NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 President’s Message by Joan Bruce September was a fabulous month for dining at the Woman’s Club! Chef Jan, his team, and our wait staff are to be congratulated for a job well done. Prime rib and au gratin potatoes, fish chowder and tuna tartare, creamed spinach with steak or shrimp, to name a few, were all outstanding. Thanks to Mary Peterson for organizing our Prime Rib and Seafood Dinners and to Carrie Matteson and Rita Larsen for Supper Club Night. An additional thank you to Rita for sponsoring our entertainment that evening. I’ve heard tell that one of our members asked for a reprise of the August lobster dinner in her home. Give that some thought next time you are entertaining! If you missed these events, you’ll have another chance; look for future dates on the calendar. I know I’ll be coming back. The Ballroom Renovation steering committee - Kathleen Arenz, Jan Fritz, Judy Keyes, Carrie Matteson, Kate Muth, Pam Stark, and I - has begun meeting. The Ballroom has not been renovated since the mid-1990s. It’s time for a fresh new look! We are planning for new drapes and sheers, new cushions and pillows, new carpet, and new wallpaper for the second floor ladies lounge, as well as other updates. Increasing our rental revenue is a major strategy for keeping the Club sustainable into the future. This renovation is needed to ensure that we remain a venue of choice for weddings, civic meetings, and other events. Our goal is $130,000. While this is quite a challenge, we have already received a number of leadership gifts, so I believe this goal is attainable. Investing in our Club today will positively impact our Club’s future for decades to come. Please be welcoming and generous when your fellow Club member calls. Thank you for considering this important effort. 813 EAST KILBOURN AVENUE | MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN 53202 | P: 414.276.5170 | WC-WI.ORG Floral Arrangements Follow-up When WCW members gather, you can expect nothing but the best of efforts. On September 12, members of the Garden Club and other WCW members came together to assemble 300 beautiful small floral arrangements to brighten the day of participants at the two campuses of St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care. Thanks to the generous donations of time, flowers, ribbons, and glassware the beautiful arrangements came to life. Kudos and thank you to all participants and donors! From the Manager’s Desk A special thank you to the following members for hosting or sponsoring a large event at the Club. Their support of the club is greatly appreciated. Sheila Taphorn sponsored a wedding reception Mary Ann Beaumont sponsored the MacDowell Club for a concert and dinner Isabelle Lutzke sponsored a birthday luncheon Mary Connelly sponsored the St. Robert’s reunion dinner Remember to keep the Woman’s Club at the top of your list this holiday season as the perfect venue to have a dinner party, luncheon, anniversary, birthday, wedding reception, or any special event you, or someone you know, are planning. Just a reminder for all members: the Club provides complimentary valet service. For the past few months the parking lot entrances on Cass Street have been chained closed to help in our efforts to stop unauthorized vehicles from parking in the lot. This has been an ongoing problem that we are trying to get under control. I recommend that all Club members and their guests use the valet service. The holiday season begins in November. We have scheduled several holiday favorite events including the Wine & Cheese Tasting on Thursday, November 30, at 5:30 PM. Check out the holiday insert in this newsletter for more special events coming this season. I look forward to seeing you at the Club! Valerie Foundation News... Nurturing Bright Futures Donations On behalf of those whose lives will be strengthened through these gifts we offer heartfelt thanks. The following donations were received August 3, 2017 through October 6, 2017. Donations Greater Milwaukee Foundation Judith A. Keyes Family Fund Oconomowoc Area Foundation’s Christmas Spirit Foundation Margaret and John Murphy The Marcus Corporation Foundation, Inc. Janice and Stephen H. Marcus Congratulations Judy Keyes. Your In Honor of recent donation has moved you up Debbie Allen’s Graduation to the Pearl Level in the Martha Peggy Ann Mitchell Society’s “Circle of Gems.” In Memory of Liz Behnke, former WCW employee Kathy Grogan Julie Mosher Kathy Pederson Barbara Drake Robert Brennan, husband of WCW Member Diann Brennan Barbara Drake Mary Ann Coffee Jane Hagerman Foundation Update by Carrie Matteson Happy Fall! As tradition holds, the Woman’s Club of Wisconsin Foundation will be sending out its annual year-end appeal letter during