Living the Volunteer Spirit

Club Connections

Dunwoody Woman's Club

Serving the community since 1971

https://www.dunwoodywomansclub.com


November 2025

HIGHLIGHTS

Member Spotlight of the Month

Care and Concerns and Celebration,

Inspiration

Holiday Luncheon and Meeting

December 18

Capital Grille

Dunwoody

10:00 am

President's Message

J0 Ann Kostkan JoKostkan@gmail.com

Dear Friends,


We had a wonderful membership recruitment event on High Street last month where we shared information about our club while “sipping, eating, strolling, and discovering” this new residential/shopping/dining destination in Dunwoody. Many thanks to Rosemary Watts and Maria Barnhart for their tireless leadership in organizing this creative membership event.


Our General meeting on Thursday, November 20, will feature Jason Ulseth, Executive Director of the Chattahoochee Riverkeepers. This organization works to ensure there is enough clean water in the Chattahoochee River now and for future generations. Join us to hear how this group accomplishes this feat! At this meeting, we will also vote on an important Bylaw amendment. Your participation is greatly appreciated. Please read more about this amendment in the link below:


Bylaws Proposed Amendment


Our CSP chairmen have planned many impactful programs for November. In this special season of thanks and giving, I am so grateful to each of them for their dedication and creativity in providing meaningful projects that benefit our community. I am also very grateful for each one of you. Your caring hearts and giving spirits are unmatched.

 

I’m looking forward to seeing you soon and wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!


Jo Ann


EVENTS and FIELD TRIPS

Thursday, Nov 13, 10 am

Meet at Saint Luke's to carpool

Ronald McDonald House Tour

Lunch at Petite Violette

Sponsored by: Health & Wellness


Tuesday, Nov 18, 10 am

Meet at Saint Luke's at 9:30 am to carpool to Salvation Army Atlanta International Corps Mission

Sponsored by: Leadership



Thursday, Nov 20, 10 am

General Meeting, Annex

Speaker: Jason Ulseth

Sponsored by: Environment



Thursday, Dec 4, noon at Annex

Teacup Flower Arranging

Sponsored by: Arts and Culture, Environment, and Membership




Holiday Luncheon and Meeting

Thursday, December 18, 2025

Capital Grille


9:30 am Coffee

10:00 am General Meeting

11:00 Social

11:45 Lunch



Individual orders from the menu and separate checks. Contact Diane Norris for reservations by Monday, December 15th, Dianenorris@bellsouth.net


DWC Annual Awards Presentations


Please take a moment at the General Meeting or send an email to nominate your picks for our annual awards. The categories are:

  • New Member of the Year
  • Citizen of the Year
  • Clubwoman of the Year

There are no limitations on nominations, other than “New Member” must have been a member beginning in January 2025. (If you would like to submit nominations by email, send to dcgault@comcast.net).


Ways and Means

Linda Mote llmote@mindspring.com


Several guests enjoyed a tour of one of our lovely homes on the Home Tour.

2025 Home Tour

Wednesday, October 8, 2025


The Home Tour is a wrap and thanks to all of the excellent members of the committee we had a successful Home Tour.

Home Selection Committee:

Terry Kemp, Meredy Shortal, Diane Norris

Jo Ann Kostkan, Kerry Arias, Kay Moe,

Suzanne Bentz

Hostess Chairmen:

Faye Cashwell, Diane Norris

Homeowner Gifts:

Diane Norris

Ticket Design/Layout, Posters, Graphics:

Terry Kemp, Linda Mote, Mt. Vernon Printing

Ticket Distribution/Will Call Sales:

Donna Fullilove, Faye Cashwell, Kim Reuning

Publicity, Posters, Social Media:

Angela Niemann, Maria Barnhart, Faye Cashwell, (Facebook)

Event Insurance:

Faye Cashwell

Ticket Commentaries/Publicity Articles:

Meredy Shortal

Driveway/Home Flowers:

Kathy Hanna

Sponsor Campaign:

Faye Cashwell, (Treasurer) Terry Kemp, Multiple Club Members

Online (QR Code) and DWC Ticket Sales:

Faye Cashwell, (QR Code) Donna Fullilove

Home Tour Website:

Faye and Steve Cashwell

Event Banner Permits, Pole Banners:

Maria Barnhart

Traffic Control and Signs:

Susan and Dohrm Crawford

As you can see it was a real team effort with some handling more than one job. My thanks to each and everyone of them.

