As I sit down to write my final president’s message, I think back to my first message in September, when I encouraged members to embrace our new year, to become engaged, and to enjoy all the opportunities for friendship, fun, and purpose that the club has to offer. It’s been my primary goal as president to inspire members to be active within the club, to venture beyond their comfort zones, to say “yes”.

And then something funny happened. After spending the past eight months trying to inspire you, I realized that it’s all of you who have inspired me. You’ve inspired me by your dedication to CFUW’s goals. You’ve inspired me by your willingness to step up and do the work necessary to achieve those goals. You’ve inspired me by the vast range of skills you bring to that work.

We can all be proud of what our club has accomplished this year. Thanks to the tremendous efforts of our committees and individual members, we’ve listened to fantastic speakers, celebrated at our Festive Dinner and Holiday Auction, and gathered at our candlelight vigil. We scored a spot at Delta Bingo, won a CFUW Advocacy award, raised thousands of dollars for scholarships and charitable donations, and promoted our club in the community. On top of all that, we still have the Spring Soirée, the Clothing Repair Café and Drawn to Niagara™ 2 to look forward to. Throughout it all, we’ve remained steadfast in our support of the women and children in our community.

I’ve been struggling to find a metaphor that aptly describes our club and its impact. I first thought of a hive of bees, busily buzzing away as they go about getting the job done. I immediately discarded that thought – I didn’t want anybody thinking that I saw myself as the queen bee! Then I thought of our club as a well-oiled machine, with the various pieces all working together harmoniously.

I discarded that as well; a machine doesn’t convey the warmth that you find within our club.

I finally decided that a tree is the best metaphor for CFUW St. Catharines. We are deeply and firmly rooted in our community. Our one-hundred-plus years of growth have created a trunk that is tall and strong. There are many branches on this tree – our charitable fund, our various committees, our many events, our interest groups. Our members are the leaves. They change over time, but they all contribute to growing the tree even taller and stronger. It’s a tree that produces sweet and abundant fruit, enjoyed by many members of the community we’re rooted in.

I’m so happy to be one of the leaves on this tree. It’s been an honour and a privilege to serve as your president. As president, I knew I could always rely on the knowledge and energy of the executive team; I very much appreciate their insights and efforts over the past year. I know our club will continue to grow and thrive under the guidance of the wonderful Liina Veer. I wish her and the newly elected executive all the best in the coming year.

And to you, our members, it’s been an absolute joy getting to know more of you this year. Here’s to another year of fun, friendship, and purpose.

I’ve heard some amazing stories lately. Inspirational stories. Surprising, heart-breaking, hilarious stories. Stories that had me hanging on every word. No, I haven’t been binge-watching Netflix. (Well, actually, I have, but those aren’t the stories I’m talking about.) The stories I’m talking about are the ones I hear while hanging out with a group of very interesting people. Which people? Women from CFUW St. Catharines.

Everyone has a story, but in a club of over 200 women, how many of those stories do we really get to hear? It’s hard enough to learn everyone’s name, let alone the interesting tales from their lives. We have some time to chat before our monthly meetings, plus the ten-minute break, but that’s barely enough time to scratch the surface. That’s why our interest groups are so important. Meeting the same group of women on a regular basis gives us the time to get to know each other and to hear each other’s stories.

From the time we were children, asking our parents to read us a story, to our current adult selves, stories have been an essential part of our lives. They humanize us. They entertain us. They help us make connections. They foster understanding. Every week, as I walk and talk with the women in my walking group, I hear new stories and gain greater insight into this wonderful group of women. And with every story I hear, I’m struck by how much we all contain. As Walt Whitman famously wrote, “I am large, I contain multitudes.”

I want to hear more stories. I know they’re out there. I look out from the podium at our monthly meetings at the dozens of women looking back at me, and I know that every single woman there has stories to tell. Even the most ordinary life is extraordinary.

Many public libraries are now recognizing how important it is for us to tell each other stories. A growing body of research suggests that reading fiction increases a person’s ability to feel empathy (see Discover Magazine, Aug. 28, 2020). Libraries, such as the Niagara Falls Public Library, are taking this idea a step further, and have started programs where library patrons can ‘borrow’ a ‘living book’. These ‘living books’ are individuals who are willing to have conversations and tell stories about their lives to the person who has ‘borrowed’ them. These programs aim for diversity in their choice of ‘living books’, hoping to connect people with representatives of groups they might never encounter in their everyday lives – the Black community, the LGBTQ+ community, the immigrant community, the homeless community, the senior’s community. These conversations are meant to challenge preconceived notions and promote empathy and understanding.

