|
Carolina Women's Club
Newsletter for
January 2026
| | | |
Message From Our President
Laurey Cosentino
| | |
Hello CWC Members!
Happy New Year! I hope your holiday season was filled with time well spent with family and friends. It was such a pleasure celebrating together at our Holiday Luncheon at Longview Country Club. The setting was beautiful, it was wonderful to reconnect in person, and your generosity in support of Safe Alliance was truly inspiring. Thanks to you, we set a new fundraising record for Safe Alliance at this event, raising $15,680, a 69% increase over last year!
As we kick off 2026, we’ll return to our full and active calendar of clubs and philanthropic events. Our first social of the year will be a Galentine’s Luncheon at the Hilton Garden Inn Waverly on February 11th. Please be sure to mark your calendar for this special gathering. Save-the-date details will be shared very soon and registration will begin in mid January.
We are seeking leaders!
Looking ahead to the 2026–2027 program year (beginning June 1, 2026), we still have three important Vice President roles available:
- VP of Philanthropy – This is a wonderful opportunity to lead one of the most impactful areas of our club: our philanthropic efforts. The VP of Philanthropy oversees all charitable programs that benefit our community through volunteerism and fundraising. She works closely with the philanthropy liaisons and leads the monthly Philanthropy meetings.
- VP of Clubs – Step into a leadership role supporting the vibrant and diverse clubs of CWC. The VP of Clubs collaborates with Club Chairs and Co-Chairs to develop and implement engaging weekly and monthly club activities. Please note that technology training for Club Chairs/Co-Chairs, previously part of this role, will now fall under the VP of Web Admin, who will be seeking a new Co-Chair to own website training.
- VP of Membership – This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the member experience at CWC. The VP of Membership coordinates new-member welcomes, onboarding, and engagement opportunities. She also manages the membership roster and reconciles monthly additions and departures so we have an accurate view of our membership.
Interested in learning more?
If any of these VP roles spark your curiosity, I encourage you to reach out to me or any member of the Board for an informal conversation. There is no obligation. These conversations are simply a chance to ask questions, learn more, and see whether a role might be a good fit for you.
We welcome both tenured and newer members to step into leadership roles. Longtime members bring valuable institutional knowledge, while newer members often contribute fresh perspectives and energy. Please don’t hesitate—I ran for President just a few months after joining CWC, and many others have stepped into leadership roles during their first year. Serving in this way is a meaningful opportunity to get involved and give back while deepening your connection to our wonderful club.
I look forward to seeing you at an upcoming club event!
Warmly,
Laurey
| Volunteer Events & Happenings in Philanthropy |
Greetings philanthropy members!
I have a couple of calendar announcements happening January 8, 2026.
- The Philanthropy meeting at Uwharrie Bank in Piper Glen is from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. This month’s focus will be Classroom Central. Please register if you plan to attend by clicking this link.
- Safe Alliance tree breakdown from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Kathy Marcello needs four volunteers to help disassemble two Christmas trees. Anyone choosing to volunteer should be able to make the philanthropy meeting at 12:30. For those of you interested in helping Kathy, please click here.
Wishing to those who celebrate, a very Merry Christmas! And Happy holidays to our members of all faiths!
|
CWC WOMEN ARE THE BEST!
CONGRATULATIONS AND HUGE THANKS TO THE WOMEN OF CWC!
This year, your giving to Safe Alliance at the Holiday Luncheon reached an all-time high of $15,680!
(Last year we raised $9300., and prior to that in the $3,000s.) Phenomenal!
We are celebrating your amazing, caring holiday giving.
A Board member of Safe Alliance writes: “I can’t tell you how meaningful your gift to Safe Alliance is. Your generosity helps us to provide services to our neighbors experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault or human trafficking – in addition to providing wonderful holiday joy to our youngest guests. We couldn’t do it without your support.”
Special thanks to our Safe Alliance liaison Kathy Marcello, to Cathy Kane and to the volunteers who staffed our collection table: Susan Perkins, Barbara Guth and Susie Marlier.
THANK YOU ALL!
We are speechless at your generosity.
You are making a real difference in our community.
|  |  |
Promising Pages
Want to help a child fall in love with reading?
Join us for our next volunteer visit to Promising Pages:
Thursday, January 15
⏰ 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
We hope to see you there! Sign up online!
Ceci Robinson & Dorinda Jenkins
| |
TURNING PENCILS INTO POSSIBILITIES
At Classroom Central, we believe every child deserves a great education. Through supporting teachers and students in need, we at Classroom Central ensure that every class has the resources needed to become world-class. Our programs empower educators and students in 227 schools in Charlotte!
JOIN OUR CWC VOLUNTEERS on Wednesday, January 14th from 9am to Noon
to help restock free teaching supplies at Classroom Central and be a part of providing a great education for the children of Charlotte. YOU can help turn pencils into possibilities!
