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August 30, 2019 – President’s Message

• Tablescape Fantasy: A Feast for the Eyes
• Honor Flight Southern Arizona: Recognized Hub of the National Honor Flight Network™; September Flight Announced
• Membership Gathering: Join Us for Brunch 
• Coming in October: VA Homeless Clothing & Household Goods Drive 
• Members Corner: Thank You, August Event Volunteers; Survey Update; Spotlight: Becky Ashin
• Fall Festival: Something New!
• Community Connections: VA Homeless Support Program 
• Upcoming Events – Save These Dates

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TWOQC’s first Ice Cream Social and Tablescape Competition was a delightful combination of art appreciation, socialization, and great sundaes! There were nine Tablescapes with 26 members participating. Marilyn Watt won BEST OF SHOW with her stunning “Alice in Wonderland” entry. Sylvia Perry and her team: Jadine Hilt, Marilyn Burkstrand, Margot Elsner, Sandi Beecher, and Janice Pell (Scholarships) won BEST EXPRESSION OF THEME with their absolutely amazing “Javelina Hoedown”. Barb Hunsinger (who was out of town) and Bobbi Gordon won MOST ORIGINAL PRESENTATION for their charming “Picnic on Route 66”.

All the Tablescapes were so well done that the Banquet Staff had a huge challenge judging the top three prize winners. EVERYONE got a Belgian chocolate bar (YUM!).

The remaining line up:

• “Back to School” (YOTO) with Chair Sue Ann Obremski and Cathy Goodrich
• “Elvis the King of Rock and Roll” with Chair Ann Nease and Jeanne Stevens, Kris Wollard, and Gail Boulet
• “Chinese Melody in Blue” with Chair Bonnie Hyra and Marte Abels and Pat Neel
• “Desert” with Chair Sue Ann Obremski and Tessie Hagerich
• “Littlest Patriot” (Baby Shower) with Chair Karen Baker and Sue Ann Obremski, Julie Ratley, Ruth McDermott, Jean Duynslager and Barbara Fiallos
• “Country Western BBQ” with Donna Roland and Laura Colbert

Every Tablescape had amazing details and exceptionally clever ways of using ordinary objects to create extraordinary effects. Truly an art appreciation event! Check out the inspiring pictures by Eileen Sykora, Club Photographer, in our Photo Gallery.

The Ice Cream Social was delicious and a great opportunity to socialize with old and new friends. The Banquet staff served up large scoops of vanilla ice cream with multiple toppings and we all gathered together to enjoy our summer treat in a relaxing and convivial environment. Cool – delicious fun in the summertime!

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“No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.” — James Allen, Army (February 15, 1806 – August 23, 1846)

WHAT IS HONOR FLIGHT? It is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing veterans with honor and closure (Honor Flight Foundation). Their mission is to transport America’s Veterans to Washington, DC to visit memorials dedicated to honor their service and sacrifice. Honor Flight began in Springfield, Ohio in 2005 taking 12 WWII veterans to Washington DC. Today there are 130 hubs in 45 states with two in Arizona. There is no cost to the veteran. The foundation receives no government funding and relies solely on private donations.

• Veterans served in 2018: 21,189
• Veterans on a waiting list: 38,054 (priority given to WWII, 640 die daily, and terminally ill).
• Guardians in 2018: 19,383 (each veteran travels with a Guardian who pays their own way)

WHAT IS TWOQC CONNECTION? READ MORE

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September Flight Announced

The next flight is September 28-30 and will include 23 veterans.

This is your opportunity to recognize the veterans with a simple and caring note or letter expressing your gratitude. Don’t know how to begin? Visit TWOQC’s website at womenqc.com/honor-flight for ideas.

• Please begin your notes “Dear Veteran”, “Dear Veteran Hero”
• Signed letters should be folded and placed in individual unsealed envelopes. Single letters will be copied and placed in envelopes.
• If writing more than one note, bundle envelopes with a rubber band/tie.
• Please drop letters in a collection box at the home of Julie Ratley, 727 N Hale Drive.
• Letters will be accepted until September 13.

TWOQC Honor Flight Committee thanks you for your participation in this program of honor and gratitude. Questions? Contact Julie Ratley (253-228-4792). Additional information about Honor Flight Southern Arizona is available on their website at honorflightsaz.org.

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Mark your calendars for October 28, 2019, at the Madera Clubhouse Ballroom for our annual membership event. A cash bar will be available at 10:30 a.m., and the featured drink will be a Tequila Sunrise. Ballroom doors will open at 11 a.m., and brunch will be served following a short business meeting. To tickle your taste buds, you will enjoy a chicken salad filled croissant, a side of fresh fruit, chocolate mousse pie with whipped cream and coffee. Amber Norgaard and Sabra Faulk will return to our stage for exciting entertainment.

You know what some say about the early bird? Starting today, Friday, August 30, reserve your seat at TWOQC’s October 28, Amber Autumn Membership Brunch. The tickets are $10 per member and $20 per each first-time guest.

Bobbi Gordon, Activities Coordinator, will be accepting seat/table reservations online through the website with ticket delivery shortly thereafter. When Bobbi receives an online reservation she will contact the sender within 24-hours to confirm receipt, and to discuss the exchange of tickets and money. No need to stand in line. Wow, what a concept! We hope to see you there for a relaxing time with friends. Questions, email activities@womenqc.com.

