MESSAGES September 2021
Table of Contents
The UWC year begins!! Join us on September 14, 2021
Greetings, UWC members, and welcome to an exciting NEW YEAR.
We begin with our Membership Coffee
Tuesday, Septmber 14, 10:30 a.m.
outside in the fresh air at
The Pavilion at Viele Lake
South Boulder, Harlow Platts Park, 1360 Gillaspie Drive
Enjoy free parking, coffee and pastries, information and sign-ups for our 25+ Interest Groups, a schedule of our exciting lectures for ’21-’22 and best of all, we will see each other again!
Come at 10:30, bring a camp chair or two, and relax and enjoy.
See you September 14!
Message from the UWC 2021-22 President, Tamera Van Spriell
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity…” A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
A Tale of Two Cities is a historical novel by Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. However, the opening lines of this literary classic could have been written about our personal experience with the COVID pandemic and the subsequent variants: for over a year and a half we have been dealing with the ‘tale of two realities.’ It is not my intention to trivialize the seriousness of over 600,000 deaths in the USA and the havoc this pandemic has caused on multiple levels. However, I have it from a reliable authority that true introverts have actually enjoyed this period of enforced quiet. Extraverts, on the other hand, are counting the days until they can enthusiastically engage in social activities once again. It has been both the ‘best of times’ and the ‘worst of times’…only determined by one’s circumstances and perspective.
Looking Ahead in Uncertain Times
In June, prior to the surge of the Delta variant, the UWC Board created a single question survey that was sent to the entire UWC membership. The purpose of the survey was to assess the membership’s interest in attending the September Membership Coffee/Tea in-person. There was a solid response: 117 women responded to the survey, and 56% responded “yes,” they would attend an in-person event; 20% responded that they would not attend in person under any circumstances, and 24% said they were unsure. The most common comment was some variation of the following: people would only be comfortable attending an in-person event if everyone is fully vaccinated, if those who are not vaccinated wear a mask or if the event is held outside. You can review the complete survey results and comments at the following link: https://boulderuwc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/UWC-survey-2021-meetSept.pdf.
Planning Without a Crystal Ball
- September Membership Coffee/Tea – You spoke via the survey, and we listened! A very creative event (in-person and outdoors) is being planned at the Harlow Platts Community Park in Boulder on September 14 at 10:30 a.m. This will be an enjoyable way to hear about the current interest groups, fundraising for scholarships, lectures for the coming year and how best to use the website for registrations and membership.
- Fall Lecture Series – Both fall lectures will be webinar events:
October 12 – Classy Ladies: Women Composers of Great Music by Betsy Schwarm, Classical Music Historian. Female composers from the Italian Renaissance to present day America will be featured.
November 9 – Stories of Colorado Women: The Famous, The Infamous and The Ones You Have Never Heard Of presented by Rae Wiseman from History Colorado Center. This lecture will focus on women from a variety of disciplines who have made significant contributions to Colorado.
- Interest Groups – What do bicycles, books, snowshoeing and foreign language groups have in common? These are only some of the 20 plus different interest groups featured at the UWC. Be sure to check whether your group is meeting in-person or virtually during the pandemic. You can find all of this information on our website.
One Thing We Know for Sure
We would love it if you joined us, the University Women’s Club, and help to continue our 102 years of service to the University of Colorado and the university community by funding scholarships, engendering friendships through active interest groups and advancing areas of common interest through a variety of educational opportunities.
It is my privilege to serve as the President of the UWC, and I hope to see you at our events during this program year.
Tamera Van Spriell
UWC President 2021-2022
Events
Lecture Series for 2021-22!
October 12, 2021
Classy Ladies: Women Composers of Great Music – Betsy Schwarm, Classical Music Historian
Women composers have been both important and influential, bringing their own perspectives to writing and performing great music. Betsy Schwarm will explore the subject, from the Italian Renaissance to American composers today, with abundant musical examples and suggestions for future listening.
