An historic, educational, political, cultural, and social club where Democrats meet, discuss, and act upon issues of the day.

June 2009

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

It’s June and soon we will be holding elections for WNDC’s new leaders. The Nominating Committee has presented the following slate:

Lucia Hatch, President; Leila Plassey Harrington, V.P.Administration; Owen Roberts,V.P. Finance; John Marshall, Treasurer; Nuchhi Currier, V.P. Programs; Shelly Livingston, V.P. Public Policy; Linda Cook, V.P. Public Relations; Ellen Kirsch, Secretary; Barbara Zelenko, Assistant Secretary. Tonya Butler Truesdale, Kristy Gersten Keteltas, Kellye McIntosh and Samanatha O’Neil are recommended to serve on the Board of Governors.

All of these members are excellent candidates and are willing to spend untold hours volunteering for WNDC. We appreciate their desire to strengthen our organization. I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank the current Board members who will not be returning next year. They have demonstrated a strong commit-ment to ensuring WNDC’s future vitality.

Please join us on Friday, June 19 from 10:30 until noon for our Semi-Annual meeting. You will have a chance to vote in this election and express your opinions and concerns. Afterward, there will be a luncheon where you can chat with old and new friends. After serving as your President for three years, this is my final column. It has been a pleasure working with our dedicated volunteers and staff. This has been a thrilling and challenging experience; one that I will never forget. WNDC is a unique organization, composed of extraordinary members and I am glad that I was able to get to know so many of you much better. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to serve.

I look forward to seeing you at our Semi Annual meeting on June 19.

Karen Hansen Shook

MUSEUM NOTES

The Frances Perkins Center in Newcastle, Maine held a reception at WNDC on April 21 to celebrate the life of Frances Perkins, FDR’s Secretary of Labor, 1933-1945. The event was sponsored by the AFL-CIO and the National Consumers League. Veteran Washington Post reporter and author Kirstin Downey signed copies of her biography, The Woman Behind the New Deal: The Life Of Frances Perkins.

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MARK YOUR CALENDAR! Friday, June 19th

10:30 a.m. with lunch to follow

Please come to the Semi-Annual Meeting and hear what our wonderful Club is planning for the next year. Join us during this exciting time to be part of WNDC with a new president, officers and board!

The New Citizens Reception

The WNDC-Educational Foundation is pleased to announce sponsorship of the June New Citizens Reception. WNDC club members are invited to at-tend this wonderful program, which takes place at the U.S. District Court. 333 Constitution Ave., NW, 6th floor, Courtroom #20, Washington, DC*The program begins promptly at 10 a.m. on June 9, 2009, please be on time for this event.

Book Group

The Book Group will meet on Wednesday, June 24 at 10:30. For information about the group or to learn the title of the book chosen for June, please call Louise Engle at 202-546-1009 or Martha Close at 703-237-7236. We will be delighted to have you join us.

WNDC Congratulates Member of the Month, Sharron Caplan Sharron’s dedication to the Club truly knows no bounds! She currently serves as the chair of the Political Liaison Committee. For more information on her committee please email sccaplan@comcast.net.

EF Update

Norah Sloss, a graduating senior from the Young Woman's Leadership Project at the School Without Walls, was presented by member Ruth Nadel with this year's $1,000 Goodrich/Nadel Award on May 12. The award is given by the WNDC Educational Foundation for the recipient's college study, and Norah will be using her award at Loyola University in New Orleans. In her senior year, Norah worked for several months with Kathy Remus as an intern at WNDC, working on projects related to women in foreign affairs. In her application essay, she wrote of how this experience informed her passion for female empowerment and women's public policy. "I met a lot of very talented and intelligent

Art News

The next exhibition in the club's dining room, FLOWERS, will continue until September. These beautiful paintings, some by club artists, are for sale. The exhibit of Laura Jones' photographs of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Poor People's Campaign 1968 continues in the dining room alcove (prices on request).

Need a Talent Venue? We’ve Got An Audience

WNDC’s July 24 year-end party will feature barbecue and the many talents of our members. Save the date and plan to entertain a friend-ly audience. Contact anyone on the Planning Committee: Abigail Nichols, Shelly Livingston, Carol Mott, or Pat Bitondo.

WNDC’s BBQ Summer Kick-off!

Friday, June 26th 11:30 p.m.- 1:30 p.m.

Enjoy a wonderful and casual(but delicious) luncheon.Kids are welcome to come: 12 and under special prices apply. Members, $20; Nonmembers $25; 12 and under, $12.50.

“Buttons Galore” is one of the behind-the-scenes photos taken by Julie Feinsilver during President Barack Obama’s inauguration. Julie was inspired to submit her photos after WNDC’s current photography exhibit Politics in Action. The photos can be viewed in the Museum Room through July.

WNDC member Ruth Nadel presents senior Norah Sloss with her award

women who come from different backgrounds and gen-erations. . .[who] fought, lobbied, and struggled to gain equality for women. . ." Congratulations to Norah and all the YWLP participants who are graduating this year from the School Without Walls.

