In the tradition of long-serving Nancy Rubenstein, who chaired Book Group (1998 to 2011), Toby also has done a phenomenal job of chairing for the last six years. Both Nancy and Toby were honored at the October meeting of Book Group with gifts and affectionate expressions of gratitude for their generous and continued commitment to leadership. We are all sad to have Toby leave the Stanford community and saluted her with Lou Ann Glader’s beautifully-decorated cake.

In the last two years, Book Group membership grew to such an extent that we needed to begin a reservation system, 2017-2018, that would monthly match attendance to the occupancy limit for each hostess. Suzie Lincoln joined as third co-chair with Toby and Janet Germane, specifically to manage these monthly reservations. Now, with the imminent departure of Toby, the trio of co-chairs will be Suzie, Janet, and Katie Vigeant.

Our new evening group meets on the same second Monday as the afternoon group and is led by Allyn Taylor and Debbie Shepherd. Two meetings now accommodate more members. A very good way to start the year.  Please see the Preview newsletter for more information.   Thank you to Janet Germane for writing this post.  Photos by Kelly Steele.

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One of the best reasons to join SUWC is all the interesting women you may meet from our community. Many have lived and traveled around the world including Molly Agras. Molly has been a member for more than 40 years. Her friend Sunny Scott describes her as a “power house of inter-connectivity.”

When her husband joined the Medical School Faculty in 1972, Molly came to Stanford via the U.K having left Great Britain in 1956. For about five years, she served as President of the Medical Wives’ Club which dissolved in the late 70’s. Molly has been an entrepreneur for most of her life. She owned and managed “Courtyard Collection” in downtown Palo Alto, from 1977–1995, where she sold imported furnishings, art and textiles. A particular focus was the flat woven rugs called Kilims. She recalls fondly that there were many small businesses being run by local women. Molly traveled the globe including Europe and Eastern Asia to collect goods. Her talent for interior design led to more work after the shop closed.

Later in life Molly found a passion for jewelry making. She calls her style “classic ethnic” where she incorporates tribal silver with incredibly beautiful beads from many countries.  Molly personally invites you to come check out her lovely pieces at a benefit being held at Sunny’s campus home (610 Gerona Road) on Friday & Saturday, November 3 & 4, from 3-5 pm. All profits support worthy causes including the Ecumenical Hunger Program and other not for profit organizations.

If you know another interesting member that you would like to see profiled, please contact Audrey Gold.

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We are honored to begin our Author’s Coffee section with Professor Barbara Babcock sharing her memoir Fish Raincoats: A Woman Lawyer’s Life.  Professor Babcock was the first female Stanford law professor, the first director of the District of Columbia Public Defender Service, one of the first women to be an Assistant Attorney General of the United States, and the biographer of California’s first woman lawyer, Clara Foltz. Survivor, pioneer, leader, and fervent defender of the powerless and colorful mobsters alike, Barbara Babcock led by example and by the written word. Her books will be available for purchase at the meeting.  Please check the Preview newsletter or contact Teresa Judd for the address of this event which will be held at a home on campus.   Teresa reports  “I have heard Professor Babcock speak and can promise you a fascinating afternoon on Thursday, October 19th, at 1:30 pm”    We appreciate Teresa and Andrea Van Niekerk organizing this opportunity.

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Before Nancy took the helm, our group was not as organized as now, and members even spoke English! Nancy was very disciplined and encouraged everyone to not only socialize but also make an effort to improve their French. The format Nancy established continues to this day, with a half-hour of socializing over coffee, followed by an hour of conversation in French. We’ve formed many friendships and also improved our French-speaking skills.

The first quarter-century of Nancy’s tenure, before computers were such an integral part of our lives, Nancy used to write out the membership list in beautiful calligraphy. Nancy was always welcoming and charming, and she always had a smile on her face; we never heard a complaint or any negativity. We always admired her serenity and aspire to age as gracefully as she did.

