About Our Group
Interest Groups
Board Members
Calendar of Events
Contact Us
Join the Group
Newsletter
Scholarships
Local Businesses & Services
 
Letter of Invitation
Annual Poinsettia Sale

FALL 2006

President's Message

Interest Club News

Other News

Grace Flusche

There is wonderful energy emerging in the WUC organization this season.  Young new board members are suggesting great new ideas.  For example, the Fall Gathering Committee is being very creative in planning the September 29th event using the theme: "Hidden Treasures in Syracuse" We hope new and old members alike will come to this event to meet  and learn about local resources and discover the opportunities that the WUC interest groups offer.

New board member, Margaret Martin,  brought her energy to the creation of a WUC Gardening Group and quickly engaged Jeanette Mattson of the Syracuse Rose Society to give a  much appreciated tour of The Thorden Park Rose garden on July 16th.

A decision is still being made about whether to host a winter party and we welcome members' feedback on this as on all WUC activities.

Our most important activity that funds our scholarships is the Poinsettia sale.  This year the plant pick-up is scheduled on December 1st  We would like to hear from members who are willing to help with this event.  Help is needed in planning as well as manning the plant distribution. Please call me if you can help.(472-1674) or gflusch@hotmail.com.

Newcomers are encouraged to join WUC and to let us know if there are things hat can be done to help with the settling in process.

WUC Scholarships

A focus of WUC activities is the encouragement of scholarship.  Toward accomplishing that goal the following scholarships were awarded at the 2006 Annual Spring Luncheon. 

The Tolley Scholarship The award is given to academically strong students in the College of Health Services and Human Professions (HSHP) majoring in Child and Family Studies or Nutrition Hospitality Management.  The Tolley Award honors Ruth Tolley, wife of former Chancellor William Tolley, for her many contributions to S.U. Women.

The 2006 award was given to JILL WEATHERLY who was chosen by her college for her  outstanding academic achievement.

Two Mildred Eggers awards were given.  The award honors Ruth Eggers, wife of the late chancellor Melvin Eggers.  It is given to students studying part-time at University College. Selection is based on academic ability, leadership qualities, career goals and financial need. 

 Pictured below is ANGELIA MACK, one of the 2006 award winners. Angelia attained a 4.0 average and is working toward a degree in Social Work. Her career goal is to provide counseling and support services to children and their families.

The second Eggers Award recipient was CHERRIE NUGENT who plans to complete her undergraduate degree and fast track into the Social Work Masters Program. Her career focus will be on helping single mothers.  Her GPA is 3.95. She is pictured below.

The Beverly Whaley Award honors a current member of WUC who is the wife of past president  of SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. The scholarship is presented to a Sophomore or Junior student in ESF on the basis of academic merit and financial need.

Pictured below is THERESA EVANS, the 2006 Beverly Whaley Scholar.

GARDENING GROUP

The Gardening Group has been re-activated this year and is off to a great start having had their first event on July 16th with a tour of the Syracuse Rose Garden in Thorden park.   Much interest has been shown by WUC members. The group is under the leadership of Margaret Martin.

The purpose of the Garden Group is to nurture a sense of community among local gardeners, and offers a way for individuals to trade seeds and plants, and foster a friendly environment in which members can share information.  In short, this group is for women who love all kinds of gardening.  

Future Garden Group meetings will be held once every two or three months starting in September.  Meetings may include field trips to local nurseries and gardening landmarks, yard tours sponsored by individual members, and guest speakers on topics of interest.  

If there is a place you would like to visit, a speaker you would like to hear or a topic you would like addressed, you are welcome to come to a meeting and and share your ideas. Contact Margaret Martin at mbmartin874@hotmail.com for more information.

The WUC Garden Group has an on-line listserve for members to ask questions, and share gardening advice.

SPRING LUNCHEON 2006

The WUC Annual Spring Luncheon was held April 1, 2006 at the Country Club of Syracuse. It was a great success .  Much appreciation is given Ginny Dewey who chaired the event. Committee members helping her were: Janet Anthony, Anita Evers, Janet Leeb, Theresa Mychajlonka, and Isabel Wolseley. Many thanks to this hard working committee. The speaker was Bethaida Gonzalez. Associate Dean at UC. and President of the Syracuse Common Council.  Her talk was very well received as she gave an update  on the activities of University College entitled: UC: Today and Tomorrow

Janet Leeb and Nancy Herrington, co-chairs of the Scholarship Committee, introduced the scholarship winners and presented their awards. Each award winner gave brief comments about the value of the scholarship and how it will help to forward career goals.

For the first time at his event , a tribute was given to WUC's Honorary members.  Each was given a corsage and was recognized from the podium.

The slate of Officers and Board members for 2006-2007 was presented by Margarida Bevilacqua, chair of the nominating committee.  President Grace Flusche called for a vote of acceptance which was passed unanimously.  She then introduced and welcomed the new officers and board members.  

They are:  

President:  Grace Flusche, President Elect:  Janet Leeb; Vice President:  Darya Rotblat; Secretary:  Heather Engelman;  Treasureer:  Cindy Bongarten:  Registrar:  Stephanie Vasta.

Board Members are:  Janet Anthony,  Margarida Bevilaqua,  Kathleen Bradley,  Carol Brooks,  Anita Evers,  Nancy Leopold,  Beverly Martin,  Margaret Martin,  Smita Rane

 

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

The member spotlight for this issue is on Darya Rotblat.  She is the Assistant Director of Off-Campus Student Services at Syracuse University. Her work is with students, landlords and neighbors in the S.U. area to resolve problems, prevent conflicts and provide an environment that meets the needs of all involved.  She has been a member of WUC for one year and currently serves as Vice President.  The duties of the VP includes the management and communications of the WUC Interest Groups. She worked on the committee for the WUC Holiday Party and together with Stephanie Vasta was responsible for the lovely decorations and ambiance for that successful event.  This Fall she is serving on the 2006 Fall Gathering planning Committee. 

Darya is a Central New York native.  She lives in Weedsport with her husband who is an IT Consultant for Student Affairs at Syracuse University.  Rounding out the family is their dog, Molly and two cats, Emma and Truxie. 

Darya has an undergraduate degree in Public Policy from Hobart, William Smith and a masters in Health Education from Penn State.  Her hobbies are gardening, especially vegetable growing, and playing with her pets.

STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

Once again the WUC participated in the Syracuse University's Annual Strawberry Festival on June 9th.  It has been found that our participation is a valuable event to communicate to the University personnel the purposes and benefits of joining our organization.  Some interested people signed up and will receive follow-up information and an invitation to the WUC's Fall Gathering event.  In addition to information regarding the organization participants were told of the up-coming Rose garden tour that was planned by the WUC"s Garden Interest Group. There were raffles held and a candy give-away to round out the good time. 

Fall Gathering          2006     

Plans are underway for the Fall Gathering celebration.  The theme this year will be "Hidden Treasures of Syracuse".  The speaker will be Debbie Stack.  Debbie is Project Coordinator for "Cruising America's Waterways" on PBS and the Erie Canal Museum, and Syracuse Scenic Tours.  She is a Graduate of the S.U. Newhouse Communications Program. Her presentation will include ideas for children's events and tours as well as those for adults. Brochures and literature will be available. 

There will be a focus on the WUC Interest Groups which will also present according to the theme. 

Be sure to save the date and plan to attend.  The date is Friday, September 29, from 6 to 8 PM. The place is Nifkin Lounge at ESF.

Invitations will be sent in the near future with more information including parking facilities.