution Center Mission Trip. Contact Teena Faubel for
more information: [email protected] or 402 423-7329
October 15, 2016
Blue River District Annual Meeting Trinity UMC, Lincoln, NE
February 11, 2017
Ecumenical Legislative Day, Lincoln, NE
April 22, 2017
Blue River Spring Event, DeWitt, NE
April 28-30, 2017
Great Plains Spiritual Growth Retreat at Camp Comeca
May 27-June 3, 2017 METour (girls ages 15-20) Registration deadline February 1, 2017
Sept. 29-30, 2017
2017 Annual Meeting for Great Plains Conference UMW Meeting, York, NE
Journey in Giving
We’re more than halfway through 2016. It’s a good time for each of our units to evaluate where it is on
its journey in giving so each can achieve its goals before the end of the year. Has your unit:
•
•
•
•
•
Stayed on track for meeting its Pledge to Mission?
Contributed money in the other channels of giving: Special Mission Recognition, Gift in
Memory, Gift to Mission, World Thank Offering, Corsages for Mission, and Dedicated Light?
Learned more about our National Mission Institutions (NMI), especially those connected to the
Great Plains Conference: Epworth Village, United Methodist Ministries (The Big Garden), and
Della Lamb Community Services?
Made a special gift of time, money, or goods to one of those NMIs?
Participated in Mission Do by completing or making plans to complete at least one activity in
each of these five Journey areas: Faith, Growth, Giving, Learning, and Action? (See the
Mission Do form on the next page.) Please note that this form should be returned to me, Joyce
Gettman, by January 15, 2017. Contact info: [email protected] | 18800 Midway Rd.,
Walton, NE 68461-8235
We will be discussing these areas and more during the Journey in Giving breakout session at the
district annual meeting. I urge every local unit’s Journey in Giving Leader (Education and
Interpretation Coordinator), or other member interested in helping women understand the importance
of their gifts of time, talent, and money to join us!
Great Plains Conference UMW Local Unit Mission Program
“Every Unit a Mission Do Unit”
2016 Report is Due January 15, 2017
Each local unit is to fulfill the PURPOSE of United Methodist Women.
Each unit is to determine how to do this in their unit. The Great Plains
Conference is using Journey Teams to identify the journey each United
Methodist Woman and each unit makes as we put Faith, Hope and Love
in Action. Your unit’s programming for the year should have something
from each of the Journey Teams as part of your program. By selecting
the activities your unit will do, you will have participated in a Journey
in Planning.
Sometimes, we get in a rut, so this year we invite you to try at least one new thing that you haven’t done before
in your unit. Below are some ideas to get you started thinking about the Journey, however, use your creativity to
make the PURPOSE come alive for your unit. (The PURPOSE at each meeting; Sponsor someone for the
METour; Nominate someone for the Eunice Harrington Award; Learn about the Charter for Racial Justice, etc.)
Name of Unit: _________________________________________ District: ____________________________
Name: ___________________________________Address: ________________________________________
(Person completing this form)
Our unit completed at least one activity in each of the Journey areas below. Put a check mark by the activity
your unit completed. Use the blank lines for a one sentence report of something new that you tried. If you
would like to share something you did this year that was special and/or a real success, we’d love to hear from
you. Send your Story/Photos to Lisa Maupin, Communications Coordinator; email: [email protected] or
mail: 8311 Karl Ridge Road #206, Lincoln NE 68506.
Report is Due January 15th to: Your District Journey in Learning Leader/Education & Interpretation
Coordinator. Units will be recognized at their Spring or Fall District Meeting and in the Great Plains
Conference UMW Annual Meeting/Celebration program booklet.
Journey in Faith - Activities might include the following:
• Use the Prayer Calendar to pray regularly for a Missionary/Church and Community Worker
• Use a United Methodist Women’s resource to provide a devotion for each meeting
• Have a program on “How is it with Your Soul?” which was the spiritual growth mission study for 2014.
