ECW (Episcopal Church Women) 
Notes on the recent ECW Brunch
As part of our program to revitalize the organization in 2008, ECW scheduled a Saturday morning brunch for its inaugural meeting of the new year. An enthusiastic crowd turned out on a rainy Saturday morning of February 23rd to share good food and fellowship and hear a presentation by Stephanie McLeod, President of the ECW of our diocese. We learned that the doldrums that have beset our organization are common to parishes throughout the diocese; indeed, throughout the state. Ms. McLeod said that women as an organized force are a relatively late phenomenon in the Episcopal Church, and that now that women have taken on so many new functions, including the priesthood, we have lost some of the focus of the earlier days when our activities were more confined. Thus, it is not surprising that we are undergoing a period of adjustment and redefinition. She mentioned some projects that other parishes are engaged in, particularly one that makes blankets for women's shelters, which are not difficult to accomplish, very needed, and very satisfying to the participants. She recommended alliances with nearby parishes to help us build our numbers and to generate and nourish new ideas and projects.
Ms. McLeod also told us about a diocesan reading group which has recently begun meeting to discuss the book Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Ph.D. She confessed that the title and content of the book had caused her some trepidation at first, but that she was beginning to realize how important and useful the ideas were. She invited us all to join the discussion at the group's next meeting on April 26th at Grace Cathedral. We'll be sending out more details about that session soon.
Everyone who attended the meeting was surprised to find out that that this was Ms. McLeod's first venture into public speaking. We left Bakewell Hall with new energy and determination to make 2008 a banner year ECW year. We urge everyone to join us at our next session on Saturday, April 19, 10:30 AM.
ECW Officers
Susanne Schuster, President
Merryl Dashiell, Vice-President
Sandy De Shields, Secretary
Paula Mahone, Treasurer
Next Meeting
Saturday, April 19th @ 10:30 am
