October 10: 11:30 a.m. Larry Madin speaks on Jellyfish: Photography and Ecology

Dr. Laurence Madin will speak at the next gathering of the Woods Hole Woman’s Club.  Laurence Madin is Senior Science Advisor at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in Woods Hole where he has worked since 1974, serving in several leadership positions.  His principal research interests are in the biology and ecology of oceanic and deep-sea zooplankton, including jellyfish.  Dr. Madin has participated in over 70 research cruises from which he could capture stunning photographs of these creatures.  In addition to viewing photographs, the program will address the role of jellyfish in marine ecosystems.

© Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution/Madin Siphonophores, such as the one pictured, are closely related to jellyfish. But instead of one umbrella-shaped bell, they are made of multiple units specialized for feeding, swimming, or reproduction—each “petal” of this animal is one of these repeating parts. Such modular construction allows some deep-sea siphonophores to grow to more than 100 feet long.

The meeting takes place at The Church of the Messiah Parish and Community Center, 16 Church Street in Woods Hole.  Visitors are welcome to attend.  Light refreshments will be served and those attending may bring a brown bag lunch if they wish.   Windows will be open for ventilation.

New members are welcomed at any time during the year.  Information about membership is available here 

September 12: 3:00 p.m. Welcoming Tea

Members and women interested in the Club are invited to attend a welcoming tea from 3:00 to 4:30 PM on Tuesday, September 12 at The Church of the Messiah Parish and Community Center, 16 Church Street in Woods Hole.  Board president Terry McKee will give a welcome greeting and introduce the Board members. Ellie Armstrong will present a preview of the upcoming monthly programs planned to inform and entertain the group.  Food and beverages will be served in the well-ventilated room.  

The Woods Hole Woman’s Club brings members together to provide enrichment and mutual helpfulness for the betterment of Woods Hole and the surrounding communities.  Founded in 1914, members enjoy a variety of speakers and programs and raise money for college scholarships and support of community organizations.   

Most meetings are held in Woods Hole at 11:30 AM on the second Tuesday of each month from October through April.  The club will again utilize Zoom if it becomes necessary to protect public health.  New members are welcomed at any time during the year. 

Volunteer Opportunity: Falmouth Road Race Number Pickup

updated to include July 12 deadline

Have fun while raising funds! In exchange for a generous donation from the Road Race Committee, WHWC has provided volunteers for the past 3 years to staff the tables where numbers are handed out to runners in the days leading up to the Falmouth Road Race. This year’s race takes place on Sunday, August 20th. Number pickups are scheduled on August 17th from 3:30 to 7:30 pm, August 18th from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm and from 3:15 to 7:15 pm, August 19th from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and from 12:15 to 3:30 pm at the Falmouth High School.

Volunteers work in pairs and Road Race Committee volunteers offer assistance. Pre-race spirits are high, and it is fun to participate in the energy. You can ask a family member or friend to sign up to volunteer with you and you can sign up for multiple shifts.

Sign up here. Be sure to select the Woods Hole Woman’s Club as your group so we get credit for your participation. Directions for signing up can be found here. Any spots not filled as of Wednesday, July 12 will be opened up for individual volunteers to fill, so please sign up by then to help WHWC reach their volunteer goal.

Questions? Please contact Kerry Walton <kerry.walton@gmail.com>

Scholarship Winners Attend Annual Tea

Photo of scholarship winnersMembers met and celebrated the accomplishments of the eight outstanding Precinct One students who attended the annual scholarship tea on May 9 in Woods Hole. All have strong academic records as reflected in their grades and inclusion in several Honor Societies. Left to right: Hadley Smith, Mj Jacobs, Amena Weiffenbach, Hannah Birmingham, Sadie Leveque, Ursula Junker, Katie Walsh, and Elizabeth Litton. The students introduced themselves and enjoyed refreshments and conversation with attendees.