• ____________________________________________________________________________________
• ____________________________________________________________________________________
Journey in Action - Activities might include the following:
• Attend L.E.A.F. in Kansas or Ecumenical Legislative Day in Nebraska
• Become a Green Unit
• Study the difference between mercy and justice then do a justice activity.
• A focus on Maternal and Child Health is a new initiative of United Methodist Women – what are actions
you might take to help locally? Do your women know that part of your Pledge to Mission to United
Methodist Women goes to help improve Maternal and Child Health globally? Make UMCOR Health Kits.
• ____________________________________________________________________________________
• ____________________________________________________________________________________
Continued on the back à
Journey in Giving - Activities might include the following:
• Learn about National Mission Institutions (NMI)
• Select one of the three National Mission Institutions that the Great Plains Conference relates to and learn
more about the work of that National Mission Institution.
• Adopt one of the three Great Plains Conference NMIs and send a supplementary financial gift to them each
month (send to your District Treasurer).
• Learn about the Journey of Your Mission Dollar.
• Contribute money in each of the following categories: Pledge to Mission, Special Mission Recognition
($40); Gift to Mission; Gift in Memory; World Thank Offering; Corsages for Mission ($1 each), and
Dedicated Light ($45)
• ______________________________________________________________________________________
• ______________________________________________________________________________________
Journey in Growth - Activities might include the following:
• Make a list of the women in your church who are not members of United Methodist Women and invite them
to join you for a special program or mission activity such as making UMCOR kits.
• If you are a small unit, consider joining with a nearby unit to do some meetings or special activities
together.
• Reach out to women in your community and welcome them to participate (women do not need to be United
Methodists in order to participate).
• Participate in a Mission Do activity (volunteer your services for an NMI or other local agency)
• ______________________________________________________________________________________
• ______________________________________________________________________________________
Journey in Learning - Activities might include the following:
• Participate in the United Methodist Women’s Reading Program
• Regularly share information from Response magazine at meetings
• Participate in the District UMW Meetings
• Participate in the Great Plains Conference United Methodist Women’s Annual Meeting/Celebration
• Participate in a District or Conference Mission u
• _____________________________________________________________________________________
• _____________________________________________________________________________________
Our PURPOSE
United Methodist Women shall be a community of women whose
PURPOSE is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons
through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to
expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries
of the church.
Blue River Ripple | August 2016 Page 11
Journey in Faith (Spiritual Growth) – Save the Dates & Resources
Whether or not that is your assigned office within the local UMW unit, each of us is on a very
personal Spiritual Growth Journey. As I survey the wonders of God’s world, coupled with the
tumult of humanity, I often think that God surely must wring His hands at what we do to our planet
and to each other. Yet … He never, ever gives up on us and is our willing leader, if only we choose
to follow Him and His word. In our inconstancy, God is our constant! What a blessed assurance!
Keep the Faith, and pass it on!
As your Journey in Faith District Officer, I’d like to highlight a few resources and events from our
Great Plains meeting, July 9-10 in Columbus, with Janelle Erb, Elkhorn Valley District
([email protected]) who is the GP Journey in Faith Coordinator. She encouraged all of us to
promote the local and global work of UMW by “giving a shout out” to our local congregations at
every opportunity. Hosting a UMW Sunday is a great way to start the conversation.
Resources are available at www.missionresources.org. On the left side of the home page is a list of
things you can find. Towards the bottom of the list is Downloads & Order forms. Two in particular
recommended by Janelle are “The Call: Living Sacramentally, Walking Justly” and “Resurrection
Women.” www.unitedmethodistwomen.org has many ideas for UMW Sunday, memorial services,
as well as installation services for new officers.
Upcoming Dates
Saturday, April 22, 2017 is our Blue River District Spring Event. The DeWitt UMW unit has
graciously extended an invitation to their church. Thank you, DeWitt! If there are any particular
issues or topics that you would like to see addressed at the Event, please contact me. By January 31,
2017, please remember to share the names of any unit UMW sisters who passed away between 1-116 and 12-31-16. We certainly want to honor them at the Spring Event.