November 9, 2021
Stories of Colorado Women: The Famous, the Infamous, and the Ones You Have Never Heard Of – Rae Wiseman from History Colorado
Throughout Colorado’s history, there have been women who have had a lasting impact on our lives and the rights that we enjoy today. Native Americans and pioneer settlers to health providers, educators, and writers, women from a variety of backgrounds have risen to tremendous heights in their fields, despite adversity and social barriers. Many of them were true pioneers. We are indebted to these women, as you will see in this fascinating and informative lecture.
January 11, 2022
Famous Women in Science: Navigating a Man’s World – Barbara T. Zimmerman, PhD, Founder of Biomedical Communication and Consulting
Women scientists have often been stereotyped as “geeks” or “nerds” who may be brilliant but not really feminine according to the standards of the dominant males of their generation. Dr. Zimmerman will talk about some famous women in science and highlight their accomplishments as well as unique obstacles and challenges they faced in becoming scientists. She will also discuss alternative fields that are attracting them and her own experience in the biomedical field.
Wednesday, February 9, 2022
Why Watching Modern Dance is So Hard: 10 Hot Tips to Make It Easier – Erika Randall, Chair of the CU Department of Theatre and Dance
In this pithy, physical, and playful talk, Randall will unpack dance moves like “the hinge,” the confounding history of running in concert dance, and how to notice and negotiate our biases when watching bodies in motion. This historical and “how-to” lecture will prepare you for better dance consumption, particularly of the 2021-2022 CU Theatre & Dance and Artist Series Season.
Wednesday March 9, 2022
Shifting Narratives: How Journalism’s Coverage of Mass Shootings Has Evolved – Elizabeth Skewes, CU, Journalism Department Chair
Please join us as CU’s Chair of the Journalism Department shares preliminary findings from her new research on media coverage of mass shootings and school shootings from the 1966 shooting at the University of Texas in Austin to the shooting last year at the Table Mesa King Soopers in our own community. She will discuss how coverage has changed since the mid-1960s and how journalists try to balance the duty to inform the public with the need to treat victims and survivors with an ethic of care.
Happy Hour / Tea Time Conversations Continue in September
Our Covid-19 isolation gave birth to a new UWC social activity and it is great fun. Starting in June 2020 we offered a series of weekly morning Zoom Coffee Klatsches with conversations on topics suggested in advance. This gave us a chance to get together (virtually) and just chat. It turned out to be a wonderful way to socialize safely and get to know one another better. In July 2020 this morphed into afternoon Happy Hour/Tea Time Conversations and our group of participants began to grow. We are now on a twice a month schedule, meeting on the first and third Tuesdays at 4:00. As the Covid situation changes, we may change our format and venue, but for now we will stick to the Zoom platform.
Here’s how it works: An email is sent to all UWC members with the topics for the month. If you’d like to participate, you email Kathy Randall to reserve a spot for the meeting. Then, a day or two before the scheduled Happy Hour/Tea Time, you receive an email with some details of the meeting, and on the meeting day, you receive an email Zoom invitation. At the scheduled time you just click on the link provided and follow the instructions your computer, tablet, or phone gives you to join the Happy Hour/Tea Time Conversation.
With our UWC Zoom account we have the option of breaking into smaller groups so our conversation can be manageable regardless of the number of people who sign up. The format for the discussion varies depending on the conversation topic of the day. Sometimes our topics are serious, sometimes frivolous. Sometimes we are surprised by responses we would not have predicted.
If you haven’t yet participated in this new way of getting together, and of getting to know each other, perhaps you’ll give us a try. After our summer hiatus, our first conversation of the new UWC year will take place on September 21 with a topic that may remind you your first writing assignment of the grade school year. Our topic will be Something fun or interesting or important or [you choose] that I did this summer.
We hope to see you soon. Send a note to katherineran at gmail dot com if you are interested in joining!!
You can watch UWC events online!
The UWC web home page (www.boulderuwc.org) has a section WATCH UWC ONLINE – with links to all the online events from 2020 and 2021 – including each lecture event, the membership tea, the vintage moves introductory class, the Opera “non-brunch” and the Honors Reception and its productions.
UWC Notes
Membership for the new 2021-22 UWC Year!
IT IS TIME TO RENEW UWC MEMBERSHIP
It’s a new year for University Women’s Club. And the new year brings so many benefits to members:
- September Membership Coffee/Tea
- Monthly lecture events beginning in October.
