United Methodist Women Prepare for Annual Meeting

The conference United Methodist Women's Annual Meeting will be held October 5 and 6, 2007 at the Southeast Region Center, Antlers, Oklahoma. The theme for this year's event is "Striving for Wholeness" with the keynote address focusing on physical and spiritual wholeness. The election of delegates to the South Central Jurisdiction Quadrennial Meeting in Albuquerque, NM, March 28-30, 2008 will be held as well as the election of three nominees and one alternate for Women's Division. A Parade of Units will be held during the Roll Call on Saturday morning. All units are encouraged to be present and to participate in the parade.

The Conference Executive Team is pleased to announce the selection of Ms. Penny Cleghorn, Apache UMC, as the new Communications Coordinator. The position had become vacated and needed to be filled. We congratulate Penny and welcome her to the team!

Following are upcoming meetings/ events for the Conference UMW:

November - World Thank
November 2-3, Social Action Retreat NE Region Center
November 2-4, West Gulf Regional School Planning Team Trainning
November 10th, MissionEducation Event Planning & Christmas Gathering, D.D. Etchieson UMC
November 16-18, Leadership Training Event, St. Louis, MO, for newly elected conference officers.

Under the leadership of the Social Action Coordinator, Nellie Long, the conference will be looking at going to the United Nations in the fall of 2008 and participating in a United Nations Seminar and also visiting the advocacy offices in Washington D.C.

This year's Mission Education Event was held July 25-28 at Mt. Sequoyah with the theme "Sing Across the Walls." A record number of attendees were present to participate in classes on Music and Mission, Israel and Palestine, and Globalization.

We have already started preparing for next year's MEE. The studies for next year will be: Spiritual Growth - I Believe in Jesus; Geographical study - Israel and Palestine; Issue study - Giving Our Hearts Away: Native American Survival. The Childrens Study: Creator Sang a Welcoming Song: Native America for Children. Youth Study: Walking in These White Man's Shoes: Youth Explore Native America. Due to the fact that one of the studies is on Native Americans a number of our people from the conference are being asked to teach elsewhere and we look forward to even a larger attendance at our school. Also a number from our conference are being asked to teach at regional schools. Back in Time - In August 1982, the Conference UMW Annual Meeting was held at the Christian Renewal Center in Oklahoma City. Conference President was Virginia McGilbray; keynote address was given by Marilyn Winters from the Women's Division; Communion was served by Rev. Steve Chibitty, assisted by Revs. Thomas Long and Jimmie Cahwee. Pledge service and Gifts to Mission offering conducted by Barbara Coker and Narcissa Wilson. Evelyn Tims gave the Report on Committee on Nominations, Installation of Officers was by Wanda Irby; the benediction was given by Rev. Dave Long, Sr.

....... Mrs. Joyce Deere

Conference UMW President
The organized unit of United Methodist Women shall be a community of women whose PURPOSE is to know God and experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ, to develop a creative, supportive fellowship, and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church.