How many CFUW St. Catharines members does it take to change a lightbulb? Hopefully, as many as possible! I’m being facetious, of course, but I’m trusting that this old lightbulb joke will serve as a metaphor for a topic that’s near and dear to my heart: the importance of purpose.
When I think of CFUW St. Catharines, I think of three things – fun, friendship, and purpose – and they often go hand in hand. There are so many opportunities in our club that foster friendship and fun (and I’m all for friendship and fun!), but I want to home in on the opportunities that can give us a sense of purpose. According to an article on the Mayo Clinic Health System website, “Studies show that those with a purpose live longer, sleep better and have a more robust immune system, lower stress levels and better cognitive function.” That’s a lot of bang for your buck!
So, what is CFUW St Catharines’ purpose, and how can you make it part of yours? It’s right there in Article 2 of our Constitution:
- To promote and encourage the higher education of women.
- To promote, encourage and advocate for the advancement of the status of women.
- To interest women in public, social and cultural affairs and to afford an opportunity for the expression of united opinion.
- To co-operate in the aims and projects of the National organization Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW National) and of CFUW Ontario Council, of which this organization is a part. CFUW National is a member of Graduate Women International, formerly International Federation of University Women.
To return to my ‘lightbulb’ metaphor, how many members does it take to achieve these goals? As many as possible.
There are so many ways to find purpose within CFUW St. Catharines. Our fundraisers need volunteers, not only on the day of, but also in the planning stages. Our meetings and events need promoting, our committees need members and chairs. We need an executive to keep the club running smoothly. Our Community Café needs baked goods! There are a variety of ways to help, with varying levels of commitment and responsibility. We’re fortunate in that our club has a very deep pool of talented, capable women who come to us with many different skills. When we work together, we can meet our goals.
If the thought of volunteering for something new is a daunting one, which it certainly can be, especially if you’re contemplating a leadership role, don’t worry – there is support available. There are people who have done the role before you who would be willing to mentor you. Worried about having to do it all by yourself? The co-convenor/co-chair model has worked well for members who want someone to share the load with them. I know of other clubs who have positions that are rotated monthly between members; perhaps that’s a model that could work for some of our positions as well. New to the club and still getting a feel for things? Try signing up to help with a fundraiser as a way of getting your feet wet.
Pablo Picasso said, “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” The remarkable thing about giving away your gift is that you get gifts in return. You get the gift of achieving a goal; you get the gift of personal growth; you get the gifts of friendship and fun. Please say ‘yes’ to joining us in this year’s ‘gift exchange’.