The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Lutz since 1964 and Pasco since 1981.
Proud to be independently owned.

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Women-n-Charge

This community servant knew how to find life’s silver lining

By

Rosie Heim — a former Honorary Mayor of Land O’ Lakes, and a former president of the board of the Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club — has succumbed to her battle with cancer.

She will be remembered in a celebration of life service on April 13 at 10:30 a.m., at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 20735 Leonard Road in Lutz. A reception will follow.

Rosie Heim was widely known in Central Pasco. She belonged to several organizations and generously shared her smiles and goodwill. (File)

Rosie was widely known around Central Pasco for her willingness to serve local organizations, and as an Avon representative — who always dispensed her brand of good cheer, while delivering her customer’s orders.

Mary Rathman, editorial assistant at The Laker/Lutz News, a regular customer, developed a deep affection for Rosie.

“I’ll miss her smiles and hugs,” said Rathman, who admired Rosie’s ability to remain upbeat, despite her grim prognosis.

“She just had such an amazing attitude throughout her ordeal and she was always happy,” Rathman said.

When Rosie decided to toss her hat into the ring for a run at honorary mayor of Land O’ Lakes, she did so with the intention of raising the profile of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club. The club is already widely known in Lutz, but she wanted more people in Land O’ Lakes to become familiar with the club and its good works.

In a 2017 interview, she told The Laker/Lutz News she wanted the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s club to become “a household name in Land O’ Lakes.”

Pat Serio, a member of the woman’s club, considered Rosie to be a dear friend.

“We’ve worked together on more projects and issues than I could possibly count,” Serio said.

She had a “unique insight and fun personality,” Serio added, and “she loved glitz and glamour.”

“All our (club members) hearts are very heavy with our loss of this wonderful woman after her very valiant battle with cancer,” she added.

In Rosie’s quest to win the Land O’ Lakes title, she hosted eight events.

For Rosie, it was never about being a member of a particular clique — she believed in reaching out to everyone.

Gloria Dale and Rosie Heim worked a booth at Land O’ Lakes Music Festival in 2017, as Heim made an effort to drum up support for her bid to become the new Honorary Mayor of Land O’ Lakes. Dale is the deputy honorary mayor, a title she’s been given for life.

She was involved with Women-N-Charge, a women’s networking group. She was also involved with AARP and with other groups.

She was always looking to recruit more members to the woman’s club because she saw a need to help with community services.

She also saw the need to develop reinforcements, as members of the woman’s club grow older and are unable to do as much volunteering as they did in the past.

In a previous interview, she explained: “Not all of the ladies are physically able to move tables and set up crafts. We would love younger people with better backs.”

She also was a cheerleader for the Central Pasco Chamber, too.

She looked forward to presiding at ribbon cuttings and representing the chamber in the Lutz Fourth of July Parade.

Before she retired, she was a special needs school assistant at Denham Oaks Elementary.

Elayne Bassinger, who was Rosie’s friend for 15 years, but particularly close to her during the last five years, said Rosie’s passing has left a hole in her heart.

“She had a remarkable, caring, giving, dynamic spirit — with a bit of spitfire thrown in,” Bassinger said.

“She was an inspiration to those who were fortunate enough to know her, and I was blessed to call her my friend,” Bassinger added.

Rosie possessed a can-do spirit and a great sense of humor, Bassinger said.

“Her heart was true community service,” Bassinger said.

Rosie enjoyed being involved, and was thrilled when some of that goodwill was returned during a pasta dinner fundraiser she held when she was campaigning to become honorary mayor.

She described the pasta dinner, in a 2017 interview.

Ninety-six people turned out.

“I was just so honored and overwhelmed by the love shown in that room,” she said. “They were chanting my name, ‘Rosie. Rosie.’”

It was incredible, she recalled.

“When you give, it’s always returned to you 10-fold,” she said

Rosie is survived by her husband, Charlie; her son, Daniel; her daughters, Sharon and Dawn, and her grandchildren.

Published April 03, 2019

Serving the community is Rosie Heim’s motto

By

When Rosie Heim decided to toss her hat into the ring to run for honorary mayor of Land O’ Lakes, she had a purpose in mind.

She wanted to raise the profile of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club in the community of Land O’ Lakes.

She wants the club to become “a household name in Land O’ Lakes.”

Gloria Dale and Rosie Heim worked a booth at Land O’ Lakes Music Festival, as Heim made an effort to drum up support for her bid to become the new Honorary Mayor of Land O’ Lakes. Dale is the deputy honorary mayor, a title she’s been given for life. (File)

She explained: “We are very well-known in Lutz because we do the parade, we do the art show. “But, Land O’ Lakes didn’t know the ladies in the green shirts. I wanted some of the businesses to know who we are, and some of the community to know the wonderful work that we do,” she said.

The club is active in many ways.

It pitches in at the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans’ Nursing Home in Land O’ Lakes.

It sponsors the annual Lutz Arts & Crafts Show.

It has an annual flea market, supports survivors of domestic abuse, helps to plant trees, decorates graves of veterans, packs boxes to ship to troops stationed overseas, and does all sorts of other things to support the communities of Lutz and Land O’ Lakes.

