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Heartland District United Methodist Women February 2020_

President’s Corner

ere we are at the start of another year: 2020! I hope this finds all well, warm, and happy.

This is the last remaining year of my tenure as your District President. I have been greatly

blessed by the women in this district far more than I will be able to express. Thank you so

much for your support and prayers!

As I looked over some conference UMW reports, I realized some recognition is due. Heartland

District readers (2019 annual report) are number one in both the numbers of readers and books

read. This is awesome! If you have not been a part of the reading program, let this year be your

start. The program books are an excellent way to educate yourself on current UMW issues. Leona

Gilliam, our program resources coordinator (aka Book Lady) can assist you in how to obtain the

books. Karen Fentress, the Conference Program Resources coordinator, is from the Heartland

district. Leona and Karen: if I am wrong on this, please don’t correct me! Even if I am wrong (and

that’s always a possibility), I still want to encourage you to participate in the reading program. I

guarantee there will be something to touch your heart.

Here is our 2020 District Calendar of events:

March 13-14 Conference Spiritual Growth Retreat Camp Loucon March 23 All day UMW Day of Giving (supports Legacy Fund) March 28 9:00 am Day Apart & Team Meeting Stovall UMC April 17-20 SEJ Meeting Mobile, AL May 16 1:00 pm Blanket of Praise Memorial UMC July 1 Annual Reports Mailed July 9-12 Mission u Lindsey Wilson July 25 Annual Reports Due August 16 2:00 pm District Team Meeting Fern Creek UMC September 26 9:00 am District Annual Celebration Fern Creek UMC October 11 2:00 pm District Team Meeting TBD October 24 8:30 am Conference Annual Celebration Northern District

I am currently working on the speakers for our Blanket of Praise and Annual Celebration meeting.

Melinda Ryles-Smith, the Vice-President of Development for the Kentucky United Methodist

Children’s Homes, will be our speaker at the Blanket of Praise meeting. I am also trying to get

information on what size quilts they need at the Children’s homes as every child who comes there

receives a quilt. At our conference meeting last year we were shown the dorms, and the beds there

are twin size (however, I don’t know if they are twin XL or regular twin). If we make some for them,

we can send those quilts with Melinda. We can work out details before the meeting on how to mark

those quilts so we know which ones to send.

H

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There was discussion about where the quilts

are now going since the Burchettes are no

longer able to distribute them. A committee

was formed from our district officers to

determine how best to handle this. I will

report back to you on what the committee has

determined to be an equitable distribution.

On July 1st, I will be mailing annual reports to

unit presidents. The deadline for reports to

be included in the Annual Celebration

recognition is July 25th. A firm deadline is

necessary to reduce the number of errors in

the bulletins we print for the celebration. The

district team takes this meeting very

seriously, as do our units, and errors upset all

of us. Last year, we attempted to include

reports received the week of the celebration,

and it was quite honestly a very difficult mess.

I’ve heard various reasons, and I know

emergencies happen, but please plan to have

your report mailed in time to reach me on July

25, 2020.

Please feel free to contact any district officer

with any questions you may have. If we don’t

have an answer, we will contact our

conference counterparts to get that answer. I

look forward to seeing you in March!

Wendy Tyree, President

A Word from the Treasurer Happy New Year, everyone!

I would like to remind everyone that the new

2020 informational packets were handed out

at the District Annual Celebration back in

September. If you were not there to get one,

or if you have not received one in the mail,

please let me know so I can get one to you.

The 2020 packet includes general guidelines

for keeping records, current master copies of

remittance forms, deadlines for submitting

remittances and a “SAMPLE” copy of a “Your

Mission Giving” form. The sample form is

intended to help you keep up with all the

areas of mission giving throughout the year.

We are now in the First Quarter (December,

January, February). Remittances for the first

quarter will be due March 1, 2020. Thank you

for your continued support and for getting

your quarterly remittances in on time. Please

contact me with any questions or concerns.

Marilyn Puckett, Treasurer Heartland District UMW 9111 Royal Oak Drive Louisville, KY 40272 (502)935-7002 Email: mstearnspuckett@aol.com

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Education and Interpretation

Once again as the E & I district contact, I am

alerting members to a new resource

accessible to members. I learn something

new each time I visit the webpage. I also

watch for tweets from The United Methodist

Women’s Twitter feed and posts from The

United Methodist Women’s Facebook account.