Here at CFUW St. Catharines, we are our own library of ‘living books’, with a vast repertoire of stories to tell, and a receptive audience eager to hear them. While it’s wonderful to learn about others by listening to their stories, don’t be shy about sharing stories of your own. Maybe your story about a difficult time in your life will help someone going through the same thing. Maybe you have a funny story that could bring a smile to someone who needs one. Your story could inspire someone. It could earn you a new friend.

I’m resigned to the fact that I won’t get to know all 200-plus members of our club, at least not well enough to know their stories, but I can definitely take steps to expand my circle. I’m looking forward to joining more interest groups once my presidential duties are done. I encourage you to do the same. Imagine the stories we might hear. After all, we are the women of CFUW St. Catharines, and we contain multitudes.

Imagine this scenario: A 16-year-old high school student has dreams of attending university. She’s always loved science and math, and thinks she’d like to be an engineer or a computer scientist. No one in her family has ever gone to university. Her parents are supportive of her dreams, but they don’t have the money to pay for tuition and residence. She’s been working at McDonald’s part-time for the past 2 years, while also maintaining an A average.

Here’s another scenario: A 35-year-old mother of two children under ten works at her local Food Basics. Most of her pay goes towards the mortgage and bills. Her husband is emotionally and verbally abusive, especially when he drinks. Last night, he slammed her into the wall. She’s scared and wants to leave, but she hasn’t been able to save very much from her paycheck. She’s heard about Gillian’s Place, and after a Google search, gives them a call.

What do these two scenarios have in common? They both involve women who are taking action to improve their lives, action that is based on hope. What else do they have in common? These women, or women like them, benefit from the actions of CFUW St. Catharines. Our actions are also based on hope – hope that the fundraising we do, the scholarships and charitable donations we provide, can improve the lives of women in our community.

Hope is a foundation upon which humans build their lives. It’s even embedded in our language: “Hope springs eternal”; “Where there’s life, there’s hope”; “Hope for the best”. Think of how often we begin sentences with, “I hope…”. We seem to have an innate understanding that maintaining hope, even in the darkest of situations (especially in the darkest of situations) is essential to surviving and thriving.

Science bears this out. Articles about hope emphasize the difference between wishing and hoping. Wishing is passive; when we wish for something, we want it to happen without any action on our part. Hoping, however, is the belief that we can take actions to achieve what we want; we hope for something, which causes us to look for pathways and actions that will lead to what we’re hoping for. Research shows that people who maintain hope have lower rates of depression, anxiety, and stress. They also have improved immune function, better heart health, and lower blood pressure. Hope increases resilience and provides motivation. For more in-depth information about the science of hope, check out these articles: Hope as the Antidote and Hope is the Key to a Meaningful Life.

This year’s International Women’s Day, on March 8, has as its theme ‘Give to Gain’. The IWD website invites us to imagine a gender equal world – something women have long been hoping for and fighting for. Their ‘Give to Gain’ campaign encourages many forms of giving: “Whether through donations, knowledge, resources, infrastructure, visibility, advocacy, education, training, mentoring, or time, contributing to women’s advancement helps create a more supportive and interconnected world.” (https://www.internationalwomensday.com/) In other words, there are many pathways available to us in our hope for gender equality.

CFUW understands that connection between hope and action. All CFUW chapters share the same hopes, as stated in our Constitution. Simply put, we hope that we can promote higher education for women and advance the status of women. This hope translates into hundreds of actions across the country, from house tours, to book sales, to silent auctions, to our own Drawn to NiagaraTM, all based on the belief that we have agency, that our actions will help us achieve our goals. There are thousands of women in our community who are also taking action, based on the hope that they can improve their lives. When we add our actions to theirs, we’re helping them turn that hope into reality.

With February 14th just around the corner, let me be the first to wish you all a happy Galentine’s Day! No, that’s not a typo; rather, it’s a recognition of the power of female friendships and the important role that our female friends have in our lives.

From the time we’re little girls, our female friends become central to our everyday lives. We played with them at recess; we celebrated our birthdays with them; we invited them to sleepovers. As we grew older, we shared our secrets with them, we witnessed each other’s weddings, we cooed over each other’s babies. Our friends were there to share the heartaches, the joys, the failures, and the accomplishments. They offered emotional support, helping us get through difficult times.

