Projects - What do you think? April 2, 2008

Last year MHS girls worked to clear branches from the ice storm at Camp Bennett!

April is our last day of this semester to meet with the 2011 freshman girls. It’s been great! But there’s one thing more we want to do. We want to help you leave a legacy at your school. What is one project that you can do for about $400-500 that would leave a lasting impact?

MHS is considering a bench and flowers in the front of the school with the words “2011 Freshman Challenge” engraved on the back of the bench. No matter how many years will pass, MHS girls will be able to visit their school and see what they left that says, “We were here!”. We’ll work with each school as a team to carry out your unique ideas!

Any suggestions?

Empowered? What? March 6, 2008

Tomorrow I will meet with the freshmen girls at the Rougher Alternative Academy. I’ll be speaking about empowerment.

Now, what does that mean? One definition is to give someone else the authority to do something. “I empowered her.”

But that’ s not my take. I know I’m ancient! 48. But since I’m ancient, I’ve learned a very cool way to define empowerment. It changed my life. Want to know more?

WOV Fundraiser February 26, 2008

Hey, come join us for an evening of Easter fun!

Francie’s School of Dance presents a night of dances from each class of students, AND listening to the Out of Focus Band while you eat sweet treats.

When? Saturday, March 8, at 6 p.m.

Where? First United Methodist Church (F & Okmulgee Street)

How much? $5 (includes sweet treats, band, dance performances, and lemonade)

Why? To raise funds for WOV and Challenge 2011!

Abraham Lincoln on Character February 26, 2008

“Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.”

Empower Yourself! February 21, 2008

“Be of service.  Whether you make yourself available to a friend or co-worker, or you make time every month to do volunteer work, there is nothing that harvests more of a feeling of empowerment than being of service to someone in need.”      Gillian Anderson

I would like to Challenge all women of the Choices 2011 Challenge to: “Be of Service” this month.  Let us know on this site what you did to “Be of Service”.

Empowerment February 20, 2008

To empower someone or something to be all that they can be.

What are the things that rob a person of empowerment? Anything that sidetracks them from their goals, their dreams, their abilities, or direction.

What are the things that help a person become empowered? Running after your goals. Recognizing that you do have dreams and they can be achieved, no matter the obstacles. Realizing you do have abilities. Not letting anyone or anything sideswipe you or knock you off track as you steadfastly head in the direction of success.

Last week an article in the Muskogee Phoenix featured the story of a high school student named Ashley Biggs. She is legally blind. When she was born doctors gave her parents really bad news about her future. Ashley has never let blindness or doctors’ reports stop her. She is empowered–because of people who believed in her, but in a large part because she believes in herself. This weekend she is the STAR of Muskogee’s Little Theater’s production of “Miracle Worker”.

Read the article about this Muskogee-area teen. Attend the production this weekend to see it for yourself!

Happy Valentine’s Day February 14, 2008

Happy Valentines’ Day to all the young ladies involved in the Choices Challenge and to the Women of Vision who support the work. 

Character: The new norm isn’t really that normal February 14, 2008

I flipped through a few channels last night. Other than American Idol (our local guy, Colton Swon, didn’t make it!) there wasn’t much to watch.

I tried a couple of shows I normally don’t view and I got angry. Really angry. Because a couple of the shows aimed right at the people I really care about — teen girls - were showing girls in a pretty bad light. They portrayed girls with sexual character. They portrayed girls without ethical character. They highlighted girls who look for glam and glitz over character.

Weird Unknown Scholarships February 14, 2008

• Carnegie Mellon University Bagpipe Scholarship: There is only one college bagpipe major in the entire U.S. so if you love playing the bagpipes, this is for you!
• The Klingon Language Institute’s KOR Memorial Scholarship: Klingons are creatures in Star Trek, and fans constructed an actual Klingon language. This scholarship goes to creative language scholars. Fluency in Klingon not required.
• Left Handed Students: Yep, left-handedness is the only stipulation. Oh, and you have to be a student at Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA.
• Duct Brand Duct Tape Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest: To enter, you and a date must attend your prom dressed entirely in duct tape.
• Tall Clubs Intl. Student Scholarship: For female students who are least 5′ 10″ and male students who are least 6′ 2″.
• Michigan Llama Assoc. Scholarship: If your parents are part of this organization, you are in luck!

Women whose character has changed lives February 7, 2008

Do you know what mark you want to leave on the world?

Do you question whether you can or will leave any mark? Well… there are many, many women who made a huge difference in their world. For some their world was small, maybe just the family or friends that they were consistently trying to encourage and love.

In Muskogee, there have been a number of women who have left their mark on the entire city because they were strong in their beliefs and what they worked for; because they would not compromise their ideals; because they were lead to serve.