Hannah Birmingham was on the field hockey and track teams, served as an officer of her class and several Honor Societies, and participated in the Model U.N. and Debate Club.  She has worked at Coffee Obsession and the Glass Onion Restaurant and as a lab assistant at the Marine Biological Laboratory.  Hannah will attend the University of Connecticut to major in Chemistry with an interest in the pharmacy program. 

Mj Jacobs has both studied and taught at Seven Stars Academy of Martial Arts since age four. Being in the Falmouth High School Theater Company and interning at the College Light Opera Company helped to develop Mj’s interest in pursuing a career in theater arts. She plans to attend Ithaca College.

Ursula Junker spent her junior year as an exchange student in Italy and looks forward to more travel. Locally she has been involved in theater, school newspaper, cello study, and painting.  At home, she loves to bake.  She has worked at Pie in the Sky, the Inlet Shop, and the Woods Hole Inn.  She plans to attend Wellesley College and explore a major in Philosophy.

Sadie Leveque has studied the violin and pursued her interests in visual art since early childhood leading to her preparing a portfolio of work for applications to art schools.  For paid and volunteer work experience she provided summertime childcare and led children’s craft projects at the Woods Hole Public Library.  She will attend Sarah Lawrence College to further study art.

Elizabeth Litton is passionate about both science and hiking. She founded the Falmouth High School Women in STEM Club.  Her resume includes six years of dancing with the New England Ballet Theater and hiking the 100 Mile Wilderness.  She has worked at several Falmouth eateries.  Elizabeth plans to attend the University of Vermont to pursue Environmental Science.                            

Hadley Smith studies violin and has performed with orchestral and fiddler ensembles and soloed at local churches.  She has also competed with a sailing racing team based in Osterville, runs for the school track and cross-country teams, and joined the French and Social Justice Clubs.  She has worked at Landfall Restaurant. Hadley plans to attend the University of Massachusetts at Amherst beginning with a semester in England.

Katherine Walsh has enjoyed working with horses since early childhood; she has ridden competitively and helped with lessons and camps at a local barn.  She is Vice President of the Falmouth High School Women in STEM club and is a member of the French Club. Her plans are to attend the University of Vermont and she has an interest in Computer Science.

Amena Weiffenbach is chief editor of Falmouth High School’s literary arts journal and a member of a writers’ group, the math team, and Women in STEM.  She has studied piano for six years and volunteered to maintain the Falmouth Dog Park and as an assistant teacher at a Spanish learning daycare.  Amena will attend Tufts University and may major in Math or Engineering.

The Scholarship Committee, headed by Priscilla Ruegg, is proud to add these students to the 138 others who have received scholarships from the club since 1980.  Donations to the scholarship fund are welcome throughout the year.  Checks should be written to the WHWC Charitable Trust and mailed to Kitty Brown, WHWC, PO Box 342, Woods Hole, MA 02543.

New members are welcomed at any time during the year.  Information about membership is available here or by contacting vice-president Mary Fran Buckley at maryfran55@earthlink.net.

May 9: 3 – 4:30 p.m. Annual Scholarship Tea

The Club’s eight 2023 scholarship recipients will be honored at a festive tea on Tuesday, May 9.  This year’s recipients are Hannah Birmingham, MJ Jacobs, Ursula Junker, Sadie Leveque, Elizabeth Litton, Hadley Smith, Katherine Walsh, and Amena Weiffenbach.  All have been invited, along with their parents, to join us for a festive gathering that includes tea, sandwiches, and baked goods.  This is our annual fund-raising event and the Club needs contributions from our members to offer scholarships next year as we have every year since 1980.  You are welcome to bring a friend who would like to join us in supporting deserving Precinct One students as they head to college. The event will be held at the Church of the Messiah Parish and Community Center, 16 Church Street, Woods Hole, from 3:00 – 4:30 pm.

 Information about becoming a WHWC member is available here or by contacting vice-president Mary Fran Buckley at maryfran55@earthlink.net.

