4 minute read
Looking back as we begin to look ahead
By WCA President Patti Boochever and Publicity Director Susan Pittelman
As our WCA 2023-2024 season winds down, I want to reflect on one of our most successful seasons ever! We currently have more than 1,660 active members — a 20% increase over last year! Our NextGen group, for members ages 65 and younger, has now grown to 168 members.
Between Sept. 1 and May 15 (when I wrote this article) WCA ran 436 events, with more than 9,860 individual registrations. And that total does not include all the group activities for our more than 50 interest groups, as those registrations are through direct emails to group members, rather than through our computer system. Of the 436 events, 62 required payments, such as luncheons, dinners, docent tours, trips, art classes, Foodies gatherings and special events, including the Chanukah dance, Mah Jongg and Canasta Days, the Fashion Show and our Passover Seder.
As you might imagine, it takes a village and a bevy of talented volunteers to plan, run and administer all those registrations and activities. In May, we began enhancing opportunities for volunteering by designating a board member specifically to help match volunteers with events and activities that match their interests. We encourage all members who would like to volunteer in any capacity to contact WCA Board Member Linda Simon (lgsimon2947@ yahoo.com). Linda will match you with volunteer opportunities you are sure to enjoy.
In addition to our volunteering initiative, the season is finishing with a flurry of activities. Nearly 40% of WCA members live in Naples full-time. Membership Director Harriett Kleinman is spearheading the newly invigorated Year Rounders group for full-time members. In addition to activities that already meet year-round, Kleinman and her committee planned 13 special activities for Year Rounders, beginning with the Summer Kickoff on May 22, which was attended by 140 members! (See photos.) Watch for registration information for all upcoming Year Rounder events in your weekly newsletter.
But WCA does not stand on our laurels. The board and our wonderful volunteers are busy planning for the 2024-2025 season, which begins Sept. 1. We have already identified the dates for our special events. (You can see them under “Events, Special Events” on our website). Our highly successful Thursday morning Speaker Series has a full lineup of fascinating and educational presentations. We are also planning tours, trips, art classes and more. If you have an idea for a program, please share it with me – your suggestions are always welcome!
Membership renewals will begin on Monday, July 1. If you are already a WCA member, watch for a special email reminding you to renew your membership. And then “due” it right away so you don’t miss out on a single day of the 2024-2025 season. We look forward to a great new season and to having you be part of it!
Summer kickoff for WCA year rounders
The theme of the very successful Summer Kickoff was friendship, with pineapples as decorations. Pineapples are a symbol of friendship and hospitality, which is very representative of WCA as well as of our Federation community. Each table was decorated with a pineapple and a sign featuring a personality trait of our wonderful WCA members. Seating was random, with members picking a table name from a basket to encourage making new friends.
