January 5, 2023 Luncheon We started off the new year greeting old and new friends, and were treated to an inspiring program.
Pat Valle presented the Thought for the Day. She shared the word “Friendship” as it describes RWC and monthly luncheons. Words beginning with each letter were: Fun, Raucous, Intellectual, Endless Conversation, Next, Delicious, Supportive, Help, Inspiration, and Positive.
After lunch, Pat Valle introduced Shanna Hammerbacher, author of Resilient written under her pseudonym Katherine Turner. In this book, Shanna has written a personal account of her time spent as a foster child from the age of 8 through her 18th year. Shanna then related her personal experiences and gave her answer to the hard question “How can one reverse the effects of trauma?” The answer comes from the acts of people who recognize pain and react with KINDNESS, COMPASSION, and UNDERSTANDING without being judgmental. Her presentation received a standing ovation from the members in attendance.
Congratulations to our lucky raffle winners: Carol Bowen, Barbara O'Connor, Alida Woods, Mary Jo Rigby, Kathy Hodum, Sandy Sensibaugh, Cindy Ware, Patti Sommers, Carla Licata, and Priscilla Priestman! We couldn't do it without Flower Gallery's arrangements, and Mary Ginty's jams and jellies! Big thanks to them!
December 1, 2022 Luncheon 'Tis the season for wearing holiday sweaters and sparkly finery! Did you see Sandi McNickle's boots?! Our members and guests looked festive and eager to see our favorite florist, Doug Burroughs do his magic with all things floral. His witty remarks had us all laughing. His arrangements were lovely! It was interesting to hear how he started his business over 45 years ago. Sarah Rudy started the luncheon with her Thought for the Day inspired by her mother. At the business meeting, Pat Valle, VP Community Services Committee, thanked members for their support of the Holiday Gift Program. Diana Taplin announced upcoming Programs. Click here to see more about them. Liz Coughlin, Bylaws Chair, announced that nominations were open for the Nominating Committee who will create the slate of officers for election next year. Please contact her if you are interested in serving on the Nominating Committee. Her email address is: clcoughlin@comcast.net
Mary Howell, VP, Fundraising, reminded members of the Santa's Sweet Shoppe to be held at Joan Hughes' home on Sunday, December 18, 2022, from 1-4pm She also conducted the much anticipated raffle for Mary Ginty's Jams, and the four beautiful arrangements Doug created. Congratulations to the winners: Carol Bowen, Mary Ginty, Edmee Miguez-Gerstle, Nancy Downey, and Hattie Thurman!
Thanks to all of you who support our scholarship fund through purchase of the tickets each month! We couldn't do it without Flower Gallery's arrangements, Donna Maynard's Goody baskets, and Mary Ginty's jams and jellies! Big thanks to all of them!
November 3, 2022 Luncheon
We had our biggest turnout of the season!
Fran Betzner gave the Thought for the Day reminding us: “Watch your thoughts for they become words; Watch your words for they become action; Watch your actions for they become habits; Watch your habits for they become character; Watch your character for it becomes your destiny.”
Patricia Schneider introduced our speaker, Don Wilson who has been associated with Prince William Public Library System for over 43 years. The subject of his program was “Did You Know” and the presentation was filled with loads of information about Prince William County over the past 200+ years such the original county was comprised of the areas now known as Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, & Fauquier counties. Three of those areas pulled away leaving what is now known as Prince William County.
Pat Valle, Community Services Committee Chair, thanked all members who donated to the Coats for Children Drive. She reported 455 items were donated totaling $13,500 plus cash donations bringing the total up to $14,175. The October donations for the Haymarket Food Pantry were $881 plus 12 pounds of nonperishable food items. She thanked members for cookie donations for Pace West Harvest Festival.
Our next fundraiser is the Sweet Shoppe on Sunday, December 18, 2022, at Joan Hughes’ home. She would like volunteers to bake or buy holiday goodies for the event.
Thanks to all of you who support our scholarship fund through purchase of the tickets each month! And, congratulations to our raffle winners! The raffle winners were Sandy Matukaitis, Jane Brown, Florence Byrne, Faye Graul, Joyce Eliassen, Geri Varachi, and Mary Lynn Applegate!
We couldn't do it without Flower Gallery's wreaths and arrangements, Donna Maynard's Goody baskets, and Mary Ginty's jams and jellies! Big thanks to all of them!
October 6, 2022 Luncheon It was a lovely day for the luncheon!
It started with Donna Jones giving the Thought for the Day. Donna read a poem her mother used to read to them at family gatherings. It was titled “Brighten the Corner Where You Are” by Helen Steiner Rice. After lunch we were treated to a beautiful performance of voice, harp, and cello. Meghan Davis, vocalist and harpist, and her husband, on the cello, kept us spellbound as they delighted us with music and song.
Following the program, Fundraiser Committee Chair, Mary Howell, introduced Katina Wafford-Graves from Fostering Futures, one of our 2 charities. She presented facts and statistics about the teens in this program. She talked about how children enter foster care, what some of the triggers are, and what goals the program has set for these teens. Their main goals are career development, daily living needs, advocacy, and financial support. The teens also need transitional support once they leave the program. Mary then gave an update on the success of the Rocktoberfest held on October 1st. We took in $3500 which will go toward our two (2) charities.
Our next fundraiser is the Sweet Shoppe in December at Joan Hughes’ home. She would like volunteers to bake or buy holiday goodies for the event.
Thanks to all of you who support our scholarship fund through purchase of the tickets each month! And, congratulations to our raffle winners! Carol Bowen, Danette Plummer, Barbara Barter, and Nancy Converse We couldn't do it without Flower Gallery's wreaths and arrangements, Donna Maynard's Goody baskets, and Mary Ginty's jams and jellies! Big thanks to all of them!
September 1, 2022 RWC Luncheon
It was like the first day of a new school year as our members gathered for our first luncheon of the 2022-23 season!
Nancy Converse, our new President welcomed everyone to the first luncheon of the new season.
Leslie Mitchell’s Thought of the Day came from her own thoughts on having lived a very full life and emphasized her thankfulness for having lived in Regency.
Pat Schneider introduced our speaker, Mike Washvill. Mr. Washvill spoke to us about The Cold War Museum located at Vint Hill Farm. His presentation highlighted how the property was purchased during World War II to be utilized as a station to intercept enemy intelligence traffic being sent through the Japanese Embassy in Berlin. Once intercepted, the information was sent to the Signal Intelligence Service located at Arlington Hall Station for decoding. Interestingly, over 70% of personnel working in this sensitive arena were women. The information intercepted at this small farm located in Fauquier County thousands of miles away from the fighting front was instrumental in the success of the Battle of Normandy on D-Day in 1945.
Thanks to all of you who support our scholarship fund through purchase of the tickets each month. And, congratulations to our raffle winners! Karen Scott, Sharon Goodson, Kay Ferguson, Wanda Crouch, Carol Bowen, Joyce Eliassen, Maria Albano, and Jeanne Pencek! We couldn't do it without Flower Gallery's wreaths and arrangements, Donna Maynard's Goody baskets, and Mary Ginty's jams and jellies! Big thanks to all of them!
Thanks to Mary Ginty and the RWC Community Service Committee we were able to resume running Bingo at the Gainesville Rehab Center this year!