- Over 25 Interest Groups- something for everyone
- Opera Event
- Scholarship Luncheon
- Honors Reception and Margaret Willard Award
- UWC Membership Directory
- MESSAGES newsletter- to keep you informed of all our activities
- Or check the UWC website https://boulderuwc.org
And of course, through your generous donations to the UWC Scholarship Fund, we can continue to provide scholarships to non-traditional CU students.
Membership dues are still $35 and cover the UWC year from September through August. Your $35 dues include a $5 donation to the scholarship fund. And of course, we always welcome larger scholarship donations as many of our members continue to donate more than the $5 included in the dues.
So while you are reading this, why not click on this link: Membership Renewal Page and complete the membership form. You can pay dues/make scholarship donations via credit card, PayPal or check. What could be easier?
The cut-off date for inclusion in the UWC November electronic directory is October 15. So while membership renewal is top-of-mind, why not take a few minutes to complete the form and pay your UWC membership dues and donate to the scholarship fund.
If you have any questions regarding your UWC Membership, please email Arlene Gerwin, Membership Chair at uwcmembershipchair@gmail.com
Looking for an opportunity to serve on the UWC Executive Board?
Historian/Yearbook
The Board of the University Women’s Club has an opening for the position of Historian effective until May 2022. The ideal candidate should be someone who enjoys photography, has her own equipment and is familiar with digital platforms. The Historian photographically documents all UWC events, requests photographs from events she is unable to attend, submits pictures for MESSAGES and compiles a book of the year’s activities.
Honors Reception Chair
If you enjoy planning a party, you might be the perfect candidate for this position. When we are able to meet in person, the Honors Reception is an opportunity to gather at the end of the academic year to enjoy finger foods, conversation with your friends and to recognize past and present members of the UWC who have demonstrated outstanding service to our organization. Any candidate for this position should have good people and project management skills and enjoy planning a large event.
Contact president Tam Van Spriell (303-543-7424) if you are interested in serving in these Board Positions.
Nominations for UWC Elected Executive Positions
The UWC Nominating Committee is tasked with recommending nominees for President-Elect, Secretary-Elect and Treasurer-Elect to serve on the UWC Board next year (2022-23). While attending board meetings next year, these positions provide the opportunity to become familiar with the tasks of the executive positions as well as being available as back-up if needed.
The “elect” positions then serve the following year (2023-24) as the President, Secretary and Treasurer. Here is a brief description of each position:
- President: Serves as the UWC figurehead and provides overall executive leadership. Chairs the Executive Board and provides supportive leadership to Board decisions and Board members.
- Secretary: Attends and takes minutes at all Executive Board Meetings and General Membership Meetings.
- Treasurer: Is responsible for the oversight, management and reporting of UWC finances including bank account maintenance, financial transaction oversight, budget development, monthly financial reporting and all tax filings. The treasurer does not need to be a CPA for this role. However, good bookkeeping skills, and skill with Excel and QuickBooks is ideal.
If you would like to be considered for one of the “elect” positions or can recommend someone, please contact any member of the Nominating Committee which consists of Kathy Randall, Chair; Norma Portnoy, Board Representative, and Jyotsna Raj, Membership Representative. If you would like more information, please contact Kathy Randall.
Nominations for the UWC Margaret Willard Award
Margaret Willard was the first president of the Faculty Wives’ Club, which became our University Women’s Club. Each year we present the Margaret Willard Award to someone who exercises initiative in her endeavors and in doing so brings honor to all women and /or to our University of Colorado Boulder Campus.
Please submit a nomination by March 1, 2022. Nominations consist of the nominee’s name and a brief description of why they are deserving of the award.
the form can be accessed here.
Questions? Contact Patty Ludke, Chair MWA (303-817-1020)
Reminder: Support UWC through Shopping!
Look at this!
You can raise funds for UWC at NO COST TO YOU!
King Soopers and Amazon both have programs that will donate a percentage of your qualifying purchases to UWC at no cost to you whatsoever! Even better, once you’re set up, everything happens automatically. It’s “easy peasy!” University Women’s Club hopes that as many members as possible will enroll in these programs and designate UWC as the recipient of these donations. And to make it happen, we’re here to help you get enrolled.
