Network for Women to hold Welcome Back luncheon Monday
Central Michigan University’s Network for Women will be hosting its annual Welcome Back to Campus luncheon Monday.
The picnic will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the pond west of Park Library. In the event of rain it will be moved to the Bovee University Center Rotunda. Senior Associate Director of Athletics Marcy Weston will be the guest speaker. The event will focus on networking, learning and community service.
The CMU Network for Women (NFW) was founded in 1997 by a group of 23 women. Julia Sherlock, campus coordinator for NFW said the group was formed “to serve as a forum for all women in the CMU Community, providing information, support and encouragement on women’s issues, to provide resources and mentoring networks for women with common interests and goals and to be dedicated to enhancing the skills and opportunities for women in the institutional workplace.”
Sherlock said NFW provides programming opportunities that serve as vehicles for women across campus to get to know each other and to serve as mentors and facilitators in addition to providing educational opportunities, skill development and professional development.
Sherlock said the group now has more than 263 members. In one year, NFW hosts as many as six luncheons and numerous other events for various purposes.
NFW’s featured community service focus this month is raising money and household items for Women’s Aid Service (WAS). Women’s Aid Service is dedicated to providing shelter, domestic violence and sexual assault counseling, child and adolescent counseling, legal advocacy, sexual assault advocacy and prevention services.
According to this month’s NFW Newsletter, “Over the last five years, Women’s Aid Service has helped an average of 79 women and 67 children per year, representing 1773 nights of safe shelter per year.”
The luncheon itself costs $8. Reservations can be made online at nfw.cmich.edu. Payment is made at the door. For those unable to attend the luncheon, but are still interested in making a donation, contact Denise Schafer at schaf1dr@cmich.edu.
