May 2025 Chatterbox
DUES Are Due
Membership dues for the year June 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026 are due and payable beginning in May 2025.
Dues are $90. You may bring your dues to the Woman’s Club or mail them to:
5221 SW West Drive, Topeka, KS 66606.
If you have questions, call Mel at the office, 785-273-6978 or email her at [email protected].
Thank you!
This Thing Called Motherhood
Jo Miller, May 2025
Woman puts her life on the line
For nine long months of waiting
This all started so innocently
With a little thing we call “dating.”
For nine long months she labored
Unable to lay her burden down
Not knowing the joy that awaited
Not knowing the prize she had won.
Till long last it happened
With a power that totally disarms
The child she had waited so long for
Was finally there in her arms.
So precious was this little bundle
Soft and warm cradled against her
Of course our brand new mother
Didn’t know what she was in for.
The joy and wonder of it all
Watching baby grow day by day
Soon that first word was uttered
Baby said “Da Da” to her utter dismay.
But as the years go by
Many lessons will be learned
And with love and understanding
Many rewards will be earned.
Till one day the roles are reversed
And she must do it all again
Only this time it’s her child’s turn
The Motherhood cycle begins again.
Once a mother
Always a mother
And only a mother
Can know the true meaning of it all.
Rental of the Woman’s Club by Members
A great benefit of membership in the Woman’s Club is being able to rent the building at reduced rates. The Rental Committee has reviewed the policies for members renting the Woman’s Club.
Their recommended changes will be discussed at the May General Meeting and voted on at the June General Meeting. If approved by the membership, these rates and rules will be in effect beginning June 5, 2025. The changes in policy are in red.
Clubhouse
Rental Policies: Members Only
Members of the Club may rent the building/room at reduced rates:
Events planned to last four (4) or fewer hours for
Rental $60
Deposit $100
Custodial services for set-up $75
Events planned to last more than four (4) hours for
Rental $120
Deposit $100
Custodial services for set-up $75
MEMBER RENTAL RULES
1. Members may rent the Clubhouse for groups of which they are an active member.
2. Members renting the Clubhouse must be present during the entire
event.
3. The time of the event is “reserved” only when the total fee is paid and the
contract is signed, as least one (1) week prior to the event. A member’s
contract includes the Tenant Agreement.
4. A member’s contract includes the Tenant Agreement.
5. Members may check out a key from the Woman’s Club Secretary during the week before the
event. Members must ensure that all doors to the building are locked at the
conclusion of their event.
6. A security deposit will be required; a member’s signature on the rental agreement
constitutes a promise to pay for damages that may occur during the rental
period.
7. All of the rental fee received will be refunded if cancellation is made at least
one (1) workday prior to the event.
8. If the event is cancelled day of the event the deposit will be forfeited. If the
renter needs to cancel the event on a day that is not a workday for the Club’s
Secretary, the member should call the Rental Committee Chair/Vice President.
9. The custodial fee will be returned if the event is cancelled a least one (1) working day prior the event.
If the cancellation occurs later then (1) day and set-up
and/or opening has occurred, the ($75) deposit will be retained for the
custodian.
10. If the member chooses not to hire the
Woman’s Club Custodian, the member renting the building is responsible for
setting up tables and chairs; clean-up of tables, chairs, and counters and
floors; taking down tables and chairs and putting them back in the closets; and
taking out the trash.
If the member’s group uses the kitchen; they
will also be responsible for cleaning the kitchen including cleanup of spills
on top or in the ovens of the stoves; providing their own cleaning materials,
including kitchen towels, paper towels, sponges and dish soap.
They should also make sure items that are brought and stored in the
refrigerator have been removed, and refrigerator is clean.
Election of Officers and Standing Committee Chairpersons
The elections occurred at the May General Meeting. These are your Officers and Standing Committee Chairs for the 2025-2026 year. Congratulations!
Installation will occur at the June General Meeting.
Officers
President: Paula Harper
Vice President: Mary Ann Howerton
Secretary: Judy Marks
Treasurer: Diana Komarek
Treasurer Assistant: Carolyn Burns
Auditor: Jan Gilliland
Standing Committees
Building and Grounds – Karen Swogger
Communications – ZoAnn Torrey
Community Service — Carol Talley
Fundraising – Phyllis Kelly
Luncheon, Kitchen, Activities (one vote):
Luncheons– Joan Arterburn Kitchen– Judy Donnelly
Fifth Friday Activities – Carla Warren
Membership – Rosie Cooper
Programs – Jo Miller
Nominating –Joan Arterburn, Carolyn Burns, Susan Turner, Phyllis Kelly, Kathy Diehl, ZoAnn Torrey
General Meetings
Our May General Meeting provided an interesting program and great food. Connie Hubbell shared the story of her father’s WWII experience, From the Farm, to the Castle, to Prison. His service included 17 months as a Prisoner of War. Connie grew up in Topeka and has served her community in many ways.