April 11: 11:30 a.m. Dr. Christopher Neill speaks on Cranberry Bog Restoration

Dr. Christopher Neill, Senior Scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center, will speak at the next meeting of the Woods Hole Woman’s Club.  Dr. Neill studies ecosystems around the globe, always with a local focus. He is interested broadly in how changes in land use affect ecosystem function, and in our ability to restore impaired systems. His work on the impacts of restoring cranberry bogs to natural habitat involves state and federal agencies, the Town of Falmouth, and Coonamessett River Trust

The Club will meet at 11:30 am on Tuesday, April 11, at The Church of the Messiah Parish and Community Center, 16 Church Street in Woods Hole.  Light refreshments will be served and those attending may bring a brown bag lunch if they wish.  This meeting is open to the public as space allows.

The Woods Hole Woman’s Club brings members together to provide enrichment and mutual helpfulness for the betterment of Woods Hole and the surrounding communities.  Monthly meetings from October through April include informative presentations, entertainment, and social events.  Additional club activities raise money for college scholarships and to support community organizations.  New members are welcomed at any time during the year.  Information about membership is available here or by contacting vice-president Mary Fran Buckley at maryfran55@earthlink.net.

March 14: 11:30 a.m. Penekise Island School Director of Operations to speak

This post has been updated to correct a date error in the previous version.

Crickett Warner, Director of Operations at the Penikese Island School and lifelong Woods Hole resident will speak at the next meeting of the Woods Hole Woman’s Club.  She will provide a look back at the history of this uninhabited wildlife refuge 13 miles southwest of Woods Hole.  First used for scientific education in 1873, it has been managed by the non-profit Penikese Island School since 1973 and used for various residential and non-residential programs.  Looking forward, Ms. Warner will describe the school’s current experiential environmental educational programs, including day trips for school groups and STEM summer camps for middle school girls. 

This event will be held at The Church of the Messiah Parish and Community Center, 16 Church Street in Woods Hole.  Light refreshments will be served and those attending may bring a brown bag lunch if they wish.  Non-members interested in learning more about Penikese or the Woman’s Club are welcome to attend.

The Woods Hole Woman’s Club brings members together to provide enrichment and mutual helpfulness for the betterment of Woods Hole and the surrounding communities.  Monthly meetings from October through April include informative presentations, entertainment, and social events.  Additional club activities raise money for college scholarships and to support community organizations.  New members are welcomed at any time during the year.  Information about membership is available here or by contacting vice-president Mary Fran Buckley.

WHWC Accepts Applications for Annual Scholarships through March 13

As in previous years, WHWC is offering several $1000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors who live in Falmouth’s Precinct 1 and will be pursuing further education.  Applications may be obtained from school guidance offices and completed and received by the scholarship committee no later than March 13, 2023. The application form is also available here.

Beginning in 1927, the Woods Hole Woman’s Club has presented scholarships as a part of its community service.  Scholarships have been awarded every year since 1980 to a total of 138 graduating seniors from Precinct 1.

February 14: noon February Luncheon

This year’s members’ luncheon will be held at The Church of Messiah Parish Center. Soup and sandwiches from Windfall Market will be served at $15 per person to be paid at the luncheon by check payable to WHWC or in the exact amount, please. This is a Members Only event. The deadline for RSVP is Friday, February 10. Contact: Jennifer Cattin, Activities Chair.

January 10: 11:30 a.m. The WHWC Thespians

Please join us for our annual WHWC Thespian entertainment to be held at the Church of the Messiah Parish and Community Center, 16 Church Street, Woods Hole. Performers include our very own San Lyman, Ellie Armstrong, Nawrie Meigs-Brown-Brown, and Mary Swope. Light refreshments will be served. Wearing masks while not eating or drinking is encouraged.
Members who have a funny short story, poem, or essay that you would like to share, please get in touch with San Lyman ASAP. Join in the fun! 

This event is open to the public as space allows. New members are welcomed at any time during the year.  Information about membership is available here.