Woman's Club

 

By Al Cromley

Barcroft News Staff

 

They meet periodically, talk, do good, read books, and wield a heavy influence on the Lake Barcroft Community. The Woman's Club and two book clubs bring together some of the most active people in our midst. They are approximately 150 women out of the 1,032 homes in Lake Barcroft.

 

The Woman's Club, founded 46 years ago, is our social live wire. It meets once a month at the homes of various members, as well as other locations. The president this year is Shirley Timashev of Potterton Drive.

 

The "do good" is no put down. In the last two years they have contributed a total of $19,433 to local charities, according to Tony Bracken, historian of Barcroft. Since 1990, they have given more than $94,000 to charities such as Bethany House, the Women's Center, and particularly Bailey's Crossroads Fire Department and ACCA (Annandale Christian Community for Action).

 

Spurred by Chica Brunsvold and Margaret Finley, the club provided the impetus for construction of the footbridge, completed in 1976, that links Lakeview and Dearborn. It adjoins the Community Garden, created and largely financed by the Woman's Club, with Dorothy Werner riding shotgun. It was dedicated in 1998, and 2,000 daffodils will blossom there this spring.

 

Upcoming events give you a taste of what they are about.

Jan. 15 - High Tea and Music at the Pentagon City Ritz Carlton, Sharlene Aukofer in charge.

Feb. 19 - A tour of the renovation and upgrading of J.E.B. Stuart High School, with Mary Anne Lecos, who declares, "Their library beats anything I've seen in higher education." (She has been a member of the school board, assistant superintendent for instruction in Fairfax County and director of teacher education at George Mason University).

March 19 - Nutrition and Health for Women, to be held at a local restaurant, Sharlene Aukofer.

April 16 -- Program yet to come.

May (Date TBA) -- Luncheon, charities and awards, Washington Golf and Country Club, last meeting until fall, Duffy Fjikas in charge."

 

Morning and Evening Book Clubs

 

We have two of them: the Morning Book Club, established some 30 years ago, and a newcomer, the Evening Book Club, established in January 2002, designed for women whose mornings are busy.

The Morning Book Club, headed this year by Alice Lowenthal, was founded and led by Marjorie Macone until her death last year. "During book discussions, she could adroitly move things along when someone monopolized the floor," said one member.

 

The club takes on some heavy stuff -- witness the January book, History of God, by Karen Armstrong. But there is sometimes lighter reading, and selection of books is made by the president, after consultation with members. The February book is Beyond Belief, by V.S. Naipaul; then will come Empire Falls, by Richard Russo; and in April, Power and the Glory, by Graham Greene.

 

The Book Club meets at the homes of members, with spouses included at one dinner meeting a year. Men who have not read the assigned book are tolerated with some grace.

 

The Evening Book Club, headed by Suzanne Campen and Polly Hardie, meets the third Tuesday of each month in members' homes, and "we are not an English literature course," says Jane LeGault. As with the Morning Club, they hold one meeting a year with spouses, and, said a member who shall remain anonymous, "Some of the men never stop talking."