Dear Sister Dames,

I hope you have all enjoyed a wonderful summer. Labor Day is just around the corner. It's back-to-school time as well. To tell the truth, this has always felt like the beginning of the year for me. Indeed, it is the beginning of the year for our chapter activities.

As I write this letter, I am preparing for our board's strategic planning session. In the meeting we will be examining who we are as an organization and be looking to create an action plan to achieve our goals as we define them. We will make a presentation on the results of our strategic planning session at the Autumn General Membership Meeting in October, date TBA.

Our 2014-15 board comprises a dynamic group of talented women. I am looking forward to working with and learning from each of them.

Please note that our Wheaton Walking Tour on September 20 is filling up. Registration information is below. I urge you to sign up now if you are considering attending. It promises to be a fun and informative day.

October 13th Dame Evelyn Bunoan will be hosting a discussion and buffet of Philippine cuisine at her market in Arlington, VA. Again, registration information is below. Seats are limited for this interesting program, so you will want to sign up soon.

All of our committees are planning wonderful activities for 2014-15. If you have yet to decide how you want to participate in the year ahead, you might ask yourself if you are more interested in the service or education side of our organization. If your answer is service, then please get involved in the grants and mentoring, scholarships, or fundraising and development committees. If education is your interest, then programs, Global Culinary Initiatives, or Green Tables might appeal to you more. We also need writers to submit stories about our programs to the LDEI Quarterly magazine and to work on producing our chapter e-newsletter, Entre News. Please step forward. You don't need to wait to be asked. Whatever your skill set there is a spot for you to participate. I look forward to interacting with each of you in 2014-15.

Warm regards,

Drew Faulkner

President

drewcooks@mac.com  

Every other year, our chapter confers its highest honor upon one of our members who has exhibited a history of generously giving her time, talents, energies and leadership to benefit our chapter in a lasting and meaningful way and to further its mission. The Distinguished Dame award was created in 1996 and has been presented to the following members:

Carol Cutler

Lizette Corro

Susan Derecksky

Gail Forman

Phyllis Frucht

Carole Palmer

Katherine Newell Smith

Goody Solomon

CiCi Williamson

Ann Yonkers

Below are the criteria for the award. We ask that you submit your nomination by September 12 to committee chair Katherine Newell Smith kns4pr@erols.com with an accompanying paragraph describing your nominee's involvement, leadership and accomplishments in our chapter. The committee, comprising previous Distinguished Dame honorees, will review the nominations and present a recommendation to the board for approval. The board will present the award at the Autumn General Membership Meeting in October.

 

DAME OF DISTINCTION AWARD CRITERIA:

1. Member for at least eight (8) years of Les Dames d'Escoffier International, Washington DC Chapter;

2. Served on the board or as an officer in at least two (2) positions;

3. Actively involved in various chapter activities and projects (fundraisers, programs, etc.);

4. Served on at least two (2) different committees;

5. Assumed tasks that demanded energy and hard work;

6. Regularly attended chapter and/or LDEI functions;

Martha's Table is seeking a talented, hands-on leader to fill the non-profit's full-time Deputy Director, Food and Nutrition for Food Distribution position. Please click on http://marthastable.org/available-positions.html to view the job description (the position is the fourth listing). If you know of someone who is an excellent leader, cook and educator, committed to social change and who believes that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, please share this link and have them apply to our HR team as indicated in the posting. Also, please copy mbooker@marthastable.org on any submission so Martha's Table management knows that it came through our Dames network. 

Many of you participated in the Crab Feast last autumn at Ann Yonkers' Pot Pie Farm near St. Michaels, MD. On Monday, June 30, the farm's lovely and historic barn burned to the ground. While Ann's family was at the farm in preparation for the July 4 weekend, no one was injured. However, much of the equipment for the St. Michaels and Annapolis Farmer's Markets that Ann founded as part of Fresh Farm Markets was destroyed. No cause of the fire can be determined since heavy equipment was used to move burned timbers and ensure the fire was extinguished.  

photo credit Kevin Smith/SMFD

DATE: Tuesday, September 9

TIME: 7:00 p.m.
PLACE: Gail Forman's house  10213 Lloyd Road Potomac, MD 20854

PRICE: FREE, refreshments will be served by the host.
RSVP: Phone: 301-279-2554
BOOK: Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichel

Summary: Join Les Dames culinary experts for a guided gourmet walking tour and experience the multiplicity of ethnic food markets and restaurants as we make our way to stops for tastings and demonstrations, beginning with breakfast at By Brazil and culminating in a delicious luncheon at Dessie Ethiopian Restaurant.  

DATE: Saturday, September 20
TIME: 9:45am to early afternoon
PLACE: Meet at the corner of Price Ave & Fern St.
Click here to view invitation
PRICE: Members $38; Non-members $48 with price including a $10.00 tax-exempt donation for LDEI-DC scholarships.

For more information: Gail Forman at  gailforman@comcast.net  

WOMEN IN THE ARTS D'ESCOFFIER - Fundraiser

Do you have connections who would clamor to be a major supporter of Les Dames d'Escoffier and this stellar event? We're looking to identify potential supporters for the Table sales. Extraordinary wine and special attention will be splurged on these generous folks. Contact Theresa Morrison wine@34south.com to join the planning committee. MORE TO COME....

DATE: March 16, 2015

TIME: 6:30 p.m.

PLACE: Ritz Carlson Hotel, West End, 1150 22nd Street NW, DC

PRICE:

Dames-only cost: TBD

Escoffier Table for 10: $10,000

Grande Dame Table for 10: $7,500

Connoisseur Ticket for 2: $1,000

Individual Ticket: $450