wcwp - woman's club of white plains

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100th Anniversary

Celebrating a Century of Commitment to Our Community

1916 2016

100th Anniversary


1916 2016

100th Anniversary


1916 2016

TheWoman's Club

of White Plains

WCWPThe

Woman's Clubof White Plains

WCWP

TheWoman's Club

of White Plains

WCWP3” Square Logo w/Banner

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CLUB DIAL

September 2018• •

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The 2018-19 Season begins October 21st!

Subscriptions start as low as $120.

Call (914) 682-3707 or visit www.westchesterphil.org

Pictured: Time for Three

Performing Dec. 16

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Volume 94 September 2018 Number 1Issue Editor: Nancy Coveney

Co-Managing Editors: Elizabeth Kurth, Judy SchermerhornPrint Layout Designer: Alloy Printing

Advertising Manager: Barbara Dannenberg

CLUB DIAL is published monthly from September to May inclusive. Periodical Postage Paid at White Plains, NY. Publication Number: 119180POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Woman’s Club of White Plains, Inc. 305 Ridgeway, White Plains, NY 10605e-mail: www.womansclubofwhiteplains.orgCHANGE OF ADDRESS: Please notify the Managing Editor, Judy Schermerhorn, 948-7758 email: [email protected] or Elizabeth Kurth 761-7792 email :[email protected]

“The Club Dial staff appreciates contributions from Club Members and their families. Submissions may be edited for clarity and space at the Managing Editors’ discretion.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Club Day ..........................................................................5

Presidents’ Message .......................................................8Presidents Cathy Schauber and Susan Doherty Club Notes .....................................................................10

Foundation Report .........................................................12

Calendar ........................................................................16

Barbara Dannenberg - Summer Tea Honoree .....................18

Putting The Garden To Sleep ........................................20Beth da Silva

An Unexpected Surprise ...............................................21

Commemorative Brick Program - Ribbon Cutting ............ 22

June Jazz For the Gardens - A Blooming Success ................24

A Trip Into History - Part One .........................................26Colleen Fay Our Mission Statement ..................................................32 Membership Application ..............................................33

Index of Advertisers ......................................................34

Website: http://www.womansclubofwhiteplains.org

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CLUB DAYA Musical Afternoon

Wednesday, September 5, 2018 - 12 noon

The White Plains Woman's Club is delighted to present Joyce Rasmussen Balint, Mandolinist, and Susan Jolles, Harpist. These exceptional artists have prepared a delightful program for us. They have performed nationally and internationally in an impressive variety of musical venues.

“Joyce Balint Shines in String Recital” was the headline in The New York Times of her Carnegie Recital Hall debut where it said her playing of the mandolin “came close to the ideal." She is the mandolin soloist with the Met Opera and has performed with many ensembles including the Boston Symphony and the Paris Opera. She will be performing in Mozart's Don Giovanni and Verdi's Otello at the Met this season.

Susan Jolles has an extensive discography that encompasses a full range of musical genres including classical, klezmer, jazz, cabaret and Broadway, recording with such diverse artists as Giora Feidman, Kenny Garrett, James Galway and Barbara Cook. She has recently recorded five albums of original flute and harp music with flutist Laurel Zucker.The program will include compositions by Beethoven, Calace, and Scott Joplin.

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JOYCE RASMUSSEN BALINT is the mandolin soloist with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. An active free-lance musician on both the violin and the mandolin, Balint has performed with many musical organizations throughout Westchester, including the Chappaqua Chamber Orchestra, the Westchester Synphony, and the New Rochelle Opera. In New York City, she has played with orchestras such as the Amor Artis Chamber Orchestra, New York City Opera and the Little Orchestra Society.

She has appeared with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in Boston, New York and Tanglewood on the mandolin in Mahler's Symphony No. 8 and Schoenberg's opera, Moses und Aron. And performed with the Paris Opera in their production of Verdi’s Otello. She is a frequent soloist with orchestras and in recital in the New York metropolitan area and the United States. She has appeared on PBS Live from Lincoln Center, on WQXR she was featured on the "Young American Artist Series" and has been a guest on Bob Sherman's "Listening room," and on WNYC with Steve Sullivan. Balint is on the faculty of the Mozartina Musical Arts Conservatory in Tarrytown and maintains a private studio in Bronxville. She has taught in music festivals in Italy.

Joyce Balint is a past member of the Bronxville Women’s Club and was its President after overseeing the Clubhouse’s extensive renovation. She was the Founder/Director of the Club’s Music Section and its professional music series, Midland Music.

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SUSAN JOLLES, harpist, has enjoyed a long and varied career as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral player, teacher and arranger. A founding member of the Naumburg Award winning Jubal Trio, she also appears with daughter, Renee, violinist, as the Jolles Duo. Ms. Jolles is a member of the American Composers Orchestra, Musica Viva, Queens Symphony Orchestra and The Little Orchestra Society, and is associate harpist with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Past affiliations include the Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, The Group for Contemporary Music, The New York Chamber Symphony, and The Juilliard Ensemble. She also appears regularly with the Encores Orchestra.

Ms. Jolles has been associated with contemporary music since receiving a Fromm Fellowship in contemporary music performance in 1963. She has premiered and recorded the works of such composers as Luciano Berio, Hans Werner Henze, George Crumb, Charles Wuorinen and Philip Glass. She has also commissioned many composers for the Jubal Trio and Jolles Duo.

