Women Rock!

WRWI Donor Circles

2008-08-04T10:18:00.000-07:00

It is with great appreciation that we at WRWI acknowledge our generous donors those listed and those who wish to remain anonymous:

Alliant Energy

School Sisters of Notre Dame

Mother Theresa Gerhardinger Fund

The Fond du Lac Area Foundation

The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Agnes.

Shepherd of the Hills Congregation

Women's Fund of Fond du Lac Area Foundation

Soroptimist International

Aspirus Health Foundation

Wisconsin Farmers Union

Augustine Stewardship Fund Trust

Pilgrim United Church of Christ

Sarah Marshall Fund

Jim and Marie Kuber Fund

Helen Bader Foundation

Baker Cheese Factory

The Fred Lindner Prize for Social Innovation

St. Joan of Arc Parish

Heart to Heart Women Talk

2008-05-09T08:54:00.000-07:00

Taking Time

Time
Ellie

“If I could save time in a bottle. . . “ I am sure you have sung along to the words of Jim Croce’s classic tune. If you are like me, you have even pondered what treasures you would store in that bottle. What would be the memories that would flow out, once you pulled the stopper?
There are many resources we have available to us that are distributed in differing amounts. Think about wealth, talents, abilities, and energy. The leveling force is time. All of us are given the exact same amount of time – 24 hours in a day.
I am sure at some point, you have received an e-mail with the poem about the Gift of Time. . .

To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who has failed a grade.

To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who has given birth to a
premature baby.

To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize the value of ONE DAY, ask a daily wage laborer who has kids to
feed.

To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.

To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who has missed the train.

To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person who has avoided an
accident.

To realize the value of ONE MILLISECOND, ask the person who has won a
silver medal in the Olympics.

My husband and I needed to go to a meeting, so had lined up some relief milkers for the morning of the meeting. It was 2 and ½ hours to the meeting site, probably 3 hours for the lunch/meeting, and another 2 and ½ hours home. At the last minute, our relief milkers had another commitment, so my husband and I ended up putting in a loooooong day! We got up, did the chores (normally they take us about 3 hours), drove to the meeting, and all the time commitments there, and then another 3 hours doing evening chores! We were on the road by 9 AM! I found out later that our relief milkers did not get on the road until 10AM! It wasn’t that they could not help with the milking, it was that they chose not to help with the milking! We ALL have the same amount of time given to us –24 hours each and every day. How are you choosing to spend yours?
Treasure every moment that you have! And treasure it more because you
shared it with someone special, special enough to have your time . . .

And remember time waits for no one . . .

Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is a mystery.
Today is a gift.
That's why it's called the present!

The Crones Corner
Mary

I thought perhaps I would address the current Heart to Heart, Woman Talk theme “Taking Time” from a crone’s point of view. I decided to take a look at each word individually. “Taking,” for instance made me think of reaching out for something, grabbing, owning, in some ways, I started to feel a little guilty about the act of taking. I decided that maybe I didn’t have as clear an understanding of the meaning of the word as I thought. Webster has been a long time friend of mine and so I “took” Webster off of the shelf to “take” a look. Did you know that there are 61 definitions of the word take?

Here are just a few: to get into possession, as by voluntary action. To seize or capture, to hold, grasp, or grip, to choose or select, to receive and accept willingly. Etc. etc. Let’s leave “take” for a bit and move on to “time.”

Well, it was very interesting to find out that “time” had fewer definitions, only 31, however the first one is so profound that we will be forgiving of the numbers. Time defined: The duration of all existence, past, present and future. No wonder I was finding myself in the itchy place of guilt when thinking about taking it! Reading on I found number 10, sufficient or spare time. Now I was getting closer to that, dare I say it again, guilty feeling. As a crone I find myself in a constant dialogue with myself about wanting more spare time, having sufficient time to do all of the things I am involved in and how to spend my croning years in a conscious thoughtful way. Number 11, a particular point in time, made me realize again that this very moment, almost before I could write the word, has passed.

Bringing the words of my search together again, “Taking Time” I notice that the definition I like the best is to seize or capture, to hold, grasp or grip. Of time, I like sufficient or spare, so I have come to believe that if I am willing to seize the time I want or need to realize my goals of conscious eldering, I will not only have sufficient time but spare time as well. I don’t want to waste another bit of “time” because as quickly as I breathe the word it has passed, never to return, there is no duplicating a moment in time.

So what about this guilt? I suspect that it comes from long ingrained messages from my mom, idle hands and all that stuff, and from my aunties, always busy, cooking, baking, stitching, and from a culture moving faster than I can go. I will own that it also comes from some fear that I have spent more time of my life than I have left to live, and I don’t want to miss a moment. “Taking Time” for thinking, reflecting, enjoying, conversing, or reading a really good novel can make me feel like that naughty school girl again who used to lie in the grass and make cloud pictures instead of doing her homework.

