Golden Valley Women of Today: Service, Growth & Fellowship

Editor's Note: The following article was submitted by Jennifer Schmidt and is one of several articles submitted to Patch in honor of the 125th anniversary of Golden Valley.

Golden Valley Women of Today is a leadership training and service organization.  The group is one of over 80 Minnesota Women of Today chapters.  Minnesota Women of Today has it’s roots in the 1950’s as the Mrs. Jaycees.  The current Golden Valley Women of Today chapter began in July 1989.

Over the years, the chapter has been involved with many community and other volunteer activities.  The chapter is one of the founding organizations involved in planning Golden Valley Days each May.  They are responsible for the Fun Square and work to find volunteers to work operate the games that day. In October, members participated in the Lilac Planting Project along highway 55.  In early December, the chapter presented welcome home baskets to Simpson House.  Bedrace for Bridging, March of Dimes walks, providing fleece pillow kits for Camp-Get-A-Wella, cooking meals at the Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery, donating items to Ready for Success, and packaging meals for Feed My Starving Children are a few of the activities the chapter has participated in over the last 20 plus years.

Members work on personal growth and leadership skills in a number of ways.  The chapter has held seminars on personal finances, time management, stress management, the FISH course, and the Live Out Loud course.  Members work on personal speaking by reporting at meetings, participating in meeting discussions, and the chapter holds a Wine, Women and Words night where they work on impromptu speaking and also prepared speeches.  Leadership skills are improved by serving as project chairs and board members and through various trainings.  Chapter members have used their skills by serving on Minnesota Women of Today district and state boards.  In addition, members have started their own businesses, worked on other nonprofit planning committees, and served as school board members.

The Golden Valley Women of Today is a diverse group of women ranging in age from their 20’s to 70’s.  In addition to their service and growth activities they participate in social activities together.  Recent social activities include game nights, coffee talks, dinners out, ornament making,  and book club.

The chapter is always looking for new members and new ideas for events.  Membership is open to anyone over age 18.  Monthly meetings are held the 1st Tuesday at 7 pm at the .  Information about other upcoming events can be found on Facebook, Ourcommonplace.com and meetup.com. For more information contact Mary at marykam@msn.com or (952) 926-3482 or Jennifer at missjennifer745@q.com.