Faith Talks are monthly conversations with

United Methodist Women hosted by Jennifer R

Farmer, Spotlight PR. Each conversation

explores themes and resources that empower

us to put faith, hope and love into action.

After the January 16th episode, there will be 9

available for viewing on the UMW webpage.

Various ways of accessing are podcast

services Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google

Podcasts, and other podcast services. Topics

for some of these include, 1)“Creation Care,

Sustainability Climate Justice, and How their

JUST ENERGY FOR ALL campaign can help,”

2) Janet Wolf explores radical discipleship

from her study, “Mark and Radical

Discipleship,” 3)Carol Barton talks about

“Women, Labor and Living Wage.”

Thursday, February 20 at 6:00 pm ET: Faith

Talks: Paid Family Leave

Thursday, April 16 at 2:00 pm ET: Faith Talks:

General Conference & changes in the UMC

As before, the #UMWFaithTalks will be held

via Zoom Video Conference. You can register

here:

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DiexE

-73SViZ6YZd-HelhA. Upon registering, you’ll

have the option of joining by phone or

computer.

Keep in touch electronically through these

podcast and through Twitter and Facebook.

Susan Cross

Social Action

Human Trafficking is an epidemic in our

nation, and the issue is growing faster than

the infrastructure to help the victims. It is

estimated that there are roughly 190

residential shelters for victims of human

trafficking in the U.S., but most of these are

new and inexperienced, and there are no

minimum quality standards that have been

established to help them grow. January 11

was National Human Trafficking Awareness

Day. Economic inequality is a key force

driving women and men into circumstances of

labor and sex trafficking. Lack of access to

social support, education, and living wage

jobs can force people to make hard decisions

that make putting themselves in potentially

dangerous situations worth the risk. Abusive

relationships, extreme poverty or neglect, and

life under violent circumstances can make a

life in trafficking seem like an improvement.

Economic equality is a focus for United

Methodist Women. We should take time to

learn about the systems causing trafficking as

we raise awareness of modern-day slavery.

Throughout our existence, United Methodist

Women has been a pioneer in the fight for

racial justice. We need to address inequities

in our criminal justice system, anti-immigrant

sentiment, and the various ways that systemic

racism prevents people from attaining quality

health care, education, and work. Work at the

election polls, recycle, and spread kindness.

Cindy Clary

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Wesley House Community Services

Welcome to 2020.

If you did not receive the press release, it is with sadness that I announce that Dr. Renee Campbell,

President of Wesley House Community Services, has resigned effective January 31, 2020. We wish

Dr. Campbell success as she enters a new chapter in her work life. Dr. Campbell is available if

anyone would like to meet or talk with her. Her cell number is 502/418-0423 and her e-mail

address, drcwesleyh@g-mail.com will remain the same for several months. She plans to stay

involved with Wesley House Community Services. A reception is being planned to honor her 21

years of service. An announcement will be made when arrangements have been completed. Clinton

Bennett, a member of the Board of Directors, will be the interim Director while a permanent

director is sought.

In November, an appeal for financial help in paying for needed repairs to the facility was sent.

Thanks to Glendale UMW and the congregation of Glendale UMC for the generous donation. If there

are other units or churches who answered this appeal, please accept my thanks for your support.

Summit UMW has again donated paper products. These donations help by enabling finances to be

used for programs rather than supplies.

As Wesley House Community Services enters the new year with changes taking place, finances

remain a concern. Wesley House is among the other non-profits in Louisville who have lost funding

from local sources. The primary source of income has been from grants; however, finding

additional sources of income is paramount. If anyone has ideas for income , please contact me. This

mission has existed for 116 years, and my hope is that it will be here for another 116 years. We are

also looking for committed directors to advocate for this United Methodist Mission.

Joan Vance, Board of Directors

jcv57@windstream.net

270/862-3553 (h)

270/766-7837 (c)

Press Release on Dr. Campbell’s retirement reprinted on page 6

I am only one,

But still I am one.

I cannot do everything,

But still I can do something;

And because I cannot do everything,

I will not refuse to do the something that

I can do.

Edward Everett Hale’s pledge to the

Lend-a-Hand Society

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Please join the Board of Directors of Wesley House Community Services in

extending its best wishes to Dr. Renee Campbell who has announced her retirement

from the organization to transition to the University of Kentucky, as Clinical

Assistant Professor, in the College of Social Work.

