Ways and Means

Linda Mote llmote@mindspring.com

2025 Home Tour

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

10:00 am - 2:00 pm

When you read this our Home Tour will be just one week away. Excitement is in the air as we prepare for a much anticipated event for our Club and community.

The banners are up, articles have been appearing in the Crier, in the AHA Connection and on member Facebook pages. We are planning for a good turnout.

S0 put on your Sunday best, your comfortable shoes and a big smile and let's have an awesome Home Tour.

^Membership

Maria Barnhart mariavbarnhart@gmail.com

Membership Spotlight for October– Be sure to click the link under Highlights entitled Spotlight Member of the Month in the top left corner of the newsletter. Enjoy reading about Ann Smith who joined the Dunwoody Woman’s Club in 2017.

Membership – The example I shared last month seemed to work. The person I invited to a Club meeting did attend our evening meeting and expressed appreciation for the invitation. Maria’s Challenge: Try creating an “elevator speech” and share it with someone. Invite them to an upcoming meeting or a service project. Offer to have them ride with you to the meeting or program.

October 16 General Meeting Guest Speaker - Please mark your calendar for the October General Meeting at the Annex and invite friends and neighbors. We are fortunate to have Dr. Carolyn Curry as our guest speaker. She is an award-winning author and historian. Her latest book Trudy’s Awakening is a historical novel about Ella Gertrude Clanton Thomas and two other women set in the latter half of the nineteenth century Georgia. Dr. Curry is the author of three books and will have all three books available for sale at the meeting. (Credit cards accepted.) Carolyn will be happy to sign the books. More information in an upcoming eblast.

Thursday, October 23, 2025, 6–8 pm, “A Progressive Evening at High Street”. This membership recruitment event is a joint venture with the Evening Division and is open to DWC members and women in the community. Tickets are $5.00, click t0 purchase.

Progressive Evening at High Street

Dunwoody Woman's Club Evening Division

Rosemary Watts, wrosemary@hotmail.com

Evening Division members created a scarecrow for the Scarecrow Showdown that is now on the fence of the Cheek Spruill House on the corner of Mt Vernon and Chamblee Dunwoody Rd. Please go by to see her during the month of October and vote for her by clicking on the link below.

 Create Dunwoody Scarecrow Showdown



We will not have an October meeting due to Home Tour and the Membership event. The November and December meetings will be one week earlier than normal due to Thanksgiving and Christmas. We'll have a Friendsgiving potluck plus service project in November and our favorite things white elephant and cookie exchange in December.

Arts and Culture

Joan Smith jsmith30215@gmail.com

Carol Ciepluch  carolynjane3@gmail.com

Members enjoyed making fused glass "sun catchers" at Spruill Arts fused glass workshop.

The month of October Dunwoody celebrates Dunwoody Fine Arts Festival. Throughout the city, original two-and three-dimensional paintings, drawings and mixed media pieces are showcased.

Dunwoody Community Programs:

• Dunwoody Nature Center celebrates Diwali, Oct 17 at 5:30 pm. This festival of Lights showcases cultural traditions and festival spirit.
• Fourth annual Perimeter Pumkin Patch Festival Oct 18, 10:00 am.
• Spruill Arts Center Spooktacular Oct 11, 11:10 am.

Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center

• Celebrate Sandy Springs Oct 9, 6:30 pm. Throughout October and November there are musicals and tributes such as Taylor Swift, Walker Hayes, Los Lonely Boys, Beatles Christmas Tribute and the Nutcracker.

Save the Date:

• Monday, November 10, 10 am at St. Patrick's Episcopal Church Dunwoody. We will celebrate "St. Andrew's Day - Scotland". More details forthcoming.

Civic Engagement and Outreach

Donna Knowlton dfknowlton@comcast.net

October is Crime Prevention Month and Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. Wear purple to honor survivors and raise awareness of domestic violence, dating violence and signs of unhealthy relationships.

October Events:     

• October 5-11 – Fire Prevention Week – Theme for 2025 is “Charge into Fire Safety: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home.” The theme works to better educate the public on how to buy, charge, and dispose of lithium-ion batteries safely. We will have informational handouts at the October General Meeting.