Susan Jolles has an extensive discography that encompasses a full range of musical genres including classical, klezmer, jazz, cabaret and Broadway, recording with such diverse artists as Giora Feidman, Kenny Garrett, James Galway and Barbara Cook. She has recently recorded five albums of original flute and harp music with flutist Laurel Zucker.

An ongoing project is the publication ion Baroque keyboard music for harp. Great attention is paid to a proper Baroque style. Music by Handel, Rameau, and Zipoli are published by Gotham Harp Publishing. Ms. Jolles also has published arrangements of Debussy for oboe or flute and harp(International) and a Mozart Sonata for flute for harp(Theodore Presser).

Ms. Jolles is on the faculties of the Manhattan School of Music, the Mannes College of Music and Hofstra University. She teaches classical harp as well as orchestral repertory and chamber music.

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PRESIDENTS' MESSAGESeptember 2018

“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the Fall." F. Scott Fitzgerald

While we are still officially holding onto summer until later this month, September always seems like the new season has arrived. School begins again, people are mostly back from summer vacations and getaways, and here at the Woman’s Club, it also brings about a new “year” of activities and events.

We continued our annual tradition of a Summer Tea in July—this year graciously headed up by Laurette Young and Ann Palancia, from the Garden Committee. The weather was hot and sunny, and our tearoom afforded a beautiful view of our gardens! The food was plentiful as always, and provided by our very own members. This year’s honorees were the staff of the Club Dial—our long standing publication that continues to inform and entertain our members. Chairperson Judy Schermerhorn gave us a history of the magazine, and acknowledged all of the monthly editors and staff. Our other honoree was Barbara Dannenberg, who herself has organized this event for many years, but decided to step down this year. Unfortunately, Barbara could not be in attendance due to health issues of her husband, Richard, who sadly passed away that week. Anyone who knew Dick knew that he was a great supporter of the club in many ways, and most importantly, he was there for Barbara in all her efforts for our club. He will be missed and we send our thoughts and regards to the Dannenberg family.

Please take a look at our newly redecorated Ladies Lounge in the basement of the club. Thanks to the efforts of the Restoration Committee, we have some newly painted

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furniture —- including the fabric on the settee! We appreciate the sweat equity that went into this project.

Our annual Fall dinner will take place on September 20th, so mark your calendar as we kick off another year! We have scheduled our evening events on the third or fourth Thursdays this year, in an effort to be more consistent. While we have some evening events already scheduled, we welcome your suggestions and would love to have a member (or two) coordinate them for the year. Please contact us (Susan or Cathy) if you might be interested .

And, not to be missed—at the end of September, we will have our annual and much anticipated Corks &Forks event! This year it will benefit Abbott House. Please look for more information in this issue and hope to see you there .

Happy September!

Best,

Cathy Schauber and Susan DohertyCo-Presidents

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HOSPITALITYYou will need to make your reservations for Club Day the WEDNESDAY prior to Club Day with Evelyn Delanoy at 949-5307. If she doesn’t answer, leave a message on her machine. If you must cancel your reservation, please call Evelyn, not the Club. If you have not made your reservation by the previous Wednesday and you wish to attend, please call Evelyn to inquire if there is a cancellation you can fill. Please note that cancellation day is the WEDNESDAY BEFORE the luncheon. Members will be responsible for the cost of the lunch if not cancelled. The charge for the luncheon is $25 for members and $30 for guests. Please help the ladies checking us in by having the exact amount if possible.

AFTERNOON BOOK CLUB Thursday, September 13

2:00 p.m. – Clubhouse Living Room All Members and Non-members Invited

SEPTEMBER SELECTION: Americanah Adichie is a love story that crosses continents and customs. Ifemelu and Obinze are young and in love when they depart military-ruled Nigeria for the West. Beautiful, self-assured Ifemelu heads for America, where despite her academic success, she is forced to grapple with what it means to be black for the first time. Quiet, thoughtful Obinze had hoped to join her, but with post-9/11 America closed to him, he instead plunges into a dangerous, undocumented life in London. Fifteen years later, they reunite in a newly democratic Nigeria, and reignite their passion—for each other and for their homeland. “From one of the world’s great contemporary writers comes the story of two Nigerians making their way in the U.S. and the UK, raising universal questions of race and belonging, the overseas experience for the African diaspora, and the search for identity and a home.” Barack ObamaOCTOBER SELECTION: Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson

EVENING BOOK CLUB Thursday, September 13

7:30 p.m. – Clubhouse Living Room All Members and Non-members Invited

SEPTEMBER SELECTION: Jell-O Girls: A Family History by Allie Rowbottom. A "gorgeous" (New York Times) memoir that

Club Notes

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Club Notesbraids the evolution of one of America's most iconic branding campaigns with the stirring tales of the women who lived behind its facade—told by the inheritor of their stories. An Amazon Best Book of the Month. A New York Times Editor’s Choice.

During March ‘s Evening Book club, the book discussion centered on Lisa See’s book The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane: A Novel. Led by Mary Laczay, we talked about this fascinating story of a Chinese girl and her journey that centers around tea production and a mother /daughter relationship. We were also treated to an authentic Chinese tea selection complete with sweets , arranged by member Julie Van Benthuysen. Thank you for the great evening !!