Elaine Decoursey Catering and Decorating provided a Mexican meal.
The June General Meeting will include the installation of 2025-2026 Woman’s Club Officers and Standing Committee Chairs, honoring
of Past Presidents, and the Memorial Service. This is the last gathering until the Fall Coffee in September.
Book Club
Our book club meets at 1:00 on the second Thursday of each month. Everyone is welcome – join us.
This is the tentative list of books for the next few months. Topekan Ruth Maus has recently written a novel, Lunacy and Acts of God, and TSCPL has ordered several Book Kits. When these become available, we will schedule this book.
Thanks. Betty Frantz, Team Captain
May 8 A Fever in the Heartland by Timothy Egan
June 12 The Yard– This is a Book in a Bag by Alex Grecian
July 10 James by Percival Everett
August 14 Wedding People by Alison Espach
September 11 All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
October 9 North Woods by Daniel Mason
November 13 Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
December 11 Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby
Van Pelt
If you are interested in joining the book club, call Betty Frantz at 785-273-9278 or email [email protected].
Gad Abouts
Kathy Diehl, Team Captain, shared that the next outing will be Sunday, May 18, 3:00-5:00 PM at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library. The library hosts a monthly musical Sunday, and the Frontier String Quartet will provide this program.
The event is free.
Let Kathy know that you want to go on May 18 as part of the group; call 785-969-7755 or email [email protected].
Everyone is welcome to attend Gad Abouts events/activities. You always have fun when you gad about!
Sing-Along Team – Are you interested?
One of our new members asked if we would consider a sing-along group. Are you interested in singing with others, just for fun and
socialization? If so, please ask Mel to put your name on the list. Details will be determined by those interested in singing.
New Mah Jongg Team
You now have another opportunity to play Mah Jong at the Woman’s Club. A new team is meeting on the third Sunday from 1-4.
Nonmembers are welcome to play for a $3 fee each time.
The group’s next day to play is May 18th.
Joan Oyler is the Team Captain. Call or email her for more information, to answer your questions, or indicate interest in joining the team, 785-633-6467 or [email protected].
Ace of Hearts
Ace of Hearts operates year-round. Our playing dates are Tuesday and Thursday at 12:30.
The month of June is one of our fundraising months for Alzheimer’s. We will be celebrating the longest day on June 17. We will have
some special activities and will participate in the national week honoring Alzheimer’s.
If Woman’s Club members or anyone you may know is interested in trying duplicate bridge, please give me a call, 785-633-3682.
Jan Tillery, Duplicate Bridge Club Manager
Fifth Friday Game Days, lunch at 11:30
May 30 – 5th Friday Game Day, August 29 – 5th Friday Game Day
Play Hand and Foot, Mexican Train, Mah Jongg, or bridge.
Members are encouraged to invite nonmembers to play with you.
Call Mel at 785-273-6978 to get more information and to make your reservation for a Fifth Friday Game Day.
There is a $10 cost for lunch and playing.
Which teams are active this summer?
Many of the Woman’s Club teams will continue meeting this summer.
· Ace of Hearts every Tuesday and Thursday at 12:30 PM
· Book Club second Thursday of the month at 1:00
· Ever Young Team second and fourth Monday at 1:00, $10 dues paid in May
· Hand and Foot every Monday at 1:00 (holidays also)
· Mexican Train every Wednesday and Friday at 1:00
· Sunday Mah Jongg Team third Sunday of the month from 1:00-4:00.
· Winds & Dragon Mah Jongg Team every Friday at 1:00
Tea at the Woman’s Club was a successful event!
Thank you for attending the Tea, a major fundraiser for the Woman’s Club, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.
Many of you invited non-members to come with you. In fact, of the 75 people attending the Tea, 44 were guests of Woman’s Club members. Thank you!
We want to acknowledge the work of the Tea Committee, which made our event so successful.
All but two food items were homemade by Tea Committee members!
We also thank our servers, people who helped in the kitchen, and Woman’s Club members who helped set up and clean up! We couldn’t have done it without YOU!
International Folk Dancing
Sunday, May 18th
International Folk Dance Lessons
Woman’s Club
3-5:15 pm
$5 (to cover rental cost)
Just come to the lessons; no reservations needed.
If you have questions, call Joan Oyler 785-633-6467.
