Page 25 - ESA IC News September

Washington

Margaret McElliott, President
Jean Merrill, Newsletter Editor
www.esawashington.org

Washington State Council, under the leadership of President Margaret McElliott, had
their Summer Board Meeting August 5 at the Community Hall of one of the members
on the board. We had a great turn out of the executive board, general board and
chapter presidents. It was a very hot day but we accomplished a full agenda.

Each officer and chairman previewed their goals for the upcoming year and chapter presidents outlined
their goals, also. One of the big items that was accomplished since May 2017 is putting our state roster
and guidelines for officers/chairmen on our WA website. Our Web Master, Noelle Hamilton, has worked
very hard to get it all put on line as well as getting the entire membership access to the materials once
they have applied for a password, but saves the state treasury money.

Washington State currently has two state meetings per year and then their annual State Convention. In
the past the meetings were governed by an agenda, reports, etc. This was a topic of the summer board
meeting. It was suggested we revisit the need for three meetings per year due to cost and declining
attendance. We need to be more inspired at the meetings we do have and include the reports into the
minutes or newsletters and offer more educational presentations such as discuss leadership opportunities,
get away from the agenda and learn something new. This type of meeting would possibly bring the
members back to the meetings.

Two chapters in the state have Doll Teas. One chapter purchases the basic dolls and has community
members dress the dolls around a theme. The dolls are then juried, and those that are the best dressed
dolls are then auctioned. The other dolls are given to the Salvation Army for them to give out to little girls
in the community. The money raised from the auction is for toys for the boys. They also have High Tea for
a charge. This event has been done some 30 + years.

For the other Doll Tea, the members take donated dolls, search the thrift stores for dolls, and then they
clean them up, dress them and sell them at a tea. Their proceeds also go to the Salvation Army, both
very successful events.

Other fund raising ideas have been: gift wrapping at the local Barnes and Noble stores, garage sales
and the usual things. One chapter has done the phantom event instead of the work of a garage sale,
etc. and has raised enough money to operate their chapter. They have chosen to do hands on
philanthropic work instead of writing checks.

We do have one chapter – Alpha Beta in Walla Walla that is celebrating their 75 year as a chapter. We
th
will have more on this at a later date.

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