BRIDGE & GAMES Wednesday, September 12 12 Noon – Club’s Tea Room

If you would like to attend and be a fourth (fill in) for bridge, or would like to play as a fourth, please call Barbara Dannenberg at 914-948-1747. If you have a foursome, please let Barbara know that you will be attending. Bring cards or board games and a sandwich. Table prizes will be provided. Those attending may wish to bring snacks, a dessert or drinks to share with the other two tables. Barbara will still provide whatever is needed.

WICS – WOMEN IN COMMUNITY SERVICEWednesday, September 129:30 a.m. in the Sun Room

Extra hands needed to serve the community by making tray favors for Meals on Wheels and tote bags, lap robes for Rosary Hill. We meet on the second Wednesday of the month from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Sun Room. Please join us!

RIDE SHAREAnyone who needs a ride to a club event, day or evening, please contact [email protected].

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A Message From Maryann Martin

As the fall season begins at the Woman’s Club, I am reminded of fresh starts. The new school year, and the beginning of our fundraising season. This year our Corks & Forks Event will be spearheaded by Lauren Candela-Katz. She is looking at the event with a new perspective and has a lot of fresh ideas. One of these will be a CORK PULL. It works like this ……you purchase a cork which gives you the opportunity to “pull“ the corresponding bottle of wine from our display, so unlike a raffle, all participants are winners. It’s going to be tons of fun. If you would like to donate a bottle or two of nice wine please contact Elizabeth Buonamici or leave in President’s office labeled C&F. Our restaurant list is very impressive as well. We have many returning favorites like Mulino’s of Westchester and RaaSa, and a few new ones like The Melting Pot and Via Garibaldi. If you are interested in a reserved seat, please sign up early as these are the first tickets to sell out. The beneficiary of the event will be Abbott House & The Woman’s Club Foundation. Abbott House is a great organization that supports foster children and others with complex special needs. To learn more about them visit their website at www.abbotthouse.net We are looking for a few members to volunteer to help the night of the event. If you would like to volunteer for a task please contact Julie Marbach.

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES The foundation has set the projects for the next few months beginning with collecting work attire for female veterans returning to the workforce. We are partnering with the Barbara Giordano Foundation who will be disseminating the outfits at an event to be held at the club in October. Please leave cleaned clothes in the President’s Office labeled “Vets”. In October, we will be collecting items for the Boodle Brigade to make packages for service personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan. If you would like to assist with this effort please contact Diane Martino who would appreciate any help you can provide. The collection will take place

FOUNDATION REPORT

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September Business Attire Clothing DriveWe are collecting gently used “Back to Work” Women’s Clothing to be available for Women Veterans .Please donate clean suits, skirts, dresses, shoes, and accessories that we can offer to our area Women Veterans at the next Barbara Giordano Foundation event in mid October. Please leave in the Presidents Office, Thank you!

The Barbara E.Giordano Foundation is committed to the personal and professional growth of women veterans. For more information: giordanofoundation.org

FOUNDATION REPORTin October and the items will packed up in early November. In late spring, we collected food for the Food Pantry at the Slater Center. Jean Bello and Sue Lynn were met by a very enthusiastic Lorraine Buonocunto, thrilled with our donation. The food we collected provides breakfast and lunch for children who miss out on school lunches during the summer months.

MARKING/ THRIFT SHOP The Thrift shop recently donated clothes to Our Shepherd’s Flock, an organization run by Sr. Alice Conrad RDC that helps families who fall into the “gap” because they do not qualify for public assistance yet struggle to make ends meet. If you’d like to help out with marking or at the THRIFT SHOP contact Judy Korman at [email protected] or Colleen Fay at [email protected].

DONATIONSThe foundation gratefully acknowledges the receipt of two generous grants. One from the Syd and Jan M. Silverman Foundation in honor of Marie Silverman Marich, and another from The Mastronardi Foundation. We truly appreciate their support.

September Business Attire Clothing DriveWe are collecting gently used “Back to Work” Women’s Clothing to be available for Women Veterans .Please donate clean suits, skirts, dresses, shoes, and accessories that we can offer to our area Women Veterans at the next Barbara Giordano Foundation event in mid October. Please leave in the Presidents Office, Thank you!

The Barbara E.Giordano Foundation is committed to the personal and professional growth of women veterans. For more information: giordanofoundation.org

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BARBARA DANNENBERG - SUMMER TEA HONOREE Barbara Dannenberg joined the White Plains Woman's Club in the Fall of 1995 and has been a member for almost 23 years. For 18 of those years Barbara has been a member of the Board of Directors in the following capacities: Program Chair (2 years), Philanthropy Chair (1 year), President (4 years), Club Dial Managing Editor (2 years), President (2 more years) and Federation Rep (7 years).