Well, sister crones, I vow to “take the time” without fear or guilt and with the hutzpah that only comes with crossing the croning line.

Resource Table

2008-05-09T08:46:00.000-07:00

SOWING THE SEEDS OF HOPE
by Kathy Schmitt

Hope can come in a variety of ways. I want to tell you about two of them. The Seeds of Hope Project in Wisconsin reaches out to farmers and farm families. Weekend Getaways have been one of the positive ways in which the project seeks to help.

Farming can be stressful and breaks from the day-to-day rigor are rare. Farm Weekend Getaways give participants a chance to get away from the stress and the strain for awhile. the getaways are created for small groups of farm couples, farm women, or farm men and are held during the fall and winter months. In addition to providing a weekend respite from farm labor, the getaways are designed to help participants: Communicate more effectively as couples and with their children. Deal more effectively with stress. Plan for the future as a couple/family. Learn about available resources. Create sustainable networks.

The Sowing the Seeds of Hope Counseling Program offers free, short-term counseling services for farm families and agricultural workers. These economic times can cause a lot of stress for families. Add farming to the mix, with its unique brand of complications, and the stress can become overwhelming.

Sometimes the warning signs are easily identifiable; loss of sleep or appetite, irritability, trouble making decisions, headaches, and back pain, for example. Sometimes the warning signs are harder to see, particularly with men. men's mental health issues are often masked by working excessively long hours, by isolating themselves, or by increased use of alcohol or drugs. when you recognize these signs of stress, or other possible mental health problems, you need to tell someone about your symptoms. Participants can receive up to 5 counseling vouchers to be used at any of the participating counseling agencies. there are about 140 locations serving the program. Services are confidential. For more information, contact the Wisconsin Farm Center at 1-800-942-2474.

Useful Links

2008-05-07T13:00:00.000-07:00

These are a few links we have heard of recently. If you would like to add any please leave us a comment by clicking on the Useful Links heading.

Wisconsin Farm Center
1-800-942-2474
www.datcp.state.wi.us/core/agriculture/farm-center

See It, Stop It, Change It
www.violencehurtsus.com

www.NDVH.org- National Domestic Violence Hotline

Wisconsin Coalition Against Domenstic Violence
www.wcadv.org

Alzheimer's Association
www.alz.org
800-272-3900 (24/7)

Alzheimer's Association Greater Wisconsin Chapter
www.alzgw.org
800-272-3900 (24/7)

Christine Ann
Domestic Abuse Services, Inc.
24 Hour Helpline:
920-235-5998 or 920-729-6395

Bolton Refuge House
Eau Claire, WI
(715) 834-0628

Lutheran Social Services Financial Counseling
Wisconsin Appointments Line
888-607-6775
Minnesota Inquiries/Scheduling
888-577-2227
www.cccs.org

Dates to Remember

2008-03-12T12:47:00.000-07:00

Please contact us as soon as possible to book the weekend you would like to attend. Space is limited, get your reservations in early.

September 23-25, 2011
Women Gathering Women Facilitator Training
Wintergreen Resort
Lake Delton, WI
Cost: $525.00 includes meals, lodging and materials

November 12-13, 2011
Getaway Weekend with Health Screenings
Weston, WI
Cost: $50.00

February 4-5, 2012
Statewide Gathering
Wintergreen Resort
Lake Delton, WI
Cost: $75.00

Scholarships available

Gathering Circles/ Circle Song

2008-03-12T12:44:00.000-07:00
Gathering Circles
adapted from Starhawk, dreaming the dark

Somewhere, there are people to whom we can speak with passion without
having the words catch in our throats.
Somewhere a circle of hands will open to receive us, eyes will light up as we enter, voices will celebrate with us whenever we come into our own power.
Gathering circles mean strength that joins our strength to do the work that needs to be done. Arms to hold us when we falter. A Gathering Circle of love, light, truth and healing power. A Gathering Circle in which we can be free.

WRWI trains women to facilitate Gathering Circles. The next training is scheduled for September 23-25, 2011. For information about Women Gathering Women and all of our other programs contact WRWI at - wisconsinruralwomen@gmail.com

Gathering Circle Song
I am surrounded by a circle of love, a circle of light, a circle of truth, I am surrounded by a circle of love, a circle of healing power.

Let's Blog!

2008-02-19T10:04:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Wisconsin Rural Women's Initiative website.

Blog your comments, stories and questions here. Just click on the above heading and you will be directed to the comments page. Scroll down to "Leave a Comment". You will then be directed to the page where you can write. We will do our best to answer your questions and give you the resources you need.

Hope to hear from you soon.