MAY 2025 PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Hello to all!
Spring is here. A welcome time of emergence, rebirth, light, and all the beauty it brings. The gardening tools are out!
Despite winter’s cold, we shared many wonderful community activities such as Game Day and MusicPLUS! (which return in the Fall), “Good Luck Babe” dance party produced jointly with Queerli, and our monthly First Friday Friends, to name a few. Many of us also attended the Universalist Unitarian Church of Southold’s Pride Flag raising event — a wonderful celebration (replacement flag gifted to the church by Bernie Hoban and Marianne Kristoff).
Your responses to our Survey gave us a fresh lens into our community’s needs and wishes. Thank you! We responded to many suggestions regarding various events and activities and continue to do so — we are listening!
Our Annual Meeting in January and recent Advisory Meeting in March, provided valuable discussion and feedback from our community on our accomplishments and important issues going forward. Two of the larger topics revolved around Fundraising and Advocacy.
With fundraising efforts becoming more challenging during these uncertain times, various ideas were introduced to help supplement the growing needs within our community. Ideas about sponsorships, grant writing, and restructuring of our events were among the many shared. We will keep you posted as things progress.
The other main topic of discussion was about possibilities for North Fork Women to become more involved in advocacy work. The board agreed to form a committee to conduct research regarding guidelines for non-profit organizations and possible steps going forward. There is general support among the membership for taking incremental steps toward more visibility as an advocacy group within the community at large. We will keep you posted as we learn more.
We look forward to our upcoming events: the Founders Award Dinner, the Golf Outing on Monday, May 19th (click to register), and the North Fork Pride Parade on Sunday, June 22nd. March with us! We hope to see you there! Also, look for Out and About happenings (hiking, kayaking, etc.—coming soon!). See the calendar of events and details on our website and weekly e-newsletters).
***As always, our membership has been the backbone of our community. With rising costs and the needs of our community, we ask you to help strengthen our resources in order to help others. Please keep donating as you can, along with our heartfelt thanks! At the same time, if you or someone you know is in need of our support, send us an email to let us know, or go to our grants page to fill out an application. We also offer subscriptions for complimentary Medical Alert Buttons. Remember that all communication with North Fork Women is strictly confidential.***
In closing, during these unprecedented times, we all are navigating through in our own ways and as we are able. As the rights and safety of so many are on the line, no voice or effort is too small. Everyone matters and adds to the voice of the many.
We stand in support of our local community organizations and others who have been faced with threats and harassment. We will continue to do so.
“I knew ugliness was out there, but Riverhead and the community showed us what love looks like.” — Tijuana Fulford, Founder/Director of The Butterfly Effect Project.
Please continue to join us in community, joy, and solidarity as we move through this time — together.
My best to all,
Barbara
