Branch News, Summer 2024
Santa Clara County Hosts Fundraiser, Student Awards
Celebrity Luncheon was a grand success. Our Excellence in the Arts awards are funded by individual donations and by the proceeds from our Celebrity Luncheon. The celebrities are professional women in the community talented in the arts, and our newest members. This year’s achievers were Shelley Rodgers in art and Jo Ann Blum, Janet Silver Ghent, and Evelyn Romero Martinez in letters.
Entertainment included Patty Dick with partner Michael Wright, who danced the flamingo; Tonya McQuade and Lorna Kohler, who played on their guitars and sang original compositions; Edie Matthews, who performed standup comedy; ventriloquist Carol Greene, who brought her puppet (pictured); and Carol Brolin, who demonstrated her talent in art.
A silent auction, jewelry sale, and beautiful basket raffle helped fund our Excellence in the Arts Awards for young women graduating from high school and for undergraduate college students who are continuing their educations. It was a joyful and entertaining event.
Award presentations took place the following month at the home of member Edie Matthews, who delighted Pen Women, award winners, and their families with a tea party. This year’s awards of $1,500 each went to Keir Silver in letters, Hannah Seegar in art, and Lynn Dai in music.
On the same day, our 2024-2026 branch officers were installed by Parliamentarian Susan Zerweck: President Luanna Leisure, Vice President Jude Tolley, Secretary Gail Lockhart, and Treasurer Sharon Haugen. The day was electric with excitement.
Pensacola Performs ‘A Gathering of Muses’
“I wish we could take that on the road,” remarked Kathy Breazeale after the performance of “A Gathering of Muses: A Celebration of Poetry, Photography, Dance, and Music” at Pensacola’s branch meeting in April. Breazeale and Vivian Spencer conceived and produced this collaboration of three poets (who submitted poems), three photographers (who created work inspired by them), and one dancer (who choreographed interpretations of each pairing).
Participating were poets Andrea Walker (“Winter Blue”), Karen Morris (“Unintended Destination: Debussy’s Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun”), and guest Debra Stogner (“Juke Joint”); photographers Anne Baehr, Christine Salomé, and Vivian Spencer; and dancer/choreographer Genevieve Fortner, accompanied by two guest dancers (Kathleen Carter and Reid Ginoza). Guitarist Bob Teague provided the music. Lou Mitchell Courtney provided sound support and painted the backdrop of a juke box. The event took place at the beautiful Artel Gallery.
The performance was enthusiastically enjoyed, with one viewer commenting that a kind of “texture” was achieved by hearing a poem, then seeing the photographs brought out for display, then seeing a dance, then another set, then another.
“This creative collaboration between our writers, visual artists, and performers opened doors of growth and understanding in the participants as well as those present for the performance,” Spencer said, adding that the branch is fortunate to have such talent.
Modesto Celebrates Poetry Winners
The Modesto Branch, in collaboration with Modesto/Stanislaus Poetry Center (MoSt), hosted the Aileen Jaffa Memorial Youth Poetry Contest winners celebratory reading at the Carnegie Center for the Arts in Turlock, California, in May. This annual contest is conducted in memory of Aileen Jaffa, poet, artist, sculptor, former agricultural reference librarian at UC Berkeley, and past president of the Piedmont/Oakland Branch.
Contest Chair Lynn M. Hansen received 81 entries from students enrolled in kindergarten through high school in Stanislaus County. Twenty student winners read their poems to an audience of admiring parents, friends, and teachers. Cash awards for first-, second-, and third-prize certificates, along with honorable mention certificates and a booklet of student winning poems, were provided by MoSt Poetry Center. The Modesto Branch provided two grand prize cash awards.
This year, Faith Delgado, Stanislaus County Youth Poet Laureate, assisted in handing out certificates to the contest winners. Grand-prize winner for grades 7-12 was Angel Li, grade 8, for her Tanka poem titled “Pleasant Dreams” and grand-prize winner for grades K-6 was Addison Paden, grade 2, for her acrostic poem titled “Dresses.”
Branch President Lisa Bruk presented the winners with certificates and cash prizes. After the reading, student poets, their teachers and families enjoyed a reception with refreshments provided by MoSt Poetry Center.
Sarasota Recognizes Future Leaders in the Arts
By Wilma Davidson
The Sarasota Branch recently sponsored a “Launching Leaders in the Arts” competition for high school seniors. At an April Performance Luncheon at Bird Key Yacht Club, this year’s winners displayed their art and read their writing to the delight and awe of members, teachers, family, and donors. Ten students talented in art and letters spoke about their inspiration and plans and shared their work. No music awards were given this year.
