I asked a few Women’s Club members to highlight their favorite activities of the 2023-24 year. President Sharon Stewart summarized, “Women’s Club provides a warm and welcoming community for all to enjoy. A place where you can visit with friends, make new friends, and even rekindle a friendship that may have fallen by the wayside. And this year’s speakers and events were just stellar!” Sandy Homicz concurred, “What a great year for Women’s Club!
The Fashion Show and June Tea were spectacular, and I also enjoyed hearing about the Solomons’ art philanthropy and the Burgners’ amazing work in Uganda, as well as having fun at the Bunko and Bocce social activities planned by Gunjan Anand and Jenny Rose.”
The Women’s Club enjoyed a fabulous line up of speakers, thanks to Carol Daly and Laurel Yocca. Marietta Hannigan shared, “As a new resident of Dana Point, The ME Ecology Center with Jonathan Zaidman was the best—and
most useful—as I hadn’t known they were there! I’ve since enjoyed one of their Thursday Pizza Nights and one of their Friday Night Dinners with a visiting chef. Both were amazing dining and social experiences, since you eat with different people community style. Highly recommend!” Carol Daly concurred, “I thought Jonathan from The Ecology Center was a refreshing new topic. He and his colleague did a fine presentation.” Several members noted how much they enjoyed hearing our local Niguel Shores guest speakers, like the Burgners and Solomons sharing their philanthropies and Margi and Eric Eckes sharing their passion for under- water exploration. Gigi McDonnell especially appreciated “Cathy’s talk about her work in Africa. Having a member that has given and done so much to provide for the less fortunate was very inspirational.”
Both the Fashion Show chaired by Cathy Burgner and Marni Olia, and June Tea chaired by Dianne Cahill and Carey Smith were sold out events this year. Cathy Tyson shared, “Those events both stand out. I am so proud of our new members bringing new energy and fresh ideas.” Suzanne Enis agreed, stating, “The chairs and committees of the Fashion Show and June ‘event’ made these by far the standouts of the year. Their innovative and elevated ideas provided moments to remember!” Leslie Moore added how much she “loved seeing the enthusiasm, laughter and smiles coming from both older and newer members at the Fashion Show and Kentucky Derby Event. And, I can’t fail to mention the new friendships formed working on both committees.”
Our Fourth of July Bake Sale & Cake Walk led by Marietta Hannigan and Patti Staudenbaur was an amazing success thanks to the wonderful support from our Women’s Club members. We had more than 150 baked goods contributed that we sold during the Pancake Breakfast and then used to run the Cake Walk after the Parade. And we should also note, it wasn’t only Women’s Club members that contributed—neighbors all around Niguel Shores dropped baked goods off to add to the community spirit.
Incoming President Laurel Yocca summed it up: “I’m so happy that the Women’s Club has such fun new energy too. Thank you to all that helped 2023-2024 Niguel Shores Women’s Club be so memorable. It takes a team and I feel so fortunate to be a part of this club. And I look forward to
our 2024-2025 year!”
—Karey Palmer
Post a Comment