Smiles for all of you, our Sistahs from the GEMS Host luncheon held on July 12th at the Global Grille in Fort Lauderdale. Lots of neat ideas were discussed. Something new to share is GEMS Talk, fun info. about GEMS and our Sistahs to bring us closer. Watch for GEMS Talk coming your way in our WEC website in the near future.

Thanks Laurina, Carol, Vanessa, Christy, Donna, Kerrie, Chadia, Anne, (Karen,  Suzie and Sue Meister not pictured), and most of all Liz for making GEMS such a treasure for us.

We met at Seasons 52. Great chat about travel that we have all done & look forward to doing. Christy mentioned that she was able to share Dee’s Kitchen story with friends & Dee was getting votes from Thailand and other parts of the world, due to seeing the post Suzie sent me to upload. Barbara’s Cannon Circle evening was revisited & Barbara mentioned she is happy to host another. This will be great! It was a perfect evening. Edie & I discussed our happy anticipation for the retreat this Saturday. All others wished they could attend. Yet another wonderful opportunity to spend quality time with fellow WEC sisters. Thanks Christy for hosting the lunch. Thanks Liz Mendel for running the GEMS Lunches. Life sure is Good….

Kudos to Liz Mendel of Dolphin Travel who arranged my trip to Italy!!!  Travel tip: bring your camera charger and alarm clock!!

Here are 2 photos of my trip to Italy: skyline of Florence and gondola in Venice…a magical trip to see all the art, architecture, food, leather,…a visual delight for the senses…plus a strenuous workout…and a surprise viewing of the Pope you can see on my Facebook page…I didn’t think about work for one second and came home jet-lagged but refreshed!!!

When ? February 12th, 11-1. Cost ? 12 dollars.

Headcount as of 2/3 = 9 7 is minimum we need for this event.

Limit for this event is 25 people.

Members may bring a significant other or guest.

Ladies did you know we have 100+- members?

78 ladies have signed up for our bi-monthly GEMS. Of the 78 ladies, appx. 50 ladies attend the lunches. About 1/2 of our membership is missing out on our quality time together….

So…to help us connect, in collaboration with Liz Mendel, Suzie King, Deb McLaughlin and yours truly, Quarterly Saturday Gems lunches are available for us. This is in ADDITION to our BI-MONTHLY lunches. An enhancement, not a replacement.

We are holding these lunches at the Duncan Center in Del Ray Beach specific to start. We as a fellowship group all like to support our members who have a facility to hold a good sized group – We have the opportunity to walk the Labyrinth, the Duncan Center has an indoor and an outdoor labyrinth, (photos above), that are spiritual, relaxing walks, to detoxify us of our daily stress.

Our first lunch will be held on Saturday, February 12th, from 11-1. Cost is 12 dollars.

Members can carpool or take the train. Deb McLaughlin will be able to pick up 3 at a time for convenient ride from train station.

RSVP is a must. Contact Susan Kingsley @ SKingsley@remax.net. As usual, you can pay online in the Special Events area of the Reservations Page or you can mail a check to Karen Rowe.

Lunches will be February, May, August and November.

What is a labyrinth?

A labyrinth is an enclosed path having only one route that winds in toward a center point where it makes a decisive turn to wander out again. Unlike a maze, there are no tricks or dead ends in a labyrinth. Based on the circle, the universal symbol of unity and wholeness. The labyrinth is a path and spiritual tool for growth, discernment, prayer and healing.

Duncan Conference Center’s two labyrinths design is a replica of the labyrinth in Notre Dame Cathedral in Chartres, France. 

Another opportunity to grow relationships within

our WEC. xoxoxo

Kudos to Liz Mendel who gave me excellent service in rescheduling my trip to Italy for later in the year. I had my money back within a week. How great is that!!!!!!!!!  –Virginia Howard

Hip hip HOORAY! Liz Mendel has agreed to fill the hole in our GEMS life as new leader!

I, Susan, will be assisting Liz, so that efforts seem seamless. Liz and I will be planning together for the upcoming Jan./Feb. kick off GEMS luncheons for 2010.

We have some updates and changes in the GEM Lunches.

Hopefully this posting will make everyone aware of what is going on.

GEM Lunches are set for bi-monthly lunches. Interested attendees and table hosts are asked to email Susan Kingsley, Susan@SusanKingsley.biz with their interest in being a participant in lunches or their interest in being a Table Host/Group Leader. The next set of lunches is going to be in the January-February months, due to all of the holiday festivities going on. The 2 lists passed at the last luncheon did not make it around the room, and some members were not in attendance, so we might not be aware that you are interested. If you have already signed up and attended GEMS this year, you are already in the list. If you are a Group Leader/Table Host and no longer wish to host, please contact Susan Kingsley, Susan@SusanKingsley.biz All of the interested participants appreciate Table Hosts/Group Leaders that want to be involved and make the time to assure the groups meet on a bimonthly basis.

The list of Group Leaders and  Attendees will be emailed to all Group Leaders. The attendance from your group is reported after the meeting to the GEMS Leader. Group Leaders will email the GEMS Leader and other Group Leaders with their lunch date and location. It is important to know who met with what group, so we can try not to duplicate the same groups at future lunches.

Table Hosts email their interested participants and offer a few dates available for a luncheon. The group emails back their availability and the host sets a lunch date with a local restaurant that is on the east side of town and is convenient for the group to arrive at. The lunches can last 1-2 hours, depending on the group’s time availability. The Group Leader contacts the restaurant ahead of time and lets them know the number in the party and that it is a business luncheon, with limited time for the lunch, so the lunch server can be prepared. If the Group Leader is unable to attend her luncheon, due to conflict, the group should be able to meet as planned, with one of the group members keeping track of attendance for the group leader.

This is a casual luncheon, which offers new and existing members to get to know each other. Attendees not able to attend their group luncheon can contact their Table Host/Group Leader and the Leader can let them know alternate groups they can join. It is not intended for the groups to become too large for a casual lunch and some groups not having enough Attendees. This option is solely so that Attendees can enjoy a luncheon each period.

Your cooperation and assistance is appreciated. We are trying to make this an enjoyable experience for everyone.