the fall season. As the Club is focusing on the Ballroom Beautification Project, the Board of Directors has decided to wait until next year to hold a Woman’s Club of Wisconsin Foundation Fundraiser event. As you read this article, the committee is already working on the fundraiser for next year. We know so many of you support both the Ballroom Beautification Project and the Foundation – two very deserving projects, and we appreciate your support. Community Outreach...Get Involved This Fall! 2017 Fall Food Drive - Hunger Task Force by Ellie Jacobson The Woman’s Club of Wisconsin has collected food for the Hunger Task Force Food Bank each fall for many years. There continues to be a great need in our community. The food bank delivers food absolutely free of charge to a local network of 80 food pantries, soup kitchens, and homeless centers in Milwaukee County. Our drive will take place before Thanksgiving, from November 6-20. Make a contribution, from the list below, in boxes near the Club office. Suggested items: High protein foods such as peanut butter, canned meats, beans, and stews Canned vegetables Dinner items: pasta, macaroni and cheese, and potato mixes Lunch items such as canned soup or canned pasta (Low sodium items are preferred) The Hunger Task Force also purchases turkeys for Thanksgiving distribution. Members may choose to write checks for $15, $30, or more payable to the Hunger Task Force and note “for turkey” in the subject line. Checks may be turned in at the Club office. The Hunger Task Force is very grateful each year for our interest in providing food for our community at this important holiday. Thank you for your donations. Clothing Collection Drive & Holiday Giving 2017 by Vicki Streich Our fall seasonal clothing collection is underway. Women’s clothing will be donated to St. Catherine Residence, and men’s clothing will go to the Veterans Administration. New this month—we will collect casual clothes as well as back-to-work clothing. Accessories and winter coats are also appreciated. The final collection day is Thursday, November 2, but you can leave the clothes in the Club coat room prior to that date. In addition to the clothing drive, this year the Woman’s Club will be supplying gifts for two homeless shelters in Milwaukee. The Salvation Army operates an emergency shelter, the Emergency Lodge, and has between 20 to 30 children in residence at any particular time. Our gifts will be for children ranging from infants to 8 years old. The other shelter is Joy House, part of the Rescue Mission, and we will be giving gifts to teen girls. This shelter houses up to 20 to 30 girls at any given time. A wish list and instructions on wrapping, etc., will be sent to members via email. The list will be available at the Club in December. This drive can brighten the holidays for many Milwaukee children. Your generosity is appreciated. Membership News...Meet Our New Members! by Betsy Prinz We are so pleased to introduce our newest Club members! Jenny Augustine lives in the Breakwater condominiums, as does Vickie Delgadillo, Jenny’s sponsor. She is co-owner of Augustine Financial LLC. The WCW’s commitment to service is important to Jenny—she believes in the power of women to join together and accomplish anything. Lynn Brengel recently moved to Milwaukee from Los Angeles where she was involved in the LA Natural History Museum, the LA Music Center, and the Pasadena Garden Club. Lynn is the daughter-in-law of member Joan Brengel and looks forward to meeting new women at our wide range of programming. Karin Buckholdt attended events with Kathleen Arenz, her sponsor, and so enjoyed the interactions with members; she has become our very newest member. She has lived in Milwaukee for over 25 years and has played an active role in a number of arts and social welfare organizations. Karin is a physical therapist and is experienced in nonprofit management. Anne Marie Finley has lived in Milwaukee for two years, is a Regulatory Consultant at Biotech Policy Group LLC, and is involved in Women in Government Relations. Anne Marie learned about the WCW by attending a fundraising event for breast cancer and subsequently decided to join us and take advantage of our programs and other opportunities to become involved. Dr. John Hanson increases our male membership roster to four. He is a hematologist and oncologist and now is turning his energies in the pursuit of philanthropy. Living within walking distance of the Club, John will take advantage of our excellent dining room and has also expressed an interest in yoga. Denice Jones is a new non-resident member who is the daughter-in-law of member Margot Paddock. Although Denice lives in Fort Atkinson, she often comes to Milwaukee for plays, business, the Milwaukee Art Museum, and visits to family.