MESSAGES May 2025
TABLE OF CONTENTS
UWC Events You Don’t Want to Miss
- MAY
Honors Reception – May 13, 2025- UMC South Terrace Tent, 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. Please note – registration is required! - SEPTEMBER (save the date!)
Tuesday, September 9, 2025 – Membership Coffee at Viele Lake
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
It is appropriate that UWC’s last event for our year is one featuring the primary outreach that distinguishes a major part of our mission … “fostering community spirit.” Celebrating the recipient of the award named after our first president, Margaret Willard, has traditionally been a highlight of the Honors Reception, which will be held on Tuesday, May 13 at 2:30 p.m. While enjoying the company of friends from our interest groups, Lecture Luncheons, and other events, we will provide excellent hors d’oeuvres and entertainment by professional violinist, Mindy Anderson. If you are reading this as a new member, I want to shake your hand and meet you as one of our 43 awesome newcomers! Yes, our organization is growing and with that is the invitation to participate in the planning and implementation of UWC’s service to the University of Colorado and to each other.
In the UMC South Terrace Tent, I will pass the president’s gavel to the 2025-2026 president, Andie Kutinsky. Award presentations will go to our past and present leaders as attendees enjoy views of the Flatirons and the beautiful fresh spring floral arrangements gracing our tables.
Although this UWC-year seems to have flown by, I have enjoyed meeting and getting to know you at our enriching UWC gatherings. It has been a true honor to serve as president and learn from all of you amazing women! I love knowing that there are so many ways for me to continue to connect with others. The sheer number of Interest Groups that we offer is inspiring. Each of our Lecture Luncheons is a memorable connection, and our additional special events are outstanding for their philanthropy, entertainment, and personal value. Let the coming year be blessed with your volunteering for and connection to the powerful spirit of University Women’s Club!
Anne Hudson, 2024-2025 President
UWC NOTES
Annual University Women’s Club Honors Reception
Tuesday, May 13, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
South Terrace Tent, University Memorial Center, 1669 Euclid Avenue, Boulder, CO 80309
The UWC Executive Board invites all UWC members to attend as we continue our long-standing tradition of honoring the selected Margaret Willard Award Recipient, as well as other valued awardees and leaders, and to pass the gavel to our incoming 2025-2026 President. This year professional violinist Mindy Anderson will provide a delightful musical interlude taken from her extensive and varied repertoire.
Please join us for camaraderie, engagement, and gastronomy at our last club event of the season!
We are so looking forward to seeing you!
Anne Hudson and Andie Kutinsky
Honors Reception Co-Chairs
Margaret Willard Award – 2025 Recipient
Dawn Reinfeld- 2025 Margaret Willard Award Recipient
Dawn Reinfeld of Boulder, Colorado, is a beacon of civic engagement, compassion, and unshakable resolve. A graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder and a mother of two, Dawn has poured her life into building a better, safer future for families across the state and the nation. She is the founder of Blue Rising, a Colorado based non-profit, that addresses issues that make it hard to grow up in Colorado. Her vision for change is deeply personal and grounded in lived experience ~ from leading coalitions to pass critical legislation to protect Colorado’s teens and young adults, Dawn believes deeply in bridging the gap between those in pain and those in power and that the solutions to our state’s issues need to be informed by those closest to the pain.
Her commitment to ending gun violence is exemplified by her work as an early leader with Mom’s Demand Action and her key role in passing Boulder’s assault weapons ban. Blue Rising’s work on gun violence seeks to build common ground on both sides of the isle to develop policies that make Colorado a safer place for our children to thrive.
Dawn is also a powerful voice for addressing the harms of high-potency THC, the fentanyl crisis, and most recently the way these issues are intersecting on social media and how that intersection is derailing young lives. She brings her advocacy to the forefront of public health and legislative change. Her thoughtful leadership on these issues has helped initiate critical conversations and policy shifts, always centering community well-being over political posturing. A gifted artist, her works reflect her deep-rooted belief in the power of individuals to shift the course of history. Having grown up in New York and studied in Manhattan, Dawn was ultimately drawn to the healing landscapes of Colorado’s mountains and the red canyons of the Southwest, terrains that mirror both her resilience and the depth of her activism.