Barbara remembers being invited to lunch at Westchester Hills by late Woman's Club member and Past President Helen Oleson

who asked Barbara to be the next Club President in 2001 for the two-year term following Helen Darling's Presidency. During Barbara's first term she contacted the C.V. Rich family in Virginia and invited them to lunch at the Woman's Club. Because the Rich daughter and daughter-in-law were already in their early 80s, they asked to keep the invitees to a minimum. Along with these two ladies, the grandson and granddaughter, fourteen of the Past Presidents, attended. The grandson Carter Rich gave the Woman's Club the sculptured bust of his father as a young boy by sculptor Rudulph Evans, designer of the Jefferson Memorial. Carter also signed a document allowing the White Plains Woman's Club to use the Rich Family name as The C.V. Rich Mansion in advertising rentals.

Barbara's term was supposed to end in two years, but nobody wanted to follow as President. After Barbara's third year, she convinced Peg Pierce to be Co-President with her during the 4th year and that is how Co-Presidents came to be.

In 2009 Barbara agreed to run as Co-President with Bernadette Prato for another two-year term. With so many supportive members including Maryann Boustead, Diane Martino, Susan Doherty and Cathy Schauber, the Club became more financially stable and gained state and national historical recognition. Barbara says this was the turning point for the Woman's Club due to the support of so many capable women who have led the way to becoming the flourishing Club we have today.

Besides her 3 terms as Club President, Barbara was Managing Editor of Club Dial for two years following Libby Wagner during the transition from typewriters to computers. Barbara worked on Club Dial for 13 years, as an editor and then for 9 years as Advertising Manager. She retired from Club Dial last month.

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After Betty Fraim's death, Barbara became Yearbook Chair and remained in that capacity for 15 years. She has recently retired from the Yearbook Committee, leaving the Yearbook in the competent hands of Laurette Young and Mary Lou Winters.

From 2007 to 2017 Barbara chaired the Summer Tea. The first year eighteen SO-year members were honored. Susan Arterian Chang, former publisher of the White Plains Watch and Barbara interviewed these 18 ladies and printed a program book of their lives in the Woman's Club. Recently Barbara retired from this Committee. She never expected that she and the Club Dial Committee would be the honorees at the 2018 Summer Tea.

Barbara continues to run the afternoon Book Club which she began in 2005. There are as many as 25 ladies in attendance and everyone is welcomed. There is also the yearly Book & Author Luncheon.

Four years ago, Barbara became the Chair of the Beaux Arts Show held the third week of October every year at The Woman's Club. Although there was an experienced group of 12 ladies working on the Committee, nobody wanted to be in charge. Barbara agreed to be Chair and says she will gladly give the Chair position to somebody else.

IN MEMORIUM

Richard Dannenberg January 10, 1931 - July 20, 2018

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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2 3 4 5 6 7 8LABOR DAY 9:30 am

Marking Committee

9 10 11 12 13 14 15ROSH HASHANAH

7:30 pmClub Dial

ROSH HASHANAH 9:30 am WICS Meeting

12:00 pmBridge & Games

2:00 pmAfternoon Book Club

7:30 pmEvening Book Club

16 17 18 19 20 21 227:30 pm

Finance Meeting9:30 amMarking

Committee

YOM KIPPUR 6:30 pmFall Dinner

AUTUMN BEGINS

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7:00 pm Board Of

Directors' Mtg.

9:30 amMarking

Committee

6:30 pmCorks & Forks

CLUB DIAL September 2018

COMING EVENTS.. .

Beaux Arts Show – October 15-18Book & Author Luncheon – November 16

12:00 pmCLUB DAY -A Musical Afternoon

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PUTTING THE GARDEN TO SLEEPThe dog days of August are over, the evenings are cooler and just a bit longer and some of the summer green is turning brown or tan. It looks like it’s time to start easing our gardens to sleep or rest for the winter.

Beginning in September or as soon thereafter as possible, plant small bulbs as they like a nice cold winter before their first flowering in the spring. Transplant evergreens and water them thoroughly.

Begin your garden cleanup and add the clippings and leaves to the compost pile. Cut the old canes of berries when the fruit has been harvested. Divide and transplant perennials after they are finished flowering. I don’t cut off all of the dried flower heads of my flowers as many of them provide seed for small birds. I do cut some of them if it looks too untidy but in addition to helping feed the birds, when the snow falls in the winter it looks quite beautiful on the tips of some of the dried stalks.

It is also time to dig up old annuals and discard them. You’ll want to dig up some of your herbs and transplant them into pots, bring them indoors and enjoy them all year. If you are growing dahlias, bring them in when they become blackened by frost. Dry and store the tubers. Bring in any house plants as soon as it looks too cold for them or there is a scare of frost. Make sure there are no bugs on them before bringing them in. If you have fragile roses or climbing roses you’ll want to protect them. Many folks take the long canes of the climbers, tie them together, and stake them into the ground to prevent damage. I personally don’t do that because my roses grow along the front of my house and are, therefore, protected somewhat from the wind. I only have hardy roses so I do not have to cover them with burlap but I usually do clean up the bushes, cut any dead or diseased canes and generally trim them up at this time. In the spring, I do another clean up of the bushes but it is much less than it would be if I hadn’t done the fall job. If you have roses that produce beautiful hips, you’ll want to wait until after you harvest them.

Finally, you will want to clean out any old mulch as well as leaves, etc. Many people re-mulch before winter but I wait till spring to put in new mulch. Also, I don’t get rid of the old mulch if it looks clean as it will often work into the soil making it richer. Just know that slugs do like to live in the mulch so keep your eyes open.

