WIDOWS WEAR STILETTOS

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

September, 2010

Hello WWS FRIENDS:

CELEBRATE WIDOWS WEAR STILETTOS’

FOURTH ANNIVERSARY

WITH A FREE GIFT FROM CAROLE!

It’s our fourth anniversary at Widows Wear Stilettos and Carole wants to honor it with all of you.  In recognition of Widows Wear Stilettos’ fourth anniversary, the first 50 people who purchase their CD,  “Widows Wear Stilettos: What Now?” in the month of September will win a FREE 30 minute personal telephonic one-on-one coaching session with Carole!  You will have Carole all to yourself and you will be able to ask her anything that you want or talk over anything that is on your mind.  Remember, the coaching session will be awarded to the first 50 people who order their CD in the month of September.  You will be notified by email if you are one of the winners.  All net proceeds from CD Sales will go to the WWS "First Month" Foundation (see below for details).

We CAN

We WILL

We MUST

WIDOWS WEAR STILETTOS ANNOUNCES ESTABLISHMENT OF THE

"FIRST MONTH" FOUNDATION

Widows Wear Stilettos is delighted to announce the formation of the "First Month" Foundation; a non-profit foundation that will be dedicated to providing specific financial assistance to the widowed.  The three primary focuses of the foundation are as follows:

1. As most of you are personally aware, a widow/er cannot receive any kind of financial proceeds (Social Security, life insurance, access bank accounts, etc.) until they have received a death certificate.  The Foundation will endeavor to offer a one-time financial payment to assist with paying a bill or other household expense (i.e., food, utility, child care, etc.) within the first 30 to 60 days after a spousal death;

2. At a time of great tragedy – the loss of a spouse - the most basic and fundamental item to which every family is entitled is the placing of a grave marker or headstone in memory of their beloved.  The astronomical costs of a funeral generally do not include this incredibly important remembrance of love and respect.  The Foundation will endeavor to provide assistance to those who cannot afford the full cost of a grave marker / headstone for their beloved.

3. Widows Wear Stilettos is unwaveringly committed to the annual  "Camp Widow" conference; sponsored by the Soaring Spirits Loss Foundation**.  Understanding the educational, communal and emotional importance of this event to the widowed community; regardless of age, gender, marital status or length of time widowed, the Foundation would like to provide "camperships" (the registration fee for Camp) to the widowed in financial need who wish to attend.

Please be aware that we are starting the Foundation literally "from scratch".  In other words; as of this writing, we do not yet have substantial initial funding.  We are beginning the Foundation with net proceeds from the sales of CD's, T-shirts, pins and other WWS merchandise and look forward to the acceptance of donations, grants and sponsorships; as well as holding various fundraising activities.  We welcome all ideas, suggestions, sponsor / donor resources*** from our membership and ask that you forward your communication(s) to either WidowsWStilettos@aol.com or to Shannon Bell, Administrative Assistant at widowswearstilettosneindianachapter@hotmail.com

We are excited beyond measure about this newest endeavor and what is truly a "dream come true" for Widows Wear Stilettos.  Together, we can make a difference in our own WWS community and in the lives of those who have been touched by the pain and challenge of widowhood. 

**Soaring Spirits Loss Foundation is a 501(c) 3 non-profit corporation. Please visit www.sslf.org for additional information

 ***All sponsors / underwriters of the First Month Foundation will have the opportunity to have their company / corporate logo displayed on the Welcome page at www.widowswearstilettos.com.  Please write to WidowsWStilettos@aol.com for further information.

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A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM CAROLE

Hello Dear Friends:

 I must first begin with a heartfelt THANK YOU to every single one of you for your emails, cards and Facebook posts during the last week of August.  I was literally overwhelmed by the outpouring of concern for my recent health challenges and although it's "slow going" (which makes me crazy), I am well on the road to recovery - and a good thing too since as you've probably determined, there is WAY too much going on at Widows Wear Stilettos for me to be lying around!  Your sweet words, kindnesses and yes, the "shoe jokes" were all appreciated more than you will ever realize. 

 Camp Widow 2010, was, in a word…UNBELIEVEABLE!  I have to admit that in the months leading up to Camp Widow this year, I found myself wondering how Soaring Spirits was going to "top" the year before.  Guess what?  They DID – and next year promises to be even more incredible.  As an aside, I was humbled, honored and absolutely STUNNED to have accepted the Soaring Spirits Loss Foundation's Board of Directors' Service Award on behalf of Widows Wear Sitlettos, "for outstanding service to the widowed community".  As I took the stage and stumbled for something intelligent to say, the sight of all of our WWSers was one of the most profound and memorable moments of my entire career – and my entire life.  Pictures are below and I make no apologies for the very genuine emotion, swollen eyes and mascara drippings.

Michelle Neff Hernandez,

Executive Director of Soaring Spirits announcing award

 A very emotional – and unforgettable moment

A wonderful opportunity to thank ALL of our beautiful WWSers

We wouldn't be "us" if it weren't for all of YOU!

 A beautiful sisterhood of love and support

Won't you join us next year?

 Lastly, and most importantly, we have officially announced the forming of the WWS "First Month" Foundation; a personal dream of mine since 2005 when I was still in the process of writing "just one book" and a dream that I've held tightly onto as WWS has grown through the years.  To this very day, I especially remember (with pain and a few tears) the inability to afford the grave marker for Mike's grave until almost one year after his death.  I recall sleepless nights not knowing how I was going to pay the mortgage or keep braces on my young daughter's teeth.  To my way of thinking, with everything else that the widowed go through…that's just wrong.  While we may not be able to do everything for everyone, we must at least try to do SOMETHING for as many as possible. With that determination, our Foundation is born.