The Margaret Willard Award is a fitting honor for someone who continues to lead with integrity, courage, and hope. She is more than a community organizer; she is a force of nature. To know Dawn or even witness her work is to be inspired to get involved, to care a little more, and to speak a little louder. In a time when civic responsibility can feel overwhelming or distant, Dawn makes it feel possible ~ and urgent. Her work reminds us that change doesn’t start somewhere else; it starts with us.
The University Women’s Club is proud to honor Dawn’s accomplishments and welcomes her voice in the long line of Margaret Willard Award winners.
Transition in Leadership
The 2025-2026 UWC Officers will assume office after the May Honors Reception. Their positions are: Andie Kutinsky, President; Anne Hudson, Past-President; Sharon Nehls, President-Elect; Sharon Nehls, Secretary; Betty Johnson, Secretary-Elect; and Frieda Holley, Treasurer and Treasurer-Elect. They all are extremely skilled and sure to represent UWC well!
We are grateful to those who have previously served in these positions and welcome our new leadership to UWC.
Scholarship Luncheon
The University Women’s Club Spring Scholarship Luncheon is an opportunity to introduce and honor the recipients of the Club’s scholarships. The 2025 Annual Scholarship Luncheon took place on Tuesday, April 15 at the Boulder Country Club, attended by 85 UWC members, guests, and the scholarship recipients. Six non-traditional students from the University of Colorado Boulder campus were each awarded a $5,000 scholarship. During the program students shared stories about their college journey and personal experiences. University Women’s Club members enjoyed a delicious meal provided by the Boulder Country Club. Many thanks to these wonderful ladies who were a part of the Scholarship Luncheon Committee: Jonette Lucia, Chair, Linda Hultman, and Lois Anderson.
Happy Hour/Tea Time Conversations via ZOOM
We invite anyone and everyone to join us on Monday afternoons for our Happy Hour / Tea Time. These Zoom meetings occur every Monday except National or Religious Holidays from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. We each have four minutes to talk to the group about a topic in our personal lives or within our philosophies. It’s an opportunity to get to know fascinating women on a much deeper level.
Topics for May can be found below. Contact Andie Kutinsky (drandie at gmail.com) to get on the mailing list.
May Topics
5/5/25 – Gift that was the best ever
5/12/25 – Favorite book
5/19/25 – Where were you during a momentous occasion?
Note: Happy Hour Tea Time will not meet during the summer but will resume again in September.
Membership Update
UWC will end the 2024-5 Membership year with 345 active members. Collectively, we have welcomed 5 Lecture Luncheon speakers, watched Pirates of Penzance, celebrated our scholarship winners, hiked, biked and snowshoed, attended movies and plays, read scores of books, and donated over $20,000 toward our flagship scholarships. The goodwill and comaraderie that permeate UWC are to be celebrated!
As summer begins, it is a good time to think about welcoming more local women into UWC. Let your friends know about UWC’s welcoming stance and range of activities and ask them to mark their calendars to learn more at the September meeting in Viele Park! From April 1 through July 31 the online membership page offers provisional new membership (to check out those interest groups that are active) with 2025-6 dues payable beginning August 1.
Have a great summer!
Merry Bullock
Membership Chair
SCHOLARSHIPS
Message from the Scholarship Chair
If you attended last month’s scholarship luncheon at the Boulder Country Club, I trust you were inspired. The students were so impressive, each one facing unique challenges and choosing to forge ahead with completion of their education. Listening to them certainly prompted me to make another donation to help them.
This year the scholars were the centerpiece of the luncheon, not sandwiched between lunch and a fashion show. It changed the whole tone of the event. The students were given ample time to tell us about their individual journeys and listen to other speeches in a more relaxed environment. The stop watch was gone.
Each person expressed their deep gratitude to have received a $5,000 boost to paying their tuition in the next academic year. It was so apparent how critical our scholarship is to achieving their academic goals.
When the program ended, the scholarship recipients had time to socialize with each other, which they really enjoyed. In fact, they suggested next year to encourage all the students to socialize with each other during the mingle time before being seated. Also, at least one student really connected with their sponsor and that interaction was especially meaningful. Many thanks are owed to the scholarship committee, which included Becky Batizy, Jane Cummings, Ruth Hamann, and Kathleen Salzberg, with me as Chair.