This may all seem like a lot of work, but it is usually cooler for working outside and the bugs don’t seem to be as bad. In addition, the cleaner you leave your garden in the fall, the easier your spring work will be.

Don’t forget to clean and store your tools, and turn off the outside water. I did not turn the water off one year and had a terrible flood in my basement due to a burst pipe.

Now you can sit back, hopefully in front of a nice, crackling fire, and peruse gorgeous plant catalogues and plan next season’s garden.

Beth da Silva

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AN UNEXPECTED SURPRISEOn Tuesday, July 17, 2018, the members of the Marking Committee were busy working away when we had an unexpected visitor. Hilary Hatfield and her husband Mark had stopped in to see the mansion on their way home from Rhode Island. Hilary is the great granddaughter of Charles Vanderlip Rich! Betty Rich McClelland, CV Rich’s daughter who had visited the mansion in 2002, was Hilary’s grandmother.

Although she had heard many stories about the mansion, Hilary had never seen it in person. She was thrilled to wander through the rooms and was very impressed and thankful for how well the house had been maintained. She commented on the painting in the bathroom in the groom’s room which had once been her grandmother’s room.

The painting of a swan surrounded by flowers was painted for Betty’s birthday when she was a little girl. Renie Koehnken remembers that when Betty was here for lunch in 2002, she went up to the room and cried when she saw the painting again. As we wandered through the living room and dining room, I pointed out some of the original light fixtures and the fireplace mantels. Hilary told a story that when the Riches had a party, sometimes they would give out silver Tiffany matchbox covers as a gift to all the guests. Not too shabby! She had seen many pictures of the house and grounds and was interested in where the original pool had been. I mentioned that the pool had been filled after the Club bought the property and started doing theater in the auditorium. I think the Club members were afraid someone would fall in the pool during intermission. Hilary’s mother had been an actress, so she was happy to hear that the Club had supported the theater in the early days.

Hilary was especially excited to meet Renie Koehnken who we mentioned is our longest active member. Renie joined in 1959. She asked Renie what made her decide to join and Renie answered that at the time, she had a two-year-old, an infant and a dog and she needed someone over three feet tall to talk to!

Currently, Hilary is the president of Art Collector’s Athenaeum which specializes in curating and digitizing art and antique collections. She mentioned that she had several photos of the house which she would be happy to share with the Club. She also has a full-length portrait of Betty Rich as a young girl which has also been digitized and might be a nice addition to the artwork in the house. Now that she has met us and seen the house, she is interested in keeping up a relationship with us. The photos she has would be wonderful and perhaps she can come and talk to us at Club Day some time.

Hilary Hatfield, Renie Koehnken, Colleen Fay in the newly painted Ladies Lounge

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COMMEMORATIVE BRICK PROGRAM - RIBBON CUTTINGOn a beautiful Saturday morning in early May , we had the ribbon cutting ceremony as an introduction to our new commemorative brick path . We had a good representation of members and supporters alike, to view the spectacular walkway which now graces the outside of the sunroom. Bricks have been purchased to honor the club, remember a family member, and even celebrate an upcoming wedding at the club ! All present were pleased with the results and we toasted with champagne in the garden . Our next installation will take place in the Fall, with a deadline of October 15th. Please consider “joining” our walkway, if you haven’t already .

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JUNE JAZZ FOR THE GARDENS – A BLOOMING SUCCESS

The weather was perfect, the food delicious, the conversations scintillating, and the music, “oh so cool!” That describes the fourth annual June Jazz for the Gardens which was held on Thursday, June 7th at our beautiful house and gardens.

One short of 100 members and guests enjoyed the wonderful sounds of singer Glenda Davenport and the Hiroshi Yamazaki Trio as they entertained with songs from “The American Songbook.” This was the third year that Glenda and the Trio joined us at the Garden Committee’s fundraiser for the gardens.

Guests enjoyed the music while sipping wine, beer, and soft drinks and eating the cold and hot hors d’oeuvres which were bountiful and delicious. Whether outdoors, in the living room, sunroom, tearoom or library, our guests were able to take a walk down music memory lane as Glenda’s voice and the trio’s beautiful music filled the Club.

Ann Palancia and Laurette Young, co-chairs of the event, expressed their gratitude to the members of the Garden Committee for making the event a success and to the event’s very generous donors, including the Dannenbergs whose donation helped offset the costs of our musical guests. “We thank Barbara and Dick and our Club members who donated the raffle prizes, wine, beer, and dessert. Because of everyone’s generosity, we are happy that

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FALL DINNERThursday, September 20

Let’s catch up after the summer at our Fall Dinner on Thursday, September 20.

Appetizers at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $35 for members, $40 for nonmembers.

Please RSVP by Friday, September 14 to Nancy Coveney at 914-481-7631 or [email protected]

Thanks to Julie Sexton Bogdanowicz, Joie Schinelli-Green, and Julie Van Benthuysen for taking photos at June Jazz.

approximately $2,400 was collected and will be used for the gardens. The Garden Committee will be meeting in the next few months to determine what parts of our gardens will benefit from the proceeds of our June Jazz for the Gardens event.”

