Programs

2022 – 2023 Season

October 12, 2022

Welcome Back Dinner

• Bertucci’s, 45 Walkers Brook Drive, Reading

November 9, 2022

Home, My Story of House and Personal Restoration: a Memoir – M.G. Barlow, Author

• Book Talk in person with local author, M.G. BarlowM.G. Barlow is a Chelmsford native and will be joining us to talk about her book,  Home, published in 2021, braids the history of a New England house and town with teachings of motherhood, loss and tradition—plus a little romance and humor along the way.

December 14, 2022

Soapmaking with Bretta Norton

• Soapmaking – it’s chemistry crafting at home!  Bretta will be giving us a presentation about how easy it is to make your own cold-process bar soap, even for someone who hasn’t extensively studied any chemistry.  The discussion will cover each of the following topics:  required tools, general chemical compounds, process, ingredient considerations and recipe development, safety, and creative touches.

January 11, 2023

Follow Your Art – Presentation by Kris Rodolico

• We are privileged to have Kris Rodolico, the visionary behind Melrose’s, Follow Your Art Community Studios (FYA), where she is both founder and Executive Director.  She is a woman for all seasons and has brought that to bear in her FYA programs where ‘art’ is broadly defined. It includes visual arts, craft, writing, and performance. Kris will talk about FYA, let us in on some of the secrets of the fine arts world, and give some tips to enhance our own attempts to create. So come and try your hand at joining the world of creativity.

February 8, 2023 via ZOOM

“Nothing But The Blood: The Story of the Apostolic Singer of Miami” – A Documentary, discussion to follow

• Nothing but the Blood: The Story of the Apostolic Singers of Miami.  The film documents the gospel group’s late 1991 first recording session – though, by then, they’d been performing together for more than 40 years. This documentary, which won ‘Best Music Documentary’ at the 2022 Downtown Los Angeles Film Festival,  was directed by Carmen Lundy.  She is also an accomplished jazz singer / songwriter (with 2 Grammy nominations), actress, and artist. Carmen Lundy has a family connection to the Apostolic Singers of Miami. The group, originally called a choir, was established in the early 1950’s by her grandfather. Her mother was one of the lead singers, and several aunts and cousins were also members. During the meeting we will discuss the film with Carmen Lundy herself joining us on Zoom to answer questions. Carmen’s Aunt Charlotte, a pianist, living in Boston, and a former member of the group, will also join in. How lucky we are!

March 8, 2023

Melrose Veterans Services  – Presentation by Rose Trifoni Mazzuchelli

• Rose Trifoni Mazzuchelli, Veterans Services Director in Melrose, brings her expertise to ourmeeting.  Having served  in the Army from 1979 to 2001, she  has served as a military police officer, a special  agent, and was named Winthrop’s first female veterans services officer, as well as Winthrop’ s Woman of the Year.  Melrose Veterans Services is part of the Melrose-Wakefield-Saugus (MWS) Veterans Services District.  In her position in Melrose, Trifoni-Mazzuchelli is leading a series of veterans food bank events for Melrose, Saugus, and Wakefield. She helps veterans navigate social welfare programs, financial benefits, and eligibility requirements for employment assistance. She also assists veterans by connecting them to various other appropriate services.

April 12, 2023

TBD 

May 10, 2023

TBD

2020 – 2021 Season

October 21, 2020

Welcome Back ZOOM Dessert

• ZOOM Virtual Meeting Online – Virtual dessert making (ingredients hand delivered pre-meeting)

November 11, 2020

“Mary Livermore – 200th birthday celebration and centennial of the 19th amendment” – Presentation by Vanessa Hale

• ZOOM Virtual Meeting Online

December 9, 2020

“Essex, England:  Home of the Mayflower” – Presentation by Linda MacIver  

• ZOOM Virtual Meeting Online

January 13, 2021

“Reframing Local History in White Suburbs where Black Lives Matter” – Presentation by Jim Bennett

• ZOOM Virtual Meeting Online
• SPECIAL EVENT – Sunday, February 7, 2020, 12PM –  ZOOM Super Bowl Brunch 

February 10, 2021

Hear all about Kathe’s comedic journey as she ‘entertains us’! – Comedy presentation by Kathe Feeney Farris

• ZOOM Virtual Meeting Online

March 10, 2021

Whitelam Books in Reading, MA – Owner Liz Whitelam will be speaking of strategies for staying in business during the Covid pandemic.