The importance of women’s friendships has long been corroborated by scientific studies:

• The Harvard Nurses’ Health Study (Kawachi et al., 1999) found that women with strong social networks had lower blood pressure, reduced risk of heart disease, and a 60% lower chance of premature death compared to those who were socially isolated.
• UCLA research (Taylor et al., 2000) indicates that women who regularly engage with close friends have lower cortisol levels, reducing the harmful effects of chronic stress.
• A longitudinal study published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health (Holt-Lunstad et al., 2010) found that social isolation increases mortality risk as much as smoking or obesity, reinforcing the importance of maintaining strong friendships. (See The Healing Power of Female Friendships and UCLA Study on Friendship Among Women).

As we enter our senior years, the women in our lives become especially important. It’s a harsh reality of life that children grow up and husbands die. In many cases, it’s our female friends we turn to for social connectedness and support. In some cases, we might even look to them as potential housemates. At this month’s meeting, we’ll be hearing from Pat Dunn, the Founder and Executive Director of Senior Women Living Together, who’ll speak to us about how senior women can combat both unaffordable housing and isolation by sharing a home.

I’m sure we all have anecdotal evidence of the positive impact our friends have had on our lives. Nothing made this clearer to me than the support I received from my friends, many from CFUW St. Catharines, who regularly visited, phoned, emailed, and texted me while I was in the hospital. I’m positive that their support helped me to keep my spirits up, which in turn helped my recovery.

How fortunate we are, that at an age where it often becomes more difficult to make new friends, we belong to a club that offers so many opportunities to find meaningful friendships. Our interest groups are places where shared interests can blossom into strong friendships. Similarly, volunteering side by side with someone at one of our events can foster the bonds of friendship. Want an antidote to loneliness, and to physical and cognitive decline? You’ll find it in CFUW St. Catharines.

So, when February 14th rolls around, don’t forget to reach out to the women who are nearest and dearest to you. Tell them how much they mean to you. Wish them, as I wish all the wonderful women of CFUW St. Catharines, a very happy Galentine’s Day.

The holidays have come and gone, the new year has been welcomed, and many heartfelt greetings have been exchanged. Allow me to add mine in wishing all our members a healthy and happy 2026.

Now that the excesses of the season are behind us, are any of you facing the sobering task of making new year’s resolutions? Over the years, mine have become variations on the same repetitive themes: Exercise more! Eat better! Lose weight! How optimistic I am when I set these goals! How deluded!

I’ve decided that this year is going to be different. I’m going to streamline my resolutions. In fact, I’m going to make only one resolution, and that resolution will consist of only one word. That word is ‘yes’. My resolution for 2026 is an emphatic ‘yes’.

I started thinking about ‘yes’ during a random conversation with one of our members. She was telling me how much she enjoyed the previous night’s meeting. She said that she didn’t really feel like going, that she was tired and didn’t feel like leaving the comfort of her home. Despite her reluctance, she did go, had a great time and was ultimately very glad she went.

“That’s the power of yes,” I said.

Thinking about this conversation later, I pondered what made ‘yes’ so powerful. While ‘no’ is a blocked path, ‘yes’ is an open door. It’s a world of possibilities, it’s a chance to grow, it’s being surprised by joy where none was anticipated. As the past year has taught me, it’s important to say ‘yes’ when we can, because sometimes life says ‘no’ for us. By saying ‘yes’, we ignore the ‘no’ that emerges almost as a reflex when we encounter something unfamiliar, uncomfortable, or intimidating. Over the past few years, I was faced with a couple of new opportunities, both of which terrified me. The first was the offer to teach photo editing at Niagara College.

The second was the suggestion that I put myself forward as vice-president of CFUW St. Catharines. Immediately upon being presented with these opportunities, every cell in my body screamed, ‘No!’ The thought of doing either of those things was very intimidating. Sure, I had taught elementary school for ages, but this was college!

And as far as the vice-presidency was concerned, didn’t that mean that eventually, I’d have to be…. president?! What if I didn’t know how to do it?