Nancy Creger

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Understanding the Middle East

September 19, 2017:  An evening with Dr. Ahmad Ghoreishi
“Islam, Politics and Conflict in the Middle East”

October 3, 2017:  An evening with Stanford Professor Abbas Milani
“Aesthetics as Dissent”

November 2, 2017:  A morning with Social Entrepreneur Humaira Ghilzai “My Pilgrimage to Mecca as a Secular Woman”

For details click here  Flyer Fall Lecture Series Understanding the Middle East 

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The Womens’ Club was founded in 1896 by Jessie Knight Jordan. The first meeting was at her home on campus. Today, SUWC is 121 years strong and still shares the ideals of our founders. We are proud of our part in the history of Stanford University. In support roles, our members have contributed much to the growth of the faculty, helped bring new families to the campus and welcomed them to the Stanford community.

We have retained our traditional values by sharing cultural activities and promoting friendship. We are always evaluating our programs and making changes to reflect current interests. This year we have new sections focused on “Your Health” and “Teen Horizons.”

Please enjoy our full schedule of activities including art, music, talks by faculty members, and parties in the lovely gardens of campus homes.  Details will be announced in the Preview newsletter. As always, all the work of keeping the club going is done by the volunteers.

Club members are traditionally welcomed back at the Hoover House in the fall.  Membership information and invites will be mailed soon.

Ellen McLennan & Ronna Widrow
Co-Presidents 2017-18

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We are planning a full schedule of activities including art, music, cuisine, talks by faculty members, and parties in the lovely gardens of campus homes. As always, all the work of keeping the club going is done by the members. We hope all those eligible to do so will join us for fun, friendship and learning opportunities.  An exciting 2017-2018 schedule of events and sections will be announced in the fall.   Hope you have a great summer!

Congratulations to the 2017-18 volunteers elected or appointed.

Co-Presidents:            Ronna Widrow & Ellen McLennan
Past President:            Roslyn Bienenstock
Sections:                    Amy Krehbiel
Programs:                  Fang Tian and Lou Ann Glader
Membership:              Letitia Lai
Communications:        Audrey Gold
Secretaries:                Carol Kornfeld and TW Wiedmann
Treasurer:                  Bernie Scoles
Preview Editor:           Marina Lewis
Hospitality:                Dallas Manning and Teresa Judd
Refreshments:           Abi Fafchamps, Junko Nakauchi, Diane Levin
Decorations:              Nancy Rubenstein and Gerda Wilson
Mailing:                     Anne Vosti
Parliamentarian:        Susan Olshen
Historian:                  Joy Scott
New Member Welcome: Susan Zare and Daxue Xu

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Martha Lyons 1988
Vera Blume 1989-1991
Edythe Hickman 1992-1993
Vera Blume 1994-1998
Natalie Weber 1999
Dallas Manning 2000-2004
Bernie Scoles 2005-2010
Vera Blume 2011-2017

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927 Mears Court, Stanford at 4 p.m.

Please attend the annual Open Board meeting to elect officers for next year.   We also have the opportunity to hear Dr. Myra Strober, Emerita at Stanford’s Graduate School of Education and Graduate School of Business, discuss her latest book.

“Sharing the Work: What My Family and Career have Taught Me About Breaking Through (and Holding the Door Open for Others).”

Dr. Strober has been on the Stanford faculty since 1972, and was the first woman to teach in the Graduate School of Business.  She is a Labor Economist.  Her research has been on equal rights for women in the workplace, and the efforts of men and women to balance high powered careers with family responsibilities.

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We are looking for a volunteer for next year (2017-18) to organize a SUWC event especially for new members that join the club.   This is an opportunity for new members to be warmly welcomed and to meet each other.

Past year’s events include a weekday lunch at the Stanford Faculty Club, a midweek evening wine and cheese party and a weekend afternoon social at a member’s home.   Date and time of the event is flexible.    Please contact Teresa Judd or Audrey Gold if you may be interested in either organizing the event or possibly hosting it at your home.      These occasions have been fun and the role is not a big time commitment.

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