Welcome to Our 2023-24 Season!
We have wonderful programs and events to share with our members this year. We look forward to gathering together again and meeting new and old friends. What is it that makes a club? Its members!
Please register for these programs through the website, the Google calendar, or the newsletter. We hope you can join us.
Wednesday, September 20th from 6:30-8 p.m.
New and Prospective Members Open House Wine and Cheese
Come explore the historic clubhouse building which was built in 1915 specifically to house the new organization of local women. While there has obviously been tremendous change in women’s lives in the more than hundred years since it was founded, the club is committed to finding ways to harness this fabulous downtown space to benefit women and the greater community. Join in for a glass of wine, meet some club officers and learn about what programs will be offered this year, how to get involved and help shape a club that meets the needs of women today.
Invite anyone you think might be interested in joining or just learning more about the club!
RSVP here and share the link with your friends!
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Wednesday, September 27th from 6:30-8 p.m.
MWC Happy Hour Book Club: Ikigai -The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life, by Hector Garcia and Fracesc Miralles
Come for a discussion of the international bestseller, Ikigai -The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life, by Hector Garcia and Fracesc Miralles, and moderated by club member Mona Jha. What better way to enjoy a happy hour than by discussing happiness and what it means for us? Ikigai, “the happiness of always being busy” seemingly explains the longevity of Japanese people. What is your Ikigai? We invite you to read Ikigai for a thought provoking and fun evening! Come if you’ve read the book, if you may read the book, if never heard of it but think it sounds interesting, if you just want some sushi and conversation.
RSVP here and invite your friends!
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Friday, September 29th-Saturday, September 30
Montclair Swap
On Friday, September 29th from 4-6 pm, you can drop off gently used clothes, small household goods, toys and games. They can always use help if you would like to volunteer to organize the donations or assist on Saturday morning 9/30 between 9-11am when the public comes to take items.
Any questions or to volunteer, please contact Jane Marcus at montclairswap@gmail.com
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Saturday, September 29th at 9 am at Canterbury Park in Montclair
S.O.F.I.A.’s 13th Annual Walk against Domestic Violence
Please let Carol Schlein (carol@carolschlein.com) know if you would like to march (suggested donation is $20). If you would like to donate, click here and enter your donation amount, select SOFIA from the drop down and please cover our paypal fees or send a check payable to the Montclair Women’s Club and note SOFIA in the memo.
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Friday, October 13, 1:30 p.m.
The Anxiety Epidemic, a talk by Dr. Jonathan Caspi
We kick of the 2023-24 Friday Afternoon Speaker Series with the return of Dr. Jonathan Caspi, a therapist with a private practice and a professor of Family Science and Human Development at Montclair State University, who two years ago gave a riveting talk about sibling relationships. He returns with a talk from a new class he is teaching that will focus on the latest research to help us understand what has been called an epidemic of anxiety. Anxiety is the most common mental health challenge in the United States. Research reports as high as 1 in 3 experience so much anxiety that it interferes with daily life functioning. This talk will present different ways to think about anxiety and offer ways to help best navigate an often-disruptive experience. How anxiety lives in romantic couples, parenting and in society will be discussed. Basic strategies for managing anxiety will be offered as well.
RSVP here.
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Friday, October 27, 1:30 p.m.
Retirement Planning Ins and Outs, both before and after retirement
Elizabeth Viola, a local retirement and safe money specialist, will bring important information for developing a sound financial strategy to keep your money safe for retirement and avoid retirement tax traps. This is a great talk for anyone thinking ahead about retirement or already retired! Bring a spouse! Bring a friend! Have some refreshments and get important information!
RSVP here.
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Wednesday, November 1, 7-8:30 p.m.
Investing in Art with art curator Jessica Davidson
The MWC joins with i.WILL, a networking group, to host this exciting evening focused on the dynamic world of art collecting, art investment, and digital art including NFTs! Guest speaker and seasoned art curator Jessica Davidson Marinaro, Senior Director at MakersPlace and Founder of Davidson Art Advisory, will explain how collecting art is not just for the rich and famous -- it can be an enjoyable and lucrative pursuit for anyone.