 And so as Widows Wear Stilettos celebrates its fourth anniversary, more new journeys begin; journeys on which I know we will have the support of each and every one of you.  On behalf of all of us at Widows Wear Stilettos, I wish you continued healing, health and peace – and don't ever forget our Mission Statement; traditionally repeated on every anniversary:

 We are going

We are growing

We ARE Widows Wear Stilettos

and we WILL be heard.

 Sending my love and gratitude to all of you

 Carole

 P.S. Get well Mom and welcome aboard Shannon Bell!

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 GET YOUR "SNEAK PEEK" ON!

 **The website page entitled, "The Book", which has featured an excerpt from Carole first book, "Widows Wear Stilettos…" has been updated to include an excerpt from Carole's forthcoming book, "I'm 'Heeling' One Day at a Time: The ULTIMATE, One-and-Only Question, Answer and Reference Guide to Life After Widowhood".  We invite you to visit the page and read the excerpt from a book that is truly the first and only one of its kind; a question-and-answer book that addresses virtually every type of situation that widowhood presents. 

 **The WWS "Monthly Minute" has returned!   Visit www.YouTube.com to catch up fast on everything that's going on at Widows Wear Stilettos.

 **The writing classes that Carole teaches for The Learning Annex are now available online. If you're an aspiring author, these just may be the classes you need to get you moving forward toward your goal.  Visit www.learningannex.com and enter "Carole Brody Fleet" in their search engine to find out all of the details.

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WIDOWS WEAR STILETTOS "SHOUT-OUT"

 **Widows Wear Stilettos is delighted to announce the addition of Shannon Bell of Kendallville, Indiana as Widows Wear Stilettos' Administrative Assistant.  As many of you already know, Shannon is a vital and fantastic part of WWS; doing everything from facilitating a support group to organizing the WWS Girls page on Facebook when the WWS website experienced very challenging technical difficulties in the past.  Shannon will be involved with several areas of Widows Wear Stilettos, including Foundation liaison and fundraising activities, merchandise expansion and support group expansion.  Widows Wear Stilettos is truly blessed to have this remarkable woman as part of our team and we know you join us in welcoming her on board.  Congratulations Shannon; we're all so excited to be working with you!  To reach Shannon with questions or to wish her congratulations, you may email her at widowswearstilettosneindianachapter@hotmail.com

 **Congratulations to WWSers, Dana Jackson; featured in USA Today and on Fox News' "Mike Huckabee Show" and Donita Pirkle; who was featured at KPBS.org; both as part of Camp Widow 2010.  Way to go ladies, we're so fortunate to have you representing WWS!

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STAY UP-TO-DATE WITH WIDOWS WEAR STILETTOS

SEND US YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS

We want to stay in touch with you but we need your help to do it.  Please send your name and email address to WidowsWStilettos@aol.com with a request to be added to our database.  We do not "spam" and your email address will never be sold or disclosed to a third party. 

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WIDOWS WEAR STILETTOS FORMING

IN-PERSON SUPPORT GROUPS NATIONWIDE

VISIT THE "TIPS OF THE MONTH"

PAGE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO FACILITATE

OR ATTEND A WWS SUPPORT GROUP

IN YOUR AREA

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YOU CAN HELP OTHERS WITH JUST FIVE MINUTES

AND A FEW WORDS

 Have you read "Widows Wear Stilettos…"?  Did you love it?  Did it help you and if so, how?  Help others by posting a quick "review" of the book at Amazon.com.  Remember, if someone is looking at the "Widows Wear Stilettos…" page on Amazon, they or someone they know is in great pain and needs the help and hope that you can provide.  Posting a review takes no time at all and you'll be helping others by letting them know how the book helped you and how it might help them as well.  Widows Wear Stilettos thanks you for your heart and your support

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WEBSITE EMAIL ADDRESS HAS CHANGED 

Due to the host / server changes that we have undergone, our former email address is no longer valid.  Please address all of your emails to WidowsWStilettos@aol.com, which is now programmed to accept incoming emails.   

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 WIDOWS WEAR STILETTOS AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY

 In addition to availability at major retailers and online bookselling sites, "Widows Wear Stilettos.." is available at public libraries throughout the United States and Canada.  Visit your local public library and if you don't see it – ask for it!  ________________________________________________ 

WWS “MEDIA GROUP”

 Are you wondering how our fabulous WWS “Wonder Women" are selected for interviews by the media?  They are members of the WWS Media Group; consisting of volunteers who are willing to be interviewed by the media about their experiences as a widow and their experiences at WWS.  This has consistently proven to be a wonderful way to reach thousands of people in need, who would not have otherwise found us – and just look at what has been accomplished so far!

 If you would like to be a part of the WWS Media Group and considered as a candidate for future interviews (which can consist of anything from a local newspaper story to a national television show), please provide the following information to WidowsWStilettos@aol.com and specify “Interview Volunteer” in the subject line:

 Name

Full Street Address

Telephone number (please include your area code)

Valid email address

Age

(we’re really not being nosy about your age, but journalists, reporters,

producers and show hosts will ask) 

Please be aware that your personal information will NEVER be given to the media before we have contacted you directly with further information and instructions.   

We thank all of you so much!

 NOTE:  For those of you for whom it is simply too difficult to discuss your widowhood journey, we have the utmost respect for your feelings and for your privacy.  We will never ask or impose upon anyone to do anything that would cause additional pain or otherwise make you uncomfortable.   We appreciate you and will continue to be here for you