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A TRIP INTO HISTORY – PART ONEThis past summer, while heading to a wedding in Italy, I made a stop in France to visit two areas I had always wanted to see. One was to Normandy and the other the Argonne Forest. Coincidentally, I left for France on D-Day, June 6 although I did not get to Normandy until June 9. I started off with a World War I tour to visit the area where my grandfather had served and in memory of the 100th anniversary of the Armistice.

The tour covered the area around Verdun as well as the Meuse-Argonne region where the most important American offensive took place. As it turned out, the WWI tours are not as popular as Normandy tours so there were only 4 of us on the tour, a couple from Florida, their 15-year-old son and myself. It was practically like having a private tour! We drove east out of Paris towards Verdun which is about a two-hour trip. I was surprised at how agricultural France is, lots of fields of wheat, corn, sugar beets and flax for making linen. Who knew? I thought they only grew grapes! On the way, we passed through the valley of the Marne River where two important battles were fought, the second involving American troops.

Our first stop was Verdun, a picturesque city on the Meuse River. The area around Verdun was the site of one of the bloodiest battles of WWI, lasting 300 days in 1916. The Germans surrounded the city on three sides. There was only one useable road into and out of Verdun and it came to be known as the Sacred Way. It is said that after March 1916 one truck passed down the road every 14 seconds. Today the road is marked with posts topped by a French soldier’s helmet. The Germans were never able to capture Verdun and the city was relatively undamaged. 230,000 soldiers, however, lost their lives during the Hell of Verdun as it was known.

We then visited Fort Duoamont, one of the many defensive forts surrounding Verdun. The fort was captured by the Germans early in the battle but retaken by the French months later. A self-guided tour takes you through the fort and you can see the barracks, a 155 mm gun, the chapel and a mortuary. It is a cold, wet, dank place built into the hillside and you can imagine how miserable the soldiers were there. Today it is a beautiful spot with gorgeous views of the surrounding hillsides.

Our next stop was Fleury-devant-Douaumont, a small village outside of Verdun which was demolished by the bombing during the war. After the war, the area was uninhabitable and so contaminated by explosives, poisonous gas and corpses that the government decided not to rebuild. Markers indicate the location of various buildings – the church, a store, a farm. One hundred years later, bomb craters are still visible amongst the markers, a vivid reminder of the destruction that occurred there. You can even see the trenches; in some the concrete walls and support columns are still intact. At present, the trenches are only about 2-3 feet deep and run in a curving line. During the war, they were about 10 feet deep and often filled with

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water and mud. One of the trenches had a tree growing in the middle. Our youngest visitor thought this odd until we pointed out that 100 years ago, there was no tree there. The landscape was totally decimated – no grass, no trees, no vegetation of any kind really. In fact, looking around at the gentle undulations which were the bomb craters and the many trees, it is hard to imagine

how devastated the landscape was during the war. Our guide told us that

after the war the French government had intentionally reforested the area to discourage people from walking the hills since, to this day, there may be unexploded shells. You can still find pieces of shrapnel on the ground.

One of the most incredible sights was the Ossuary du Douaumont. After the war, hundreds of thousands of unidentified remains were found scattered on the battlefields around Verdun. These were gathered and 130,000 of these unidentified soldiers, French as well as German, are interred there! The memorial contains 46 vaults, each one corresponding to a sector of the battlefield. As many of the names of the missing men who were known to have been in that sector are inscribed on these granite vaults. The most eerie thing was the windows on the outside which allow you to see into the crypts and visualize the thousands of bones buried in them. The largest French military cemetery is also on the grounds and many of the dead of the battle of Verdun are interred here. The grave markers included crosses, Stars of David and ones with Arabic writing for the Muslim soldiers. A monument commemorates the 1781 Muslims who died fighting for France in WWI.

The second half of the tour was encompassed the Argonne region. There is a huge monument dedicated to the Americans who fought there in Montfaucon-d’Argonne. As my southern compatriot said, “we like to do things big in the States”. The names of each of the divisions involved in the fighting are inscribed along the base and a large map inside depicts the locations of each division during the battle. I was able to see exactly what area my grandfather’s division, the 78th nicknamed “Lightning”, was in. Behind the monument are the remains of a German bunker and church. During the war, the Germans used stones from the damaged building to build an observation tower.

Lunch was at this amazing little restaurant in Romagne. The owner,

WWI Trenches with Remnants of the Concrete Walls and Support Posts

Bomb Crater Near Fleury-devant-Douaumont

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Jean Paul du Vries, is a WWI aficionado and has collected over 40,000 artifacts from the area immediately surrounding his home. He has created a museum adjacent to the restaurant which attempts to show what the life of the ordinary soldier was like. It contains everything from guns to canteens to tents to eating utensils. One of the more sobering collections were these short aluminum strips with a soldier’s name on each. Apparently, when a soldier was killed, he was buried quickly, and the site was marked with a cross and the aluminum strip on which the name was punched, very similar to those old-fashioned label makers we used to have with the adhesive on the back. Monsieur du Vries knew every inch of the museum and when I mentioned my grandfather was a medic during the war, he quickly brought me to one of the exhibits where he had a canteen belonging to a medic. Unfortunately, it was not my grandfather’s, but it was interesting to see how each soldier marked his “kit”.