• ZOOM Virtual Meeting Online

April 14, 2021

“Suffragettes in Corselettes”  – a program presented by mother/daughter team – ‘Grounded Goodwife‘.

• ZOOM Virtual Meeting Online

May 12, 2021

We hope to feature former scholarship winners bringing us up to date on where their studies have taken them.

• ZOOM Virtual Meeting Online

2019-20 Season

October 9, 2019

Welcome Back Dinner
Public Kitchen, 397 Main St., Wakefield

November 13, 2019

Current Events with Joan Vennochi, Boston Globe Columnist

December 11, 2019

“100 Women Who Care – Boston North” – Presentation by Deborah Higgins   

• This is a members-only circle of philanthropic women dedicated to amplifying the awareness and support of deserving non-profits in the local area.

January 8, 2020

Nutrition and Wellness – Jacquelyn Burke from Lavallee Wellness, Registered Dietician

• SPECIAL EVENT – Sunday, February 2, 2020, 12PM                                                                                            Super Bowl Brunch at Mary Pat DeSwarte’s

February 12, 2020

Our bi-annual Goods & Services Auction night to benefit various AAUW Funds and Foundations. 

March 11, 2020

Whitelam Books in Reading, MA – Owner Liz Whitelam will discuss the challenge of being a small business owner in the era of large corporate booksellers.

• SPECIAL EVENTS – March 17,18,19: Potluck Dinners 

April 8, 2020

Susan B. Anthony, Women’s Rights Activist – Presented by Sheryl Faye,                                                                                                                  Historical Women Performer

May 13, 2020

“The Beantown Girls” –  Jane Healey, Author and Speaker                                                                                                  This is her lastest historical fiction novel

• SPECIAL EVENT June 2020, Date and Program TBD – Boston Pops Outing                                                                                                                   

2017-18 Season

List of programs, officers, and refreshment committees as of November 14, 2017

AAUW programming 2017-18 as of 11-14-17 (no May)

2016-17 Season

October 12, 2016

Welcome Back Dinner
Bertucci’s, 45 Walkers Brook Drive, Reading

• President, Secretary: Patti Henni, Maureen Hatch

November 9, 2016

Travel Destination: Dharamshala, India; Jaya Tripathi

• President, Secretary: Mary Pat DeSwarte, Nancy McLellan
• Hostesses: Alison Burke, Susan Murray
• Committee: Mary Pat DeSwarte, Patti Henni, Maureen Hatch, Nancy McLellan

December 14, 2016

A History of Boston in 50 Objects, Joe Bagley AND Bake and Craft Sale to benefit Scholarship Fund

• President, Secretary: Alison Burke, Susan Murray
• Hostesses: Ursula Daley, Regina Lucas
• Committee: Gail Infurna, Joyce Zeiner

January 11, 2017

Bikes, Not Bombs

• President, Secretary: Pat McConville, Susan Bishop
• Hostesses: Alison Burke, Annalise Anderson
• Committee: Susan Dole, Ruth Conti

SPECIAL EVENT Sunday, February 5, 2017, 12PM

Super Bowl Brunch at Mary Pat DeSwarte’s

February 8, 2017

Women’s Health & Wellness, Ginger Verge

• President, Secretary: Regina Lucas, Judy Clark
• Hostesses: Monique Barnum, Karen Gareis
• Committee: Jackie Coogan, Karen O’Connell

March 8, 2017

Movie Night, “50 Children: The Rescue Mission of Mr. & Mrs. Krause

• President, Secretary: Karen Gareis, Karen O’Connell
• Hostesses: Judy Clark, Susan Bishop
• Committee: Virginia Luscinski, Mary Lou Newbern

