A Message from our President
Kate Varcoe, President 2022-2023
To the Treasured Members of The University Club:
As we heartily anticipate a new year of University Club activities, it is wonderful to reflect just a bit on what did we did to get “here” Through the valiant efforts of many, the Club survived the challenges of 2020. We had anticipated that our 2021-2022 year would be more “normal”, and yet, we found that our then President Margaret Kaltefleiter and her Board were faced with many decisions on whether or not to proceed as “normal”.
Modifications were made to 2021 the Fall Fair, luncheons, day trips and numerous other activities so that we could continue to meet and safely enjoy each other’s company. Our outreach efforts. continued to keep us connected via our website, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn accounts, and we appreciate all of the work done by Audrey Beatty and Cathy Schiele to keep our social media accounts up to date. And through it all, you, treasured members, continued to support your club through your attendance, your participation, and your willingness to do what you could so that we all could to continue to meet as safely as possible. Your efforts are all so appreciated.
With this in mind, we are so looking forward to a wonderful year, with Fall Fair back in grand style to kick off our year. Please mark your calendars for Tuesday, September 13th, 2022, and plan to meet new friends and join current ones to explore all that The University Club has to offer! We would love to see you at Parkview Church, 15 Foster Rd. Iowa City anytime between 10:00 am and noon.
Your President-elect, Marilee Fowler, is planning a wonderful, “friend-filled” event! You will be able to pick up your membership yearbook and sign up for (several!) of our nearly two dozen interest groups. Stay for a lovely continental breakfast, catch up with your friends, introduce yourself to new members, and maybe even bring along a friend or neighbor to share in the fun! The event is free, and a great time to explore what is new and available to you to do.
The mission of the University Club is to promote the interaction of women of all ages, and we hope that you will find your niche, or maybe even create a new one! Suggestions are always welcome.
We are also offering the option to sign up online for dues (via GoDaddy) and soon luncheons will be available (via Eventbrite). (Stay tuned for an email soon about how to sign up.) A very big thank you to Karen Seda for her technical expertise, and Margaret Kaltefleiter for leading us to these options. If you prefer, dues and luncheon reservations may still be made via personal check, and dues (which remain at $20) can still be paid at Fall Fair.
Our luncheons strive to be informative and delightful, and this year’s lineup is no exception! Luncheons will continue to be held at the Radisson hotel in Coralville (with the exception of our May 2nd, 2023 Style Show - please note change in date). Our October luncheon welcomes David Bluder, husband of Iowa Basketball Coach Lisa Bluder, speaking on his book entitled The Great Gamble, a fictional story of the secrets of sports gambling. I think this promises to be a very entertaining lunch!
I offer a heart felt thank you to our Past President, Margaret Kaltefleiter, for her leadership and perseverance! She was the steady hand guiding us throughout the stops and starts of last year. We are in a very good place due to her calm and insightful leadership. Special thanks also to former Board members Diane Dalton, Susan Carroll, Linda Lockwood, Kathy Maxwell, Helen Rittenmeyer and Cleanne Schieber for their devoted service.
Finally, I invite us to think about what it is we want to “do” this year.
I am sharing a few lines from a favorite piece of mine, Expect to Win, by John Mason. “Do more than consider…commit * Do more than grow….bloom * Do more than change…improve”. If you are thinking you would like to do more than……The University Club offers great opportunities for you to “do”! I think there are so many ways to commit, bloom and improve!
In Friendship,
Kate Varcoe
President, 2022-2023
The University Club
