January 10, 2020 – President’s Message

• The Next Journey for The Women of Quail Creek
• Members Corner: Have You Renewed Your 2020 Membership?
• Lecture Series in January: How We Survived Prohibition, Arizona Style 
• Reid Park Zoo Comes to TWOQC in January; Ticket Sales for Zoo Field Trip Begin at January 27 Program
• Fashion Show Committee is Looking for Baskets and Auction Items
• In Celebration of Women
• Member Spotlight: Mary Lehman
• Upcoming Programs & Events – Save These Dates

As I write this first message as President of TWOQC, I want to thank the people who made 2019 such a successful year. Though I cannot take the space to acknowledge each one of you, know that I recognize your contributions and value the time, talent, and dedication each one of you have given to our wonderful organization. Pat Neel has been an outstanding President. Her leadership during our 15^th anniversary year has inspired us to new levels of commitment to support our community. She has encouraged us to work together to improve the lives of the many people our organization touches. Pat is a tough act to follow.

The beginning of each year marks a time for transition, time to reflect on the year or years past and time to plan a course for the future. So here begins our journey of 2020 together. There will be many exciting adventures for TWOQC this year. With the help of each member, we will explore ways to keep you engaged as we grow. We will try new methods of outreach. We will hope to remember that each member who helps with our projects is a volunteer whose time and contributions are precious. We will also hope to provide fun, friendship, and discovery in equal measure with our request that you give of yourselves to support the causes our membership values.

Let the journey begin. There is a lot of work to do. Let’s have some fun!

2020 is full of exciting events that you don’t want to miss! The Fashion Show is right around the corner, March brings a behind-the-scenes field trip to the zoo, and many luncheons and other fun events are planned throughout the remainder of the year. The deadline is January 31^st, so please drop or mail your renewal dues of $25 to Barb Hunsinger at 2197 E. Desert Squirrel Ct. Need more information? Contact Barb at membership@womenqc.com.

Join us on Monday, January 20 at 7:00 PM in the Madera Clubhouse Crystal Ballroom, as Lisa Schnebly Heidinger of AZ Humanities (Arizona’s affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities) talks about “How We Survived Prohibition, Arizona Style!” She will share funny and fascinating anecdotes of some of the colorful characters and places around the state that played a role during the decade when “drinking” was not allowed.

Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at Monday’s Beach Boys Concert (cash or check made out to TWOQC Charity Account), at the Concierge Desk (check only), or at the door (cash or check). Proceeds benefit TWOQC Scholarship Fund.

Happy 2020 from the Program Committee. We are planning twelve months of connecting with community, friends, fun and expanding our collective knowledge of the world we live in here in Quail Creek.

Monday, January 27, at 10:00 AM, Jed Dodds, Events & Outreach Supervisor of the Reid Park Zoo, will meet us in the Madera Ballroom to bring a bit of the Zoo to TWOQC. He is a great speaker and will give us a taste of what we can expect on the field trip to Reid Park Zoo, Monday, March 30th. Jed often brings critters for us to enjoy so this program is not to be missed!

And then to the Zoo Goes TWOQC …

Tickets will go on sale January 27 for the March 30 field trip and are limited to 112 passengers on the buses. Each $60.00 ticket includes bus transportation, entry to the zoo, a behind the cage tour and lunch. You will be asked to make a FIRM commitment to your lunch choice when you purchase your trip ticket. Lunch choices are:

* Taco Salad served in a Tortilla Bowl
* Cranberry Walnut Salad with Grilled Chicken
* Pesto Chicken Wrap

Beverage choices all served in a souvenir cup (additional charge for alcoholic beverages):

* Red Wine
* White Wine
* Margarita
* Pepsi
* Lemonade
* Iced Tea
* Water

Tickets are non-refundable and not transferable.

February 18th is approaching quickly. The committee for the Fashion Show is still looking for Silent Auction and Raffle Basket donations.

• Are you a chef and would you like to prepare a meal for 6 or 8 people?
• Do you have tickets to University of Arizona basketball that aren’t being used?
• Do you create beautiful things and would like to donate one of the pieces you make?
• Would you like to donate a gift certificate to your favorite restaurant, spa, or salon?

These are just some ideas for donations. To donate contact Pam Hartwell-James at 916-505-0904 or Diane Gordon at 970-485-3706. Your donations may be tax deductible through the American Cancer Society.

This year marks the 100^th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote. That accomplishment, thought by many to be the most significant in women’s American history, was made possible by strong, determined women.

Throughout this year I hope to provide a way for us to celebrate that we are women and to recall the accomplishments of women throughout the world who have paved the way for our personal journeys. Some of the women will be well known. Some, I suspect, will be less so. Perhaps you have a personal woman hero you would like others to learn about. Feel free to send me her name so that I might learn more and share something of her story. You can reach me at president@womenqc.com.

Mary Lehman is a true Midwesterner. She was born and raised in Michigan, attending Miami University in Ohio. Then she fell in love with a “Hoosier”. Mary earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Elementary Education. Her husband, Joe, spent his professional life as an Engineer with General Motors.

The couple lived in Indiana for 41-years before retiring to Quail Creek in 2001, first as “snowbirds” until becoming full-time residents in 2005. They have three children, five grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren living in various states. The couple enjoyed their retirement; the golf, the travel, as well as the wonderful life in Quail Creek. Sadly, after 53 years of marriage, Joe passed away from cancer, in 2012.

Mary is a 15-year member of the Women of Quail Creek, having joined at the time of its inception. She has served as the Club’s Treasurer, during the club’s early years, as well as serving as Historian for five years. She has also been continually involved in and worked with the club’s various committees, events, and philanthropies. Mary has spent 5 years as a volunteer driver for the American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery Program and 8 years as a member of the QC Fights Back Relay for Life Team. She has also served as a Quail Creek Unit Representative for 8 years.

Having been a “professional volunteer” all her life, Mary has worked with Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Band Boosters, PTO, taught Sunday School, Chamber of Commerce, United Way, YWCA Board President, Child Protective Services, and ACS. She continues as a volunteer, still travels, loves movies, reading, sports, and feels blessed to continue a meaningful life here in Quail Creek.

(♦) public event

• Jan. 27 – 10am→Reid Park Zoo: Animal Handler, Jed
• (♦) Feb. 13 – 7pm→Lecture Series: Crocodiles, Stingrays, and Bats, Oh My: Eocene Era Fossils by Kemmerer, WY (Jerome Montgomery, Geologist)
• (♦) Feb. 18 – 10am→Fashion Show & Luncheon: Relay for Life (10 am: doors open; silent auction & raffles available)
• (♦) Mar. 16 – 7pm→Lecture Series: 500-Miles in 34-Days: One Woman’s Camino de Santiago Journey
• Mar. 30 – 9am→Field Trip: Reid Park Zoo
• (♦) Apr. 27 – 6:30pm→Scholarships Recognition Program
• May 18 – 4:30-6pm→Mystery Mixer
• June 29 – (TBA)→Luncheon

FMM CONTRIBUTORS: Kathe Alves (programs), Barb Hunsinger (membership), Diane Gordon (fashion show), Yasmin John-Thorpe (member spotlight), Julie Woodard (scholarship lecture). PUBLISHING TEAM: President, 1st Vice President, and Webmaster.