June 2020 Newsletter
Note from SSS
Good Day,
Thank you to everyone who participated in last night’s virtual session. The Executive Committee of the Grove is reviewing the feedback from the session and working on next steps, from a look at our Grove values to our processes and procedures. We know there is a lot of work to do, and appreciate the feedback and insight you all have provided in these last few sessions.
If you missed last night’s session, we encourage you to review the material that was shared during the session.You may want to share these exercise and resources with your friends and family in order to continue this important conversation:
- Complete the “10 Finger” Activity, provided by Neha Joshi (Nyomi)
- Watch this video
- After completing the exercise and watching the video, please review the questions here
If you have any comments or updates you would like to share for future newsletters, please email me or Leslie Dube (leslie@belizeangrove.org). And don’t forget to share some of your favorite bumper sticker ideas here and we’ll feature in the upcoming Grove updates.
“You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” -Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Cheers,
Susan
MEMBER NEWS
What the Grovers, Taras, and Nyomis Have been Up to Lately…
-Thoughts from our own Melanie Sabelhaus:
In an evening class at Stanford University the last lecture was on the mind-body connection—the relationship between stress and disease. The speaker (head of psychiatry at Stanford) said, among other things, that one of the best things that a man could do for his health is to be married to a woman; whereas for a woman, one of the best things she could do for her health was to nurture her relationships with her girlfriends.
At first, everyone laughed, but he was serious. Women connect with each other differently and provide support systems that help each other to deal with stress and difficult life experiences. Physically this quality “girlfriend time” helps us to create more serotonin – a neurotransmitter that helps combat depression and can create a general feeling of well-being.
Women share feelings whereas men often form relationships around activities. We share from our souls with our sisters, friends, and evidently that is VERY GOOD for our health.
He said that spending time with a friend is just as important to our general health as jogging or working out at a gym. There’s a tendency to think that when we are “exercising” we are doing something good for our bodies; but when we are hanging out with friends, we are wasting our time and should be more productively engaged.
Not true. In fact, he said that failure to create and maintain quality personal relationships with other humans is as dangerous to our physical health as smoking! So, every time you hang out to schmooze with a gal pal, just pat yourself on the back and congratulate yourself for doing something good for your health!
We are indeed very, very blessed!
So, let’s toast to our friendship with our girlfriends (including grandmas, sisters, mothers, nieces, cousins, aunties…). Evidently, it’s very good for our health.
Thanks to all the women in my life who have helped me stay healthy and feeling very loved.
-Lauren Herring’s book Take Control of Your Job Search! 10 Emotions You Must Master to Land the Job is now ready for pre-order on amazon.com!
–Paige Arnof-Fenn was featured in Medium article: Paige Arnof-Fenn of Mavens & Moguls: 5 Steps That Each Of Us Can Take To Proactively Help Heal Our Country. Click here to read.
–Melanie Sabelhaus to Receive American Red Cross Harriman Award for Distinguished Volunteer Service. Click here to read more.
Virtual Table Topics
Virtual Table Topic:
Courageous, Compassionate (and sometimes Uncomfortable) Conversations
Part 3: Belizean Grove Reflections
Wednesday July 8th 8:00 PM EDT/ 5:00 PM PDT
Topic: Thank you to everyone who participated in the first 2 of our multi-part series of Virtual Panels on race and racism. Similar to our last 2 sessions, this session will split members up into smaller facilitated breakout groups to allow for more personal conversations and reflections. This next session will allow us to take the work we have done during our past two sessions and apply it to a deeper look at the sisterhood of the Belizean Grove. Please allow 90 minutes for this session.
Because this session will involve breakout rooms, and in order to facilitate open conversation we ask that you join the session via video- on your phone, tablet, or computer. Also join on time as you will be sorted into breakout groups in the beginning of the session. Please make sure your full name is showing on your zoom account. Due to the personal content that will be shared by both panelists and participants, and to ensure confidentiality, this session is only open to Grove members. We ask you to respect that.
