President’s Message
September 2025
My year as president has just begun and yet as I write this message, I realize the paper on which I write is not blank. Instead, it is simply a turn of the page written by presidents before me, and also by you, dear friends and fellow members. The messages I write to you each month in the Splash are a continuing history that we make together for the community of children we serve.
The theme of my presidency is “We are Weavers”. I illustrate with the poem attached below by John Madian and first shared with us by Fran Tovar. I do believe, and I think you would agree, that together we are one of the great philanthropic forces in our communities of Vista, Oceanside, and Carlsbad. We carry the threads of each of our 15 programs from Footsteps to Scholarships to our schools. We weave a net of safety for as many children as our funds allow.
Yet we have learned through hard experience that we must also weave a net of safety around ourselves, or we cannot fulfill our mission. This summer we suffered two burglaries. As a result, we replaced the old Sparkle House back doors with new, better fitting, and more secure doors. We also realized the time had come for alarm systems. Both the Sparkle House and the Thrift Shop now have alarms systems. The cameras in the Thrift Shop have been brought up to date. We are more secure than ever!
Though summer seems like a quiet time, we have been busy weaving together the programs for the school year, 2025-26. Here are just a few examples from our 15 programs. Chapters for Children has already served 505 children from Camp Pendleton families. We provided packets of underwear. Sister chapters gave other necessities such as tops, pants, health kits, and socks. I Love to Read has met and contacted school librarians with the goal of funding reading incentive programs. The Advocates have delivered bags of clothing from Emergency Clothing. As you read the Splash each month and come to monthly General meetings, you will hear about the work of each of our programs. Please join us!
Nancy Schaefer