The final stop was the American Cemetery at Meuse-Argonne, the largest American military cemetery in France. The cemetery is beautifully maintained, unlike as our guide pointed out, the French military cemeteries. This confused me since I thought the French maintained the cemetery but, in fact, the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) oversees the upkeep of all overseas American military cemeteries and monuments. In October 1918, a temporary cemetery had been established here on land captured from the Germans. After the war, the land was granted in perpetuity to the US government, tax free, in thanks for our sacrifice. In total, 14,246 soldiers are buried there. Again, it is the largest American cemetery in France since after WWI not as many families requested that their soldier’s remains be returned to the US as did after WWII.

It is a peaceful, serene place. The cemetery is laid out symmetrically with a tree-lined center walk starting at a central pool and leading up to the chapel. Inside the chapel are the American flag and the flags of all the Allied nations. Two loggias flank the chapel and the names of 954 missing soldiers are inscribed on panels on the walls. Latin crosses and Stars of David are marked with each soldier’s name. The names of the Medal of Honor winners, of which there are nine, are inscribed in gold. The graves of the unidentified soldiers are together in one area and again there is a mix of crosses and Stars of David. The inscription on each read, “HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY, AN AMERICAN SOLDIER, KNOWN BUT TO GOD”.

The cemetery was especially meaningful to me since I was looking for a specific grave. A friend of mine had a great-uncle who was wounded and died on October 16, 1918 and is buried there. She had asked me if I could place a flag on his grave which, of course, I was honored to do. She sent me the information on the location of the gravesite and what unit he was assigned to. Interestingly, the

The American Monument at Montfaucon

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information on his grave initially had an incorrect spelling of his last name and my friend petitioned the ABMC to correct the error which they did. Her great-uncle, Dominick Bressy, was a member of the 312th Infantry, 78th Division. My grandfather had been a medic with the 312th Ambulance Corps in the 78th Division. It is possible that they knew each other or even that my grandfather had cared for her great-uncle before he died. I left two flags on his gravesite that day, one for Pvt Bressy and one for my grandfather, Pvt Edward G Walsh. Luckily my grandfather survived the war and went on the become a fireman.

Coincidentally, when I was describing this story to our guide, he thought it sounded familiar and when he showed me the location of the grave, he said he was pretty sure it was the same one he remembered. Sure enough, I sent a photo of him to my friend and he had been the guide on her tour as well!

On the return trip, we passed a German military cemetery from WWI. It was not large and contained only small black crosses marking each grave. Each grave contained 3-4 German soldiers whose names were inscribed on the cross. Apparently during the Treaty of Versailles, it was stipulated that the graves of the dead Germans could not be ostentatious or showy. The original crosses were wood but later replaced by metal. The land the cemetery is on is still French soil and is maintained by a private German organization.

It was a long but incredible day. Driving back through the beautiful countryside, it is hard to imagine the millions of soldiers, the miles of trenches, the clouds of poisonous gas, the noise from exploding bombs which spread out all over France. Over 1.2 million US troops served in France, with over 53,000 killed and over 200,000 wounded. Overall, during WWI, there were over 8 million soldiers KIA, including 1.2 million French, 1.8 million Russians, 750,000 British and almost 3 million Germans and Austrians. Practically a generation of young men wiped out. There are many monuments here and in France to those who fought and died in the Great War as it was called then or “the war to end all wars”. Little did they know that just over 20 years later, the world would be embroiled in yet another Great War.

Since our WWI vets are all long gone, we tend not to remember those men and women who fought and died then. This year, November 11, 2018, marks the 100th anniversary of the armistice that ended WWI. Hopefully, this will remind people of the sacrifices of those soldiers.

Colleen Fay

Meuse Argonne Cemetery Gravesite of Pvt Dominick Bressy

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Woman’s Club of White Plains Membership Survey

Name: (optional)______________________________________

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2) Please list 3 programs/activities of the club that are most important to you:

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3) What do you think is the greatest benefit of membership?

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4) Would you recommend membership to a friend or neighbor? Pleaseexplain your answer.

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May we quote your response(s) for publication if needed? If yes (check one) — list first name only ___________________________

list first name & last name ______________________list anonymously ____________________________

Thank you for your valuable input!!

WCWP Membership Committee


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Our family’s been here for your family since 1942

Being the leading funeral provider in the area is not only a challenge, but it is an honor.

Our professional staff is the finest in the area, able to assist in all aspects of funeral and pre-funeral planning. Please stop in or call our office for a free consultation regarding

funeral plans for yourself or a loved one.

Proud supporters of the Woman’s Club of White Plains

McMahon, Lyon & Hartnett Funeral Home, Inc. 491 Mamaroneck Avenue White Plains, NY 10605

www.mcmahonfuneralhome.com

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THE WOMAN'S CLUB OF WHITE PLAINSwould like to invite you to join our organization of women

Our Mission

The Woman's Club of White Plains is a fellowship of women dedicated to philanthropic efforts and community service for the purpose of enhancing the lives of others as well as our own through volunteerism.

We are located at 305 Ridgeway, White Plains, New York.

Are you interested in becoming a member?

Since 1916, the Woman’s Club of White Plains, Inc. has committed itself to serving the community. Members of the Club work to provide funds which are distributed to worthy organizations. We provide thousands of hours each year as volunteers in varied locations: hospitals, schools, food pantries, and civic organizations. The Club was recently recognized by the Salvation Army for its outstanding community service.