The EF Board has voted to use the funds donated in honor of Ruth Nadel’s birthday to create the Ruth G. Nadel Leadership Award to be awarded to a senior student participating in the Young Woman’s Leadership Project for her college study. In the fall, we will also examine possibilities of expanding and enriching the program for the junior students who come to events at the club, in line with some of Ruth’s special concerns. This was the first Nadel scholarship to be awarded by Ruth.

country undertakes a firm commitment to a realistic level of emission reductions, we cannot expect the rest of the world to take courageous steps to reduce the use of energy from fossil fuels.

Foreign Policy Task ForceCo-chairs: Dorothy Dillon 202-363-9152and Dorothy Barker 202-338-8153

Global Women Task ForceCo-chairs: Ellen Overton 202-338-4820and Ruth Nadel 202-362-3789No meeting in June Next meeting Thursday, July 16, 6:00 p.m.

Given the priority the new Administration is attaching to global women’s issues, GWTF intends to revitalize WNDC’s involvement by supporting such efforts, including those of the Office of Global Women’s Issues and other relevant Offices in the State Depart-ment. Additionally, evening meetings and co-sponsoring programs with other groups are aimed at attracting new members as we move ahead.

Health Task ForceChair: Lucia Hatch 202-577-7042lshatch@verizon.net

Art CommitteeChair: Pamela Brown 202-362-6978Date: TBA

Archives CommitteeChair: Kathryn Ray 202-244-0770, kcrdlb@gmail.com

Board of GovernorsWednesday, June 17, 12:45 p.m.

BudgetChair: John Marshall 202-544-3824

House, Garden, and Museum CommitteeLeila Plassey Harringtonlplassey@yahoo.com

House SubcommitteeChair: Carol Baer Mottcarolbaermott@earthlink.net

Exhibits SubcommitteeChair: Jewel FenziFenzijg@earthlink.net

Garden SubcommitteeEllen Eager 202-363-6066Gloria Meade 202-966-4614

DC/MetroChair: Jewell Fenzi202-387-4024, fenzijg@verizon.net

Public Policy CommitteeChair: Betsy ClarkWednesday, June 10, 11:00 a.m.

The Public Policy Committee is made up of the Task Force chairs and a small number of at-large members. All WNDC members are welcome at our meetings. Please contact me or individual chairs if you are interested in joining a Task Force. epsclark@rcn.com or 202-537-1279 (evenings).

PPC NEWSThe June meeting is planned as a social event for PPC members to get together and enjoy each other’s company, and also enjoy the Wednesday buffet. Business meeting 11:00-11:30, Lunch 11:30 a.m. (Those who are members of Excom will leave at 12:45)

Budget--U.S. Task ForceChair: Gil Brown

Church/State Task ForceChair: Bill D’Antonio 202-244-5419lorrandbill@msn.com

Education/Children’s Issues Task ForceChair: Barbara Stout 202-966-5710bjrstout@aol.comThursday, June 4, 10:30 a.m.

Reviewing/revising our positions--What to say about school choice, math and science, facilities, etc?

Election Reform Task ForceChair: Aggie Wolf 703-759-2840asw@bellatlantic.netNo meeting scheduled

Environment & Natural Resources Task ForceChair: Alice Day 202-293-4798at-lhday@verizon.netFriday, June 12, 12 p.m.

As David Sanger, a NY Times Correspondent, says in his new book about Obama, “What’s next?”The June meeting will discuss: whatsorts of personal and political action shouldwe take as a task force and as members of the WNDC to support President Obama in his quest to restore leadership in environmen-tal affairs? In particular, what can we do to strengthen the position of the new adminis-tration at the December 2009 Copenhagen Conference on climate change, where the goal is to forge a consensus between nations to re-duce the global carbon footprint? Unless this

Executive CommitteeWednesday, June 10, 12:45 p.m.

Educational Foundation Board Chair: Judy OlmerWednesday, June 17, 10:00 a.m.

Finance Committee Chair: Lucia Hatch 202-577-7042lshatch@verizon.netFriday, June 12, 10:30 a.m.

International ProgramsChair: Padmini Gulatigulatipp@myway.com Legislative and National AffairsChair: Ellie Newman 202-363-9795Thursday, June 4, 10:30 a.m.

Liberal Arts CommitteeChair: Sadie Gold 202-966-0573

Social SecurityChair: Sylvia Kassalow 703-354-5654

Membership CommitteeChair: Sam O’Neil 443-844-5478Thursday, June 18, 6 p.m.

If you would like to discuss membership drives, outreach and other opportunities please contact Sam at s.florence.oneil@gmail.com.

Political Liaison CommitteeChair: Sharron Caplan 301-493-5249 sccaplan@comcast.net.

Program Associates CommitteeChair: Nuchhi Currier 202-234-0096nuchhi@gmail.comTuesday, June 16, 10:30 a.m.

Public and Media RelationsChair: Anna Fierst 301-652-6728 afierst@yahoo.com

THE PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEE and its Task Forces