SPECIAL EVENTS

Monday, March 13: Potluck Dinner at Patti Henni’s

Tuesday, March 14 OR 16: Potluck Dinner at Gail Infurna’s

April 12, 2017

Goods & Services Auction to Benefit Various AAUW Funds & Foundations

• President, Secretary: Jackie Coogan, Angela Singer
• Hostesses: Kendra Nedjar, Tamara Nedjar
• Committee: Phyllis Blacklock, Adele Maciejowski

May 10, 2017

Program TBD

• President, Secretary: TBD
• Hostesses: Pat McConville, Angela Singer
• Committee: Edna Beaton, Doris DeAmicis, Lorna Philley

SPECIAL EVENT June 2017, Date TBD

Boston Pops Outing; Program TBD; contact Joyce Zeiner for more information

2015-16 Season

October 14

Welcome Back Dinner
LOCATION CHANGE: Fusilli’s Cucina, 107 Main Street, Reading

• President, Secretary: Patti Henni, Maureen Hatch

November 11

Hiking the 500-Mile Camino De Santiago, Theresa Fersch

• President, Secretary: Mary Pat DeSwarte, Nancy McLellan
• Hostesses: Alison Burke, Susan Murray
• Committee: Mary Pat DeSwarte, Patti Henni, Maureen Hatch

December 9

Dance Performance by students of the O’Shea-Chaplin Academy of Irish Dance & Bake and Craft Sale to benefit the Scholarship Fund

• President, Secretary: Joyce Zeiner, Angela Singer
• Hostesses: Kendra Nedjar, Gail Infurna
• Committee: Annalise Conti, Monique Barnum

January 13

Backyard Chickens 101, Khrysti Smyth, “The Chickeness”

• President, Secretary: Pat McConville, Susan Bishop
• Hostesses: Lorna Philley, Karen O’Connell
• Committee: Mary Lou Newbern, Joyce Zeiner, Jackie Coogan

SPECIAL EVENT Sunday, February 7, 12PM

Super Bowl/Valentine’s Brunch at Mary Pat DeSwarte’s

February 10

Women’s Heart Health, Ginger Verge
LOCATION CHANGE: Perkins Lecture Hall, Melrose-Wakefield Hospital (map here)

• President, Secretary: Jackie Coogan, Judy Clark
• Hostesses: Connie Lewis, Regina Lucas
• Committee: Alanna Nelson, Angela Singer, Ursula Daley

March 9

Movie Night, Top Secret Rosies: The Female “Computers” of WWII
LOCATION CHANGE: Windsor at Oak Grove Clubhouse, 12 Island Hill Avenue (across from Pine Banks)

• President, Secretary: Karen O’Connell, Ursula Daley
• Hostesses: Susan Dole, Ruth Conti
• Committee: Nancy McLellan, Karen Gareis

SPECIAL EVENTS

Monday, March 14: Potluck Dinner at Patti Henni’s

Tuesday, March 15: Potluck Dinner at Gail Infurna’s

April 13

Guiding Eyes for the Blind, NH Region Chapter, Trainers & Puppy Trainees

• President, Secretary: Karen Gareis, Alanna Nelson
• Hostesses: Phyllis Blacklock, Pat McConville
• Committee: Jan Crafts, Adele Maciejowski, Althea Brown

May 11

The Great American Songbook, Patricia Perry, Living History Interpreter

• President, Secretary: Alison Burke, Karen O’Connell
• Hostesses: Edna Beaton, Susan Bishop
• Committee: Judy Clark, Doris DeAmicis

SPECIAL EVENT Thursday, June 16

Boston Pops, “Best of Broadway” with Keith Lockhart; contact Joyce Zeiner for more information

2014-15 Season

NOT POSTED

2013-14 Season

October 9, 2013

Welcome Back Reception

• President, Secretary: Patti Henni, Maureen Hatch

November 13, 2013

Joseph R. Gallo, Jr., author of “Boston Bronze & Stone Speak to Us”

• President, Secretary: Mary Pat DeSwarte, Nancy McLellan
• Hostesses:   Nancy McLellan, Mary Pat DeSwarte
• Committee: Susan Eason, Maureen Hatch