It is so easy to donate to ensure that the UWC can continue to help non-traditional students at CU Boulder. Just go to the Scholarship link where you can easily make an online donation. You can also donate to UWC when signing up for UWC events and when grocery shopping .
Jean Manifesto
UWC Scholarship Chair
Scholarship Recipients
Aspen Rawson
I am a nontraditional student who has overcome significant life challenges, including homelessness, addiction, and placing my daughter for adoption at 17. After surviving an abusive relationship, I decided to change my path. In 2017, I earned my GED with college credit, worked my way up in the financial industry, and eventually decided to pursue higher education. I graduated from Front Range Community College in May 2024 with a focus in women’s studies and philosophy and transferred to CU Boulder. I’m currently interning with One Colorado and plan to attend law school to pursue a career in policy and legislation.
Isaiah Smith
I’m a 31-year-old nontraditional computer science student, graduating in December 2026. After earning an associate’s degree in 2016, I worked as a hospital janitor while doing hobbyist game development, eventually landing a job in the industry. Despite achieving my dream job, I wanted my work to have a greater impact, so I returned to school. Now, I’m a software developer and heliophysics researcher at LASP and NSO, using my skills to support open science collaboration. Through CU, I’ve found a path to contribute to technology that benefits humanity, and I’m proud to be a Buffalo.
Mowgli Gunn
I am a maverick, always pushing my physical and mental limits. I was recently introduced to the intersection of arts and engineering through my fabrication involvement for Burning Man. This experience inspired me to develop a Design Consultancy, Mowgli’s Concepts. When Brendan Picker-Mahoney, Boulder Arts Program Manager, advised me to finish my engineering degree as a first step in building Mowgli’s Concepts, I developed a degree path at CU to integrate structural engineering into public arts and sculpture and founded the Art in Public Spaces Club that supports upcoming artists in uncovering the path into public arts.
Cassidy Arnett
I am a first-generation, nontraditional senior, ecology and evolutional biology and Japanese double major, and photography minor. Despite economic barriers, I registered at Austin Community College in 2014, but paused my education after my mom’s breast cancer diagnosis. Committed to ecological conservation since childhood, I’ve worked several conservation-focused positions. At CU, I’ve repeatedly made the Dean’s list, led Tau Sigma Honor Society as secretary, studied evolution abroad in Ecuador, mentored students learning to code in biostatistics software, and currently assist with a PhD candidate’s grasslands research. As I near graduation, I’m planning my route to a PhD in Japan for a career researching amphibian conservation.
Breeana Pritchard
At the age of 18, I became the breadwinner of the family and ended up dropping out of college a couple years later so I could work two jobs. Not being able to finish college held a weight on me, and I knew I had been privileged with a great education, and wanted to use it to improve the lives of others. After several years of being out of school, I was able to attend Front Range Community College where I was guided by many excellent professors. Soon after, I was accepted to CU Boulder to complete my biomedical engineering degree, where I now plan to graduate in Fall of 2026.
Melissa Chavez
My story is one of resilience and determination. Despite a challenging childhood—including life as the child of an immigrant, abuse, juvenile detention, foster care, and teen motherhood—I once believed I was destined for prison. Instead, with the encouragement of teachers who urged me to dream bigger, I chose to rewrite my story and build a better future. Now pursuing a degree in electrical engineering, I am redefining what is possible. Though my days are demanding and my nights are short, I find strength in setting an inspiring example for my two young sons.
Donations to the Scholarship Fund
Scholarship Donations (March-April 2025)
Judith Auer
Jennifer Bohlin
Laura Border
Merry Bullock
Barbara Christoffersen
Margot Crowe
Karen Diamond
Catherine Ertz
Janet Freeman
Linda Fulton
America Online Giving Foundation
Helen Goldman
Kathy Halm
Shirley Harkess
Nancy Helmuth
Sandy Johnson
Jacqueline Kilburn
Andrea Kutinsky
Rory Laiho
Jane Laughlin
Patty Ludke
Cindy Meyer
Mary Morgan
Sandra Mullins
Jean Nelson
Sara Noah
DeAnn ODonovan
Linda Ortiz
Becky Palmer
Jyotsna Raj
Katherine Randall
Sandra Reynolds
Marge Riddle
Kathleen Salzberg
Donna Seaman
Joyce Spencer
Helen Williams
Stephanie Wrotny
Support Scholarships Through Your Grocery Shopping!
