Senior Women Hold First Power of 10 Meeting

It’s amazing how much you can learn in 90 minutes.

Wednesday afternoon, the first Women’s Fund Power of 10 group got underway. Nine senior women (10 were expected, one forgot) met to talk about issues senior women face. In the next month, the group will decide how to give away $10,000 to help senior women in Winnebago County.

The group is part of the ‘count ME in’ project, in honor of the Women’s Fund 10th anniversary. Groups like this will give away $100,000 to change the community.

Meet these Senior Women
While the women are all seniors, their life experiences are different. They range in age from 61 to 73. Some are widowed, others divorced. Others are married. Many have children and grandchildren. A few have great-grandchildren. Most are retired, but a few still work full-time.

In the course of the conversation, they shared stories of survival over breast cancer, domestic violence and poverty.

“The problem is that women in our generation were raised to look out for everyone else before you take care of yourself,” one woman said.

Issues
When facilitator Terry Matousek opened the discussion to issues senior women face, the women could hardly contain themselves. Among the issues that they discussed:

• Transportation
• Home maintenance help
• Hunger/food
• Heating/utilities
• Prescription drug/hearing aid/eyeglasses costs
• Navigating the health care system
• Access to exercise equipment (costs)
• Adult abuse
• Loneliness/mental health issues/depression for those living alone or without family in the area
• Education
• Self-concept (What happens when you can’t afford a perm? Make-up? Hair color? A dress for your grand-daughters’ wedding?)
• Counseling on when to move out of your home
• Hoarding/pets

After discussing these and many other issues, the women agreed to discuss three issues in-depth at their next meeting on July 1st:

1. Food/hunger issues facing senior women
2. Health issues/health insurance gap (between retirement + Medicare)
3. Legal issues facing senior women

Women’s Fund Board and Committee members and donors will bring in information about resources available in the community on these issues.

Share Your Ideas
Have you seen one of these issues affect senior women? What was the issue? How did you address it? Or, were you unable to find help? If so, please share your story by submitting a comment below.

Submitted by: Brenda Haines, Women's Fund Board of Directors

200 and counting

The Power of 10 is certainly generating a lot of buzz! We received over 200 nominations so far, and we're really excited to kick off our first group (Senior Women) next month. Stay tuned for updates on how these 10 women will use their $10,000 to help other senior women in our community.

Though the "official" application deadline has passed, we've decided to leave the nomination form on the Web site. We'd like to see more applicants for specific groups, including:

Young Women (16-18)
Young Women (18-21)
Fathers of Daughers
Law Enforcement/Health Care Providers
Women Surviving Poverty

If you know anyone who would be a good participant for these groups, please encourage them to fill out an application, or take 5 minutes to nominate them yourself!

Can we count you in?

Submitted by: Samantha Zinth, Women's Fund Staff

Be a part of it

Wow! We've received an incredible response so far for the 'Power of 10.' We're thrilled that so many of you want to participate in one of our 10 groups giving away $10,000. We're really excited about this project, and we want you to be a part of it!

If you haven't already, please take 5 minutes to fill our our quick questionnaire before May 15, 2008. Nominate yourself or someone you know. Our first group meets in just 5 weeks, so we need to hear from you!

Can we count you in?

Submitted by: Samantha Zinth, Women's Fund Staff

Introducing the Power of 10

In the last 10 years, the Women's Fund has worked with donors, partnered with agencies and guaranteed improvement in the lives of women of all ages, but we have never directly asked women to sound off on the issues and everyday challenges they face.

Throughout the next year, the Women's Fund will work with 100 men and women from Oshkosh and the NEW North to address the needs of women in our community. In celebration of our 10th anniversary, the Women's Fund is giving 10 groups $10,000 each to make an impact in the lives of our mothers, daughters, sisters and friends.

• 10 Senior Women
• 10 Working Mothers
• 10 Single Mothers
• 10 Young Women (16-18)
• 10 Young Women (18-21)
• 10 Fathers of Daughters
• 10 Educators
• 10 Law Enforcement/Health Care Providers
• 10 Women Surviving Poverty
• 10 Women of the NEW North

To be part of the Power of 10, complete our quick questionnaire before May 15, 2008. Nominate a neighbor, friend, co-worker or family member.

Or, join the dialog online. Throughout the year, we'll give you the opportunity to offer your opinions on the problems facing each month's group of 10 (more details and discussion questions to follow).

10 groups. $10,000. 10th anniverary.

Can we count you in?

Submitted by: Samantha Zinth, Women's Fund Staff