Community Service Since 1907

MAY 2012 FROM THE PRESIDENT What is it that motivates over 200 people to volunteer to work the Nearly New Sale? I‘ve been told by many people that their volunteer experience was fun! It’s an opportunity to spend time with friends, have some laughs, and meet some new folks all while working for a good cause. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that workers get first crack at looking for some great clothes at ridiculously low prices. Before the doors opened for the workers’ sale, the line snaked all the way down the stairs and into the lower level of Tracy Hall. I am not sure how many people realize what goes into making the sale such a great success. Long before the sale opens, volunteer coordinators create a work schedule, send out e-mails and make phone calls to enlist people to help set up Tracy Hall. Volunteers are needed to inspect and consign clothing, hang, fold and display the merchandise, work the sales, and help take everything down. There are signs to be made, advertising to be placed, money to be accounted for and consignors’ checks to be paid. When all is said and done, it is as if we open a store for a single weekend, twice a year. And as soon as the sale is over, the Nearly New Committee is busy planning ways to make the next sale even better. I have so much admiration for the dedication of the Nearly New sub-committee chairs, all of who have been at their posts for many years. First and foremost, of course, is Elaine Waterman. As chair of this event for the past eight years, ways to upgrade the sale and the profits are never far from her mind. Fearful of leaving someone out, I will just offer a great big thank you to all the women who have dedicated a chunk of their lives to the success of the sale. So I go back to my first question, “Why do they do it?” They surely don’t do it for the big bucks they get. But I suspect they do it because the bucks are going to help so many people get the education they need and deserve. And helping the Norwich community be a better place for all of us is central to the existence of the Women’s Club. Arline

NWC CALENDAR

Coffee at the Norwich Inn Third Mondays

5/21/12, 10-11am

6/18/12 10-11am

Museum of Fine Arts 5/15/12 Bus leaves Huntley Meadow at 7:30am Returns at 5:30pm NWC Board Meetings: Mondays Norwich Public Library at 6:30pm 5/14/12 (at Arline’s)

MEMBERSHIP

The notices for next year’s dues – $15, unchanged - will be mailed to all members shortly (our fiscal year runs from June 1st to May 31st). We’d be most grateful if you would pay promptly: your dues cover the Club’s fixed costs such as rental on its post office box and website. Remember also that your dues entitle you to discounts on the Book and Author lunches and the Museum trips!

If you have friends who are thinking of joining, I am happy to answer any questions: sophiajcrawford@gmail.com or 802-649-2662– or check out our website.

Sophia Crawford, Membership Chair

Community Service Since 1907

MAY 2012 Scholarship Awards

This year’s Scholarship Committee was made up of two Women’s Club members, Martha Graber and myself, and three community members, Dan Fraser, Jim Tobin and Gail Broughton. We are pleased to announce that we were able to provide some assistance to every one of the nineteen completed applications that met VSAC’s criteria for financial need. The total amount awarded was $32,500. Grant amounts ranged in size from $500 to $3000. The recipients were a diverse group: seven scholarships were awarded to college freshmen; nine to students returning to college-among whom there were several that we have been able to help for all four years of their education; and three students pursuing further education after college. Our applications continue to be processed by VSAC. Unfortunately, well-intentioned federal legislation had the unforeseen effect of eliminating VSAC’s primary source of revenue. With a severely diminished staff they are no longer able to process applications in the same way as they have in the past. As a result, a large percentage of this year’s thirty-seven applications were automatically disqualified based on lack of need. The applicant’s estimated family contribution in these cases exceeded the amount used by the federal government in determining financial need. Because we rely on VSAC to process our applications, these disqualifications were beyond our control. The scholarship committee will be meeting over the coming months to reevaluate our priorities and award process in order to maximize the effectiveness of our grants. Many members of the community work very hard to raise the funds for these scholarships, and we want to be certain that the money is distributed in the best possible way. We are all conscious of the ever-increasing cost of an education. If you would like to weigh in on this issue please contact me at onita.connington@gmail.com Onita Connington Scholarship Chairperson

COFFEE AND CONVERSATION ON THE THIRD MONDAY

How about coffee and conversation with friends old and new? We had our first coffee morning on April 16th, where two dozen women of the Upper Valley happily met.