You can donate director to UWC by clicking here: https://boulderuwc.org/uwc-donation-form/
Or, if you shop at King Soopers, Safeway, or Albertson’s, you can participate in their community award programs, and 5% of your purchases will be donated to UWC to support our scholarships at no cost to you!!
The King Soopers program works by linking your King Soopers Loyalty Card account to the UWC Account. Directions for signing up can be found here: https://www.kingsoopers.com/i/community/community-rewards
The Safeway program works through a Safeway Community Giving Card that you can obtain from Norma Portnoy (normaportnoy1112 at gmail.com) or at UWC events.
DID YOU KNOW?
Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is not a federal holiday but it is a day to celebrate motherhood and show appreciation for mothers, including (great-) grandmothers, stepmothers, foster mothers, and other mother figures. The history goes way back: the modern holiday was first celebrated in 1908. Anna Marie Jarvis was the founder of this holiday in the United States.
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is more than just a great excuse for a cookout and a day off from work. The holiday was created to honor the many American men and women who died in military service. This focus on those who made the ultimate sacrifice sets it apart from Veterans’ Day, which honors all military veterans, living and dead.
Here are some facts and history on the holiday:
- The day was originally set aside to remember Union soldiers who died during the Civil War, but following World War I, its scope expanded to include those who died in any war or military action. At the end of the Civil War, many U.S. cities held their own memorial observations for their hometown heroes.
- The idea for a specific holiday came in 1868 from Illinois Senator John Alexander Logan, a former Union general and keynote speaker at one early observation. Logan used his position as commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, a fraternal organization of Union soldiers, to issue a proclamation for a national “Decoration Day” to be observed on May 30 of that year by decorating the tombs of Union soldier.
- The name “Memorial Day,” started cropping up from time to time. The new name became more common after World War II, and in 1967 was declared the official name by Federal law.
- Memorial Day was celebrated on May 30 until 1968, when Congress passed the Uniform Holidays Bill, moving four holidays — Columbus Day, Presidents’ Day, Veterans Day, and Memorial Day—to designated Mondays in order to create the ever-popular three-day weekends.
(Source: Farmers’ Almanac)
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 UWC at boulderuwc@gmail.com with “Acknowledgements Chair” in the subject line.
Members In Memoriam
As information to members, and to remember those who have passed away, UWC includes an “In Memoriam” section on the website. This section honors those UWC members that we know about who have died since 2020. Details honoring their passage are here.
If you are aware of UWC members who have left us, please let Joyce Spencer, webmaster, (jjandbobs at msn dot com) and Tam Van Spriell (tamvanspriell at gmail dot com) know the member’s name for prompt inclusion on our website and in future MESSAGES.
INTEREST GROUPS
Interest Group News
A Message from the Interest Groups’ Chair
Thank you to all the participants in the interest groups this year. BUT—there are still things to do over the summer!
- Hikers and Slower Hikers will still be heading out every Friday at 9 a.m. and at 8:30 a.m. after Memorial Day.
- Biking Group has a new leader, Sandy Bainbridge (970-584-0311). Sandy is a Senior in her 70’s and an active cyclist. She is one of the leaders of the age-well cycling group. Sandy has done many recent cycling tours in the states and in Europe! She believes in the “use it or lose it “ motto. Rides will start with some easy routes of 10-12 miles and graduate to 20-25 mile rides by the end of the summer. Coffee stops are always included! Please call Sandy to let her know if you are interested in biking starting in the beginning of May – rides will be on Thursdays.
SPECIAL INVITATION: Get acquainted coffee at Sandy’s home, 1:00 p.m., on May 6. RSVP to Sandy via text message 970 584 0311; Address 310 Norton St Boulder.
