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Canadian Women’s Club of Chicago Newsletter
Many of you responded to my musings last month about childhood winters in the prairies – obviously I touched a chord! It seems others had similar experiences back when winters were fun, even if you didn’t grow up in the prairies. I particularly liked Carol Taylor’s memories of the “shackman” tying the skates of little ones who couldn't get them tight enough, and the unforgettable aroma of the shack: burning wood mixed with wet woolen mittens! I can smell it now!
Our auction in January was a big success. A huge thank you to those of you who donated the many treasures and tidbits - there was such a wonderful variety of things. The lucky bidders came away with some wonderful bargains.
The club year is half over, and I just have to thank everyone who puts so much into making it the great organization it is. All of our Board members put many hours into their jobs, and there are others behind the scenes who are there to lend a hand whenever it’s needed. I want to offer a special thanks to the kind ladies who tie on their aprons and help serve and clean up at the luncheons, without being asked. That’s the Canadian spirit of cooperation, isn’t it?
I hope you’ll continue to enjoy the remaining programmes this year and let these women know how much you appreciate all they do. - Michelle Gillis, President
MEMBER NEWS
Birthday wishes for February go to: Michelle Gillis and Sadie Calvin on Feb 9th, (withheld) on Feb 10th, Elfriede Rieger on Feb 13th, Dianne Reny and Lucie Dumas on Feb 15th.
Norah Johnson’s husband Ward underwent prostate surgery in mid January and is recovering well with a very good prognosis. Norah says she is so grateful for all the support and encouragement they have received from the CWC “family”.
Congratulations to Carol Taylor and her husband Jim on Jim’s retirement at the end on January. Carol also retired from teaching music last year, so she reports that finally their time is totally their own, and they are heading to Florida immediately!
Sunshine Chair Barb Miller would like to hear from members when a supportive card is needed for happy and sad events.
Newsletter Deadline
The deadline for submitting articles to be included in the March newsletter is February 25, 2009. All articles should be submitted to Michelle Gillis. Please put CWC on the subject line. Any questions, please call Michelle.
CLUB NEWS
From the Programme Committee Our year started off successfully with our Canadian Auction at Beth van den Berg’s house. She was a welcoming and gracious hostess as always. Norman Andrews was an excellent auctioneer and he did his best to have us part with our money! We had some spirited bidding for Charlotte the HBC bear, a huge Canadian flag and of course, for some coveted boxes of Smarties. You could safely say that there was a little something for everyone! We appreciate all who donated such great items. A hearty thanks to all of the winning bidders. Congratulations go out as well to our raffle winners, Bev Poanessa, Jackie Brennan and Robin Allison. Our fundraising was a success and we couldn’t have done it without so much enthusiastic support from our membership. Thanks again, eh!
We are looking forward to our upcoming speaker talking about health issues in Glenview. It should be an informative talk and a great buffet lunch. It is almost March and time to look forward to our annual theatre trip. The musical this time is Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. You’ll note that your March invitation is included in this newsletter because of the early deadline to pay the theatre. The RSVP date is FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13TH for the March show. We look forward to seeing you there.
Looking even further ahead, we are in need of a house or venue idea for June. If you have any suggestion or are willing to host, please let Robin or Mirella know. See you in February! - Robin Allison, Programme/Hospitality Co-Chair
Membership Report I have recently mailed off information and a membership form to a prospective new member. Her name was passed on to me by Rita Burrows. Thank you Rita. We hope that she will decide to join our club. Please continue to spread the word about our club, and pass on the names of any prospects so we can contact them. - Janet Walker, 2008-09 Membership Chair
Book Club Our next meeting has been delayed to late March due to the travel plans of several of the “regulars”. SO…. if you haven’t already read the book, there’s still time to pick up “Heart Matters” by Adrienne Clarkson, a memoir. Hostess Sheila Chin will let us know when the date is finalized.
CANADIAN EVENT CALENDAR
See the calendar at our website www.cwcchicago.com for other cultural and sporting events with a Canadian angle.
LUNCHEON RECIPE
Warm Brie in Phyllo This recipe was served at the January luncheon by our hostess Beth Van den Berg, and in response to popular demand, she has provided us with her secrets so we can impress our friends, too!