Our beautiful property on Ridgeway, The CV Rich Mansion, is home to the membership. Here we have programs and activities centered on a wide variety of interests including: the arts, book clubs, lectures, musical programs, gardening, community awareness presentations of prospective candidates, monthly luncheons, a choral group, fashion shows, festive galas and our WICS (Women in Community Service).

We invite you to join us as we expand the goals of our community awareness and social involvement. If you feel you would enjoy this atmosphere of camaraderie and service, please visit and learn more about the Club’s history and activities. (www.womansclubofwhiteplains.org ) We welcome you.

E-mail our Membership Chairperson Mary Lou Winters at [email protected].

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The Woman’s Club of White Plains, Inc.Women for Women Women for Family Women for Community

Membership ApplicationNAME: ______________________________________ EMAIL:_____________________________

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PLEASE CHECK OFF YOUR AREA(S) OF INTEREST:

Philanthropy Book ClubThe Arts NetworkingBridge and Games Community AwarenessClub Dial (monthly journal) GardeningEvent Planning Hospitality

TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF; INCLUDE ANY OTHER INTERESTS OR HOBBIES:

I hereby accept the invitation for membership in The Woman’s Club of White Plains, Inc.

Signature: _______________________________________________

MEMBERSHIP DUES: Please Check Appropriate Boxes:☐ $50.00 INITATION FEE FOR ALL NEW AND RETUNING LAPSED MEMBERS > 5 YEARS☐ AGE 21-35 ANNUAL DUES: $100.00 ☐ JUNE 1- AUG. 31: $50.00☐AGE 36+ ANNUAL DUES: $200.00 ☐ JUNE 1- AUG. 31: $100.00☐ NEW MEMBERS JOINING AFTER AUG. 31 SHOULD REMIT FULL ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DUES ANDINITIATION FEE, WHICH WILL COVER DUES FOR REMAINDER OF CURRENT YEAR THROUGH THEFOLLOWING CALENDAR YEAR.

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Make check payable to: The Woman’s Club of White Plains.Send to: Mary Lou Winters, at 165 Soundview Ave, White Plains, NY 10606

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INDEX OF ADVERTISERSClub Dial Guide to Advertisers and Telephone Directory. For information on

advertising, rates and placements, contact Barbara Dannenberg 948-1747

Tag Sales Appraisals

Mostly MemoriesRuth Taylor

Member:Appraiser Association of America

(914) 693-3436

We appreciate our advertisers' continued support of CLUB DIAL. Please consult our Guide to Advertisers when looking for a merchant to

serve your need...and don't forget to mention CLUB DIAL when patronizing an advertiser

*This advertiser has appeared in CLUB DIAL for over 60 years.

Thank you to all our loyal Club Dial Advertisers!-Staff of Club Dial

Accounting A. Uzzo & Company .............694-8800Auto Repairs Riemann Auto Body .............428-3672Funeral Homes Ballard-Durand ......................949-0566 McMahon, Lyon & Hartnett .949-7777Printing Alloy Printing ..........................993-9007

Rug Sales, Cleaning & Repairing *Kanter’s .................................949-6517Tag Sales Mostly Memories ...................693-3436Theatre & Music Westchester Philharmonic ...682-3707

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Beaux Arts Show 62

Wanted: Westchester Artists2018 Annual Art Exhibit

of

The Woman’s Club of White Plains305 Ridgeway

White Plains, NY 10605

October 15 – October 18, 2018

Schedule of EventsMonday October 15 4:00 – 8:00 PM Artist Registration & Exhibits Received

Tuesday October 16 10:00 AM Art Show Judging (not open to the public)2:00 – 5:00 PM Exhibit Viewing

Wednesday October 17 2:00 – 5:00 PM Exhibit Viewing

Thursday October 18 2:00 – 5:00 PM Exhibit Viewing7:00 p.m. Artists’ Reception (open to the public)7:45 p.m. Presentation of Awards8:30 p.m. Removal of Exhibits

Beaux Arts Show 62

Wanted: Westchester Artists2018 Annual Art Exhibit

of

The Woman’s Club of White Plains305 Ridgeway

White Plains, NY 10605

October 15 – October 18, 2018

Schedule of EventsMonday October 15 4:00 – 8:00 PM Artist Registration & Exhibits Received

Tuesday October 16 10:00 AM Art Show Judging (not open to the public)2:00 – 5:00 PM Exhibit Viewing

Wednesday October 17 2:00 – 5:00 PM Exhibit Viewing

Thursday October 18 2:00 – 5:00 PM Exhibit Viewing7:00 p.m. Artists’ Reception (open to the public)7:45 p.m. Presentation of Awards8:30 p.m. Removal of Exhibits

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305 RidgewayWhite Plains, NY 10605

The Woman's Club of White Plains, Inc. - Main Facade - E. Wagner

PERIODICAL

100th Anniversary


1916 2016

100th Anniversary


1916 2016

100th Anniversary


1916 2016

TheWoman's Club

of White Plains

WCWPThe

Woman's Clubof White Plains

WCWP

TheWoman's Club

of White Plains

WCWP3” Square Logo w/Banner

2” Square Logo w/Banner

1.5” Square Logo w/Banner

wcwp - woman's club of white plains

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