Membership

Maria Barnhart mariavbarnhart@gmail.com

The Member Spotlight this month lists our six new members and their contact information. Please plan to attend the new member induction ceremony at our December Luncheon and Meeting at the Capital Grille and welcome them.



Our Sip & Stroll at High Street was wonderful. We partnered with Create Dunwoody and had around 45 attendees at the event. Businesses donated gift cards and we had a drawing at the end of the evening. We already have individuals interested in joining the club.

Congratulations to DWC member Jill Post who was nominated as a 2025 Woman of Distinction hosted by the Greater Perimeter Chamber of Commerce. Jill is the owner of Face Haven. Keep sharing your elevator speech with others, DWC is a vibrant part of our community.

Dunwoody Woman's Club Evening Division

Rosemary Watts, wrosemary@hotmail.com

Friendsgiving Meeting


Bring a dish to share at the DWC Evening Division Friendsgiving at 5:45 pm on Thursday, November 20th in the Dunwoody United Methodist Church Young Adult Suite. We'll be decorating 2 or 3 paper lanterns to use in the Create Dunwoody Village Holiday Celebration and Lantern parade. Bring any materials you think we could use to decorate. Details below.


Village Holiday Celebration — Create Dunwoody


Please sign up to attend the meeting. (Please note that the meeting is one week earlier than our normal 4th Thursday of the month due to Thanksgiving.)


Sign Up Genius


COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS

Arts and Culture

Joan Smith jsmith30215@gmail.com

Carol Ciepluch  carolynjane3@gmail.com


Monday, November 10, 11 am at Anchor Place at St. Patrick's Episcopal Church Dunwoody. We will celebrate "St. Andrew's Day - Scotland".


There are many wonderful arts and culture events kicking off the holiday season in Dunwoody and Sandy Springs in November, beginning with:

  

Stage Door Theatre's Student Academy Company productions:

  • Little Shop of Horrors Nov. 7-9
  • Annie Jr. Nov. 14-16
  • Matilda Jr. Nov. 15

(Tickets and more info at stagedoortheatrega.org)


Spruill Holiday Art Workshops and Holiday Art Fair

  • Nov. 14-Dec. 23 
  • Shop for wonderful gifts in the 32nd Holiday Art Fair held in the gallery transformed into a winter wonderland full of unique, handmade gifts and art created by Georgia arts and artisans. spruillarts.org


The Nutcracker-presented by the Roswell Dance Theater

  • Nov. 28-30, Dec. 5-7 at The Byers Theatre Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center.

Civic Engagement and Outreach

Donna Knowlton dfknowlton@comcast.net

November Events


  • Tuesday, November 11, Veterans Day Ceremony, 10:00 am at Brook Run Park Veterans Memorial. Dunwoody is commemorating Veterans Day with a special ceremony and dedication of the City’s New Veterans Memorial. Featured Speaker will be U.S. Navy Captain Wayne Radloff, a longtime Dunwoody resident.


  • Tuesday, November 11, The City of Sandy Springs will hold its 16th Annual Veterans Day Celebration at 11:00 am, in Byers Theatre at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center. A Blue Star Memorial Marker Dedication Ceremony will follow the 11:00 AM Service at the Sandy Springs Veterans Park across the street from the Arts Center.
  • Tuesday, November 11, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, Brimstone Restaurant and Tavern 10595 Old Alabama Rd. Connector, Alpharetta, GA 30022. Stevens and Sullivan Law firm offering a free lunch for Veterans.

