The FriendShip Newsletter - Aug./Sept. 2019Office InformationContact Info: 803-602-6434 or contact@thefriendship.org Regular Hours: The office is open Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Eleanor's Hours: Eleanor staffs the office on Mondays, Wednesdays & Thursdays. First Annual Independence Month Event is a Success!Thanks to everybody who supported The FriendShip's July 18th Independence Month fundraiser at Hunter Gatherer’s Brewery, The Hangar. A great crowd enjoyed the fun evening, featuring a talk by golf writer Mike Dojc. Attendees enjoyed participating in a gift card tree raffle, chipping contest, and silent auction, and some terrific prizes were given away that night! Congrats to all the winners! With over 100 tickets sold, we met our goals of raising awareness about the organization and bringing in some much needed revenue to support the work we do. The FriendShip appreciates support from so many in the community who helped make this event a success. Kudos to our Fundraising Committee, which was chaired by Will Amick, Board members, and other volunteers for all their hard work coordinating this event. We are grateful to all the individuals, local businesses, and artists that donated gift cards and paintings for our fabulous gift card tree raffle and silent auction including Pat Blackwell, Crave Market and Cafe, Eva Skin Care, Il Giorgione, Lila McCullough (painter), Tombo Grille, Christy Barnwell Sears (painter), Joy Tucker, and USC Softball/Coach Beverly Smith. And, last but certainly not least, special thanks to our generous event sponsors: Longleaf Advisors, Julie Ruff, and Koosa Golf. Welcome to New Board Members & Board UpdatesAs of July 1, The FriendShip's Board of Directors is pleased to welcome three new members:
In addition to welcoming these new members, The FriendShip has elected a new slate of officers to the Board for the 2019-2020 year:
The FriendShip extends sincere gratitude to the Board members who have rotated off the Board as of June 30: Mary Kessler and Shaun Owens. We are grateful for their dedicated service and leadership! Volunteer Receives Honor!Congratulations to Janet Jordan, who was awarded the Richland Sertoma Club’s Service to Mankind Award in June. As a volunteer, committee member, and Board member for The FriendShip, Janet makes such a difference in the lives of our members! Not only does she serve our organization, but also she volunteers with several other group including the SC State Museum, the PTSO at her daughter's school, and more. She truly embodies the spirit of a service award! One of our members said “I don’t know where I’d be without Janet,” and all of us at The FriendShip feel the same! (Janet is pictured in the photo above with Pat Blackwell from the Richland Sertoma Club who is also a volunteer with The FriendShip.) Join Us for Upcoming Programs!Members and volunteers have enjoyed all kinds of get-togethers over the course of the summer from a visit to the SC Assistive Technology program (see photo above) to an intergenerational discussion about the meaning of independence, lunches at local restaurants, and more! As summer is winding down, The FriendShip is looking forward to some great upcoming programs and working on plans for the fall! Tour Our Award-Winning Library on Thursday, August 15 Awarded the National Medal in 2017 by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Richland Library is an incredible resource for the Midlands, offering all kinds of services to people of all ages! From books and e-books to meeting rooms, craft spaces, ongoing programming, and so much more, there truly is something for everyone. Plus, the newly renovated Main Branch is just beautiful, and the library has even recently gone "fine free!" So, don't miss the chance to take a tour with The FriendShip on Thursday, August 15 at 11:30 a.m. and learn about all the library offers. Guests are welcome, and attendees may choose to stay after the tour for a snack or lunch in the library's cafe. Please RSVP by noon on Tuesday, August 13 by calling 803-602-6434 or emailing contact@thefriendship.org. Please let us know if you need a ride or can provide one for a member. Carpools will leave the St. John's parking lot at 11:10 a.m. Or, participants can meet the group at the library's front desk at 1431 Assembly Street, 29201. Parlor Games in the Parlor on Tuesday, August 27 One of our Afternoon Social Hours over the summer featured a friendly game of cards (Uno!). We had such fun that we've decided to do it again. Come join in a game and visit with FriendShip members and volunteers on Tuesday, August 27 at 2:00 p.m. in the Parlor at St. John's. No special "Uno" experience is needed! There will be plenty of time to chat, and light refreshments will be served. RSVPs would be appreciated by Monday, August 26 at noon. As always, we are happy to arrange a ride for members who need one. Looking Ahead at Fall Activities The Program Committee is in the process of planning Fall activities. If you have any suggestions or would be interested in helping plan a program, please call or email The FriendShip office and your input will be forwarded along to the committee! In the meantime, be sure to mark your calendars with the dates below and keep an eye out for more updates and additions to the calendar:
Updates & Reminders for VolunteersNew date for next volunteer gathering: The Volunteer Committee is busy planning for the next Volunteer Get-Together. Please note that the date for this event is TBD; there was an unforeseen conflict with the previously announced date (August 25). All volunteers are encouraged to attend to get to know other volunteers and share information—and enjoy the refreshments too! There will be a special discussion topic: tips for assisting members with visual impairments. More details to follow as soon as possible! Updated driving records needed: All volunteer drivers are asked to send in a copy of your updated insurance cards for our records. You can text a photo of your card to the Services Coordinator (just email contact@thefriendship.org for the phone number to text to) or send a copy to The FriendShip office. Local Resource of Interest: New Classes at The Lourie CenterThe Lourie Center will be offering the Midlands Lifelong Learning Program this October with classes on a range of fascinating subjects taught by academics and professionals from the community. Classes meet weekly for four-week sessions. For more details, please visit The Lourie Center's website. Office Closed on Labor DayThe FriendShip office will be closed on Monday, September 2 in observance of Labor Day. We will be back for normal business hours (9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) on Tuesday, September 3! An Easy Way to Support The FriendShip While You Shop!Do you shop on Amazon? Here’s a simple, automatic way to support The FriendShip every time you shop, at no cost to you. Click here to designate The FriendShip as your favorite charitable organization and Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to us! Spread the word! |