Charlotte 2005 assembly

Click on each photo to see a bigger version. Or go to Patricia Burdette's report on the women's dinner.

	Women's dinner speaker Michele Hershberger The highlight of the women's dinner was a dramatic presentation by Michele Hershberger, chair of the Bible department at Hesston (Kan.) College.  With passion and wit, she portrayed three women: Rahab of the Old Testament, Lydia of the New Testament, and KikiMarie (pictured here), a composite character based on three Mexican-American women from the present day. Linking the three stories was a yellow shawl incorporated into the three costumes.
	Michele after the dinner, chatting with Sandra Drescher Lehman.
	Dinner musicians Singing was led by Andrea Weber Steckly of Kitchener, Ont. (far right), with friends Linda Dueck, Kathy Shantz, and Amanda Mustard.
	All dressed up -- and someplace to go In keeping with the themes of the dinner, guests were invited to come dressed in international clothing. Among those who did so was Veronica Thiessen, president of British Columbia Women in Mission. Other special garments and fabrics spotted included Indonesian batik, Guatamalan skirts, a Congolese dress, a Japanese furoshiki (scarf), and Indian saris.
	Goodie bags Door prizes proved a fun way to introduce the MW USA board of directors and CWM executive. Each leader had prepared a small gift bag of items from her home area, and she delivered the bag to a lucky recipient before the dinner program began. Pictured at left is MW USA Great Lakes representative Rickey Schrag with Phyllis Lehman.
	MW USA leadership transition The new president of the MW USA board of directors was introduced during the program. At left is outgoing president Elaine W. Good of Lititz, Pa., with incoming president Rebecca Sommers of Sarasota, Fla.
	CWM leadership transition Canadian Women in Mission is also undergoing leadership transition this year. Pictured right is outgoing president Dodie Lepp of Beamsville, Ont., with MW USA executive director Rhoda Keener of Shippensburg, Pa.
	New CWM president The new president of CWM is Erna Neufeldt of Calgary, Alta. She's pictured receiving a bit of fabric from MW USA board member Barb Voth. These cloth squares were leftovers from materials sent to Virginia by Tanzanian friends (see next caption). All visitors to the women's booth were invited to attach one of these squares to their name tags. The fabric/clothing theme of women's events was inspired by the release of our 2005 Bible study, Clothe Yourself in Love.
	A work of art to take home, part one For the first time, the women's booth featured a raffle, offering two colorful comforters as prizes. The first, titled “Because of the Cross,” was created by Yvonne Martin using fabrics given to Weavers Mennonite Church in Virginia by Sister-Link friends from Tanzania. It was won by Lois Shenk Gerber, Lititz, Pa.
	Many hands make . . . Both comforters were brought to the assembly ready to be knotted, and anyone was welcome to pause a moment at the booth and tie a few knots. Pictured at left is Anne Hege (West Coast representative on the MW USA board) and Maria DeLeon (Iglesia Hispana Menonita representative on the MW USA board), at right.
	A work of art to take home, part two The second comforter, titled “The Joy of Africa,” was created by Kathy Fast of Winnipeg, Man., and won by Trish Brenneman, Hesston, Kan.
	A work of art to take home, part three  Kathy also created this wall hanging, a patchwork depiction of the assembly "Can't Keep Quiet" graphic. It was sold by silent auction and won by Katherine Franz Swinger, Lind, Wash.  The three pieces together raised $659, which will be divided between MW USA's International Women's Fund scholarships and CWM's support for Latin American women theologians.
	Quilter Kathy Fast (right) with Katherine Franz Swinger.
	Home away from home The booth again became a welcoming place for women to meet and chat at the assembly. Pictured from left are Rebecca Sommers, Ohio MW chairperson Nancy Roynon, MW USA board secretary Gail Shetler, and Barbara Reed.
	From left: Jude Krehbiel, Violetta Ajquejay, and MW USA administrative assistant Berni Kaufman.
	At times, things got rather busy!
	Flo Harnish receives her fabric square from Rhoda Keener.
	From left: Rhoda Keener, Melodi Shull, and Evie Hertzler, East Coast representative on the MW USA board of directors.
	Rhoda chats with Karla Morton and Emma Frederick after the dinner.
	Rhoda Keener and Erna Neufeldt with the MW USA and CWM banners.
	Meeting across national boundaries CWM and MW USA leaders took some time to meet and get acquainted. Pictured from left: Anne Hege, Eastern Canada president Shirley Redekop, and Dodie Lepp.
	Cutest little guy in Charlotte The MW USA board of directors also had a (relatively) brief meeting. They said a fond farewell to outgoing members Rickey Schrag (Great Lakes rep),Yvonne Bailey (African American Mennonite Association rep), and treasurer Sue Schmucker Coblentz. Sue is pictured with her son Luke and Maria DeLeon.
	Yvonne gets to hold that sweet baby, too.
	Patricia Burdette (Editorial Advisory Council rep on the MW USA board) with Maria DeLeon.
	Mennonite Wom(a)n to the rescue! MW USA outgoing president Elaine Good participated in a one-woman servant project when she encountered a young man with a "back door" problem: a hole in his pants! Pictured with husband Leon, Elaine takes needle and thread to the problem.
	Ryan Gingerich is all mended and ready to go!