MESSAGES March – Issue 7

UWC Today

• President’s Message
• Lecture Events – UWC Online!
• Opera – “Non-Brunch” Hansel and Gretel
• Happy Hour/Tea Time Conversations

News and Announcements

• Congratulations!
• UWC Images
• Nominate an Outstanding Woman!
• The MWA counts!

Scholarships

• Message from the Chair 
• Support UWC when Shopping

UWC Notes

• Member Support – UWC Notes
• Interest Groups
• Executive Board
• Calendar

Treading water: “To be in an unsatisfactory situation where you are not progressing, but are just continuing to do the same thing.”  –Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary, Copyright HarperCollins Publishers
… “moving your limbs for the sole purpose of staying afloat…keeping one’s head above water.”   –Cambridge English Dictionary

I have to admit that, going into my year as UWC President in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, my aspirations were minimal.  My inner thinking went something like this: “Just try to keep UWC alive, so that – when the pandemic ends – there’s still a viable organization.”  I reasoned that the best way to do this was to “tread water;” that is, to continue observing the various traditions that make up a typical program year. Unfortunately, we had already had to cancel several events that had been planned for last spring.

My predecessor, Merry Bullock, however, had already initiated Board meetings via Zoom.  With the recruitment of a UWC “Zoom Czar,” Kathy Randall, the Board organized itself using technology. Various Board members stepped up to the plate to realize small, but important, goals. A Zoom event was planned to take the place of our traditional membership tea/coffee in September. Kathy Terrill and Kathy Randall then worked very hard to welcome and orient 15 new members. Helen Hooper coordinated interest groups, some of which were able to continue meeting via Zoom. We instituted a new way to connect via the Happy Hour/Tea Time Conversations. A series of Lecture Webinars were planned and executed. We recognized and celebrated (virtually) the 2020 Margaret Willard award winner. Most recently, we enabled a peaceful transition of power by electing the officers who will be leading the club two years hence.
My current assessment is that we’ve exceeded my early expectations. We’ve been resilient in re-inventing ourselves, not merely in “treading water.” And, for me, the triumph of this Covid-19 year will be club’s ability to award scholarships as we have in the past.  For this I thank Marge Riddle and her committee and everyone who has contributed to the Scholarship Fund.

March 9, 2021 – 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 pm.

How to Prevent Yourself From Becoming a Victim of Crime
Christian Gardner-Wood, Senior Deputy District Attorney; Lizbeth Parker, Specialist for the Community Protection Division, Boulder County District Attorney’s Office

Walk away from this presentation knowing more about how to protect your money and identity.  You will learn about the most frequent scams including the latest scams related to the COVID-19 pandemic.  You will learn ways to recognize and avoid these fraud attempts, whether they’re coming by way of phone calls, text messages, email, social media, mail, or even at the door.  The speakers will present information about identity theft and ways to keep your personal and financial information safe.

Christian oversees all Boulder County prosecutions of elder abuse and significant financial fraud cases, and Lizbeth handles consumer complaints and reports of fraud, scams, elder abuse, and financial exploitation from community members.

The UWC virtual opera-non-brunch will be at 12:30 on March 14, 2021.

Maestro Carthy, the Opera Music Director of the University of Colorado Eklund Opera Program will introduce us to Engelbert Humperdinck’s opera, Hansel and Gretel in a talk via ZOOM. There will be plenty of opportunities for participation and questions.

You can watch the Eklund Opera production of Hansel and Gretel at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlRJwrWv8CU&feature=youtu.be

And you can link to the online program.

The Opera

Hansel and Gretel was composed by Engelbert Humperdinck in 1891-92 and first performed in Weimar Germany in the following year.  It is a “fairy-tale” opera based on the Grimm brothers’ work, and incorporates many delightful folk-music inspired themes.   The opera features two children venturing into the woods in search of something sweet to eat.  With rich orchestration, simmering wit and a sumptuous witch hiding out in a candy cottage, the fairy tale is a delight.  To whet your appetite, please click on the following link, which is a brief video preview of the student performers discussing producing the opera during this year of covid.  You don’t have to be a facebook-user to view the video. https://www.facebook.com/1450697756/videos/10223197260867106/.

Although there is no  “ticket” charge for the opera non-brunch or for viewing the opera, CU does have an opportunity to donate to the Elklund Opera Progam. You can do so on this page.

As in previous years, this opera event is open to UWC members, spouses and guests so treat it just like you have treated previous year’s opera brunches.  It is our most fervent hope that by next year we will be back to partaking in a gourmet brunch at the UMC and then walking over to Macky Auditorium to see next year’s opera.

You do need to register for the event. You will get a reminder of the lecture link a week and a day before the event.

Congratulations to the newly elected officers in UWC. Each women will serve in the “elect” position for her role for 2021-22 and then assume her elected officer role for the 2022-23 year.