Dr. Campbell is a native of Adairville, Kentucky and became a lifelong resident of

Louisville after she received her Masters in Social Work from the University of

Louisville, Kent School of Social Work. She received her undergraduate degree

from Kentucky State University, and Doctorate degree from Spaulding University.

She will begin her new career in Higher Education at the University of Kentucky

College of Social Work in February.

Dr. Campbell arrived at Wesley House with a lifetime of skills gained in the non

profit community service. She was appointed as the agency’s President and CEO in

1998. During her tenure as the leader of the organization, Dr. Campbell has

directed the integration of technology, established the agency website, implemented

intervention, prevention and assessment of family domestic violence and abuse

programs, created domestic violence threat assessment procedures, led the

relocation of the agency and services to a community that was underserved. The

agency’s relocation left an unprecedented legacy of diversity and inclusion which

includes spearheading Wesley House’s revised nondiscriminatory statement to

include LGBTQ provisions.

Dr. Campbell not only has provided years of outstanding service to Wesley House

but the Greater Louisville community through her service on The Mary Byron

Project Board of Directors, The Mayor’s Violence Prevention Task Force, Friends

of Fourth Street Live, Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, and an untold

number of national and international volunteer and advocacy groups and projects.

Dr. Campbell has been distinguished as a Center for Women and Families Woman

of Distinction, Muhammad Ali Daughter of Greatness, featured in 100 Fascinating

Louisville Women, Who’s Who in African American profiles and Black Louisville,

and Business First “Aspiring Women Who Make a Difference.”

Board Chairman, Ray Hammock commented, “Wesley House became a diverse

organization under Dr. Campbell’s leadership. I can speak for the entire board

when I say we feel extremely blessed to have had the opportunity to work with

someone of Dr. Campbell’s caliber. Her commitment to the goals and objective of

Wesley House Community Services has touched many lives. She is one of a kind

and will be sorely missed.”

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Unit Highlights

Hodgenville Our Methodist Women had a very busy year (2019), as well as most of you. We ended the year with

11 of our ladies going to Red Bird Mission in Beverly, Ky. We took 55 large boxes filled with Bibles,

devotions, gloves, scarves, blankets that some of our ladies made, hygiene items, and lots and lots of

miscellaneous items. We were told that the boxes were given to residents at a nearby facility for

disabled persons who otherwise would not have received anything at Christmas.

We were given a tour of their main building (that was once the hospital), saw how their food pantry

operates, toured the school where scripture verses were painted on the walls, and visited their gift

shop. Naturally, we managed to do some shopping,

items that were locally made!!!! It was a very

enlightening and informative day.

Blessings,

Diane Lawless, President

Hodgenville UMW

Praying and Loading Boxes

Unloading on dock at Red Bird

Reliving our day over a hearty meal

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Memorial UMW

Memorial's new Priscilla Circle gathers weekly on Wednesday evenings. The focus is on a "creative,

supportive fellowship,” Bible Study, and mission projects. In December the Priscilla Circle prepared

30 Christmas gift bags for a local women's recovery home. The bags were delivered, and some

Circle members were able to offer a hug and prayer with several recipients and their leaders.

Memorial's UMW had a busy and blessed holiday season with a Missions Bazaar, Church potlucks

(and clean-up!), Cookie and Pecan Sales. Wonderful teamwork and holiday spirit made for a great

year's end. Thanks to All Sisters in Christ!

Pat Dile, Co-Chair

Memorial UMW

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Mosaic

We had a productive and fun 2019 and are looking forward to a better 2020! In January we had our

planning meeting on a stormy Saturday morning! We are planning many outreach

opportunities. Some are: Blessing Bags, UL Gathering, Daycare Appreciation, Children's Sabbath

Celebration, Hip Hop Cares, Grace Kids, and Volunteers of America Halloween Party! Some of our

fundraisers are: dinner after church, Soup to Go, our fall Marketplace Bazaar and we are going to

make a new cookbook! We set our meeting dates, programs and refreshments schedule and

responsibilities. It is going to be a great year as we live out our UMW purpose! And to God be the

Glory!

