Dining For Women

Post by Debi McNeil, leader from Boise, Idaho

Follow up

Patton movie download

Black Angel release

Howard the Duck film

Big Fish in Middlesex dvd

• Ghost World ipod

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker trailer

Return to Never Land release : Debi raised $386.00 at the fundraiser AND 26 women signed up to join the DFW chapter as a result of reading the article in the paper…..  

I’m so glad I decided to attend the Leadership Conference in Chicago.  I’m a new chapter leader in Boise, Idaho, and we just started in June.  What an incredible experience it was to be surrounded by such dynamic and committed women!  Everybody I met was so friendly and inclusive. I felt as though I’d known them for a long time.

When I got back to Boise, I was all fired up.  Before I left for the conference, I had planned a fundraising sale for our chapter to help DFW with their administrative costs. 
A local natural foods store donated the space for the event, and I put out the word to our members.  Then I started contacting the newspapers.  I found out who was assigned to cover philanthropic events, and sent them an email.  I asked if they would consider writing an article about our organization to promote the fundraising sale, but even more importantly, to increase awareness of DFW and our chapter.  I included some basic information about who we are, what our mission statement is,  and what we’re doing. I also provided a link to the DFW website, and let them know how to contact me. 

Several days later I was contacted by Anna Webb, a reporter from our local newspaper, and she liked the idea.  After speaking with me, she decided to do a whole article on us, rather than just an announcement about our sale!  I’m proud to say that since the article came out on Saturday, just two days ago,  we’ve had SIX women contact me and want to join.  I was also contacted by a Community Outreach Specialist with the Boise International Rescue Committee.  She offered to match us up with women from countries we were working with, and suggested that we have them prepare a meal for our group from their country of origin.  Her idea was to help integrate them into our community.  I also see it as a fabulous opportunity to meet and have a dialogue with the women we’re trying to help.  What an incredible addition to our chapter they would be!

This exposure has been invaluable, and we think it will show up as extra donations too at our fundraising event.  We will be selling the new T Shirts, Holiday Cards and Market Totes, as well as featuring the Charity Boxes and trying to get orders for our new Wine.  In addition to that, everyone is pitching in and we’re doing a bake sale.  It may not bring in a lot of money, but it’s something that everyone could do to join in and contribute toward our fundraising goal.  Like our dinners, I figure that if we all do a little, it will end up being a lot.  We will also have someone at the door of the store handing out information on Dining For Women and asking them to consider joining us.

I’m really pleased with all the support we’ve gotten from Marsha and everyone else.  Thank you for letting us be a part of DFW.   I feel very fortunate to be connected with such a wonderful group!

Warm Regards,

Debi McNeil
Boise, Idaho Chapter of DFW