The next coffee morning will be at the Norwich Inn on May 21st, from 10am to 11am. This is open to anyone whether or not a member, so you might like to invite an old friend or a new neighbor. However, to help us best plan, please RSVP to sophiajcrawford@gmail.com.

We thank the Inn for their warm welcome.

NWC Garden Whether the temperature is 83 degrees for a few days, or 43 degrees, we are always ready to be delighted with the arrival of the spring bulbs. Each year the daffodils and tulips pop up multicolored and beautiful. This year’s garden is a treat that we hope you all are enjoying. There are several giant, purple alliums that should be reaching up any day now. The summer annual border is a work in progress. I have consulted with Liz at Killdeer farm about a vague idea and she assures me that they will have the plants we need. As usual, our expert gardeners are willing to put in a lot of effort to make the garden a showpiece! We look forward to waving to you, Mary Ann Holbrook

Community Service Since 1907

MAY 2012

Katharine Britton, our own NWC member, spoke about her book: "Her Sister's Shadow" and the joys and challenges of becoming a published author, to a sold-out crowd at the Norwich Inn.

STILL SEATS LEFT!!!!!!! BOSTON BECKONS: A SPRING ADVENTURE JOIN THE NORWICH WOMEN’S CLUB AT THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS IN BOSTON WHEN: TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2012 DEPARTURE: 7:30 am FROM HUNTLEY MEADOW WHAT TO BRING: YOUR SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE COFFEE/TEA LUNCH MONEY (FOR DINING AT YOUR CHOICE OF THE 4 RESTAURANTS ON SITE) WHAT IS PROVIDED: MORNING MUFFINS TRANSPORTATION TO THE MFA SPECIAL AFTERNOON TOUR OF THE NEW WING WINE/SELTZER/CHEESE /CRACKERS FOR TRIP HOME A FUN DAY WITH YOUR NWC FRIENDS (RETURNING AT APPROX.5:30pm) HOW TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT: PREPAY BY MAY 1ST,HERE IS THE LINK: http://www.norwichwomensclub.org/scheduleofevents.html OR SEND CHECK FOR $60 for members, $65. For non–members TO: Debbie Carter 55 Bramble Lane Norwich, VT 05055 QUESTIONS? - CONTACT DEBBIE CARTER AT DEBBIECARTER22@GMAIL.COM OR CALL 649-1216