Register here. Use promo code MWC to get $5 off ($15 tickets instead of $20).
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Friday, November 17, 1:30 p.m.
A Book Discussion with Helen Lippman, the Author of To Newark with Love: A City, A Family, a Life
Helen Lippman, a third generation Newarker (and current Montclarian), has written a love-story to Newark. The book is a series of essays and revealing stories, some light-hearted and some fraught, that tell the entwined stories of Newark and her family spanning 120 years.
RSVP here.
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Friday, December 8, 1:30 p.m.
An Afternoon of Music with James Caldwell High School Ensembles
Join us for a musical afternoon as the James Caldwell High School ensembles, both vocal and instrumental, perform for our club! These are the school’s select groups that rehearse in the evenings, led by Chorus director Elsie Timpson.
RSVP here.
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Thursday, December 14, 8 p.m.
"...And the Greatest of These is Love" Concert with the WomanSONG Intergenerational Chorus
The WomanSONG Intergenerational Chorus, under the direction of Fran De Palma-Iozzi, will present its first concert since Covid. The women are back with a program focused on children's lives, including works by Paul McCartney, Leonard Bernstein, Thad Jones, Nick Page, and John Lennon, and a sing-along with the audience. The concert will feature Fran DePalma-Iozzi, Director, Emiliya Frenklakh, accompanist; Sopranos Laura Bill, Grace Braeske, Patty Carey, Laura Hartin, and Susan Stillman; Altos Rita Annan-Brady, Cinzia Cortese, Barbara Davison, Terri Mahadeen, Maribeth Persad, Amanda Saito, and Betty Tallaksen; with Louis Iozzi, Saxophone, Frank Mazzeo, Percussion, and Terri Mahadeen, Guitar and Bass.
Free for MWC members and $7 for guests. Light refreshments will be available.
The Chorus will also be doing a second concert at Crane's Mill retirement home on Passaic Avenue in West Caldwell on Monday, December 18 at 7:30 pm, with free admission.
For question or more information, please contact Fran DePalma-Iozzi at depio@comcast.net or 973-954-0650.
RSVP here.
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Friday, January 19, 1:30 p.m.
Tech Question Day!
Bring your tech problems, questions and frustrations to this interactive afternoon cosponsored by the Montclair Women’s Club and Montclair Gateway to Aging in Place. If you aren’t comfortable in the world of devices, aren’t a “digital native,” please don’t be shy, this day is for you!!
RSVP here.
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Friday, February 9, 1:30 p.m.
Tales of the Robert Durst Murders From Charles Bagli, the New York Times Reporter who Covered the Story
Charles Bagli will bring tales of murder to the Montclair Women’s Club! As a real estate reporter for the New York Times, he covered Robert Durst (1943-2022), a multi-millionaire who, for 40 years, investigators in three states considered a suspect in at least three murders as he traveled relentlessly back and forth across the United States. His wanderings did not come to an end until after he made the fateful decision to talk to filmmakers--"The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst"-- about the cloud of suspicion that hovered over his life. One of the best cold-case prosecutors in the country brought him to trial in Los Angeles in 2021.
RSVP here.
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Montclair Winter Swap
Friday, February 9th (drop off between 5-7pm)
Saturday, February 10th (9am-11am): open "shopping" for free items
Wondering what to do with those holiday gifts that missed the mark? Or the things that your are looking to "rehome" as you clear out some closets? Bring them to the Winter Swap!
MWC is once again hosting this incredible initiative at our clubhouse. ALL are welcomed to donate items on Friday Feb. 9th and/or come to "shop" for free items on Saturday Feb. 10th (see above times). *MWC members who are attending the February 9th program earlier in the day can bring items with them to leave at the club house. All public donations are ONLY during the hours of 5-7pm.
Accepted items--these are the ONLY items accepted:
- Women's, men's, children's and baby's clothing, and footwear (help our volunteers by labeling bags by size)
- Household Goods
- Toys and games - should be taped shut, or rubber-banded, and must have all the parts.