King Soopers shoppers can join their Community Awards Program and Amazon customers can join the Amazon Smile Program. The vast majority of our members frequent both companies on a regular basis and should join both programs. For that matter, let’s also get our spouses, children, and adult grandchildren to join these programs to help us raise funds.
The decision to participate is truly a no-brainer!
Support UWC When Shopping at King Soopers
With the King Soopers Community Rewards program, you can support UWC with every purchase. You’ll simply need to create an online account and then register your Loyalty (“Shoppers”) Card to link it to UWC. Purchases at King Soopers would generate an annual gift of approximately $115 for a single-occupant household and $230 for a two-person household.
Please click here for instructions on how to do this.
Designate UWC in the Amazon Smile Program
With AmazonSmile, you’ll automatically help UWC every time you shop, with no cost to you of either time or money. You can link your Amazon account to the University Women’s Club through the AmazonSmile Program. Then just shop using the AmazonSmile website (smile.amazon.com) and UWC will earn a percentage of your qualifying purchases. Tens of millions of products on AmazonSmile are eligible for donations.
Please click here for instructions on how to do this.
Do You Have Questions or Need Assistance?
If you have questions or need assistance setting up your accounts, please contact UWC Board Member, Norma Portnoy at normaportnoy1112@gmail.com. She will be glad to walk you through the enrollment processes, step by step, on the phone, while you are on your computer submitting the necessary information.
Thank you!
THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING in this program to help UWC raise needed funds.
Member Acknowledgement
Membership Courtesy
If you know of a member who would appreciate a card, note, or any personal contact due to illness, death, or other reasons for support, please inform Betty Huff, 303-919-8712.
Members in Memoriam
As information to members, and to remember those who have passed away, the UWC Board is beginning an “in Memoriam” section on the website. This section will honor those UWC members who have passed away in the current year. If you are aware of UWC members who have left us, please let Joyce Spencer, webmaster, know the member’s name.
Scholarships
Message from the Scholarship Chair
As we begin this academic year, I want to congratulate our membership for a job well done!
As we began our fund-raising last year, the Scholarship Committee had concerns that our year of “virtual” events, necessitated by the pandemic, would make it challenging to reach our scholarship goals. But thanks to the great generosity of our members, we were able to award scholarships of $5,000 each to 6 outstandingly deserving students. This marked only the second time in UWC history that our Scholarship awards have reached $30,000! What a wonderful testament to the dedication of our members to an important goal of our organization!
September is the month we typically have new members join us, so I want to take this opportunity to let our new members know that providing scholarships to non-traditional students has been a core activity of the University Women’s Club for many decades. These are students, at least 24 years old, who have had their college studies interrupted, and have typically encountered significant financial or other hardships. They nonetheless have shown remarkable perseverance and motivation to overcome difficulties and reach their goals.
You can read and hear the inspiring stories of our six 2021 recipients on the UWC website (https://boulderuwc.org/scholarships/current scholarship-recipients/).
As we begin this academic year, the pandemic requires us to again have many of our events this fall in virtual mode. However, we are hopeful that our membership will again recognize the immense value of their donations to these deserving students. So please **consider an extra donation** to the Scholarship Fund when you pay your membership dues or register for a lecture event. You can also donate at any time online (https://boulderuwc.org/donate-to-the-uwc-scholarship-fund/) or by sending a check in the mail.
Also, let me remind returning members and let new members know that you can support UWC just when buying groceries or ordering from Amazon! King Soopers donates 5% of all purchases to the UWC directly through your loyalty card, and Amazon Smile donates a small percentage from each purchase. Nothing could be easier!
UWC members – let’s keep up this important work and match or exceed last year’s success!
Marge Riddle
Scholarship Chair
Donations to the Scholarship Fund (February-July 2021)
Joyce Bograd
Janet Brewer
Helen Browne
Merry Bullock
Sue Collard
Judy Duffield
Arlene Gerwin
Sydney Hoerler
Kathy Israelson
Karen Loom
Margaret Perez
Kathy Randall
Jean Rohrschneider
Kathleen Salzberg
June Saunders
Donna J. Seaman
Boyce Sher
Joyce Spencer
Tamera VanSpriell
Sherry Woodruff
SAVE THE DATE !