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The October 19 VA Homeless Clothing and Household Goods drive is fast approaching! It is a great time to go through your closets and kitchen cabinets. Please bag all your no longer needed new and gently used men’s fall and winter clothing and household goods. Bring them to the parking lot between the Madera Clubhouse and the Creative Arts & Technology Center between 9 a.m.–11 a.m. A crew of loyal volunteers will be happy to help unload your items.

Here is a complete list of items that VA Homeless Services needs. Questions, email clothingdrive@womenqc.com.

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This year, three raffle baskets representing TWOQC will be raffled, one each for Baby Shower, Scholarship, and YOTO.  The winnings will be shared equally. An exciting idea was presented. TWOQC could compile a simple cookbook with the theme, Quail Creek Desert Sunshine. A copy of the cookbook to be included in each basket. Recipes relating to desert cuisine would be the focus. Examples are specialty drinks, dishes with peppers and chiles, salsa concoctions, tasty southwest marinades, cactus dishes, dried meats, moles and more.

It is hoped that all members will contribute a fun recipe or two. We need to have your recipes ASAP as our time is limited. The Fall Festival is November 2 and 3. Please email recipes to sueobremski@gmail.com or drop off at SueAnn’s house (531 N. Keyes Rd) as soon as possible.

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A special thank you to our Membership Volunteers who helped at our August 26 event – Jane Brust, Deka Peters and Cher Rowland.  You take great care of our members and help keep our name tags organized!

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Survey

Thank you for your thoughtful responses.

The response to our 2019 survey has been very gratifying.  We thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts, recommendations, and concerns with us. In September, the Executive Board, working with the leadership team, will use these results and other information we have gathered throughout this year, to develop a set of strategic goals for TWOQC. We hope to be ready to share survey results and our future plans during September and October.

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Member Spotlight: Becky Ashin

Becky grew up in Kentucky and North Carolina then moved to Michigan in high school. She received her Bachelors and Masters degrees from Western Michigan University in Healthcare Administration/Business Administration & Organizational Communications. Becky worked in hospitals her entire career primarily focused on business development, marketing, and strategic planning. Her career took her to Arizona, California, North Carolina, New Mexico, Ohio and Tennessee. For the past ten years, Becky was vice president of orthopedics at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, Tennessee where she retired last year.

Becky met her husband, Jeff, when they worked for the same hospital company in Arizona. They have a son Collin who is 24, married and living in Tennessee, and three dogs: Boomer, Sadie, and Jake. Jeff has a daughter Heather and a son Robin, who lives in California. Heather has blessed the couple with two grandsons.

Becky and Jeff previously lived in Phoenix and Tucson. READ MORE to find out what the connection to retiring in Arizona was for them.

PREVIOUS MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS

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VA HOMELESS SUPPORT PROGRAM

On behalf of the Veterans Homeless Program of Southern Arizona, we thank you for your generous donations on Monday, August 26. Collectively these donations will benefit many homeless veterans in the program who are so appreciative of our efforts.

As a reminder, start searching your home for items that can be donated to our upcoming VA Homeless Clothing & Household Goods Drive on October 19.

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(♦) public event

• Sept. 28-30→Honor Flight #28 (♦)
• Sept. 30 – 6:30 p.m.→Veteran’s Clothing Drive Prequel (♦)
• Oct. 13 →Javelina Hoedown (Scholarship’s western-themed benefit) TICKET SALE DATES (♦)
• Oct. 19 →VA Clothing Drive (♦)
• Oct. 28 – 11 a.m.→Membership Gathering: Brunch – Music by Amber Norgaard RESERVE TICKETS NOW
• Oct. 26-28→Honor Flight #29 (♦)
• Nov. 11 – 6:30 p.m.→Ladies Night Out: Travel Extravaganza
• Nov. 18 – 7 p.m.→Lecture Series: Dr. John Kline “Safely Home from the Death Zone” (♦)
• Dec. 9 – 11 a.m.→Holiday Luncheon: Musical entertainment by Aztlán Mariachi

Coming in 2020…

• Jan. 20 – 7 p.m.→Lecture Series: TBA (♦)
• Feb. 13 – 7 p.m.→Lecture Series: Crocodiles, Turtles, & Fish, Oh My (♦)
• Feb. 18 – (time: TBA)→Fashion Show & Luncheon (♦)
• Mar. 16 – 7 p.m.→Lecture Series: 500-Miles in 34-Days: One Woman’s Camino de Santiago Journey (♦)

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Thank you! FMM CONTRIBUTORS: Kathe Alves (Programs), Becky Ashin (Membership), Laura Colbert (Vet Support Program), Bobbi Gordon (Activities), Tessie Hagerich (Clothing Drive), Yasmin John-Thorpe (Spotlight), Sue Obremski (Fall Festival) and Diane Quinn (Survey). PUBLISHING TEAM: President, 1st Vice President, and Webmaster.

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WHAT IS THE FRIDAY MORNING MESSAGE? FMM’s are messages from the President compiled from shared updates of club events and committee activity. LEARN MORE