February 2026 Chatterbox
CONTENTS
2026 Activities and Meetings
General Meetings
March 5. Woman’s Club Community Service Day. Our community service projects this year are the VA Hospital, Doorstep, Blessing Boxes, nursing scholarships, and a scholarship for a female student entering a nontraditional field of study at Washburn Technology School. At this March meeting, we will learn more about the VA Hospital and its charitable needs through a presentation by Denise Cunningham. Blessing Boxes is a new project for the Woman’s Club that will begin soon. Debbie Dick will explain Blessing Boxes and how we can help with them. It’s always nice to learn more about the organizations and projects we support.
April 2. Woman’s Club Nursing Scholarship Day. I’ve lost track of the exact number of years, but the Woman’s Club has provided nursing scholarships for more than 110 years! It is always amazing to learn about the new facilities and technologies they use to train nurses at university schools of nursing. We will meet the new directors from Baker and Washburn Schools of Nursing.
The Woman’s Club 2026-2027 Slate Officers, Standing Committee Chairs, and Nominating Committee will be presented.
May 7. Ann Mah will be presenting a program Let’s Do Lunch. Her programs are always interesting, so be sure to attend!
We will elect Officers, Standing Committee Chairs, and Nominating Committee members for the 2026-2027 year.
June 4. This meeting is reserved for recognizing people’s contributions to the Woman’s Club. Paula Harper, President, will honor Past Presidents. Jo Miller, Chaplain, will provide a Memorial Service. The Installation of 2026-2027 Officers, Standing Committee Chairs, and Nominating Committee members will be conducted by Phyllis Kelly, Parliamentarian.
Dues
At the October 2nd General Meeting, these Bylaw changes were approved: For current members, dues for the coming year will be collected beginning April 1 and will be delinquent after June 1. Members who join between January 1 and March 31 will be charged 1/2 of the yearly dues. Anyone joining after March 31 will pay only the dues for the following year.
Gad Abouts
Thank you, Kathy Diehl, for arranging and organizing the Gad About activities.
- Saturday, February 14 at 11:00 a.m., a group of Woman’s Club members will have a Valentine’s Day Brunch at First Watch, 1825 SW Wanamaker Road, Topeka, KS. The reservation deadline has passed.
- Sunday, March 8, at 2:00 p.m., attend the play Gloria at Neese Gray Theater at Washburn University. The play is set in an everyday, busy office environment, where a group of young professionals seek their success at a literary magazine. When their lives are changed in an instant, they grapple with who and how their story will be told. By Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, this play offers surprises at every turn.
Cost is donation only. Contact Kathy Diehl at 785-969-7755 by March 2 to make reservations.
- Monday, March 9, 7:00 p.m., attend the Topeka Festival Singers Concert, White Concert Hall at Washburn University.
This moving concert reflects on beauty rising from darkness and the promise of peace. Whether you’re drawn to the sacred or simply to wonder, this experience will uplift your soul.
Cost is $30.00 or $25.00 for seniors. Tickets may be purchased at the door. Contact Kathy Diehl at 785-969-7755 if you plan to attend.
- Friday, March 13, 7:00 p.m. at the Topeka Civic Theatre, 3028 SW 8th Ave., Topeka, plan to attend a performance of The Senior Class.
This zany group of comedians is made up entirely of actors in our community who are over 55. They perform improv comedy that is family friendly. This Senior Class group defines life in the golden years as a terrifically fun-filled trip. Cost is $6.00. Contact Kathy Diehl at 785-969-7755 by March 10 to make reservations.
IT’S A SURPRISE!
There will be a surprise 80th birthday party for Bill Howerton on March 1st from 2 to 4pm at the Woman’s Club. Everyone is welcome. Join us in celebrating a man who does a great deal for the Woman’s Club.
January Mah Jongg Lessons
Four ladies learned the basics of Mah Jongg during the January lessons. If you are interested in taking Mah Jongg lessons, contact Phyllis Kelly at 785-221-0285. In a few months, when there is enough interest, Phyllis will provide another round of four lessons. Thank you, Phyllis, for helping so many women learn to play Mah Jongg!