President-Elect 2021-2022 (to serve as President 2022-23)

Norma Portnoy

Norma retired after 40+ years in work for non-profit agencies devoted to enhancing the health and welfare of underserved children in Chicago, Philadelphia, and the Denver metro area. Norma has been a UWC member for two years and has held the board positions of Lecture Luncheon Registration Chair and Program Co-Chair.

Secretary-Elect 2021-2022 (to serve as Secretary 2022-23)

Karen Bell

Karen is a registered nurse (RN) and was the Clinical Nurse Specialist/Educator for the Nephrology Department at University of Colorado Health. Karen joined UWC 3 years ago. In addition to participating in several interests groups, Karen has served as interim Secretary.

Treasurer-Elect 2021-2022 (to serve as Treasurer 2022-23)

Frieda Holley

Frieda retired from Metropolitan State University of Denver  as a Professor of Mathematics and administrator. Frieda has been co-chair of the Hiking Group for 18 years, was Chair of the Scholarship Committee, President in 2017-18, and chair of the UWC Centennial History Book Committee, which wrote the book describing the Club’s first 100 years. She is currently Parliamentarian for UWC.

Do you know an outstanding woman in the Boulder community?

The University Women’s Club is soliciting nominations for the Margaret Willard award for 2021.  The award, named after the first president of the University Women’s Club, is presented annually to a woman who has enhanced the quality of life for women in Boulder and/or on the CU Boulder Campus, is an exceptional role model, and has brought honor to all women through her accomplishments.

Nominees may be connected to CU Boulder in some way or be members of the Boulder Community.  There are hundreds of women  who fit these criteria. Look around and find that special woman and then nominate her so we can celebrate her while honoring Margaret Willard.

To make a nomination please see the nomination information online. Questions? Please contact Kathleen Peterson, Chair.

Kathleen Peterson,
Margaret Willard Award Chair
Telephone 303-579-8652

Update : The Margaret Willard Award COUNTS!!!

One of our members reports:

Hi UWC Board Members – I received the email below …  Our 2015 Margaret Willard Award winner, Dayna Bowen Matthew,  is now the Dean of the George Washington Law School. She lists our UWC award in her bio. among other prestigious awards.

Here is what it says:

She is the recipient of several awards, including the Colorado University School of Law’s Clifford Calhoun Faculty Award for Public Service (May 2015) and the Margaret Willard Award (2015, presented by the University Women’s Club of Boulder). She was named one of the Top 25 Most Powerful Women (2016) by the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce.

You can read the report of the 2015 MWA award in MESSAGES from May 2015

Message from the Scholarship Committee Chair

As you read this, your Scholarship Committee members will be engaged in the task of reading through the many applications for our UWC Scholarships, which always make us wish that we had more to give, since so many applicants seem so deserving. We expected that this year would be especially challenging in terms of what we would have available to give, as our membership decreased somewhat this year, likely as a side-effect of the pandemic, necessitating only  “virtual” events.  However, in spite of pandemic-related difficulties, our members stepped up and have donated generously, making it unlikely that we will need to reduce our recipient number this year, and for that we wish to express our heartfelt thanks and congratulations to those who have helped make this possible.   Since Lecture “Luncheons” have been virtual and therefore free this year, some members have contributed to the Scholarship Fund at those times, and there is still one more chance to do this!  Donations are still so important at this time, and we know that the need is even greater this year, as many of the part-time jobs our applicants have also depended on have been lost.

But you can also donate at any time with just a click of the button, when you go to the UWC website (boulderuwc.org) and look under Scholarships. While at the website, also look for the “Support UWC “ section and learn how to sign up for the King Soopers and Amazon Smile charitable rewards programs, which enable automatic donations to UWC, so you have an additional donation at no cost to you!

Marge Riddle, Scholarship Chair

New Donations to the Scholarship Fund (reported through January)

Joyce Bograd
Janet Brewer
Helen Browne
Judy Duffield
Toni Erickson
Arlene Gerwin
Caryl Kassoy
Karen Loom

Jean Rohrschneider
Kathleen Salzberg
Boyce Sher
Sherry Woodruff

and
VINTAGE Moves (as part of our scholarship and fitness event)

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 [email protected]  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.

President – Janet Brewer
President Elect -Tamera VanSpriell
Past President – Merry Bullock
Secretary & Secy Elect – Karen Bell
Treasurer & Treas. Elect – Kathy Herder
Communications – Betty Huff
Email/Directory – Berry Todd
Historian/Yearbook – Vacant
Honors Reception – Tamera VanSpriell
Interest Groups – Helen Hooper
Lecture Registration – Lynne Barnett
Margaret Willard Award – Kathleen Peterson
Membership – Karen Neff

MESSAGES – Merry Bullock
New Members – Kathy Terrill
Nominating Committee – Arlene Gerwin
Opera Brunch – Sandy Johnson
Parliamentarian – Frieda Holley
Program Chair – Norma Portnoy
Program Co-Chair – Sharon Nehls
Repository/Email Monitor – Lorna Yoder
Scholarship Committee – Marge Riddle
Scholarship Luncheon – Mary Pierce
Telephone Tree – Helen Hooper
Website – Joyce Spencer