April 28-29-30, 2017 will be the Great Plains Spiritual Growth Retreat at Camp Comeca. This
is in the very preliminary stages of planning, however, the Great Plains UMW has approved the
concept and the dates. Details will follow as I learn them.
We want to be the kind of women that when our feet hit the floor each morning,
the devil will say, “Oh, rats! She’s up and ready to change the world!”
Yours in the Journey,
Lynette Broderick
[email protected] | 2229 Alvo Road, Seward, NE 68434
Great Plains UMW Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/Great-Plains-United-Methodist-Women-220417121468509
Blue River District web site:
http://www.greatplainsumc.org/blueriverdistrictumw
To send Blue River District members information about events your unit is hosting or to
receive emails about other units’ events, email [email protected]
Blue River Ripple | August 2016 Election Time
Page 12
Election will take place October 15th, during the Fall District Meeting.
It is once again election time. The Nominations Committee thanks all of you who prayerfully considered filling a vacancy. We also thank those of you who continue in your current offices. The following offices are scheduled to be filled this year to begin service in 2017: Vice President, Treasurer, Journey in Growth Team Leader, Journey In Action Team Leader, Nominations Committee Members (2 full terms). Due to a family illness related resignation, Nominations Committee also has an opening to complete the term of a third member. Blue River District UMW 2017 Leadership Nominations Vice President: Open Treasurer: Carol Wilhelm Elmwood Journey in Growth Team Leader: Jan Hauser Raymond Journey in Action Team Leader: Stacey Brandenburgh Raymond Committee on Nominations: Rayma Delaney (2017) Sarah Shively (2018) Open (2018) Shirley Bornemeier (2020) Vera Mazour (2020) First – Lincoln Seward President: Ann Cerveny St. Paul – Lincoln Secretary: Mary Starr St. Paul – Lincoln Nominations Chair: Marletta Stark Grace – Crete Communications Coordinator: Sandy Blankenship Waverly Journey in Learning Team Leader: Ellie Quiring Beatrice Centenary Journey in Faith Team Leader: Lynette Broderick Seward Journey in Giving Team Leader: Joyce Gettman First – Lincoln
Mission Coordinators Elmwood Dorchester PREVIOUSLY ELECTED LEADERSHIP Mission Coordinators Blue River Ripple | August 2016 Page 13
Deadlines for 2016 Unit Reports
to the Blue River District Officers Dec 1, 2016 SECRETARY: Deadline to send new officers names and information to Mary Starr BRD Secretary. Instructions are in this Newsletter. Dec 10, 2016 Deadline for completing all requirements necessary for the 5 and 7 STAR AWARDS. There is no special report. Treasurer, Carol Wilhelm, determines if all requirements have been met. (See Page 4 for related information) Dec 10, 2016 TREASURER: Deadline for final payment of the 2016 UMW Unit pledge to the BRD Treasurer Carol Wilhelm. Dec 10, 2016 TREASURER: Dedicated Light -­‐ Deadline for submitting the names on a remittance form to the BRD Treasurer Carol Wilhelm. ($45 per person) Dec 10. 2016 TREASURER: Special Mission Recognition -­‐ Deadline for submitting the names on a remittance form to the BRD Treasurer Carol Wilhelm. ($40 per person) Jan 15, 2017 *PROGRAM RESOURCES / JOURNEY IN LEARNING: Deadline for Reading Program Report due to BRD Journey in Learning leader – Ellie Quiring. Jan 15, 2017 *EDUCATION AND INTERPRETATION / JOURNEY IN GIVING: Mission Do form due to BRD Journey in Giving leader – Joyce Gettman. Jan 31, 2017 *SPIRITUAL GROWTH / JOURNEY IN FAITH: Turn in names of deceased members for 2016 to BRD Journey in Faith Leader -­‐ Lynette Broderick. Jan 31, 2017 *MEMBERSHIP, NURTURE, OUTREACH / JOURNEY IN GROWTH: Turn in Local Membership Census form for 2016 to BRD Journey in Growth leader – Jan Hauser. Look for instructions in this Newsletter. * Please note that both the OLD and NEW names are listed for the officers. United Methodist Women (UMW)  Blue River District (BRD)
2016 Annual Meeting  Saturday, October 15, 2016
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (check-in begins @ 8:30)
Trinity United Methodist  Lincoln
Purpose
United Methodist Women
shall be a community of
women whose purpose is to
know God and to
experience freedom as
whole persons through
Jesus Christ; to develop a
creative, supportive
fellowship; and to expand
concepts of mission through
participation in the global
ministries of the church.