Woman’s Club Fundraisers
Fifth Friday Game Day, May 29
Play to join the fun playing the game of your choice at the May 29 Fifth Friday Game Day. Lunch is served at 11:30 followed by games: Mexican Train, Hand and Foot, Bridge, or Mah Jongg. This is a fundraiser for the Woman’s Club; cost is $15.
We thank Carla Warren and her dynamic team of helpers for providing great meals and a friendly demeanor on these game days. Thank you!
Garage Sale
The 2026 garage sale has been scheduled for June 12 and 13. Carrie Riordan is the coordinator for the sale. We need the help of every member. The garage sale is a major fundraiser for the Woman’s Club. We need members to donate items for the sale. We need more members to help with setting up, running the sale, and cleaning up afterward. Please be prepared to do your part!! Thank you.
Bunco Anyone?
This is the first time a game of Bunco has been sponsored by the Woman’s Club as a fundraiser. Sheila Ramseier, with support from Robin Merrifield, will host this Bunco game on Saturday afternoon, April 11. Cost per participant is $15.
Are you ready for a fun afternoon playing an easy game that allows lots of social interaction? If you can roll dice, you can play Bunco — and it’s so much fun! Save the date: Saturday, April 11, 1:30 – 4:30 for Bunco!
Blue Moose Cash Give Back
On December 11, Blue Moose provided a cash give back to the Woman’s Club based on 15% of the day’s sales. Blue Moose gave us $1,238. Thank you, Blue Moose and the people who ate there. Well done!
IMPROVEMENTS AT THE WOMAN’S CLUB
Have you noticed the new bulletin boards on the wall between the back door and the parlor? Thank you, Central Congregational Church, for our new bulletin board that matches the church’s. Robin Merrifield and Mel Stewart have been asked to keep the bulletin board up to date with activities and announcements.
The Building and Grounds Committee and the Woman’s Club Custodian, Sean Forshee have been busy. Thank you, Mary Ann Howerton, for coordinating these efforts to improve our building.
Updates in the dining room. Have you noticed changes in the dining
room? The floor has been cleaned and sealed. It looks great! The flowered curtains have been taken down, so just the shears remain.
In the last few months, you may have noticed more brown spots on the ceiling, signaling leaks in the roof. It is time to replace the building’s roof. Bids have been received, and a roofer has been contracted to complete the work. If it is warm enough in mid-March, the work will be done then. $50,000 has been set aside for roof replacement and taxes.
Further improvements are being considered, depending on funding availability.
PUBLIC RENTAL POLICY (nonmembers)
The Executive Board has approved an updated rental policy for nonmembers renting our facility. The price updates reflect our increased costs and issues with nonmembers renting our building. The fees for renting our facility (changes are bold):
- Four (4) hours or less, one room $200
- Four (4) hours or less, two rooms $350
- More than four (4) hours, one room $300
- More than four (4) hours, two rooms $500
- Security deposit, refundable $200
Refundable if there was no damage and if the rental time limits have not been violated.
- Use of the kitchen for meal preparation $100
- Kitchen security deposit, refundable $ 50
Refundable if the kitchen has been cleaned, including spills on the stove and oven, using their own cleaning supplies, removing their items from the refrigerator, and ensuring the refrigerator is clean.
- Custodial Fees, one room $75
- Custodial Fees, two rooms $150
If the renter does not hire the Woman’s Club Custodian, they are responsible for setting up and cleaning up tables, chairs, counters, and floors; putting away tables and chairs, and taking out the trash.
Rental times are available from 8 am to 12 am, Monday through Saturday, in 4-hour increments. Rental times on Sunday will be from 1 pm to 10 pm. Any time exceptions must be approved by the Rental Committee Chairperson or the President. If the event does not conclude as indicated in the contract, $100 will be deducted from the security deposit.
More complete explanations of the public rental policy are available on pages 55-56 of the 2025-2026 Woman’s Club Yearbook.