The fun never stops with WCA!

from Federation Star - July/August 2022

Building a vibrant Jewish community for children and families

By Susan Pittelman, WCA Publicity Coordinator

There are fewer cars on the streets and the restaurants are not nearly as crowded as they were two months ago, but there is still a lot of activity in Naples — especially for WCA members! Several years ago, WCA started offering year-round programming for the 40% of its members who live here full time. Although programming slowed down during COVID, WCA continues to keep everyone as busy as they want to be with both in-person and Zoom programs.

For members who are game players, canasta, mah jongg and duplicate bridge will be meeting in person. The New Yorker 1 Group, Ladies Who Lunch, WCA North Ladies Who Brunch and Single Girlfriends will also meet in person, as will the Birding group.

For our “snowbird” friends who return north for the summer, some WCA programs continue to meet on Zoom, so you can participate in those activities. Among them are Foodies, Spanish, Contemporary Fiction and the ever-popular TED Talks, which will meet twice in August (TED Talks dates will be announced in WCA’s weekly newsletter).

Of course, just as during “season,” programs are open only to WCA members. Details for some programs are announced in our weekly newsletter, while information about upcoming events for our many interest groups are sent via email from that group’s liaison. To join an interest group, send an email to the liaison saying you want to join the group. Liaison names can be found on our website, wcanaples.org, under “Groups,” then “Group Descriptions” and “Liaisons.”

WCA members want to continue the wonderful friendships they formed in Southwest Florida when they return north after “season.” In 2012, WCA created several Summer Branches in various areas throughout North America so that members could “take WCA home” with them. There are currently nine Summer Branches bringing together WCA members “up north.” They are linked by a geographical nexus, with the expectation that these women are available to participate in summer activities. But you must sign up with the liaison to receive notifications about events.

To see if your area has a branch and to sign up with the appropriate liaison, check the WCA website (wcanaples.org under “Groups,” then “Group Descriptions” and “Liaisons”). Deedee Remenick, the liaison for the Washington DC/Virginia/ Maryland Summer Branch, recently arranged for women in her branch to meet in Columbia, Maryland. The women enjoyed lunch together and discussed ideas for future outings.

Our popular Speaker Series will be paused for the summer, but Speaker Coordinator Susan Koeppel has already planned a fabulous lineup for the fall!

When you have a chance, mark the dates of these upcoming WCA special events in your calendar:

• Welcome Back Luncheon – Nov. 9, 2022

• Couples Canasta Night (WCA and MCA) – Jan. 19, 2023

• Annual Mahm jongg Day – Jan. 24, 2023

• Annual Canasta Day – March 13, 2023

If you haven’t renewed your WCA membership, now is the time to do so. Memberships expireWednesday, Aug. 31. Beginning Sept. 1, members who have not paid their dues for 2022-23 will not receive WCA notifications, including the weekly newsletter.

If you are not already a member of WCA, join now so that you can participate in all the wonderful ongoing programs as well as the new events being planned. It’s easy to join – just go to wcanaples.org. Have a wonderful summer!