December 11, 2013

Musical Performance by Wilmington High students, annual Bake and Craft Sale

• President, Secretary: Susan Eason, Susan Murray
• Hostesses: Alison Burke, Kendra Nedjar
• Committee: Patti Henni, Lorna Philley

January 8, 2014

The Prettiest Places in the Commonwealth, Lynn Hildenbrand, Head of Visitor Services for Middlesex/Essex District of MA State Parks

• President, Secretary: Pat McConville, Judy Clark
• Hostesses: Karen Gareis, Annalise Conti
• Committee: Gail Infurna, Susan Murray

February 12, 2014

Textilelations, Bevery Hinckley, fiber artist and award-winning (retired) Melrose teacher

• President, Secretary: Alison Burke, Monique Barnum
• Hostesses: Ursula Daley, Ruth Conti
• Committee: Judy Clark, Angela Singer

March 12, 2014

Coffee, Tea and Me of Melrose, Owners: Lorenzo and Emily Tenreiro

• President, Secretary: Karen Gareis, Gail Infurna
• Hostesses: Jan Crafts, Connie Lewis
• Committee: Pat McConville, Susan Bishop, Jackie Coogan

April 9, 2014

Movie Night: The Help, directed by Tate Taylor (NOTE LOCATION CHANGE: Oak Grove Village Clubhouse, Main Street, across from Pine Banks)

• President, Secretary: Joyce Zeiner, Ursula Daley
• Hostesses: Monique Barnum, Regina Lucas
• Committee: Edna Beaton, Alanna Nelson, Adele Maciejowski

May 14, 2014

An Evening with Hallie Ephron, Author        

• President, Secretary: Karen Gareis, Alison Burke
• Hostesses: Joyce Zeiner, Doris DeAmicis
• Committee: Phyllis Blacklock, Mary Lou Newbern, Susan Dole

2012-13 Season

October 12, 2012

Welcome Back Reception

• President, Secretary: Susan Eason, Maureen Hatch

November 14, 2012

Voices from the Back Stairs: Domestic Servants in 19th and 20th Century New England, Jennifer Pustz, Museum Historian at Historic New England

• President, Secretary: Mary Pat DeSwarte, Judy Clark
• Hostesses:   Nancy McLellan, Ruth Conti
• Committee: Mary Pat DeSwarte, Edna Beaton

December 12, 2012

SoundScape: Performance by Wilmington High School’s a cappella group

• President, Secretary: Patti Henni, Nancy McLellan
• Hostesses:    Leila Tutela, Kendra Nedjar
• Committee: Patti Henni, Lorna Philley

January 9, 2013

An Evening with Rosie Sultan, author of Helen Keller in Love

• President, Secretary: Pat McConville, Susan Murray
• Hostesses:  Karen Gareis, Phyllis Blacklock
• Committee:  Gail Infurna, Ursula Daley

February 13, 2013

China Summer Study Tour, Angela Singer, MHS English Teacher and Department Chair

• President, Secretary: Karen Gareis, Gail Infurna
• Hostesses:  Pat McConville, Susan Murray
• Committee:   Carol McKinley, Virginia Luscinski

March 13, 2013

Movie Night: Iron Lady, directed by Phyllida Lloyd (NOTE LOCATION CHANGE: Oak Grove Village Clubhouse, Main Street, across from Pine Banks)

• President, Secretary: Carol McKinley, Mary Pat DeSwarte
• Hostesses:   Monique Barnum, Judy Clark
• Committee:  Alison Burke, Annalise Conti

April 10, 2013

Auction to benefit various AAUW Funds and Foundations

• President, Secretary: Alison Burke, Mary Lou Newbern
• Hostesses:  Susan Eason,  Mary Lou Newbern
• Committee:  Doris DeAmicis, Connie Lewis

May 8, 2013

Community Supported Agriculture and Sustainable Farming, Farmer Dave

• President, Secretary: Leila Tutela, Monique Barnum
• Hostesses: Maureen Hatch, Monique Barnum
• Committee: Joyce Zeiner

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