Want to volunteer to help either Friday night (sorting) or Saturday morning (helping as people shop)? Reach out to montclairswap@gmail.com
See here for the event flier for more details and/or to share with your network.
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Friday, February 23, 1:30 p.m.
Making Dumplings to Taste, Take, and Donate with Nancy Loo
Nancy Loo is the founder of Dumpling Diplomacy, an organization that brings people together across all divides, and she has started the Pay it Forward Café at the Salvation Army. On this Friday in February, she will join us to talk about the story of dumplings, and of her work, while leading us as we roll up our sleeves and learn to make our own dumplings. We can taste them, take some home, and donate some.
RSVP here.
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Tuesday, March 5 at 7:00pm
Capitalizing on Job Opportunities at Any Age
Join us as we co-sponsor this dynamic and fun evening event with i.Will, a women’s networking organization. If you are looking for a job online without much luck, or just want to keep your options open for the future, this session is for you. It will provide useful advice on how to uncover job opportunities at any age from top-notch speakers, plus networking opportunities. Topics covered will include how to refresh online profiles, constructive networking, and how the LinkedIn algorithm works. All designed to provide valuable inside track info to accelerate the search.
Open to All! Sign up in advance at this link. Tickets are $20, with promo code MWC, tickets are $15.
RSVP HERE
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Friday, March 8, 1:30 p.m.
Montclair Author Suzanne Moyers on Writing, Family Research and Her Book, ‘Til All These Things Be Done
Join us for a book talk afternoon with local author Suzanne Moyers. Her novel started with Suzanne’s drive to learn more about a mysterious chapter of her family history. The pursuit led to her beautifully researched and page-turning novel, set mostly in Texas in the early 1900’s.
RSVP here.
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Liberty District Performing Arts Day
March 14th (begins at 11am) at our club
If you like to perform, we want you! Whether you recite poetry, act, sing, dance or play music, we'd love to have you participate as the Liberty District Women's Clubs come together to celebrate and enjoy the performing arts achievements of members. Interested? Contact Fran DePalma-Iozzi at depio@comcast.net. See below for categories and standard time for each category and let us know if you want to join in the fun as an individual or join a group (we hear there may be a kazoo chorus brewing....).
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Friday, March 22, 1:30 p.m.
Wendy Jones on The Life of Ida B. Wells (1862-1931), a talk for Women’s History Month
Wendy Jones--an avid history lover since the age of 12--author of An Extraordinary Life: Josephine E. Jones, and president of Ida Bell Publishing, (I think you can guess who the company was named after)--will introduce us to the extraordinary Ida B. Wells.
Ida B. Wells--blazing through the 19th and 20th centuries—was a well-known African American anti-lynching crusader, an investigative journalist, a newspaper owner, and a suffragette. Wells--by this time Wells-Barnett and mother of four--in 1910 also established the Negro Fellowship League in Chicago to provide lodging, a library, and employment information for young African American men from the South, who were barred from those services at the YMCA.
RSVP here.
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Wednesday April 3rd at the Upper Montclair Women's Club
CALLING ALL ARTISTS!
LIBERTY DISTRICT ARTS ACHIEVEMENT DAY
Arts Achievement Day will be held at the WC of Upper Montclair on April 3. Club members may enter a variety of categories. They will compete with members of all Liberty District Clubs. The Gold ribbon winners will go to the NJSFWC Convention in May to compete with all state clubs.
Please start planning on all the items you may enter in this art and environment competition. There are many categories for you to choose from. You may enter one item from each category.
All entries must be sent to the District Chairman, listed on the bottom of the form, by March 21st. All entries must be delivered to the WCUM on April 3, between 9-11 am.
We look forward to many entries this year from our talented members.
PLEASE CONTACT JANET OSCAR FOR THE ARTS AND CULTURE SUPPLEMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENT SUPPLEMENT. Janet will email them to you. Below are forms to register:
Environment Registration:
Environment Registration.pdf
Arts Registration Forms link:
Arts Registration.pdf
If you enter photography, there are two more forms to fill out. PLEASE CONTACT JANET OSCAR FOR THIS FORM (REGISTRATION). The registration forms have to be sent to the respective District Chairman (names and addresses are on the bottom of the form) by March 21st.
