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Members of GFWC-NC Mocksville Woman’s Club (MWC) met at Bermuda Run Country Club on Feb. 13 for their monthly meeting.

Nancy Penry shared words of love and Carolyn Beaver led the group in pledges to the flags.

Club President Christy Schafer presented member Nancy Penry with an award, acknowledging her as a star for serving as the club’s chaplain. Luanne Taylor and Sharon Murphy also received star awards for their dedication and work for Storehouse for Jesus.

In celebration of the month of love, club members honored Past President Jean Saunders with a heartwarming video of photographs compiled by Sidniee Suggs that captured Jean’s impact in the community through her participation in the club. The presentation was accompanied by Dolly Parton’s song, “You are Something Special to Me,” with a club sing-a-long.

“It’s been my privilege, knowing and loving you,” Saunders said. Addressing the new members, she said: “You’re going to make a difference. We were put here to serve.”

New member to MWC, Robin Hartman, was pinned by President Christy Schafer, and was presented with flowers from president-elect, Becky Young and the club handbook from Paulette Agha.

Reports of community service projects by respective chairs followed. MWC supports events that contribute to the education, civic, cultural, domestic and social improvement of the community.

In the arts, Lorrie Slate and Stephanie Dean conducted an art project with middle and high school students at Central Davie Academy in January making no-sew heart pillows.

For Conservation CSP, co-chairs Vickie Smitherman and Christine Bralley collected money for Davie County High School’s Hunger Fighters. Members were urged to save their Valentine cards for recycling into new cards.

In the area of Home Life, co-chair, Luanne Taylor, collected more than 400 valentine cards to be distributed to senior citizens at seven nursing homes. Home Life will host the March MWC meeting with the director of Family Promise, Lisa Foster, as guest speaker.

Co-chairs for Public Issues, Carolyn Beaver and Paula Harrison, thanked members for helping support Davie Pregnancy Center with the donations for new mothers.

Alice Sineath reported that the MWC club members played bingo with 19 residents of Autumn Care. Club members play the game with residents on the first Monday of each month.

Linda Dorsett, co-chair for Education, announced that the interviews for MWC scholarships would be held Feb. 18. She also thanked club members who volunteered at Smart Start’s Hoe Down at Win Mock.

Education (CSP) co-chairs Linda Dorsett and Karen Myers hosted the program and introduced the guest speaker, Gena Taylor, executive director for Smart Start of Davie County.

Taylor shared 10 early education and family support programs that the agency offers to child care providers, parents, and children.  The agency recently celebrated 21 years of serving young children, age birth to 5.   

Two programs that were highlighted included the Nurturing Parenting Program (NPP) and Parents as Teachers (PAT) home visiting program. Smart Start of Davie County will start a 10-week parenting class session on Feb. 25 for the Nurturing Parenting Program, which engages parents of children, prenatal to 5 years of age, emphasizing the parent to be their child(ren)’s first teacher.  Pre-registration required.  The philosophy includes zero tolerance of violence and improving positive parenting practices with each family. The program educates the parents on the expectations of children, empathy, discipline, family roles and power, and independence.

Taylor said the Parents as Teachers program earned a blue ribbon of excellence award, a national recognition where affiliates meet all of the essential requirements of the national standards, along with at least 75 percent of the quality standards through completion of the quality endorsement and improvement process. Smart Start of Davie’s PAT program demonstrated outcomes that provided high-quality services to families, she said.

New technology, available through a grant from the Pearls of Empowerment last fall, has enabled Smart Start oto begin to offer LENA – an innovative device that captures the talk of caregiver/child. The report from the device along with coaching from parent educators allows the caregivers to build babies brains.  Smart Start is excited to offer LENA home program through their NPP and PAT programs in the coming months.

Following the program, the meeting was adjourned. Penry offered the blessing, and members enjoyed lunch and fellowship.

In keeping with the program theme, dining tables were decorated with educational toys and stacked books highlighting the importance of reading.

MWC encourages fellowship among women and the development of leadership within the community.  The club offers women opportunities to promote education, participate in community service, grow in leadership development, and share in fellowship with other women.