Community Service Since 1907

MAY 2012

NEARLY NEW SALE More than 220 wonderful volunteers helped to put on this spring’s Nearly New Sale. While we don’t yet have final financials, we do know that it has been a great success. So warm thanks and congratulations to those without whom the sale could not have taken place: they folded fliers, handled pre-consignment packets and instructions, emailed recruitment notes, recruited by phone, carried racks and mirrors to Tracy Hall, set up the racks and mirrors, inspected and inspected and inspected clothes, wrote consignment lists and tags, folded clothes, hung clothes, bagged up the few remaining unsold items (for The Haven), took down and stored the racks and mirrors, counted tags and calculated the consignors’ earnings: Anne Alford, Diane Ames, Jennifer Andrews, Jennifer Ankner-Edelstein, Toni Apgar, Sara Bailey, Lilla Barrett, Ghislaine Belair, Mary Bender, Cinny Bensen, JoAnn Berns, Licia Berry-Berard, Carole Bibeau, Sarah Bibeau, Debbie Birenbaum, Jeanne Blacklow, Karin Bonnett, Dominica Borg, Christine Bothe, Colleen Bozuwa, Isabelle Bradley, Tineke Breed, Megan Brendel, Erica Brinton, Katharine Britton, Katherine Broussard, Lin Brown, Marilyn Brown, Charlie Buell, Connie Cadow, Debbie Carter, Nancy Carter, Kate Chamberlin, Suzanne Champlin, Avis Chatlos, Devra Chicoine, Dorothy Cloud, Nan Cochran, Wendy Cole, Penny Condron, Onita Connington, Sheila Conrad, Marjorie Cook, Laura Cooley, Fred Crawford, Sophia Crawford, Candace Crosby-Rogers, Madeline Dalton, Marcia Davis, Stephanie Davis, Fran DeGasta, Nancy Dean, Carole Dempsey, Pat Dempsey, Rosalie Deniki, Ruth Dixon-Vestal, Martha Drake, Laura Duncan, Annah Dupuis, Alanya Engtrakul, Susan Farrell, Cindy Faughnan, Erica Faughnan, Manuela Fonseca, Clare Forseth, Keith Fossett, Carolyn Frye, Milton Frye, Carolyn Fryer, Sally Gage, Anne Garrigue, Janet Gerety, Nancy Golder, Deirdre Goodrich, Michael Goodrich, Mary Lee Goodwin, Beverly Gorham, Ginny Gray, Linda Gray, Mary Ann Greene, Abbie Griggs, Dianne Griggs, Peter Griggs, Laurie Halpern, Marilyse Hamm, Jilly Harned, Susie Hastings, Beth Hazlett, Barbara Henderson, Flos Henry, Cheri Henry, Cheryl Herrmann, Geraldine Higgins, Olivia Hinch, Ellen Hobson, Mary Ann Holbrook, Lisa Holley, Kim Holzberger, Jan Hopkins, Brucie Hubbell, Ellie Huke, Dana Ireland, Ruth Jabbs, Antoinette Jacobson, Amy Nartowicz, Bee Jacoby, Christina Joanis, Corlan Johnson, Jaye Johnson, Sue Kaufman, Hannah Kearney, Kristen Kelliher, Joanne Kent, Karen Kniffin, Jean Krieg, Penny Kurdeka, Rita Lajoie, Steve Lajoie, Jill Lavin, Jean Lawe, Bonnie Lawlor, Mary Layton, Emma Leonardi, Nancy LeSourd, Cheryl Lindberg, Karen Loring, Carol Loveland, Phyllis MacDonald, Lorinda MacLeod, Betsy Maislen, Alison May, Lisa McCabe, Isabel McCarthy, Penny McConnel, Susan McGrew, Mary McKenna, Melanie Michel, Fifi Milchman, Lisa Milchman, Judy Miller, Marion Miller, Pam Mobilia, Bonnie Munday, Doris Nelson, Jill Niles, Fran Nye, Jane Officer, Mary Otto, Claudia Palmer, Dorothea Pershing, Nancy Pessia, Patty Piotrowski, Sue Pitiger, Diana Potter, Mary Poulson, Vicky Pridgen, Nora Ratcliffe, Sarah Reeves, Beth Reynolds, Michael Reynolds, Toby Reynolds, Patti Rich, June Richardson, Marcie Rickenbacker, Libby Robbie, Michie Rogers, Heidi Rogers, Vivian Rosen, Nancy Rosenblum, Arline Rotman, Darlene Saler, Holly Sateia, Edye Scheier, Jan Scheiner, Nancy Schindler, Paula Schleicher, Fran Sherley, Alida Shriber, Erin Slayton, Lisa Smith, Sydney Smith, Joan Sorenson, Jan Sorice, Sue Spademan, Linda Specht, Tricia Spellman, Sarah Spencer, Cindy Stableford, P.J. Stanwood, Peter Stanzel, Judy Sterndale, Melinda Stucker, Vernell Sutherland, Kathy Tenberg, Hetty Thomae, Veronica Thurston, Gail Torkelson, Abby Trottier, Ceci Tseng, Anna Typrowicz, Debbie Van Arman, Genevieve Verlaak-Graham, Priscilla Vincent, Jonathan Vincent, Noelle Vitt, Shannon Wallis, Suzanne Wallis, Karen Ward, Ann Waterfall, Marie Wesson, Susan White, D.C. Whitfield, Mariah Whitfield, Marcia Williams, Maureen Wilson, Mary Winants, Karen Woodward. We’ll be in touch with you again in September for the Fall Sale, hoping you will be available to work from October 17th to 21st!

Elaine Waterman, Nearly New Sale Chair