Boulder University Women’s Club Scholarship Luncheon will be held on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at the Boulder Country Club. We are looking forward to seeing you there! Mark your calendars now so you don’t miss this important event.
UWC Images From the Summer
Gallery of 2020-21 UWC Photos
Interest Groups
Interest Groups are a Vital and Integral Part of the
University Women’s Club!
Fall is a good time to start something new. As we emerge from the isolation of the pandemic, we have a good offering of UWC Interest Groups from which to choose.
Do you have a passion for being outdoors, a desire to make new friends reading and discussing an interesting biography or work of fiction/non-fiction? Do you like to do knit or sew, converse in Spanish, French, or Italian, go out to lunch, or the theatre, or movies? There are choices like these and more.
Interest groups offer the opportunity to work in smaller groups, enabling the members to know each other better, and to make lasting friendships.
Interest Groups are open to all dues paid UWC members.
The best way to become involved is to come to the Member Coffee on Tuesday, September 14, from 10:30 a.m. until noon. The chairs of the Interest Groups will be available to describe their groups and sign you up. If you would like to contact the chairperson directly, use the contact list below or click here for a printable PDF with chairs’ emails. You may also sign up by filling out an interest group form (link here: https://boulderuwc.org/interest-groups/interest-group-sign-up-sheet/). The chairs of these groups will then contact you.
New groups are welcome. If you have an idea for a new group, please contact the Interest Group Coordinator, Linda Nordberg, (978-314-9987) or (303-284-6270). To form a new group, you need five members including a group chairperson. To start a new book group, please contact Kathy Randall (303-530-1095).
Hoping to see you on September 14.
Linda Nordberg
Interest Group Coordinator
Interest Group News – Tribute to Heidi Lynch for 20 years as Hiking Group Co-Chair!
After twenty years Heidi Lynch has stepped down as co-chair of the UWC Hiking Group. For twenty years she was active in finding a place to hike every Friday, taking into account weather conditions and trail conditions, emailing hikers about the choice, and helping them get to the trailhead by carpool or on their own. She has a vast knowledge of local trails, knows when certain flowers will be blooming or fall colors peaking, and when hikers might see some wildlife. The Hiking Group thanks her for her outstanding leadership. Heidi still plans to hike upon occasion.
Interest Groups Information
Link here to printed version that includes chair email addresses
Bicycling – Every Thursday in person from May through October
Chairs: Betsy Barrett (602-677-4627), Gail Smith (303-960-5004)
Bicycling – Easy Riders – meeting on a schedule into September. Contact chair for information
Chairs: Dorothy Coltrin (720-527-4704), Becky Palmer (303-449-0884)
Book Group – Biographies – Third Friday 3:00 pm on ZOOM
Chair: Zdenka Smith (303-444-8547)
Book Group – Formerly Evening – Second Thursday 3:30 pm
Chairs: Judy Reid, (303-440-6040), Linda Toomre (303-818-5550).
Book Group Small – Fiction and Non-Fiction – 4th Tuesday at 1:30 pm at members’ homesChair:
Joyce Bograd (303-444-5304)
Bridge Group – First Wednesday at 1 pm
Chair: Ginnie Ross (303-442-6014)
French Conversation – All Speaking Levels – 2nd and 4th Tuesday 9:00 – 10:30 am on ZOOM
Chair: Beth Karpf 303-862-7335
Garden Group – Third Wednesdays meeting in person from April through October
Chairs: Jyotsna Raj (303-447-8831), Jean Rohrschneider (720-542-9788).
Golfing — New Members Welcome, meeting in person 1:00 pm every Thursday at various golf courses
Chair: Susan Planck (303-499-3916).
Hiking — Every Friday, 9:00 am September-May; 8:30 am June-August in person at Macy’s lower level parking garage
Chairs: Frieda Holley (303-499-3733), Joanie Cardone (303-263-7823)
Italian Conversation – Wednesday 1:30-2:30 pm on ZOOM
Maxene Wilson (303-530-4619)
On the Road Again – taking virtual road trips until in-person meetings can be resumed
Kathy Randall (303-746-4528)
Out to Lunch – 4th Wednesday at noon at various local restaurants
Chairs: Jyotsna Raj (303-447-8831) and Jean Rohrschneider (720-542-9788).
