WAHHI September Luncheon
Many ladies worked diligently to make this a success and welcome our members to this new WAHHI year. The 2021-2022 WAHHI Directories were available to pick up at check-in. For those of you not present, no worries – your neighborhood ambassador will drop it off to you.
Our Difference Makers book collection for the Hilton Head Little Libraries was a huge success! Thanks to the generosity of those attending the luncheon, 550 books were collected by volunteers Pat Hirsch and Gina Hines. This outstanding response from our members will make a BIG difference to children and young adult readers.
Supporting our local nonprofit community is an integral part of WAHHI. Last year we awarded grants to seven deserving nonprofits through the WAHHI Charitable Grant
program. Two of those grantees – Family Promise of Beaufort County and Sandalwood Community Food Pantry – joined us and were on hand to meet members and talk about their organizations. Read more about how our funds were put to use in this edition and comments from Dr. Rev Nanette Pierson and Lynda Halpern.
The social hour provided an opportunity for our members to catch up with each other and to meet our interest group leaders. 30 Interest Groups were represented at the
expo. Our interest group leaders sparkled with enthusiasm and their fabulous table displays were traffic stoppers! WAHHI’s interest groups offer many different opportunities for members to meet new friends, learn something new, support the community, and have fun. All gatherings will be held following WAHHI COVID guidelines in an environment where our member’s health and safety is our top priority.
The AMAZING ambassador team welcomed members, aided with behind-the-scenes activities, and helped with all the tiny details that make an event of this size run smoothly. Our decorating team provided a coastal theme on the mantle and tables. Did you know that these ladies put together these arrangements in advance, then reassembled them on site so that they were picture perfect for the event?
Our association President, Betty Hambleton, kicked off the WAHHI program year by acknowledging the challenges of the previous year and how the organization has
learned to adapt and re-program to keep members safe, engaged and entertained. Learning and using new technology made it possible to offer new programs like the Author Series, Environmental Speaker series, and continue programs like the Chef Series. Outdoor sports continued, and other groups became creative with finding outdoor venues to meet. Betty’s chosen theme for this WAHHI year is RESILENCE! The theme reflects that key quality of our extraordinary organization and the amazing women who make up our membership and step into the MANY volunteer roles.
Dr Debi Lynes was our keynote speaker. Debi gave us a journey through her life as she shared poignant and often amusing anecdotes to illustrate what resilience can look
like, with some key lessons she learned about herself and survival along the way.
On a final note – you may remember that WAHHI’s 60th anniversary gift was presented last spring to the Coastal Discovery Museum to make possible the design and construction of a labyrinth on their grounds. If you did not have the opportunity to visit the site during the luncheon, on your next visit to CDM stop by and watch progress. A sign was posted showing the final rendering of this much anticipated, fully accessible feature, that will be enjoyed by our community and visitors for years to come. Gifts like this to our community are only possible by the generosity of our members’ contributions through the WAHHI Charitable Fund.