- Out to Lunch group meets year around and will continue to meet in the summer.
- Garden Group definitely meets in the summer! In fact, the meetings started in April with a planning meeting. They will meet throughout the summer months with a final meeting in October.
- Sunday Afternoon at the Movies needs a co-chair for next fall. Please contact Carmen Caver (803-606-5619) if you can help out.
- Spanish Conversation Group will be meeting throughout the summer. We meet every Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. usually at the Dark Horse. We welcome Intermediates as well as Advanced Spanish speakers. Those with at least two-years of high school Spanish or Duo-Lingo are welcome to join us. Please contact Diana King (303-803-4583) for more information.
On the Road Again
Hello Roadies,
Our next outing is another VIVA production, this one the classic American play Our Town. If you’d like to go as part of the On the Road contingent, buy your own ticket for the matinee performance Saturday May 17. My seat is D10. Price is $25 for seniors + $3.25 service charge. You can avoid the service charge if you get your ticket at the Dairy box office.
We’ll try to have a VIVA member meet with us after the show to join in a group discussion.
Tell me if you are coming, so I’ll keep an eye out for you.
This will be the next-to-the-last On the Road Again outing that I will plan. I’ll set up another in the summer, and then I am bowing out. I’ve been asking for someone to take over as chair – or perhaps 2 someones to be co-chairs but no one has volunteered. If no one steps forward we’ll have to retire this interest group. Let me know if you would be interested or would like to know more.
Kathy Randall, Chair
Replacement chair or co-chairs needed
Sunday Afternoon at the Movies needs a co-chair for next fall. Please contact Carmen Caver (1-803-606-5619) if you can help out.
On the Road Again. This popular group has had outings near and far for about 15 years. Karen Diamond, Karon Johnson, and, most recently, Kathy Randall have organized visits to many interesting places. But Kathy is ready to retire. She’s been trying to find a replacement for the past year or two, with no luck. But this is it. If no one volunteers to step in, the group will cease to be. Kathy says she will help the new chair get started. If you are willing, or if you want further information about this, please contact Kathy Randall at katherineran at gmail dot com.
Spanish Conversation Group
UWC Spanish Conversation Group gathered at Carelli’s to celebrate March birthdays!
Movie Group
On Sunday afternoon April 6 the UWC Movie Group went to see The Friend at the 29th Street Century Theater followed by a discussion at BJ’s Brewery. Right to left: Gisele Shea, Sharon Shilling, Norma Portnoy, Lorraine Sexton, Sandy Johnson, Diane Thoms, Carmen Caver, Ruth Harvey, Sherron Shuffield, Tina Facteau, and Fran Blum.
Interest Groups Information
Bicycling – Meets weekly on Thursdays from May through October. Chair: Sandy Bainbridge 970-584-0311. We start with a couple of shorter rides and work up to around 20+ miles each ride. We have a couple of levels of riders, but faster riders will wait until all riders catch up. Electric bikes are welcome.
Book Group – Afternoon – Fourth Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. mostly at members’ homes or on ZOOM. Vaccinations required. Chairs: Mary Anna Dunn 720-355-8174; Lois Linsky 303-499-2689.
Book Group – Biographies – Third Friday at 3:00 p.m., in person. Chair: Mary Pierce 303-360-0157.
Book Group – The Original Book Group – Formerly Evening – Second Thursday at 2:30 p.m. Meetings held in members’ homes. Chairs: Judy Reid 303-746-2983; Judy Thompson 608-469-6883. This group has been meeting continuously since the 1950’s.
Bridge Group – First Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. Chair: Karen Neff 303-494-0467.
French Conversation – All Speaking Levels – Dates and times to be determined. Chair: Zdenka Smith 303-330-2856.
Games Group – It’s Anyone’s Game – Board and card games. Third Tuesday from 1:30 – 4:00 p.m. at home of Chair in Louisville. Contact chair to join. Chair: Kathleen Newton 720-548-8661.
Garden Group – Third Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. Chairs: Jyotsna Raj 303-447-8831; Jean Rohrschneider 720-542-9788.
Golfing – For the Casual Golfer – 1:00 p.m. every Thursday at various golf courses, new members welcome. Chair: Susan Planck 303-499-3916.