Looking back, I don’t know how I got from ‘no’ to ‘yes’, but I’m very glad I did. Saying ‘yes’ to both opportunities put me on a journey where I’ve met wonderful people, found fulfilment, discovered new strengths (and weaknesses!), and had a great time. Additionally, my mental list of Things I Know How to Do has been expanded to include these new challenges.

Wanting to dig further into the power of ‘yes’, I Googled the phrase. As I looked at the long list of references, I realized that a lot of people think saying ‘yes’ is a good idea. The first thing that popped up was a book called, “The Power of Yes: Positive and Practical Advice to Help You Live Life to the Full”. Next up were a number of TED Talk videos. These were followed by an extensive list of articles, all exploring the power of ‘yes’. I was seeing a common theme: we often say ‘no’ because we’re afraid of failure or of being uncomfortable, thus preventing ourselves from having potentially great experiences.

Saying ‘yes’ doesn’t mean you have to go out and get a new job or become a different person. It could be as simple as trying a new hobby, or trying a cuisine you haven’t sampled before, or going to a meeting even if you’re not sure you want to. Saying ‘yes’ doesn’t guarantee that you’ll have a good experience, but saying ‘no’ ensures that you won’t. It doesn’t mean you have to accept things that go against your values or do things that are beyond your physical/mental/emotional capabilities. It’s being open to new experiences. It’s 20 women from CFUW St. Catharines tap-dancing at the Shaw. So that’s why ‘yes’ is my resolution for 2026. It’s easy to remember, it’s good for me, and it’s a heck of a lot easier than giving up chocolate.

Let there be light.

This quote from Genesis marks a significant event – the creation of light in the midst of darkness. Regardless of belief, or lack thereof, bringing light into the darkness seems to be a universal human impulse. As winter approaches, with its shorter days and longer nights, it’s no wonder that major religious and cultural holidays focus on the importance of light. Christmas, Hannukah, Diwali, and Kwanzaa all incorporate some form of light in their celebrations. Coloured lights, candles, oil lamps, lanterns, and fireworks help to keep the darkness at bay as we await the arrival of longer days in the spring.

There is, however, a metaphoric darkness that coloured lights won’t dispel. It’s the darkness of poverty, ignorance, indifference, and violence. That kind of darkness requires a different kind of light, the kind of light that is found in abundance within CFUW St. Catharines.

November’s meeting emphasized for me how much light our club brings into the world. We heard about the efforts of some of our members in sponsoring a Syrian family and the many positive results of those efforts. We heard about the upcoming candlelight vigil on December 6 to commemorate the fourteen women whose lives were lost to violence at the École Polytechnique. We heard about plans for our annual Holiday Auction, which raises money for our charitable fund. So much of what we do as a club – providing scholarships, donating to local charities, putting together hygiene kits, knitting ‘knockers’ – helps to lift some of the darkness in the lives of others.

It’s important to remember that however bright our club’s collective light may be, it’s made up of the unique light of each of our members. We are a club of strong, skilled women, with many talents to contribute. It’s those combined talents that allow us to impact our community so effectively. The more of us who shine our lights, who don’t, as the saying goes, hide their light under a bushel, the brighter and more far-reaching our collective light will be.

As winter’s darkness descends upon us, I look forward to basking in the light of our members. Not only do we bring light to our community, we also bring light to each other. The joy we get from our interest groups will brighten the dark season ahead. The friendships we share will help to sustain us, especially when times are tough. Our upcoming Festive dinner will be a joyous, light-filled event, and the Holiday Auction will give us a chance to celebrate the many talents, the unique lights, of our members.

I would like to extend to all of you my best wishes as we enter the festive season. However you celebrate the holidays, may the warm light of family and friends illuminate the darkness, and bring you much joy throughout the winter ahead.

Last month, Detective Constable Carter spoke to us about the many ways we can be lured into online scams. It was an eye-opening presentation, with some surprising insights into how easy it is for scammers to glean information about potential targets.

It’s not unexpected then, that the theme for this year’s 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-based Violence is “Unite to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls”. Cited by the UN as one of the fastest-growing forms of abuse, women and girls are disproportionately affected by digital violence. During this year’s 16 Days of Activism, which run from November 25th to December 10th, the goal is to draw attention to this form of abuse and to pressure governments to do more to prevent it and punish it.

Heather Mallick, one of my favourite Toronto Star columnists, repeatedly warns her female readers, “Never underestimate how much you are hated.” A bleak view, indeed, but certainly a reflection of the many ways women and girls suffer abuse in this world. Despite its role in enhancing our lives, the internet has also provided more opportunities for abuse to happen.