Save the dates for the following December Events, more information forthcoming:

  • Thursday, December 11 at 1:00 pm, Decorating for Kids for Christmas Dunwoody Methodist Church. We will decorate 6 Christmas trees and place centerpieces on several tables for the event.
  • Saturday, December 14th, 11:00 am, Wreaths Across America Program, Old Roswell Cemetery. The wreaths are $17 each. Wreaths Across America

Education and Libraries

Linda Mote llmote@mindspring.com

Diane Norris dianenorris@bellsouth.net

Checks were delivered to the Dunwoody schools for their media center and the ARTS program. Along with the checks a note was included for Principal recognition month for each of the Principals thanking them for their dedication to their students.


Jo Ann, Deborah Gault and Linda Mote met with Alison Mercer and Ahnaf Khaf from GA Perimeter College to discuss our scholarship. We had an excellent meeting and we will be able to award scholarships this year.


Environment

Kathy Hanna kak1941@aol.com

Nancy Baldwin nbaldwin@bellsouth.net

Debra Love debra1926@comcast.net


Several members enjoyed a talk at the Dunwoody Nature Center on our pollinators with Dr. Robert Schreiner.



Thursday, December 4, 12:00 pm, Joint workshop with Arts and Culture and Membership where we will be creating Floral Arrangements in tea cups to send some holiday cheer for our members who are unable to attend meetings. Bring a sandwich, 3 bunches of red or white flowers and winter greenery.


November Community Events:

  • Brook Run Demo Gardens, at the Greenhouse at 11:00, Nov. 8 program on pruning with Richard Osterholz.
  • Brook Run Farmer's Market every Saturday from 10:00 to 1:00 during the winter.
  • CAC on Roswell Rd. and Fur Kids on Holcomb Bridge for re-cycling.


Health and Wellness

Diane Norris dianenorris@bellsouth.net


Thursday, November 13, We will be visiting the new Ronald McDonald House. We'll meet at St. Luke’s at 10 a.m. and carpool to RMH. Lunch will follow at Petite Violette.


Lutheran Towers:

We are collecting items for the Christmas bags for the residents of Lutheran Towers and will be filling bags for 130 women and 90 men. Patrick from Lookingood will be helping with items for the men. 

COLLECTIONS

All collection requests can be brought to Board Meetings or General Meetings and the donations will be distributed to the appropriate charity.

EDUCATION AND LIBRARIES

Retirement Homes:

  • Collecting magazines


HEALTH and WELLNESS

Lutheran Towers:

  • Look for the Christmas tree at the November Board and General Meetings, select ornament(s) and purchase the items listed. (Women's socks needed, 10 pairs if possible.)


ENVIRONMENT

Animal Shelters:

  • Blankets any size, dog and cat toys, animal treats, animal food, newspapers, paper towels, food and monetary donations.

Go Sneakers:

  • Used “sneaks” to be recycled into nearly new or ground up for roads and playgrounds.

Pumpkin Stems:

  • Please save your stems before you toss your pumpkins. Environment is planning a velvet pumpkin workshop next fall.


STANDING COMMITTEES


Ella F. White Endowment Fund

Ann Smith smit7004@bellsouth.net


There are two ways that DWC members can help support the GFWC State Office. One is the Ella F. White Memorial Fund, which was established to ensure that the GFWC Georgia Office is well equipped and funded. Ella F. White served as the President of GFWC Georgia, and the groundwork for the fund was laid during her administration. Please give your check -made out to GFWC-Georgia - with Ella F. White in the memo line - to Ann Smith so she can mail it to the state office.


Lipscomb Society


The second way is that you can contribute to the Lipscomb Society to help preserve the Mary Ann Lipscomb Cottage on the campus of the Tallulah Falls School which serves as the state headquarters for the GFWC - Georgia. Please make your check out to the Lipscomb Society ( not to GFWC or DWC) and give your check to Ann Smith to mail. Thank you in advance for your support.


Leadership

Deborah Gault dcgault@comcast.net

Salvation Army Atlanta International Corps Mission Tour

Tuesday, Nov. 18, 10:00 am, 3771 Central Avenue Doraville, GA 30340. Carpooling available from St. Luke's, arrive by 9:30 am.