Hikers and Slow Hikers – Every Friday at 9:00 am, September to May; 8:30 June to August. Meet at north end of the east side of covered garage at 29th Street Mall, opposite the lower-level south entrance to the former Macy’s. Chairs: Joan (Joanie) Cardone 303-263-7823; Frieda Holley 303-499-3733. Please note: Dogs are not allowed on UWC hikes.
Italian Conversation – Wednesday, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. on Zoom. Chair: Maxene Wilson 303-530-4619.
Music – Second Monday afternoon of most months in members’ homes, providing a venue for musical performers to meet and share their love of music in an intimate setting. Chairs: Berry Todd 303-442-9083; Tula Roberge 303-443-2509.
On the Road Again — Occasional in-person road trips. Chair: Kathy Randall 303-746-4528.
Out to Lunch – Usually Fourth Wednesday, at noon at various local restaurants. Chairs: Jean Rohrschneider 720-542-9788; Jyotsna Raj 303-447-8831.
Readers’ Theater 2 – Third Monday 4:00 p.m. at the Boulder Library. Chairs: Patty Ludke 303-817-1020; Kathy Randall 303-746-4528.
Spanish Conversation Advanced – Contact chair for details. Chair: Diana King 303-803-4583.
Sunday Afternoon at the Movies – Usually second Sunday, to see movies at a theater in Boulder or nearby theater. Chairs: Sharon Nehls 303-494-5778; Carmen Caver 803-606-5619.
Theater Goers – Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company matinees. Acting Chair, Cindy Meyer 713-256-9185.
Groups that are at capacity
- Book Group – The Bookies – Kathy Randall 303-746-4528.
- Book Group Small – Fiction and Non-Fiction, Joyce Bograd.
- Book Group – Second Monday, Janet Evans.
- Book Group – Mysteries, Betty Barnes.
- Bridge Group Intermediate level – First Wednesday Chair: Karen Neff
To start a new interest group requires at least five members including a chairperson.
If you are interested in starting a new group please contact the Interest Group Coordinator for more information: Lois Linsky Interest Group Coordinator, 303-499-2689.
To form a new book group, contact Kathy Randall, 303-746-4528.
Suggested New Groups
Any interest? Remember to start a new group there must be a leader and five participants.
- Tatting
- Antiques
Send your photos for MESSAGES!
Send your interest group photos and/or photos you have taken of Boulder and surrounds for inclusion in MESSAGES – send to MESSAGES editor Tamera Van Spriell at boulderuwc@gmail.com
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Officers
President – Anne Hudson
Past President and President Elect – Andie Kutinsky
Secretary and Secretary Elect – Sharon Nehls
Treasurer and Treasurer Elect – Frieda Holley
Board Members
Acknowledgements: Donations made “in honor of” – Joyce Spencer
Advisory/Parliamentarian – Frieda Holley
Honors Reception – Anne Hudson, Andie Kutinsky
Interest Groups Chair – Lois Linsky
Margaret Willard Award Chair – Andie Kutinsky
Membership Chair – Merry Bullock
Membership Coffee – Lynne Barnett
MESSAGES Co Chairs
Editor – Tam Van Spriell
Copy Editor – Kathleen Salzberg
Technical Editor – Merry Bullock
New Members – Shirley Harkess
Nominating Committee – Kathy Randall
Opera Brunch – Sandy Johnson
Programs
Chair – Norma Portnoy
UMC Liaison – Tam Van Spriell
Registration – Lynne Barnett
Scholarship Committee Chair – Jean Manifesto
Scholarship Luncheon – Jonette Lucia
Website – Joyce Spencer
Zoom Masters – Merry Bullock, Lynne Barnett
Non-Board Positions
Document Repository – Frieda Holley
Email Communications – Diana King, Coordinator
Archives/Historian – Karen Neff
Photographer Coordinator – Berry Todd
CALENDAR
UWC Calendar 2025 Spring
May
- Tuesday, 13 May 2025 – Honors Reception
…and for the fall, mark your calendar now:
- Tuesday, September 9, 2025 – Membership Coffee at Viele Lake
Photos courtesy of Anne Hudson.