Digital violence takes many forms and can begin early in a girl’s life. Having a social media presence makes girls vulnerable to cyberbullying – being called names online, having rumours spread about them, being shunned by the group. I’ve seen this happen as early as elementary school. The emotional fallout from cyberbullying can be devastating, and in its own way, can be just as bruising as a physical beating. The reach of social media means that the humiliation of the cyberbullied victim is out there for hundreds, if not thousands to see. We’ve all read about cases where cyberbullying has led to suicide.

As devastating as cyberbullying is, there are even more dangerous forms of digital violence. Sexual predators can easily access their prey, often young girls, through social media and online gaming sites.

Cyberstalking, including the use of GPS trackers, can put women at risk for physical harm. And then there’s revenge porn – the nonconsensual posting of intimate photos and videos by a previous sexual partner as revenge for breaking up with him. The advent of AI and its ability to create realistic fake videos offers more new opportunities for digital violence.

Not even position or power can shield a woman from digital violence. Female journalists, activists, and politicians face a whole level of abuse that men in those positions don’t experience. From attacks on their appearance to threats of rape, women in the public sphere are particularly vulnerable to abuse from those who don’t agree with what they’re doing or saying.

It has been especially difficult to stop digital violence. The UN lists a number of reasons why this has been the case, including lack of accountability from tech platforms and social networking sites, the anonymity of abusers, weak regulation of the tech sector, and a lack of legal recognition of digital violence. The tide is turning however, with the UN recognizing the extent and impact of digital violence against girls and women, and creating the Global Digital Compact in 2024, which sets UN-wide standards for digital safety and AI governance. Here in Canada, sharing intimate images without consent is an offence under the Criminal Code, as is criminal harassment, be it by texts, emails or other communications. Ontario’s Education Act defines cyberbullying and provides guidelines for schools on how to address it.

There is, however, more work to be done. For more information about digital violence, check out UN Women – 16 Days of Activism, Government of Canada – Online Violence, and RCMP – Bullying and Cyberbullying. As individuals, we can educate ourselves about online dangers. We can pass on our knowledge to our friends, our daughters, and our granddaughters. We can raise our sons to become men who respect rather than abuse women. We can support our community’s activities during this year’s 16 Days of Activism. We will let you know once we hear what is planned in our region. It won’t be an easy fight, but it’s a battle that women and their male allies have to engage in. One way to start is with our own Candlelight Vigil (as mentioned in our November Newsletter on page 1) taking place on December 6. I hope to see you there.

How many CFUW St. Catharines members does it take to change a lightbulb? Hopefully, as many as possible! I’m being facetious, of course, but I’m trusting that this old lightbulb joke will serve as a metaphor for a topic that’s near and dear to my heart: the importance of purpose.

When I think of CFUW St. Catharines, I think of three things – fun, friendship, and purpose – and they often go hand in hand. There are so many opportunities in our club that foster friendship and fun (and I’m all for friendship and fun!), but I want to home in on the opportunities that can give us a sense of purpose. According to an article on the Mayo Clinic Health System website, “Studies show that those with a purpose live longer, sleep better and have a more robust immune system, lower stress levels and better cognitive function.” That’s a lot of bang for your buck!

So, what is CFUW St Catharines’ purpose, and how can you make it part of yours? It’s right there in Article 2 of our Constitution:

1. To promote and encourage the higher education of women.
2. To promote, encourage and advocate for the advancement of the status of women.
3. To interest women in public, social and cultural affairs and to afford an opportunity for the expression of united opinion.
4. To co-operate in the aims and projects of the National organization Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW National) and of CFUW Ontario Council, of which this organization is a part. CFUW National is a member of Graduate Women International, formerly International Federation of University Women.

To return to my ‘lightbulb’ metaphor, how many members does it take to achieve these goals? As many as possible.

There are so many ways to find purpose within CFUW St. Catharines. Our fundraisers need volunteers, not only on the day of, but also in the planning stages. Our meetings and events need promoting, our committees need members and chairs. We need an executive to keep the club running smoothly. Our Community Café needs baked goods! There are a variety of ways to help, with varying levels of commitment and responsibility. We’re fortunate in that our club has a very deep pool of talented, capable women who come to us with many different skills. When we work together, we can meet our goals.

