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The Angel Story
The first piece of business President Christine Lance brought before the 2005/2006 Board was an idea for increasing membership. She suggested inviting friends to informal "Coffees" hosted by Guild members. She also proposed keeping dues at $35, but giving members the opportunity to make a donation to the Endowment or General funds along with their annual dues. Members contributing a total of $100 or more would be acknowledged as "Angels".
Guild members, Geraldine Blanchard, Diane Breitfeller, Laura Doshier, Ruthann Genoni, Pat Henry and Phyliss Mather all hosted "Coffees" at their homes with the help of Claudette Acacia, Ann DelGaudio, Connie Feldman, Sandy Freeman, Barbara Hudson, Joy Inventasch and Terri Wright. Working together they created an opportunity to introduce their friends to the Women's Center and the Guild. Christine, Dr. Gessler and a client of the Women's Center each told their story about what we are doing in the community and why our work is important. The response was overwhelming.
 In addition to many new members, renewing members sent in their dues with generous donations and the Angel project was a success.
Christine asked Patti Coleman, to think about a small gift of appreciation for our Angel members. Patti was on the beach the next weekend at a "ladies only" fishing tournament talking with Peg Miller, a local artist who creates and sells fine jewelry at art shows throughout the East under the name of Peg's Jewels. Together they came up with an inexpensive way to make an Angel charm, crafted from sterling silver clay that turned into solid silver after being fired in a kiln. The Board approved the cost for materials based on a prototype made by Patti and Peg.
 Members Anita Sperling, Barbara Baird, and Patti met at Peg's studio in Melbourne Beach and had
a great time rolling out the silver clay, cutting it into hearts and stamping each with an Angel and stars. Peggy fired the clay charms and made the bails, and then she and Patti applied "silver black" and burnished each piece to bring out the design, engraved the back, and tumbled the finished charms before polishing them to a deep silver shine. Each charm is slightly different and truly "one of
a kind". Teresa McNeight volunteered to wrap the charms in gift bags donated by Peg's Jewels before presenting to our Guild Angels. The only expense was the cost of the silver clay which Peg provided at her cost, and a labor of love by Guild members.
In 2005/2006, over 180 members became Angels and received a charm as appreciation for their generous financial commitment to the Women's Center.
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