Community Service Since 1907

FEBRUARY 2012

PRESIDENT The excitement swirling around the March 16 Spring Gala is positively contagious. It all started with a brainstorming session this fall. It was clear to everyone that Floribunda was more like “moribunda”! Everyone threw out ideas, and before we knew it, The Spring Gala was born. We knew it would be a challenge to create a one-night event that would raise enough money to fund our community project grants. It is amazing to see how many people have stepped up to the plate. I don’t think I have ever worked with a more talented, dedicated and spirited group of people. Planning for this event has opened up so many new horizons for us. Thanks to the generosity of Ledyard Bank for underwriting the cost of the food and the creativity of Deb Kaplan and Linda Hazard, you will be feted with fabulous hors d’oeuvres and desserts. Would you believe there will be 12 different exotic and delicious hors d’oeuvres waiting for you to feast on? Karen Ward, together with Isabel McCarthy, will be magically transforming the Tracy Hall gym into a beautiful nightclub setting. Geneviève Graham, new to both Norwich and the NWC, has worked tirelessly to create a silent auction filled with so many wonderful and one of a kind offerings that you will have a tough time figuring out which items to bid on. Deb Hall, our technological wizard, has worked out a way for us to accept credit card payments for your winning bids. You will also be able to buy your tickets on line with your credit card. In addition, Deb and Genevieve are creating a beautiful auction catalog which will be on our website for you to preview before the auction. Your invitation will be personally e-mailed to you. We were amazed by the number of nominations we received for our first Norwich Citizen of the Year for community service. And every one who was nominated deserved to be honored. There has been universal acclaim for the honoree, John Girard. You will be hearing more about him over the next several weeks. Be sure to congratulate him if you see him. In short, this is an event you won’t want to miss! If there is any doubt in your mind about our enthusiasm, here are two e-mails I received while I was writing this. You all are THE best group to work with. Thank you for all of the hard work you are putting into this great event. I came away from the meeting yesterday truly inspired by the creativity and enthusiasm. All the parts are coming together You Rock!!!- Carol Loveland (cont. page 2)

NWC CALENDAR

Book and Author Luncheon 3/5/12 Monday 11:30-1:00 pm The Norwich Inn Spring Gala 3/16/12 Friday 6:00pm-9:00pm Tracy Hall Spring Nearly New Sale 5/4/12-5/6/12 Tracy Hall NWC Board Meetings: Mondays Norwich Public Library at 6:30pm 2/13/12 3/12/12 4/9/12 5/14/12

MEMBERSHIP A warm welcome to new members Lana Leggett-Kealey, Jennifer Lesser and Andrea Marquay.

The Club’s fiscal year ends on May 31st, so the notices for next year’s dues – $15, unchanged - will be mailed to all members in May. In the meantime, please tell your friends that any new members joining between now and then need only pay dues of $10 to cover the rest of the fiscal year. Remember, your dues entitle you to discounts on the Book and Author lunches and the museum trips!

Do you have friends who are thinking of joining and have questions? Please ask them to contact me – 802-649-2662 or sophiajcrawford@gmail.com – or check out our website.

Sophia Crawford, Membership Chair

Community Service Since 1907

FEBRUARY 2012 We couldn't do it without the leader. But I must concur, Carol - this group rocks! I'm always blown away by the competency of so many women in the club. What we won't do for a buck! But really, we do it for community, too, among ourselves, the town, and the Upper Valley. It's always a pleasure to work with NWC gals. –Sue Pitiger I hope to see you all at Tracy Hall on March 16th. Arline Rotman

Floribunda----where did it go? Help us spread the Word

Floribunda has been a NWC and Norwich spring staple for many years. The first sign of spring, even before the tulips in the Triangle Garden! Every year the committee gets feedback from our vendors thru feedback forms and conversations. We also make note of the comments from our patrons. Over the past four years the response has been the same:

• Think about doing this every other year. This seems to becoming more of a craft show.

• The growers tell us it is difficult to provide the plants and flowers in March every year as they are just getting started.

• The NWC does not want to compete with the monthly farmers market where a number of local artisans sell their wares.

• The Silent Auction has been the driving revenue stream for the last 2 years. This March fundraiser is the only event that provides funding for our Community Project Grants. Over the last four years your Norwich Women’s Club has been able to give $63,700 back to the Norwich Community. How can you help?

• Support this new joint venture by the Norwich Women’s Club and Ledyard National Bank by saying thank you to John Girard the Norwich Citizen of the Year for Community Service.

• Bid on the great auction items and help support the Community Projects Grants.

• Give us feedback after the event. See you March 16 at Tracy Hall. Individual tickets: $40 Couples: $75 Details at www.norwichwomensclub.org <http://www.norwichwomensclub.org> . Carol Loveland, Chair Spring Gala Committee

Community Service Since 1907

FEBRUARY 2012

Scholarship It’s that time again - time to let your friends and neighbors know about the NWC scholarship fund and how to apply. Please reach out to others in the Norwich community to let them know that we will be awarding in excess of $30,000 in scholarships for the 2012-2013 academic year. The important things to know are that the scholarship must be applied for through VSAC and that the deadline is March 9.

For more information please call Onita Connington at 649-5407.

Onita Connington and Martha Graber

BOOK AND AUTHOR LUNCHEON The invitations went out and the spaces are filling quickly. Sign up now for the author luncheon to be held on Monday, March 5 at the Norwich Inn. Local newly published author Katharine Britton will be speaking. Her book Her Sister's Shadow was named the "hottest book for the hottest months of 2011" by Liza Bernard of the Norwich Bookstore. Stop by the bookstore to get her book, and then join us in March for her talk. $27 for members; $32 for non-members. Please send checks made out to NWC to Dana Ireland, 44 Bramble Lane, Norwich, VT 05055 Debbie Carter, Holly Sateia, and Dana Ireland

Watch your email inbox for your personal invitation to the NWC SPRING GALA Co-sponsored by Ledyard Bank

Community Service Since 1907

FEBRUARY 2012

4 Katharine Britton ~ 22 Brigham Hill Road ~ Norwich, Vermont 05055 www.hersistersshadow.com ~ Katharine@katharinebritton.com

Her Sister’s Shadow By Katharine Britton

Lilli Niles is at home in her North London flat when she receives an unexpected call. Her elder sister, Bea — at the family homestead in White Head, Massachusetts — has just lost her husband, and she'd like Lilli to fly home for the funeral.

Lilli, a painter, is preparing for her latest gallery opening. And more to the point, there are reasons she moved all the way to England to escape her older sister, reasons that have kept them estranged for decades.

But something in Bea's voice makes Lilli think it's time to return to the stately house in New England she loved as a child, to the memory of a shared loss — and to a time when simple sisterhood was enough to overcome betrayal and resentment.

In this emotional debut, Katharine Britton explores the divergent paths we take in life — and the turns in the road that bring us back, ultimately, to each other.

"Shifting between present day and the late 1960s, two sisters confront their tragic past in Britton's touching debut. Britton seamlessly alternates between the two eras to unravel a tale of rivalry, tragedy, love, and the corruptibility of truth." Publisher's Weekly "Anyone with sisters, secrets, or a family house where memories are stored, will be held captive by this haunting story of love, loss, loneliness and the healing light of truth." Sally Ryder Brady, Author of A BOX OF DARKNESS Publication Date: June 7, 2011

ISBN: 978-0-425-24174-5 Imprint: Berkley Trade Paperback

Contact at

Berkley: Alexandra Israel

212.366.2525 Alexandra.Israel@us.penguingroup.com