If the thought of volunteering for something new is a daunting one, which it certainly can be, especially if you’re contemplating a leadership role, don’t worry – there is support available. There are people who have done the role before you who would be willing to mentor you. Worried about having to do it all by yourself? The co-convenor/co-chair model has worked well for members who want someone to share the load with them. I know of other clubs who have positions that are rotated monthly between members; perhaps that’s a model that could work for some of our positions as well. New to the club and still getting a feel for things? Try signing up to help with a fundraiser as a way of getting your feet wet.

Pablo Picasso said, “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” The remarkable thing about giving away your gift is that you get gifts in return. You get the gift of achieving a goal; you get the gift of personal growth; you get the gifts of friendship and fun. Please say ‘yes’ to joining us in this year’s ‘gift exchange’.

Happy New Year, everyone! Yes, I know it isn’t January yet, but when you’ve been in school for as long as I have (55 years, in one form or another) September becomes your new year. It’s time to turn the page on those languid, lazy days of summer and get ready to take on new challenges and new experiences. For all of us at CFUW St. Catharines, it means another year of fascinating speakers, thanks to our amazing Program Committee, another year of fun and friendship in our Interest Groups, and another year filled with opportunities to support the women and girls in our communities.

Over the past two years, we’ve enjoyed the visionary leadership of Christine Marks, who, in her dedication to this club, became a role model to me. I was lucky to serve with her as Vice President, and now, I’m lucky to have her guidance as Past President (or, as I prefer to call her, the Keeper of the Ancient Wisdom!). I’m honoured to follow in her footsteps and to have the privilege of leading our wonderful club. This year’s Executive is a fantastic group of smart, keen, and capable women, who will put their many talents to use in making the coming year a successful and enjoyable one for us all.

In the spirit of this new year, I invite you to take advantage of all that CFUW St. Catharines has to offer, even if it means going outside your comfort level (especially if it means going outside your comfort level!).

There are many opportunities for personal growth within our club, and that growth is usually accompanied by a healthy dose of fun and the precious gift of friendship. Check out our Interest Groups and try something new; sign up for a committee or one of the positions that have not yet been filled; volunteer to help at a fundraising event. Whatever you choose to participate in, you’re bound to get as much out of it as you put in. Feel free to reach out to me at [email protected] or at (905) 358-1934 whenever you’d like – I welcome your questions and ideas.

As summer nears its inevitable end, let’s greet this new year with excitement and anticipation, starting with our very special kick-off event on Tuesday, September 9 at Club Roma. Let’s play together and learn together and work together. Let’s continue the one-hundred-plus-year tradition of CFUW St. Catharines and make a difference.

Looking Back and Forward

“And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.” T.S. Eliot.

What an honour and privilege it has been to serve CFUW St. Catharines as President these past two years. Our club is graced by so many fun and fearless women, and it’s been a joy to get to know more of you during the meetings and events. While it is impossible to share all that I have learned from working with others to move our dear club’s missions forward, allow me to offer a few impressions.

Fundraising

Members, always generously supporting our mission of fundraising for education and helping local women and children with their time and financial support, magnified those efforts and found some new ways to help. Some examples are buying tickets to new fundraisers, matching donations, donating their own art and handcrafts, providing experiences to share, and opportunities to learn a new art or craft.

Membership and Retention

Through the collaborations of long-term and newer members, the meetings have been a more engaging and accessible experience for all. We must have set a record for guest attendance at our kick-off meeting in September (Women in Wine panel) and it seems that many more are inviting their friends out to meetings and parties. You’ve been sharing more of yourselves whether through interest groups, on special short-term projects, and in small groups’ efforts out in the community (this year’s new and special vigil to remember the young women of the Polytechnique tragedy comes to mind). The Meet-A-Member short interviews at some of our meetings gave us a better awareness of who is in our club.

With our community efforts, and the club meetings and fundraising events that were opened to guests and the public, and the promotions of those bright spots for our club, we’ve raised our profile in the community yet again. Those strengthened and new partnerships at the city level and with other clubs and businesses will hopefully be platforms from which to further boost our club’s impact and membership.

Leadership

I will never forget the bright minds and boundless energy of our club’s executive and other dedicated leaders and volunteers. As a strong and actively engaged club, we have so much to be proud of. And we have so much more to look forward to! What’s to come under Terry Rotella’s brilliant leadership will be spectacular!