Makes: 32 servings Preparation time: 25 minutes Baking Time: 30 minutes
1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries 1 whole round cold Brie or Camembert cheese, about 8 inches in diameter 6 sheets phyllo pastry 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted 2 tbsp brown sugar ¾ tsp cinnamon (optional) ½ cup slivered almonds, toasted (optional)
The Joy of Running
Running has been a passion of mine for the past few decades. It is a great way to relieve stress, keep in shape and feel good all at the same time. I started running when I lived in Toronto back in the early eighties. The circumstances surrounding that day marked a memorable turning point in my life. Winter’s cold grip had finally abated and permitted a smooth transition into spring. After months of home confinement, I was like a young filly chomping at the bit to be set free. As soon as the gate to clear skies and spring-like temperatures opened, I didn’t need any coaxing to lace up my athletic shoes and hit the trail. I began with a brisk walk as I steered toward a nearby park. The crispness in the air felt invigorating and made me feel energized. Then suddenly, I couldn’t restrain myself and before I knew it, I was running. At first I ran in spurts – I ran a little, then walked a little, ran a little, walked a little – but with each spurt I extended my run just a little bit further. If I had had enough stamina, I believe I would have kept running forever.
From that time on, I was hooked. Running became a big part of my life and my favorite choice for exercise. It was something that I could do whenever the mood hit me. It didn’t require any special equipment or depend on any knowledge of game rules. I didn’t need to confer with a partner like I would if I wanted to play tennis or book a tee time to play golf. All I needed was a good pair of running shoes and off I could go.
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever conceive the idea that the young girl who started running in Toronto would ever live in Chicago. So imagine my euphoria when the opportunity arose to relocate to Chicago and I found myself living in a high rise overlooking the greatest expanse of parkland along the shores of Lake Michigan – Grant Park. This was a runner’s dream come true. I could hardly wait to explore, investigate and enjoy this new terrain.
A perfect day starts with rising early and dispatching as soon as possible to the lakefront for a run between Randolph Street and the Museum Campus. This has been my modus operandi ever since moving to Chicago. I never tire of retracing the same route over and over again because I always find something of interest to capture my attention. Other joggers are usually friendly and offer either a cheery “good morning” or a nod to acknowledge that we are in the same game together. But even if there is no one in sight I always enjoy watching the antics of the wildlife that inhabit the lakefront area – squirrels scampering up a tree, rabbits scurrying into the bushes or geese proudly strutting along the pavement.
Each season presents it’s own climate, images and challenges and I embrace them all. In the summertime the Chicago lakefront opens its arms to residents as well as visitors from all over the world. Pleasure seekers descend upon this area in droves. They come to enjoy the many amenities, music festivals and sporting events that the City of Chicago endorses. This is the time of the year when I like to get outdoors before the sun rises too high in the sky and before the pathways are littered with runners, joggers, bikers and, just recently, Segway riders. The smell of the clean, fresh, early morning air acts like a tonic for my soul and ignites a fire in me to start burning some calories.
I am by no means a fair weather enthusiast, in fact, quite the opposite. I actually prefer inclement weather. The challenge of braving the elements – trudging through the snow or battling the icy winds that blow across Lake Michigan – equate in my mind to climbing Mount Everest or traversing the frozen tundra of the Northwest Territories. For me the winter season produces some of the most provocative landscapes along the Chicago lakefront. It was during one of these outings that a light bulb went off and I realized that I could combine two of my favorite pastimes – running and photography. I decided from then on to start carrying my camera with me so that I could capture these awe-inspiring images on film, and later digitally. As an aspiring photographer, I seized this opportunity to share my visions and to show how stunning the city can be draped in a blanket of snow or how mysterious the skyline can appear when the clouds are dark and swirling.
When I first moved to Chicago, I used to be able to run all the way to McCormick Place and back, a distance of at least six miles, but that was in the hay days of my youth. Gradually over the years my path has shortened and my speed slowed down. I’m now content to do a slow jog to the Museum Campus, perhaps zigzagging in and out of the many bi-ways of Grant Park. Then I walk a little to catch my breath and take in the beautiful scenery of the Chicago yacht basin and skyline before I commence the jog back to Randolph Street and home. Even though I have slowed down, the sense of accomplishment remains the same. I’m just grateful to still be able to enjoy my chosen pursuit. - Susanna Doolin (November 2008) |
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