Are you ready for the new season? WCA is!

By Susan Pittelman, WCA Publicity Coordinator

Although WCA certainly offered an impressive array of programming during the pandemic, now that we can gather in person, we are all eagerly awaiting the start of our 2021-22 season. The WCA Board of Directors, the boards of WCA North and South, and numerous other dedicated WCA members have been working diligently to plan a year that will make up for lost time!

Activities for the new season, which begins Sept. 1, include in-person events as well as some virtual programming. They will be publicized in the WCA weekly newsletter. You must be a paid WCA member to receive our newsletter and find out about, register for and be able to participate in all the activities that are being planned.

Interest groups

During this past summer, several interest groups resumed meeting in person, including bridge, WCA North’s Ladies Who Brunch and Let’s Knit and Stitch. Other groups, including WCA’s many book clubs, continued to meet virtually with plans to pivot to in-person gatherings later this season.

It’s not too early to review the list of WCA interest groups, found under “Groups” on the menu bar of our new website, www.wcanaples.org. With more than 32 interest groups, there really is something for everyone! Whether you are interested in the Foodies or reading books, short stories or plays, there is a group for you. Like to play bridge? Mah jongg? Scrabble? Canasta? If you prefer more physical activities, we have golf, chair yoga and bowling. There are also interest groups for fi lms, languages, stitching, jazz, singing and so much more.

Step right up and sign up! WCA members can easily join a variety of interest groups by following the instructions on the website. (Even if you were a member of an interest group this past year, you still need to register to be part of the group for the 2021-2022 season.)

If you have a favorite pastime or want to start a new interest group, let Program Director Elaine Soffer know. WCA has many talented members, and we are always open to new interest groups, events and ideas. Plus, we are looking for new leaders of some established groups. Volunteer and be part of the fun!

WCA North’s Ladies Who Brunch were delighted to dine together “in person” at Poached in Bonita Springs

(clockwise from front left) Mary Hendzel, Judy Berkowitz, Vickey Kipp, Karen Deutsch and Wendy Avner

Patti Bloom, Lanie Samuels, Paula Rappaport and Emily Berkowitz

Speaker series

Each year, WCA members look forward to WCA’s signature speaker series. Chair Susan Koeppel has scheduled speakers on a wide variety of topics through January. The series will start out virtually, with the hope of pivoting to in-person gatherings later in the season. We are exploring whether we will be able to offer hybrid programming, which would allow women a choice of attending the event in person or watching the program livestreamed. (Some speakers may even be recorded for later viewing.)

The speaker series will kick off the new season in October with a virtual presentation on Jewish Genetics and BRCA led by Dr. Bernard Lubin, an expert in the field.

On a lighter note, Diana Goldman, local Boston food guru, will do a cooking demo on healthy dining choices.

This topic will later be complemented by a discussion with Life Coach Lisa Lewtan on Overcoming Emotional Eating.

International Disability Advocate Judith Heuman will talk about her award-winning documentary, “Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution.”

Casting Director Jamibeth Margolis (Ida’s daughter) will return to bring us up to date on Broadway Post-COVID.

Political analyst Mark Schulman will present an election review: One Year After.

Mandy Slutsker, Director of Global Health Advocacy, will join us to discuss Success Stories in Global Health.

If you know of a talented speaker, or if you yourself are one, Susan Koeppel would appreciate hearing from you.

WCA’s golf league looks forward to resuming in October for “preseason play.” (l to r): Carol Sherman, Jeanie Morgenstern, Sue Flank and Laura Uram

Other events

Membership Director Harriett Kleinman has already scheduled some in-person new member coffees, and other members are planning koffee klatches, couples events, art studio tours and art workshops as well as some new special events. We already have secured dates in 2022 for our Annual Mah Jongg and Canasta days.

We hope to resume offering trips and purchasing group tickets to Artis—Naples performances. Of course, all of this will be contingent on COVID conditions and policies. Be sure to read the WCA weekly newsletter and check our website under “News” and “Events” for up-to-date information about activities and events.

Season highlights

Due to the uncertainty of the impact of COVID, we were not able to plan our traditional Welcome Back Luncheon for November. But a highlight of this coming season will be our “Community of Friendship Luncheon” on Monday, Feb. 21, 2022. (Save the date!) Everyone is looking forward to what promises to be a spectacular afternoon. But you must be a WCA member to attend.

So, if you are not already a member or have not yet renewed your membership for this season, go to the WCA website and join today.

On behalf of the WCA Board of Directors, we wish you a New Year filled with the blessings of good health, friendship and joyful times together.