Save the Date
Save the Date: Virtual Retreat
September 24-26, 2020
The Virtual Events Committee has been busy planning for the Virtual Retreat in September that will include keynote speakers, opportunities for deeper connections, panels that allow for us to “go deep fast”, and daily virtual mingles.
While we are still working out the details of the program, please mark your calendar for the below times:
Thursday, September 24 – 7:30pm ET – 9:00pm ET
Friday, September 25 – 4pm – 8pm ET
Saturday, September 26 – 11am – 3pm ET
Other upcoming TENTATIVE dates:
San Antonio Retreat, February 18-21, 2021
Chicago Mini Retreat, September 23-25, 2021
2022 Annual Retreat will be determined at a later date
Board Opportunities
Board Opportunities
Director Opportunity for Fast Growing Eyecare Company
This roll up of leading product and service solutions companies in the ophthalmic equipment industry, now the largest distributor in the US, is looking for a very well‐connected graduate of a leading ophthalmic college. Diversity is a plus– especially a woman of color, Hispanic or Asian American.
Candidate should be a leader in OEMs and can be a CEO, professor, thought leader in the industry, administrator of a large practice, a leading technician, a leader of a surgery center, or a surgery partner of a major eyecare rollup or company. Seeking a director with high integrity, business savvy, an owner‐oriented attitude, and a deep interest in the industry and company. Please send resumes to Susan Stautberg at partnercom@partner‐com.com.
Director Opportunity for Veterinary Care Company
Seeking a director for a national company which is doing a roll up in veterinary care. The animal hospital and surgical services company, which is both designed by and operated by veterinarians, provides the highest standard of pet care by focusing on evidence‐based medicine. The platform aims to provide the pet medical community with an enjoyable and enriching work environment.
Seeking a woman veterinarian who also has the expertise in branding multi‐unit retail and marketing. Diversity is a plus – a woman of color, Hispanic, or Asian American. The company is based in the West Palm Beach area. The director can be located anywhere in the US. Director does not have to be a veterinarian if she has worked at the highest levels in healthcare or pet services (ideally at VCA Animal Hospital in Los Angeles, CA, Banfield Pet Hospital in Vancouver, WA, or Compassion First Hospital in Tinton Falls, NJ). Seeking a director with high integrity, business savvy, an owner‐oriented attitude, and a deep interest in the industry and company. Please send resumes to Susan Stautberg at partnercom@partner‐com.com.
Non-Profit
WeVotebyMail Non-Profit
Jennifer Hill (Tara) has created WeVoteByMail.org. WeVoteByMail is a non-profit project aimed at inspiring people to vote by mail in the 2020 state, local and federal elections.
In light of COVID-19 and the difficulties many face at the polls, America has a critical need to encourage voting by mail. WeVotebyMail creates social media marketing that turns voting into a lifestyle-driven visual concept with a website that minimizes the clicks to obtain a mail-in ballot or register to vote. The site includes links to the exact places on state websites to request a vote by mail ballot or register to vote. (For many states, it’s painful to find the right location online.)
Please consider sharing within your own networks and connections to others who can truly help get out the vote, encouraging their children who are likely avid social media users, and the like. You can follow on Instagram/FaceBook/Twitter @wevotebymail.
Films of the Month
This month Naomi would like to highlight films by black filmmakers. Some film and TV titles she particularly recommends folks check out are:
Daughters of the Dust (dir. Julie Dash, available at Criterion Collection)
Just Mercy (dir. Destin Daniel Cretton, available on Amazon and GooglePlay – for free in June or for $ after that)
Maya Angelou’s Down in the Delta (dir. Maya Angelou, available on Hulu)
Little Woods (dir. Nia DaCosta, available on Hulu)
Atlanta (series, available on Hulu)
Queen Sugar (series, available on Hulu)
Queen & Slim (dir. Melina Matsoukas, available on iTunes, Amazon, GooglePlay)
Insecure (series, available on HBO)
13th (dir. Ava DuVernay, available on Netflix)
Dear White People (series, available on Netflix)