Page 14
REGISTER by October 1!
pre-registration is required for lunch
Gather at Lincoln Trinity UMC on October 15 to receive ideas in developing your
UMW unit’s programs for the year ahead. It will be a day filled with learning
and sharing. Guest Speaker Marilyn Moore will focus on children, and the
impact of poverty on children’s development and learning. Breakout sessions for
officer training and more. Bring in-kind items (listed in the Blue River Ripple) to
give to the UMM Big Garden Project.
Marilyn Moore, EdD is recently retired as president of Bryan College of Health Sciences, which is a part of Bryan
Medical Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. She assumed this role in 2012, following a career in K-12 education as teacher and
administrator for more than 40 years. Her degrees, BS in social sciences, MS in secondary education, and EdD in
administration, curriculum, and instruction, are from the University of Nebraska—Lincoln. She was on the faculty of UNL as a
visiting professor of practice in education leadership for the 2011-12 academic year. She served as a member of the Bryan
Medical Center Board, the Bryan Health System Board, and the Bryan College of Health Sciences Board prior to being named
as president of the College. During this time, she chaired the Medical Center and College boards.
Dr. Moore has written and presented at regional and national conferences on the impact of poverty on children’s
Dr. Marilyn Moore
development and learning, improving student achievement, closing the achievement gap, appraisal of principals, responding
to challenges to library books, and men and women working together. She served as chair of the Nebraska Accreditation Committee and is active in several
professional education organizations. Within the community, she has served on the boards of many organizations,
including Lincoln Symphony Orchestra, Child Guidance, the Lincoln Foundation, Lied Center Statewide Advisory Board,
“I seek to understand the
Lincoln Food Bank, Lincoln Action Program, and Junior Achievement.
connections among ideas
Dr. Moore is an active member of Saint Paul United Methodist Church in Lincoln, NE, where she serves as lay
and people, and I believe
leader,
sings in the choir, participates in a Sunday School class and in a UMW book group. She serves on numerous
that all of us are always
church
committees
and has served in annual conference and general conference committees and councils in previous
learning.” Marilyn Moore
years.
Trinity UMC  7130 Kentwell Lane  Lincoln, Nebraska
southeast from the intersection 56th & Pine Lake Road
Park in the east lot. Enter building on the east side / elevator entrance.
Questions? (402) 450-3104
                          
REGISTRATION

Tell us about yourself. Please print clearly.
(your name & church will be on printed name tag)
name
address
phone #
email
church
need an accommodation? -->
Dietary needs? -->
 vegetarian
 please specify
 other/specify
$10.00 payment due October 1st by check payable to: BRD UMW
Submit registration form with check to: Rayma Delaney, 2333 N 74th Street, Lincoln NE 68507-2903
Questions? [email protected] (402) 464-0325
Page 15
In-Kind Needs List
• Menard’s gift cards: to cover lumber, hardware, and tool costs
• Seed gift cards from Seed Saver’s Exchange and Johnny’s
Selected Seeds (both available online)
• Forever postage stamps
• Quality garden hoes, hand-held trowels, and shovels
• Paradigm Gardens (Omaha) gift cards
• Indian Creek Nursery (Omaha) gift cards
• Office Max gift cards
• Mailing labels: Avery 5160
• Sharpies of every type
• Children’s paint brushes
• Magic markers
• Cardstock (65 lb)
• Paper plates
• Construction paper
• Manila or colored file folders
• Canning supplies: pots, mason jars, lids
• Garden plant name stakes or paint stirrers (tons!)