It uses the money it raises to help local community groups, and support scholarships.

So, Heim has learned a thing or two about fundraising.

In her quest to become the honorary mayor, she hosted eight events.

When she began the race, she was competing against Andre Pamplona. But, he needed to divert his energy to his family when owners of Royal Lanes decided to close the bowling center that Pamplona managed, Heim said.

That didn’t slow her down, though.

The woman’s club will get a portion of the money she raised, she said. “The chamber will get the rest for the community services that they do.”

Heim said she doesn’t have a clique that she hangs out with, but she has loads of connections.

Besides the woman’s club, she’s involved with Women-N-Charge, which is a networking group. She’s also involved with AARP, churches and other groups.

Heim said she wants to recruit more ladies to be involved with the woman’s club because more help is needed.

“There is a need in the community to help with community services,” Heim said.

Many of the women in the club are getting older and aren’t able to do as much as they once could, she said.

“Not all of the ladies are physically able to move tables and set up crafts,” she said. “We would love younger people with better backs.”

Besides working to increase the woman’s club’s ranks, Heim hopes she can attract more members to the Central Pasco Chamber, too.

She plans to be an ambassador for the organization — reaching out to new businesses and giving them a warm welcome from the chamber.

“I’ll do the ribbon cuttings,” she said.

She’ll also be participating in the Lutz Fourth of July Parade.

“They’re going to get me a convertible,” said Heim, who joined the woman’s club 10 years ago, after retiring from her job as a special needs school assistant at Denham Oaks Elementary.

She said she’s happy to be the face of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, and will do what the chamber would like her to do to spread its goodwill.

“If any of the schools asks me to come and speak and give awards to the kids, I’m available to do that,” Heim said.

Being involved is rewarding, said Heim, noting she was overwhelmed during a recent pasta dinner fundraiser she had.

Ninety-six people turned out.

“I was just so honored and overwhelmed by the love shown in that room,” she said. “They were chanting my name, ‘Rosie. Rosie.’”

It was incredible, Heim said. “When you give, it’s always returned to you 10-fold.”

Published June 21, 2017

Tea, murder highlight Women-n-Charge fundraiser

By

The ladies of Women-n-Charge want to take you on a cruise, but this is one with a twist.

Can you find a killer in this group? You’ll need your detective skills for the upcoming Women-n-Charge tea Sept. 28, taking place at the Groves Golf & Country Club. (Photo courtesy of Amanda Wright)
Can you find a killer in this group? You’ll need your detective skills for the upcoming Women-n-Charge tea Sept. 28, taking place at the Groves Golf & Country Club. (Photo courtesy of Amanda Wright)

Someone has been murdered, and it will be up to those booking passage to figure to whom among the Red Feather Ladies did it. And it’s all done with some of the best teas available in the area.

It’s part of the annual fundraiser for the professional women group taking place Sept. 28 at 2 p.m. at the Groves Golf & Country Club, 7924 Melogold Circle in Land O’ Lakes. For the second straight year, Women-n-Charge will entertain at its annual tea party with a murder mystery. In fact, this voyage — set on the S.S. Titanica — is a direct sequel of last year’s event.

“This is all a spoof that centers on a group of wealthy ladies, known as the Red Feather Ladies Investment Club,” said Anne Childers, a member of Women-n-Charge’s board of directors, and one of the organizers of the event. “There was this roving Romeo who was dating all of them under the radar under different names. He fleeced every one of them, and took their money and their morale. So one of the ladies shot him dead.”

That murder was solved last year. And now the Red Feather Ladies want to earn their money back, so they embark on this cruise that features an appearance from financial guru B.S. Sutton. Except, Sutton is no stranger to these ladies, and it isn’t long before he ends up dead, too.

Last year’s murder mystery tea, with many of the Women-n-Charge members in the cast, raised more than $4,000, which allowed the group to pay its annual expenses, and still have enough left over to fund two $1,000 scholarships to local businesswomen.

“We do it so they can further enrich the community,” Childers said. “They can use it for education, or for their business. Whatever will help them grow even stronger.”

Professional women apply for the scholarships in advance, and there are no requirements for membership with Women-n-Charge.

The mystery teas are a huge departure from how Women-n-Charge raised money when Childers first joined in 2005. Then it was a business expo, with the group earning money from booth rentals. But the economic recession changed that, and the tea parties were born.

First, the parties celebrated themes like fashion. But last year, the decision was made to go murder mystery, and it was a smashing success.

There is room for about 120 guests, and everyone is encouraged to wear a hat and dress as if they’re attending an old-fashioned summer tea. Tickets are $15 for individuals, and $25 for two.

Table sponsorships are also available, starting at $59. That package allows the sponsor to decorate the table, provide their own settings, and even their own tea. Women-n-Charge will provide the linen, cream, sugar and lemon.

“It’s hard work for those of us on the board, but in the end, it’s just a lot of fun,” Childers said. “Watching everyone enjoy it and try to figure out who did it makes it all worth it.”

For more information on the event, call Anne Childers at (813) 948-7484, or visit women-n-charge.com.