• Tuesday, October 28 – CPR Course – In keeping with the GFWC Community Connection Initiative “Preparation Saves Life,” we will hold a CPR class with the Sandy Springs Fire Department. Time and place to be determined in the next two weeks.

• Thursday, October 30, 5-8 pm at Brook Run Park – Ninth Annual “Truck or Treat” with the Dunwoody Police Department. Civic Engagement will again donate Halloween candy and decorations to the police department. The evening includes food trucks, live entertainment and Trick or Treating.

2025 GFWC Day of Service – We are still collecting women’s and children’s pajamas (of all sizes) and towel sets (towel, hand towel, and wash cloth) for donations to two shelters. Please bring your donations to the October 16 General Meeting. Our report is not due until October 17, so we have time to collect more items for this GFWC special project.

Education and Libraries

Linda Mote llmote@mindspring.com

Diane Norris dianenorris@bellsouth.net

The ribbon cutting ceremony for the Book Vending Machine with Mrs. Price, Principal of Hightower School.

Learning Disabilities Awareness Month is observed in October. It was established to raise awareness about learning disabilities, advocate for early intervention and support, and promote inclusivity for individuals with these challenges.

A Specific Learning Disability (SLD) is a brain-based disorder that affects an individual’s ability to read, write, and do math (e.g., dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia). 2.4 million school-age students in the U.S. identify as having an SLD. More than 90% of fourth and eighth-grade students with SLDs are not proficient in reading or math.



Take Action

Send a letter to your elected officials and encourage them to support bills that impact students with learning disabilities and attention issues.

National Principals Month October 2025, Elevating Principals, Transforming Schools. We took a note or sent an ecard to principals in Dunwoody. We are including a thank note to the principal's with our checks to the schools.

Environment

Kathy Hanna kak1941@aol.com

Nancy Baldwin nbaldwin@bellsouth.net

Debra Love debra1926@comcast.net

Several Members enjoyed a tour of the Chamblee Shelter and brought animal toys, food, blankets, newspapers and paper goods as donations.

Wednesday, Oct 22 at 10 am we will meet at the Dunwoody Nature Center for a lecture by Dr. Rob Schreiner on our pollinators and what we can do to help our most endangered species, the honey bee. We will also have an update on the building progress from Nancy Longacre, Director of DNC. Lunch to follow at a local spot.

Community Events:

• Brook Run Demo Gardens Program: Oct 11 is “Soil” with Ann Bone at the Greenhouse at 11am.
• Atlanta Botanical Gardens will again have their Halloween decoration displays.
• Recycling: Please let us know the number and value of items you cleaned out and recycled.
• Great plant sales going on all over town, and garden tours; please think natives when you shop… Get an energy audit.

Health and Wellness

Diane Norris dianenorris@bellsouth.net

Members enjoyed participating in the Golden Olympics last month. We are happy to report that Jo Ann Kostkan was crowned the winner this year and can wear the medal and keep the trophy until next year’s event. We also raised $780 that was sent to Special Olympics.

Thursday, Oct 9, 10:30 am, a short meeting at the home of Diane Norris to count and organize items that will be used for Lutheran Towers Christmas. It is our tradition to give a Christmas bag to each resident so please look for the Christmas tree at each Board and General Meeting for the next several months and choose an ornament(s) and purchase the items listed. We usually fill over 200 bags.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and we want to remind everyone to schedule your mammogram.

Thursday, Nov 19, we will be visiting the new Ronald McDonald House.

COLLECTIONS

EDUCATION and LIBRARIES

• Retirement Homes: Collecting magazines at monthly meetings.

ENVIRONMENT

• Animal Shelters: Blankets any size, dog or cat toys, animal treats, newspapers, paper towels, food and monetary donations. They are especially in need of animal food. Please bring to the General Meetings and we will deliver for you. Fur Kids on Holcomb Bridge Rd will also take household and clothing donations to support our shelters.
• We need Teacups and Saucers for an Arts project by the November 6th Board meeting.

