First, I want to say “thank you” to everyone who braved the heat and joined us at our picnic in August. The food was great! We definitely have some “Top Chefs” in the group. A lot of good food and conversation was enjoyed by all who attended. I was able to meet and talk with a lot of members. We received a lot of positive feedback and helpful suggestions on how to better serve the Central Ohio Group! And we are always interested in more!

One person at the picnic proposed updating our communication system so that members can elect to receive communications from the Group electronically rather than by traditional mail. Electronic messaging saves trees and our dollars. The Executive Committee is currently working on this issue. You will likely see more about this soon, so start thinking about how you would like to receive information from the Group.

Lastly, I want to wish everyone a pleasant and peaceful holiday season. When shopping for your gifts, please remember to visit the Fair Trade stores we are fortunate to have in Central Ohio. Fair Trade not only provides a living wage to artisans all over the globe, but it also works to promote a protected and sustainable environment. Global Gallery, a volunteer-run Fair Trade organization, has three locations in Columbus: Easton Town Center, the Short North, and German Village. Happy Holidays!

—Kelli Drummer-Avendano