Here We Grow Again

Submitted by Barb Mallory

As some clubs begin to look towards summer, and the end of the Progress year, Calgary City Centre is just getting warmed up!  Our big fundraising event of the year, Girls Night Out is fast approaching on April 28th.  However, the best news is that by the time our event rolls around, we will have inducted eight new members and re-inducted one experienced member into our happy crowd!

In November, we had Tracey Bitcon join us, then March 1st we had Karen Blomquist, Ruthanne Kelly and Carrie Moore inducted.  April 5 we re-inducted Jackie Stapleton, and new members Kristine Liakopolous, Lisa Danielewicz, Marilee Hicks and Tracey Robinson.

We now have 21 active members, 4 associates, 4 on leave and 4 pre-members.

We had a great start to our year, during last June’s wrap party.  Our theme of “Pay it Forward” was applied to the four cornerstones of Progress; membership, fellowship, community service and fundraising.

For membership, we found that our circle of friends and influence was the best route to finding potential new members.  Our focus on fellowship and making meetings fun, increased this awareness and “guests” were soon eager to become “pre-members”.  We found that paying attention to the happiness of current members, made new people want to join us.

Last year, we started to set one regular meeting night per month aside for community service, and found that the good feelings that came from these nights, just strengthened the commitment from our members.  Now as we approach our important fundraising night, we have a happy, healthy club, full of energy to make it our biggest moneymaker ever.

Also, we have just found a new meeting place, after losing our last home to high room fees.  Having a new “home” also puts a spring in our step.

To top things off, we have had three beautiful babies born to members of our club since last July!  Lots of instant aunties for these lucky children!  We are having a super year, and the future is bright!