President’s Corner

Dear WWHP supporter,

What a year it is — record snowstorms, school closings and cancellations — a winter to remember! Glad that groundhog didn’t see his shadow!! Spring is on its way …

For WWHP it is indeed a YEAR to remember, starting off with the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abby Kelley Foster, on January 15th. We shared in a birthday celebration luncheon hosted by Abby’s House. It was a very special occasion and WWHP is grateful for their gracious hospitality and generous support. Proceeds from the luncheon will benefit WWHP and help to continue our mission. Thank you, Abby’s House, for your support and for being a “a bright spot in the city” of Worcester for 35 years!

Do you ever wonder what Abby Kelley Foster would think of all this 200 years after her birth? Would she be surprised that Worcester is the place where “everybody knows her name” (Well, we are working on it!). We hope to have some very exciting news about Abby this spring – watch for it!

This newsletter is full of good news and great upcoming events! Be-hind every story and event are volunteers who are committed to WWHP. It is challenging for an organization of this scope to function without an Executive Director. As a matter of fact it is darn right incredible!! It can only be done with dedicated volunteers working alongside an extraordinary WWHP Executive Assistant, Nancy Avila. Nancy keeps it all “together” and wrote the grants that resulted in WWHP receiving grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and Greater Worcester Community Foundation (BIG THANK YOU, Nancy!) As we celebrate Women’s History Month this March, 2011, let’s especially celebrate all the women who make WWHP “tick”. They are quite remarkable.

If you are looking for a volunteer opportunity, be like our heroine, Abby, and in the Quaker tradition: “look within” … and let your light shine! Join us in our mission to “raise awareness of the rich history of women in the Worcester area, create national recognition of Worcester’s role in the history of the women’s rights movement and advance the ideal of the 1850 convention that there should be ‘equality before the law, without distinction of sex or color’”.

See you in March, my friends.

Fran