• Earl May gift cards
• 13-gallon drawstring kitchen bags
• Multi-purpose copy paper
• We also accept garden equipment donations of all shapes and
sizes in running condition, or near running condition (tillers,
wheelbarrows, etc.).
Questions regarding this list? Contact the United Methodist
Ministries/ Big Garden office at [email protected] or
402.898.9862
Revised 8/2015
Blue River Ripple | August 2016 Page 16
2016 Great Plains UMW Annual Meeting and Celebration
"GO Forward"
The 2016 Great Plains Annual Meeting and Celebration will be on September 16-17, 2016 at
Countryside UMC in Topeka, KS. Yvette Richards, UMW National President will be the keynote
speaker. The meeting will also feature worship, officer training and off-site tours, breakout sessions
on social justice, spiritual growth and mission ministries.
The Annual Meeting and Celebration is a great opportunity to learn more about United Methodist
Women, network with leaders in local units and districts and exchange ideas for growth and
energizing the work of the Great Plains United Methodist Women. Encourage members of your
local organizations, congregations and districts to attend!
How To Register
Registration Deadline is September 1, 2016
Registration Information at following site:
https://gp-reg.brtapp.com/2016GreatPlainsConferenceUMWAnnualMeeting
Hotel Information
A hotel block has been reserved for the meeting at the Topeka Ramada West. The room rate is
$79.00 and reservations can be made by calling 785.272.8040 and requesting the United Methodist
Women's Conference room block. The hotel block will only be available until August 24, 2016.
All conference and district officers must make their room reservation through Diane
Thompson. Do not make the reservations directly with the hotel. If you are a district and
conference officer you will need to contact Diane Thompson
at [email protected] by August 24, 2016. Blue River Ripple | August 2016 Page 17
More Details: GREAT PLAINS ANNUAL MEETING
September 16 and 17, 2016
Location: Countryside UMC Topeka, KS
Theme: "Go Forward" – Exodus 14:15 Then the Lord said…go forward.
Registration: $30.00 – includes costs associated with meeting, Friday supper, and Saturday lunch.
Continental Breakfast for commuters would be an additional $3.00 (Those staying at hotel will have
a free breakfast)
Schedule: Registration begins at 3:00 on Friday
Friday Afternoon and Evening Schedule
Friday afternoon schedule will be breakouts session plus two off site tours. Transportation to the
offsite tours will be provided or you may drive your own vehicle to the Brown vs. Board of
Education Museum.
Breakout session and tour options include:
3:30- 5:30: Tour to Womens Prison (tours are only open to first 25 who get paperwork to
Teresa Tuchsherer.
3:30-5:30: Tour of Brown vs the Board of Education National Historic site
3:30 – 4:15: Choose from a variety of breakout sessions
4:30 – 5:15: Second round of breakout sessions
5:30 – 6:30: Friday Dinner
6:30 – 7:00: Fellowship
7:00 – 8:30: Worship and Keynote Speaker, Yvette Richards, National UMW President
Saturday Morning Schedule
7:45: Gathering
8:00 – 10:00: Business Meeting
10:15 – 11:00: Optional tour to Brown vs Board of Education National Historic Site
10:15 – 11:00 – Breakouts Sessions #1 (Note: Sessions will be repeat of Friday afternoon)
10:15-11:00: Training for DISTRICT OFFICERS ONLY (Trainings available during this
session: Presidents, Treasurers, Vice Presidents, Communications, Journey Team Leaders for Faith
and Action, Committee on Nominations)
11:15 – 12:00: Breakout Sessions #2
11:15-12:00: Training for DISTRICT OFFICERS ONLY (Trainings available during this
session: Secretaries. Journey Team Leaders for Growth, Giving, Learning