(Submitted by University Women of Bowling Green State University)
Have you been looking for a book group to join?
How about a movie discussion group, or a gathering of people who love to eat, or travel, or garden?
The University Women of Bowling Green State University is a perfect place to find any of the above social and learning opportunities, plus quite a few more.
Area women can discover all the details by making plans to attend UW’s annual Fall Membership Brunch. It will be held Saturday, Aug. 24 at 10 a.m. at the Simpson Building in Simpson Garden Park, 1291 Conneaut Ave.
Anyone may attend; affiliation with BGSU is not a requirement, and reservations are not necessary. The potluck-style meal is provided by current members, with prospective ‘newbies’ welcomed as guests.
Entertainment will be provided by Tom Gorman and Anna Gorman Allard. Tom and Anna have been singing as a father-daughter duo literally since Anna was an infant. Publicly, they have performed at special events and venues around Bowling Green, including the Stones Throw and the Black Swamp Arts Festival. They offer ballads, bluegrass and pop songs performed with light harmonies and acoustic guitar.
The brunch program will begin with a brief address by BGSU President Dr. Rodney Rogers, who will offer updates and news about campus happenings.
The two winners of UW’s college scholarships for 2019-20 will be introduced. They are BGSU students Lisa Langhals, a junior from Ottawa majoring in dietetics, and Leslee Liberadzki, a senior from Mt. Blanchard majoring in communication sciences and disorders, as preparation for a master’s degree in speech-language pathology. Each woman will receive a $2,000 scholarship.
Liberadzki, a full-time student, also does volunteer work in the Bowling Green area as a Thompson Family Scholar. She works this summer at Buffalo Wild Wings. She has one daughter.
Langhals, also a full-time student, cares for her aging parents and works three part-time jobs. She is a nutrition and wellness associate for BGSU Dining, works at the Leipsic Community Center, and is a self-employed health coach, plus a health department volunteer.
During the Aug. 24 brunch, the organization will hold it annual raffle and silent auction to support the college scholarships, which are always earmarked for adult female students. Members are invited to bring one or more items to donate. In charge of the raffle are chairperson Susan Winters, Karen Johnson and Suzanne Fahrer.
During the brunch, members will also be able to sign up for year-long special interest groups, described as the backbone of University Women. Among these are monthly groups devoted to gourmet dining and travel, gardening, books, docent-led Toledo Museum of Art tours, antiques, knitting, lunching at area restaurants, bridge, and community service. There is also a choral group which welcomes new members.
Among the most popular offerings in recent years have been the book groups and the movie discussion group. To accommodate new members and current members who might like to join, a brand-new book group is being created, as well as a second movie discussion group.
Looking ahead, UW will continue its tradition of an annual holiday party for members, spouses and partners on Dec. 13 at the home of Barbara and Roger Sanchez.
Prospective new members may download an application form on the UW website: universitywomenofbgsu.com
Leading the organization for 2019-20 is President Cindy Colvin.
