About Us
Annual Report 2010  By Dianne Tillman, S.W.O. President Southwest California Synod Serving San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura,
Kern and Los Angeles Counties The theme of our 2009 Autumn Renewal weekend in Santa
Barbara at the La Casa de Maria Center was “Awakening to New Life”. Rose Norris was chair of the event held
October 16 – 18. Emily Hansen, Director for Stewardship Churchwide Women of the
ELCA was the retreat leader. The
Retreat Chaplain was Pastor Sylvia Mueller. A portion of our Offerings went to Lutheran Disaster Response
for Southern California and Southwest California Synodical Women of the
ELCA Two special offerings were
also taken: Katie’s Fund and a plea to help cover Autumn Renewal registrations
and expenses . A special time for all was the Saturday night Halloween costume
party. Check our November 2009 Newsletter for pictures (Visit our website www.swcawomenoftheelca.org Go to What’s News: read issues). You
can see what a good time we have together. Emily Reppun continues to maintain this website. The Third Annual “Linus Blanket Project” event was held on a
stormy Saturday February 6, 2010 at Emmanuel Lutheran/North Hollywood where 57
happy brave attendees made 74 blankets.
We were very honored to have Terri Lackey managing editor for Lutheran Women Today magazine with us.
Check out the article in the churchwide newsletter Interchange April 2010, pages 6-7 and a color photo and story on
the back inside cover of the May 2010 Lutheran
Women Today. This event is
sponsored jointly by the Southwest California Synodical Women’s Organization
(SWO) and the Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO). In the afternoon we had a presentation of the July 2009
Youth Gathering, “Jesus, Justice and Jazz” in New Orleans . Youths from Emmanuel/North Hollywood
and Holy Trinity/Thousand Oaks spoke of their experiences. It was terrific to hear how much this
trip meant to them. Another way we are working with the LYO is by raising funds
for their convocation speakers and this year it will be camping
scholarships. Joan Cressman
chaired, “Gems for Growth” a fund
raiser of donated unused gifts of jewelry or gently used jewelry. Between the Autumnal Renewal and the
Linus event sales we were able to raise $500. The SWO Board is now planning our next biennial convention
set for October 8-10, 2010 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Ventura. The theme is
“Carried by Him”, Psalm 119:13.
Cathy Fritsinger is the chair. Besides our website (address above), we are also on Facebook. Just login to www.facebook.com and in the search bar at the top right, type "Southwest CA Women of the ELCA," and it will pop up. The Southwest California Women of the ELCA are a dedicated group of women serving their Lord. Many hours are volunteered each year in service to the synod and its churches, the community and the world. Our board meetings are usually held at the synod office. We welcome you and look for you at our next event, on the web or on Facebook. Your sister in Christ, Dianne Tillman, President
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