SWC will meet in the Ballroom downstairs at Sedgefield Country Club. There will be a beverage station and social time starting at 9:30. The meeting will start at 10:00. The program will be provided by Arts & Culture.

Meetings will also be available via Zoom. Please see the Member Resources for the Zoom Details.

Arts and Culture Program will be about the Afghanistan Refugees. Susan Sussman and Lynn Thompson will join us as they work with many of the Afghanistan Refugees. As a sponsor since early November, Susan says she is awe struck by the resiliency and perseverance she sees in these refugees. It is safe to assume that all of them have been traumatized by their separation from family and country. They rarely speak about what happened and our language barriers make it tough to stay on track.

Our timing is so perfect in that there is a woman named Zuhal Atmar who is comfortable telling her story in front of strangers in the hopes that it will shine a light for her people as they struggle to assimilate in Greensboro.

She was chosen by the BBC as one of the 100 most influential women for 2021, we are so fortunate to hear her speak her truth about the journey from Afghanistan to Greensboro. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-59514598

As a single mom with a five-year-old, she is currently working part time for a Greensboro Immigration attorney. Zuhal has no transportation yet, so Susan will be driving her- along with Lynn Thompson, the Outreach Coordinator from the New Arrivals Institute. https://newarrivalsinstitute.org/ This nonprofit has been around since the late 1990's, but not widely known by the masses. They are a godsend for all Immigrants and Refugees who come to Greensboro- teaching English, driving lessons, medical checkups, free childcare, and social time.

More backstory on Zuhal right here. https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2019-11-25/afghanistan-woman-breaks-ground-with-kabul-recycling-plant

There will not be a traditional Q&A period after the presentation. Please email any questions you may have to swc1961.president@gmail.com by February 17th. They will be forwarded to our guest speakers.

Zuhal Atmar

Lunch is immediately after the meeting in the Formal Dining Room on the main level. We will need to have a total of 15 lunch orders to hold our meeting in-person.

The two menu options are:

#1 - Entrée-Baked Corned Beef Casserole (Two Alternating Layers each of Mashed Potatoes, Chopped Corned Beef, Gruyere Cheese, Sauerkraut and Thousand Island Dressing Mixed Together)

#2 - Salad-Chopped Romaine, Hardboiled Egg, Grape Tomatoes, Cucumber, Avocado, Bacon, Bleu Cheese, Diced Chicken, Avocado Ranch Dressing

The cost is $17 per person and reservations can be made by sending an email to Brenda Keany at swclunch@gmail.com and are due on the Thursday (2/17) at midnight. If we meet the minimum number of reservations, then we will continue to accept reservations until Monday (2/21) at midnight.

Please include your name, the lunch item you want with quantity, whether dining-in or to-go, if paying with SCC member number include that number. Checks are written to SCC. If paying with cash please bring exact amount.

There will be a raffle at the meeting, and someone who placed an order for lunch will win. the raffle items for this month were given to us by the Arc of High Point. There is a ceramic owl wax burner and Brenda added candle warmer scented wax melt, Escape to Paradis (Sea Salted Driftwood, Warm Sands Wind-Swept, Grasses, and a Hint of Sugared Papaya.) It also includes a lavender ceramic tray from the Arc.

SWC’s Civic Engagement Committee will be collecting snacks for the BackPack Program at Sedgefield Elementary School during the month of February. Sedgefield Presbyterian Church currently packs approximately 100 backpacks per week for children at Sedgefield Elementary and greatly appreciates donations of these extra snacks to add to bags. Following is a list of approved snacks that can be used as add-ins for backpacks. Please bring your snack donations to our February general meeting (2/25). Donations may also be dropped off on Ana Atwater’s covered front porch at 5414 Dorchester Rd. For questions, contact Ana at 336-337-1577 or ana@theatwaters.com. Thank you in advance for your generous giving spirit!

Approved Add-Ins

Goldfish Crackers

Fruit Snacks

Raisins

Pudding Cups

Apple Sauce Cups

Jello Cups

Fruit Cups

Soft Cheese and Cracker Packs

Rice Krispies Treats

Juice Boxes

Children's Toothpaste

Children's Toothbrushes

All items must be individually packaged and NO peanut products please!