The items have to be delivered to the Women’s club of Upper Montclair on April 3, from 9 to 11 am.
Janet urges our club members to consider entering as many items as possible, either under Artistic Designs, where you may choose from 19 different pieces of flower arrangements, etc. or under Houseplants - 15 varieties.
Please contact Janet with any questions 862 215 0017 or email Janet@oscarbenefits.com
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Friday, April 5, 1:30 p.m.
Costuming Mosaic: the Costumes of the Mosaic Theater
Go behind the scenes and into the costume shop of Mosaic Dance Theater Company. Accompanied by a rack of memorable costumes and costume pieces, Morgiana Celeste Varricchio and Bob Greenwald share construction how-tos, successes and challenges, with a slide show of photos and video clips. Mosaic Dance Theater Company is dedicated to the dance and folklore of the Middle East, North Africa, and Southern Europe. Celebrating the Mediterranean’s rich diversity of cultures, the award-winning company is known for its artistry and cultural integrity in creating its critically acclaimed repertory.
RSVP here.
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Friday, April 19, 1:30 p.m.
Celebrate MWC's 109th Birthday with Student Pianists from Montclair State University
To celebrate the club’s 109th birthday, we have again Montclair State University piano students who will play short classical pieces pianists on our wonderful 1940 Steinway piano. This was a treat last year, and we look forward to yet another lovely afternoon of birthday cake and music! Please join us.
RSVP here.
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Thursday, April 25, 6:30-8 p.m.
MWC Happy Hour Book Club - Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
In this book club, MWC member Mona Jha will moderate a discussion of one of the most discussed books of the year. It is a long book so start early if you want to read it, but come if you have read the book, if you’ve started the book, heard of the book, are interested in reading the book, or are interested in learning more. Enjoy Indian munchies and good conversation.
Read Oprah’s Book Club Pick, an epic saga that takes place over eighty years, beginning in 1900 when a 12-year-old girl leaves her village to marry a 40-year old widower. Our discussion will focus on the historical and cultural events depicted in this 700-page turner, British colonialism, arranged marriages, child brides, the caste system, socio-economic status, Marxism, and misogyny… though we could be easily distracted with discussion of relationships between husbands and wives, mothers and sons, fathers and daughters, and much more.
RSVP HERE
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Friday, May 3, 1:30 p.m.
A Talk With Liz Lynch, Our Club Archivist
Join us for a journey into our club’s rich history! Liz will bring us tales from the lengthy archives of this historic club, including a dive into cookbooks put together by members in the past, and tips for cooking from vintage recipes. Do you have old cookbooks? Bring them in for a cookbook swap!
RSVP HERE
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Thursday, May 9, 8 p.m.
WomanSONG Chorus presents: As Time Goes By…The Concert
Free for our club members and those under age 12; $5 for others.
Please contact Fran (DePalma-Iozzi) for questions or more information: depio@comcast.net
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SPECIAL EVENT! Mark your calendars and buy tickets now!
Saturday, May 11 from 11:00 am-1:00 pm
A Lovely Spring Tea Luncheon Fundraiser to End the Year!
As Time Goes By is a New Jersey chapter of the Questers, a group dedicated to historic preservation and restoration. They contacted us about hosting a joint fundraiser to raise money for ongoing restoration projects. Last year, they hosted a similar tea to benefit another group and it was very successful. We will make it our end-of-the-year event and, on the Saturday before Mother's Day, enjoy lovely tables piled high with scones, tea sandwiches, and sumptuous desserts. Tickets are $50. Please count on coming! (See flyer here)
To pay by check, please print out this form and mail it directly to the Questers at the address on the form with a check. To pay by credit card instead, email copy of your form to Carol carol@carolschlein.com and then use our MWC donation link here (choose Quester Tea from the drop down option and add the amount of $50/ticket)--we will then share your reservation info with Questers.
Also, we need RSVP's for the Spring Tea by April 27 at the latest.
Reserve your tickets now! www.astimegoesbynj.com