Questions? See Barbara Hambacher. Register online. | | |
SHARING SOME VERY Bright Blessings
| |
BRIGHT BLESSINGS TOY AND BABY ITEMS DRIVE!
In January ( 1st to the 20th) we will be collecting toys and baby items for Bright Blessings to support their mission of delivering joy, care, and hope to homeless and impoverished children in our region. Let’s stock their shelves with the following needed items:
Baby bottles and teethers
Birthday items for 3 to 18 year olds | | |
You may shop the following Amazon wish list:
Check out my list on Amazon.com
Or you may shop local for new, unopened items on the list below:
Craft kits, small board games, card games, watches, nerf footballs, basketballs, soccer balls, baby dolls, toy trucks, Barbie dolls, small Lego sets, nail polish, and/or make up kits.
Questions? This drive is headed up by Beth Daniels.
THANK YOU!
P.S.: If you choose to buy local you may drop your items off at the following locations:
Becky Hart
|
News from our Social Corner . . .
| | CWC Galentine’s Day Luncheon Celebration
Where Friendship Meets Purpose
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
10:30 AM – 2:30 PM
An elegant Galentine’s celebration for women who believe friendship and purpose go hand in hand.
Luncheon Speaker
Dr. Melissa H. Ratliff, MD
Ratliff Integrative Family Medicine
Location
Hilton Garden Inn – Charlotte Waverly
7415 Waverly Walk Ave.
Charlotte, NC 28227
| Visit the CWC Homepage to find all members celebrating January birthdays! | | Membership is the Lifeblood of CWC! | | | Welcome New Members!
You’re Invited to Join us for a New Member Coffee Event
Date: Tuesday, January 14, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m. – Noon
Location: Angela Snyder’s Home
Address: 3963 Moorland Drive, Charlotte 28226
We hope you’ll join us for a relaxed morning getting to know other new members and connecting with club leaders. This gathering is designed to help you feel comfortable, informed, and welcomed into CWC. So many of our members remember this event fondly and tell us this is where they started to form lasting CWC friendships.
Please register on the website or with this link: New Member Coffee - 1/14/2026
Registration is required so we can plan accordingly.
| Welcoming New Members to CWC
At the Carolina Women’s Club, we want new members to feel comfortable and welcome from the very beginning. Joining a new group can feel like a big step, so we make an effort to offer friendly points of connection and helpful information as members get started. Here’s how we welcome new members:
Welcome Phone Calls
A friendly phone call gives new members someone to connect with, ask questions, and feel supported early on.
Welcome Letters
New members receive a welcome letter with useful information about CWC and what to expect as they begin participating.
Welcome Cards
A welcome card adds a personal touch and lets new members know we’re happy they’ve joined.
New Member Coffees
Our New Member Coffees are a relaxed way to meet other new members, connect with current members, and learn more about the club in an informal setting. We hold three or four of these annually.
Member Profiles
We add photos to new members’ profiles to help put names with faces and make it easier to recognize one another at events. Please make sure to add yours to your profile!
New Member Table at Luncheons
At luncheons, the New Member Table offers a comfortable place for first-time attendees to sit, meet others, and make connections.
And Most Importantly … It’s the welcome they receive at events from current members!
Please make the time to greet someone new and get to know them. Share your favorite CWC
activities with them and invite them to sign up!
These small but meaningful touches are designed to help new members feel connected and ready
to enjoy everything the Carolina Women’s Club has to offer.
| We care about our CWC members.
If you know of a member in need of sympathy e-card or a get well e-card, or even a "we are thinking of you" e-card, let Donda Thomasson know at CWCWelcomecommittee@gmail.com.
Donda sends out birthday e-cards and membership anniversary e-cards, too.
About 10% of members don't view their personalized cards. Please open, because we care about you, too! | |
The Travel Club has been putting together some exciting adventures for 2026.
Calling all travel members - please come to the Travel Club meeting January 20th, at 11:00 am to discuss a trip to New Orleans in the spring ’26 and Quebec Canada during the summer of '26
Samba is moving to a member's home during the month of January and February. We will continue to meet from 11-2:30, taking a break around 12:30 to enjoy the small snack each participate brought to share.
. | | Home and Garden club are offering two exciting events. On Jan 30 “Make your own Fusion Glass Jewelry” at Saundra Synder’s "Design Glass Mosaics Studio”. Saundra is an award winning watercolor artist and has over 35 years of experience in the art world. She will guide us through making three different earrings or pendants during the workshop. Below are examples of what you can make during the workshop.
Workshop cost $52 | | | | On February 9, make a whimsical Spring Wreath, Marty Martin will guide us through this workshop at a member's home. She will prepare the materials needed in advance and you will go home with this fun and beautiful wreath.
Workshop cost: $28 | | | Visit the CWC Calendar to sign-up for upcoming events! | All payments are final. Cancellation made after registration closes will not be refunded or credited. Members who cancel prior to close of registration will receive a club credit. We do not provide refunds or credits for membership dues or donations. | |