Let the new season begin!

By Patti Boochever, WCA President

For the first time in more than two years, WCA is beginning its new season with the ability to offer in person programming! While we certainly provided an impressive array of programming during the pandemic, we are eagerly awaiting the start of our 2022-23 season. The WCA Board, along with many other dedicated WCA members, has been working diligently to plan a year that will “make up for lost time!”

The most exciting news is that construction of Federation’s new Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center building is zipping along! The center, which will open this season, will provide many more meeting spaces for speakers, programs, events and the multitude of interest groups offered by WCA. It will also have top-notch audiovisual capabilities, allowing some in-person activities to also be presented virtually and recorded. We can’t wait to start using the new center!

We have not, however, just been idly waiting for construction to be completed. During this past summer, several groups continued to meet in person, including Bridge, WCA North’s Ladies Who Brunch, Canasta, Ladies Who Lunch and Mah Jongg. And, of course, many Summer Branches up north gathered WCA friends together. Other groups, including WCA’s numerous book clubs, continued to meet virtually, with plans to pivot to in-person gatherings later this fall.

It’s not too early for you to begin to review the list of interest groups under “Groups” on WCA’s website menu bar (wcanaples.org). To ensure you are on the group’s mailing list, you must email each group liaison to sign up for those groups that interest you each season. These groups send notices of their events by email only to those members who have registered; they do not advertise in the Thursday newsletter. Some groups limit the number of participants, due to venue size or to enable each member to have a quality experience, so do not wait too long to email to the liaisons.

Whether you are interested in food or in reading books, short stories or plays, there is a group for you! Like to play bridge? Mah Jongg? Scrabble? Canasta? Step right up and sign up! If you prefer more physical activities, there will be golf, chair yoga, bird watching and bowling. Last season, we added new groups for biking, walking and pickleball! And we started a literary journal, called WCA WORDS; Couples Social Bridge; and a Younger Division, which, in addition to WCA North and WCA South, offers even more activities! There are interest groups for films, languages, knitting, couples, jazz, singing, writing … more than 40 interest groups in all!

If you have a particular interest or want to start a new interest group, let us know! One new member has already offered to start a needlepoint group. We know we have talented members, and our programming is always evolving! There really is something for everyone!

Each season, members look forward to one of WCA’s seminal programs – the Thursday morning Speaker Series. Chair Susan Koeppel continues to schedule outstanding speakers. We can look forward to several authors, an art historian, an Israeli artist and a variety of topics, including the American Department Store, the Childhoods of Successful Women, WGCU Public Media, a Holocaust Hero, and much more!

We are planning to resume another popular feature of WCA – bus day trips! Our new computer membership system enabled us to conduct a survey, and 87% of those responding wanted to resume these adventures! The Greater Naples area has so much to offer, we are also hoping to organize local trips within driving distance. Look for announcements in the newsletters this season! New Member coffees, Koffee Klatch, couples events, art workshops and other special events will also be part of our 2022-23 season.

I am already looking forward to our annual Welcome Back Luncheon, scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 9. We have a fabulous speaker and a new venue lined up for what will be our first luncheon since 2019! Additionally, the Chanukah Dance will return in December, and we have dates for our Annual Mah Jongg and Canasta Days as well as for Couples Canasta Night. All the dates can be found on our website. Don’t forget – you must be a member to attend these events!

Some of the greatest gifts of WCA membership are the many opportunities to meet other women. We have recently begun featuring surprising and serendipitous “Friendship Stories” in our weekly newsletter. It’s never too late to join WCA and create your own story! If WCA has helped you connect with someone, please share your story with us!

On behalf of the WCA Board of Directors, I wish you a New Year filled with the blessings of good health, friendship and joyful times together. I can’t wait to see you!