Reader’s Theater 2 – 3rd Monday at 4:00 pm on ZOOM
Chairs: Patty Ludke (303-817-1020); Kathy Randall (303-746-4528)
Snowshoeing – Wednesdays
Co-Chairs: Arlene Gerwin (303-494-1307), Joanie Cardone (303-263-7823)
Spanish Conversation Advanced – Meeting monthly for the summer, late Wednesday afternoons. Contact chair for details
Chair: Diana King (303-530-1860)
Spanish Learners Beginners and Intermediates – Contact chair for details
Chair: Carol Cech (303-499-4843)
Sunday Afternoon at the Movies – Second Sunday meeting on ZOOM.
Chairs: Diane Thoms, Kathleen Peterson (303-579-8652)
Groups that are reorganizing:
- Music – New chairperson needed
- Needlecraft – Ginnie Ross reorganizing (303-442-6014)
- Theater Goers – New chairperson needed
- Book Group — Afternoon – Carol Saunders and Pat Phillipson
- Book Group – The Bookies – Kathy Randall
- Book Group – Second Monday – Janet Evans
- French Conversation – Dot Thompson
Executive Board
Officers
President – Tamera VanSpriell
President Elect – Norma Portnoy
Past President – Janet Brewer
Secretary & Secy Elect – Karen Bell
Treasurer – Kathy Herder
Treasurer-Elect – Frieda Holley
Board Members
Communications – Betty Huff
Directory – Diana King
Email / Email Monitoring – Berry Todd
Historian/Yearbook – Vacant
Honors Reception – Vacant
Interest Groups – Linda Norberg
Lecture Registration – Lynne Barnett
Margaret Willard Award – Patty Ludke
Membership – Arlene Gerwin
MESSAGES – Merry Bullock
New Members – Janet Brewer
Nominating Committee – Kathy Randall
Opera Brunch – Sandy Johnson
Parliamentarian – Frieda Holley
Program Chair – Norma Portnoy
Program Co-Chair – Sharon Nehls
Repository – Diana King
Scholarship Committee – Marge Riddle
Scholarship Luncheon – Jonette Lucia
Telephone Tree – Open
Website – Joyce Spencer
Calendar
UWC Calendar 2021-2022
September
07 Tuesday, Board Meeting, 10:30 a.m.
10 Friday, MESSAGES Deadline
14 Tuesday, Membership Coffee, 10:30 a.m. at Viele Lake
October
05 Tuesday, Board Meeting, 10:30 a.m.
10 Sunday, MESSAGES Deadline
12 Tuesday, Lecture Webinar, 11:00 a.m. on ZOOM
November
02 Tuesday, Board Meeting, 10:30 a.m.
09 Tuesday, Lecture Webinar, 11:00 a.m. on ZOOM
10 Wednesday, MESSAGES Deadline
December
10 Friday, MESSAGES Deadline (Dec/Jan Issue)
TBD New Member Wine & Cheese – time to be determined depending on whether meeting virtually (December) or in person (January)
January 2022
04 Tuesday, Board Meeting, 10:30 a.m.
10 Monday, MESSAGES Deadline
11 Tuesday, Lecture 11:00 a.m.
February
01 Tuesday, Board Meeting, 10:30 a.m.
09 Wednesday, Lecture 11:00 a.m. NOTE CHANGE IN DAY OF WEEK
10 Thursday, MESSAGES Deadline
March
01 Tuesday, Board Meeting, 10:30 a.m.
09 Wednesday, Lecture 11:00 a.m. NOTE CHANGE IN DAY OF WEEK
10 Thursday, MESSAGES Deadline
13 Sunday, Opera Brunch
April
05 Tuesday, Board Meeting, 10:30 a.m.
10 Sunday, MESSAGES Deadline
19 Tuesday , Scholarship Luncheon
May
03 Tuesday, Tri-board Meeting, 10:30 a.m.
17 Tuesday, Honors Reception