Captain Jose Valentin, Corps Officer, invites DWC for a tour of the facilities serving the international communities of Dunwoody, Chamblee, Brookhaven, Doraville, and Norcross. Learn how the donations from our members impact the Atlanta International Corps as Capt. Valentin describes the vision for AIC and provides an overview of the social services, youth and education programs, worship services and outreach, and special seasonal programs of Angel Tree and the Red Kettle campaign. 

  • Donations made to the Salvation Army and the AIC remain within their communities with .94 of each $1.00 donated going directly to help our neighbors in need.

Ring the Bell, Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign

Inviting our Evening Division members!


Last year we had six bell-ringing sessions at the local Kroger stores and collected over $1500! We want to increase that amount this year and are planning multiple dates for DWC members to ring the bell together. DWC sessions will be scheduled for weekends and are two hours per session. You can also sign up for other days and times with a family group, your besties, spouse, and grandkids to volunteer for a holiday tradition. A group code is available for the Dunwoody Woman’s Club so that all money collected in Dunwoody stays in the community benefiting the Salvation Army’s Atlanta International Corps. 


Watch for updates on Ring the Bell session dates and the links to donate or schedule sessions for your family and friends to participate in this loved holiday tradition!

C’mon! It’s a lot of fun! Please indicate your preference for dates: (times TBD based on availability at the stores).

  • Saturdays, Dec. 6, 13, 20
  • Sundays, Dec. 7, 14, 21


Questions: Deborah Gault, dcgault@comcast.net  404-304-5234

Legislation

Dottie D'Angelo dottieatlanta@gmail.com


The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA, S. 1748) has been reintroduced by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) with bipartisan support of Senate leadership. Similar legislation passed the Senate last year with an overwhelming vote of 91-3, but was not enacted by the end of the year. KOSA establishes a legally relevant “duty of care” for social media companies, requiring platforms to alter design features such as algorithms that harm children. Online platforms have fueled the extreme and unprecedented proliferation of child sexual abuse material. Law enforcement has repeatedly warned that children are groomed, enticed, exploited, trafficked, bullied, and abused online through the platforms we use every day. Senators Blackburn and Blumenthal have revised their bill to include additional protections for free speech and reinforce the fact that KOSA can only be applied to platform design features, such as algorithms, not content. It is time for Congress to enact legislation to protect children from online child sexual exploitation and sex trafficking. Lawmakers need to hear from GFWC that action is necessary now! The health and safety of our children online must be a priority! 

Stage Door Theatre

Sharon Clark sharon-clark@comcast.net


A Christmas Carol

December 6 - 21



Tallulah Falls School

Linda Mote llmote@mindspring.com


We sent Happy Halloween cards, which included DQ gift cards, to our five adopted TFS students. We will be helping decorate Lipscomb Cottage for the holidays on Nov. 1.

Also providing 12 gifts that will be given out at the Staff and Teacher holiday party in December.


Women in History

Suzanne Bentz/Kay Moe


The Four Women Who Cooked the First Thanksgiving


The artist depicts the four women who are serving the meal with smiling faces but that may not have been the case. Eleanor Billington, Elizabeth Hopkins, Mary Brewster, and Susanna White Winslow, the only women to survive the first deadly winter that killed half of Plymouth Colony, probably didn’t feel all that thankful when their husbands invited 90 guests, all Wampanoag men, to eat with them without the aid of kitchens, ovens, wheat, spices or butter. Remarkably, the four women managed to feed 143 people. The meal itself – or rather meals, because they stayed for three days – served as more of a harvest celebration than a Thanksgiving.


So, as you are scurrying around the kitchen this holiday fretting about how to coordinate the timing of serving the turkey and dressing in the oven, casseroles in the microwave, and keeping the lumps out of the gravy sauteing in the pan, OR opening your front door to accept your Door Dash prepared Thanksgiving meal, think of these four amazing women! For more information click the link below.


New England Historical Society


Newsletter

Kay Moe kgp12@att.net

Susan Crawford susanpc1@bellsouth.net

54 Years of Service in our Community 1971-2025