Sharon Cook, Mosaic UMW President

Radcliff

The Radcliff United Methodist Women are working hard on their respective projects. There are two

circles that are working on baby quilts for Blankets of Praise - the GLAD circle and the

Smitchers. The Smitcher's circle has recently been helping a local girl scout troop learn how to sew

for a badge, which of course they are learning while working on the baby quilts. The Yarns Of Peace

group is diligently making prayer shawls to be given out as requested. We also have a Mats for the

Homeless circle who is working on crocheting water proof sleeping mats out of plastic bags.

Meredith Linscott

Stovall

Our Wesleyan Circle had a very successful Christmas Bazaar and soup luncheon to wind up 2019.

We always enjoy seeing our many repeat customers from the community who faithfully attend each

year and share the time with us. Thanks to the ladies of our Golden Circle who pitched in to help in

the kitchen and café for the event. Additional hands make the work much easier. As is their usual

practice, the Golden Circle members purchased lap robes for residents at the local nursing and

rehab center and brought them to their Christmas

luncheon to be delivered during the Christmas

season. Our Stovall quilters continue to meet each

week to cut, sew, and bind their quilts while sharing

fellowship together.

Our first joint UMW meeting of 2020 will be in March

when we have our program for a “Call to Prayer and Self Denial.” We look forward to hosting all the

ladies of the district for our Day Apart program on March 28. Be sure to mark your calendars for

this event. We look forward to seeing you.

Edwina Drake, President

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Valley Station (Bethany and Prairie Village)

We are pleased to report that 2019 was a productive year, and that we are looking forward to 2020!

Our very successful “Socktober” project yielded 554 pairs of socks of all sizes. Socks were

distributed to the Family Resource Centers at Stonestreet and Medora Elementary Schools, as well

to the Backside Ministry at Churchill Downs. We are grateful to the congregations for their

overwhelming support.

We participated in the Red Bird Conference shoe box ministry at Christmas. Again, with our

supportive congregations, we completed 25 shoe boxes and received some monetary donations

which were forwarded to Red Bird.

Our December meeting was held at Bethany UMC. All the ladies of the churches were invited to

attend and we were pleased to have a good turnout. A light brunch was enjoyed, followed by a craft

time where we made 48 Christmas ornaments to give to each of the children in the VINE after school

program.

Submitted by Marilyn Puckett

Happy

Valentine’s

Day

Day

Don’t forget to save the date!

March 28, 2020

Day Apart Stovall UMC

More information to follow

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2020 HEARTLAND DISTRICT OFFICERS

PRESIDENT Wendy Tyree 270-325-4223

437 Hawkins Rd., Hodgenville , Ky 42748 270-765-9777 (c)

wendy_tyree@hotmail.com

VICE-PRESIDENT Vacant

SECRETARY Sharon Cook 502-448-5057

6303 Buckskin Place, Louisville, Ky. 40216 502-599-5728 (c)

SharonKnightCook@gmail.com

TREASURER Marilyn Puckett 502-935-7002

9111 Royal Oak Dr., Louisville, Ky 40272

mstearnspuckett@aol.com

COMMUNICATIONS Edwina Drake 270-351-0409

COORDINATOR 233 Johns Road East,Radcliff, Ky. 40160

drakeem55@gmail.com

SECRETARY Leona Gilliam 270-234-6971

PROGRAM 204 S. Miles, Elizabethtown, Ky.42701

RESOURCES leonagilliam@comcast.net

SPIRITUAL Ruth Sauter 502-377-5534

GROWTH 6512 Warner Ave., Louisville, Ky 40207

ruthsauter38@gmail.com

SOCIAL ACTION Cindy Clary 502-448-2867 (H)

2902 Pioneer Rd., Louisville, Ky 40216 502-641-3261 (c)

jonsbear@aol.com

EDUCATION & Susan Cross 270-351-6156

INTERPRETATION 211 Stovall Church Rd.,Radcliff, Ky 40160

secross@bbtel.com

MEMBERSHIP Sherry Mattingly 502-262-2973

NUTURE &OUTREACH 3007 Lynnwood Way, Jeffersontown, Ky 40299

sherrymattinglyumw@gmail.com

HISTORIAN Nancy Brumback 502-267-6041

9616 Old Six Mile Lane, Louisville, Ky 40299

rbrumbac@bellsouth.net

PARLIAMENTARIAN Bennie Lou Hammons 270-862-9625

340 Nache Pike, Cecilia, Ky 42724

hammauct@windstream.net