This year’s judges noted, “With diverse entries from many schools, choosing the winners was challenging. In the end, the winning entries showcased the immense talent and passion of the students and their ability in art and writing to let us into their emotional lives. We also marveled at how the winners powerfully expressed the motivation
underlying their winning pieces when receiving their awards.”
This was the 37th year of the Sarasota Pen Women awarding monetary prizes to high school seniors. The program has grown to include seniors talented in visual arts, letters, and music from 17 high schools in Sarasota and Manatee counties.
Through the generosity of a donor, we were able to invite the winners, parents, and teachers to enjoy lunch and the performance awards ceremony with us. After all, they are winners as well. Along with them, this year’s talented students stand as proof that the arts are alive and thriving.
Huntsville Celebrates 37-Year Anniversary
The Huntsville Branch, Alabama, celebrated the 37th anniversary of its founding and honored the charter founders at a luncheon on May 18. Three of the four remaining original members attended the celebration: Margaret Vann, Virginia Gilbert, and Beth Thames. Judith Moon, the fourth remaining charter member, was unable to come. The attending charter members were each given a single red rose floral arrangement
The branch was founded in 1987 with 11 members. At the time, it was one of four branches in Alabama; it is now one of two remaining. The group has been very active over the years, sponsoring a state conference in 1991, supporting scholarships, making presentations throughout the state, providing books to local schools, and sponsoring a Creative Spirit Award, which honors three area women in their respective fields of art, music, and letters.
Attendees enjoyed a salad luncheon at the home of Kate Leonard, followed by installation of officers for 2024 and a showcase where members were invited to share a written or artistic piece. The branch was honored to welcome Karen Morris, NLAPW letters chair, as a special guest.
Diablo/Alameda Enjoys Meeting in Members’ Homes
By Winifred Thompson, Diablo/Alameda Branch President
The Diablo/Alameda Branch enjoys garden parties and potlucks at members’ homes.
In March, Vice President Pat Doyne performed with her dynamic troupe of taiko drummers. She hauls her huge drums in her Ford van to many school assemblies and multicultural festivals throughout the Bay Area. As a volunteer, she teaches a “skills and drills” class to new drummers. When Pat learned that a community group was looking for a drum activity for kids before and after the main feature, she brought 23 “shime” drums and led kids in rhythm activities.
In May, members hosted a Mother’s Day Arts and Craft Sale and hung an art exhibit at the Kenneth Aitken Senior Community Center in Castro Valley.
Manhattan-NYC Exhibits Art at Federal Courthouse
An exhibition of art by the Manhattan-NYC Branch opened at the Charles P. Sifton Gallery in the Theodore Roosevelt U.S. Courthouse in Brooklyn, New York, in March. Chief U.S. District Judge Margo K. Brodie announced the opening of “Resilience in Color and Form” to coincide with Women’s History Month.
A reception was hosted with remarks from U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy and branch President Liz Amadio, with music on harp by branch Treasurer Christina Britton Conroy.
“Our branch continues to carry on the distinguished legacy of the Pen Women. We are resilient and we express our resiliency in our art, in color and in form,” Amadio says. “Whether that artwork is an oil painting, a watercolor, a sculpture, a photograph, or a drawing, our collective body of work represents a singular vision. Women are, and always have been, leaders in our society, peacefully paving the way for progress, for change.”
The exhibit features the work of branch members Amadio, Deborah Worthington Dorsey, Mary Rieser Heintjes, Stephanie Liu, Sybil Maimin, Nancy Miller, and Clare Stokolosa.
An afternoon employee reception preceded the opening, hosted by U.S. Magistrate Judge Vera M. Scanlon, where women judges from the Eastern and Southern districts were honored, along with the art and history of Pen Women.
The gallery is located on the first floor of the Federal Courts building and is open to the public on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The exhibit runs through September.
Golden Gate-Marin Celebrates 50-Year Member
By Lucy Arnold, Branch President
Golden Gate-Marin Branch celebrated the 50- year membership of Joan Booséy, who joined in 1974, just two years after the branch was formed. At age 93, Joan continues to paint and exhibit gorgeous, large abstracts. Our May 23 meeting at the Marin Society of Artists Gallery was dedicated to honoring her. Joan received a certificate documenting her 50-year membership, plus a tiara (which she cheerfully wore), a large planter of tropical flowers, cards, personalized cake, and very decadent cookies.
We enjoyed lunch and dessert as we shared recollections of how and when we each joined our branch. We found that Joan herself was responsible for bringing in quite a few past members, as well as several of us present!