Branch News, Winter 2025
Santa Clara County Showcases Artistic Talents
By Dorothy Atkins, Outreach Chair
Surrounded by the ocean breeze and the quaint beach town of Half Moon Bay, the Coastal Art League Gallery, 300 Main Street, opened its doors to an afternoon reception of 10 Pen Women from the Santa Clara County Branch displaying their art on Nov. 9, 2024.
This was the brainchild of ShaRon Haugen, who was unable to attend due to a serious illness. (Sadly, she has passed away since then).
Participants included Dorothy Atkins, Dorothy Brown, Elvira Rascov, Tracy Beardsley, Jude Tolley, Patricia Suggs, Teresa Beyer, Cyra Cowan (husband Michael), and Carol Woodard. Watercolors, oil, photography, sculptures, jewelry, books, and alcohol art were front and center. Attendees were delighted with the creativity and talent of our Pen Women. The show ran until Dec. 1.
NorCal Branches Plan Gathering
Dorothy Atkins, NorCal president and Santa Clara County Branch outreach chair, and Luanna Leisure, NorCal vice president and Santa Clara County Branch president, recently met up with Winnie Thompson, president of Diablo Alameda Branch in Pleasanton, California, to discuss plans to host a meet-and-greet with their five NorCal branches.
The five NorCal branches are Diablo-Alameda, Golden GateMarin, Modesto, Santa Clara County, and Stockton-Lodi.
The pandemic had prevented them from meeting up the last few years, and they are eager to reconnect for some much-needed togetherness to share their creative journeys and strengthen their branches by attracting new members. Members and Friends of Pen Women will be invited. Plans are in the works for an early 2025 meeting.
Central New York Gets into Biennial Planning Mode
The Central New York Branch held its first meeting of the 2026 Biennial Committee. Many great ideas emerged during the daylong retreat in a cabin on a lake. Afterward, the Pen Women hopped aboard Nancy Dafoe’s pontoon boat for a fall ride around the little lake to celebrate. Left to right: back row, Georgia Popoff, Janine DeBaise, Sheila M. Byrnes, and Mary Gardner. In the front are Nancy Dafoe and Stacey Murphy.
Boca Raton Raises Award Funds with High Tea at High Noon
By Dorothy Atkins, Outreach Chair
Boca Raton Pen Women kicked off the 2024 season on Oct. 17 at the home of artist Phyllis Elrich in Lake Worth, Florida. She planned and organized the fundraising event to benefit the Boca Raton Branch’s achievement awards program for young women in the arts.
The ambiance in Elrich’s home captured the high tea mood. Guests gathered at small tables set with a collection of bone china tea cups and decorative serving pieces. Treasured tea pots were on display. Pen Women wore hats and fascinators, recalling high teas of bygone days.
The lively event featured traditional high tea fare with multiple courses — tea sandwiches, meats, breads, scones with clotted cream and preserves, and a lavish selection of pastries. A variety of tasty teas, served from decorative ceramic tea pots, accompanied each course.
Guests brought family mementoes and shared the stories behind them. Marlene Klotz donated books authored by Diane Brenda Bryan, a past president of the branch who willed her books to Klotz.
Thanks to Phyllis Elrich’s generosity, the Boca Raton Branch successfully launched its fundraising efforts for the new season. This April, the branch will grant awards to several local young women pursuing careers in the arts.