HEALTH and WELLNESS

• Lutheran Towers: Please look for the Christmas tree at each Board and General Meeting for the next several months and choose an ornament(s) and purchase the items listed.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT/OUTREACH AND LEADERSHIP:

Collecting women’s and children’s pajamas (of all sizes) and towel sets (towel, hand towel and wash cloth), for donations to the two shelters below: 

• Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence (Safe House)
• Atlanta International Corps, Salvation Army, Doraville (Shelter)

Please bring your donations to the General Meeting on October 16.

STANDING COMMITTEES

Leadership

Deborah Gault dcgault@comcast.net

LOOKING AHEAD!   Ring the Bell for the Salvation Army

The Dunwoody Woman’s Club made a formidable team ringing the Salvation Army bell for the Red Kettle Campaign last year. We are planning several dates for DWC members to ring the bell together at a couple of neighborhood grocery stores.

Starting in December, sessions will be scheduled for weekends and usually are for two hours per session. You may sign up your spouse, siblings, kids, and friends! All money collected in Dunwoody stays in Dunwoody to benefit the Salvation Army’s Atlanta International Corps located in Doraville.

Watch this space for updates on the Red Kettle Campaign, DWC ring 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!

Questions: Deborah Gault, dcgault@comcast.net

Legislation

Dottie D'Angelo dottieatlanta@gmail.com

Legislative -Online Child Safety -Congress enacted the REPORT Act reauthorizing funding and services for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Project Safe Childhood Act requiring federal prosecutors and the Department of Justice to coordinate with state and local law enforcement and experts to develop training materials and strategies to identify and rescue child victims while quickly arresting offenders.

Status: Congress enacted S. 474, Public Law 118-59.

Stage Door Theatre

Sharon Clark sharon-clark@comcast.net

The Cottage

October 4-19

Tallulah Falls School

Linda Mote llmote@mindspring.com

Wishing everyone a Happy Fall from Tallulah Falls School!

TFS eighth graders explored Mercedes-Benz Stadium, discovering the innovative design and sustainability features that make it one of the most unique sports venues in the world. Highlights included:

- A rainwater collection system that irrigates gardens and supplies restrooms. 

- A culinary garden right on site.

- 4,000 solar panels generating enough renewable energy to power 9 Falcons games, 13 Atlanta United matches, or 160 Atlanta homes. 

- Recycled milk jugs transformed into benches and stunning artwork throughout the stadium. 



This was a powerful lesson for the students in how innovation, art, and sustainability can come together under one roof!

Women in History

Suzanne Bentz

Take October's Women in History Quiz

This month’s General Meeting guest speaker, Dr. Carolyn Curry, offers insight into the extraordinary life 0f Ella Gertrude Clanton Thomas in her newly published book, Trudy's Awakening, a historical novel set in the latter half of nineteenth century Georgia.

To test your knowledge of a few other women, some born in October, who also have made their mark on history, take the following short quiz. Then click on the Answers link at the bottom of this column to find out how you did. 

1. October 1976, she became the first woman co-anchor of the evening news (ABC).
2. She’s an artist and architect of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C., as well as author of “Boundaries” (2000).
3. October 1993, she became the first African American woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature.
4. She was a civil rights advocate, feminist, author, world diplomat, and former first lady (1933-45).
5. She founded and was the first president of the Girl Scouts in the USA. 
6. She’s better known as “Molly Pitcher” of the Battle of Monmouth and legendary water-carrying heroine of the American Revolution.
7. She was a civil rights leader and voting rights crusader who helped organize the Mississippi Freedom Summer (1964).
8. She was a social analyst of the 20th century women’s equality drive, and wrote “Man’s World, Women’s Place” (1971) and “Powers of the Weak” (1980).
9. She was the first U.S. woman astronaut to “walk” in space during the Challenger flight (1984).
10. This versatile film and stage actress won an academy award for “Mary Poppins” in 1964.

Women in History Answers 

Credit: National Women's History Alliance

Newsletter

Kay Moe kgp12@att.net

Susan Crawford susanpc1@bellsouth.net

54 Years of Service in our Community 1971-2025