Dear Sister Dames,
The flurry of holiday celebrations has officially arrived and it's a very busy time for us all. We're either attending events or hosting events, traveling or busily decorating our homes for family and guests. Yet, I encourage you to take a moment for yourself to reflect on all the special gifts in your life and say a prayer of gratitude for all the special people in your life.
This organization and, specifically, this chapter mean a lot to me. The relationships I've made over the years are up there with my family and closest friends. And the work we do to help support women entering or reentering our industries through our grants and scholarships are incredibly important to me, as they are to our recipients. I know that many of you feel the same way and that these are some of the reasons we stay involved with Dames. We want ours to be a successful chapter and to work together to fulfill our mission.
At last week's luncheon event with Toni Tipton-Martin at Gunther and Co., our 2015 scholarship awardee, Ashleigh Pearson, gave an emotional speech that left not a dry eye in the house. It was a stellar example of the difference our help can make in a young woman's life.
This year we have chosen to focus on member engagement to help fulfill our Chapter's mission. First Vice President Lori Gardner and Membership Engagement Chair Carole Sugarman will reach out to members during the next month to help you find a good fit on a committee.
You can choose from many levels of involvement. From helping with our website to creating a single program; from planning a fundraiser to soliciting great partners for sponsorship; from handling the social media on a platform to making connections with deserving organizations that could well use our grants funding. Or you could serve on a committee to find our next Ashleigh Pearson. We want to find the right spot for you.
We desperately need some tech-savvy Dames to assist in our social media strategy. Our social accounts, mainly Facebook and Instagram, are our primary venues to communicate with our communities. Not having timely photos of our events or well-designed invitations posted hurts our success. We also are in need of members to help find sponsorship partners for our events. A mere $500 to $1,000 donation could go a long way to defray our program expenses and allow more funds to go towards our scholarships and grants.
The more members who help on a committee, in small or large ways, means we can do more with our existing resources and the labor is spread among many talented Dames rather than just a few.
I promise you that the more we all get involved the more each of you will value your membership, build lasting relationships and be grateful to be part of such a fabulous and generous sisterhood that gets stuff DONE. After all, this is what we signed up for when we became Dames.
Should you have a chapter question, concern or idea, please shoot me an email president@lesdamesdc.org or give me a call (410) 212-2224.
Stacey Adams
President Les Dames - Washington, DC |
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Our heartfelt condolences to Joan Nathan whose husband Allan Gerson passed away on Sunday from complications of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Allan was an accomplished lawyer, photographer and jewelry maker. Services will be today at 11:00 a.m. at Adas Israel Congregation in Washington, D.C., (livestream will also be available). The burial will be tomorrow on Martha's Vineyard. Shiva will be held in Chilmark MA at 31 Hammett Road on Thursday, December 5, 6:00 p.m. and in D.C. at 4221 Lenore Lane, NW at 7:30 p.m. each evening of Saturday, December 7; Sunday, December 8; Monday, December 9, and Tuesday, December 10. Contributions can be made to the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, which resettled Allan's family when they arrived in the U.S. as refugees. (Please note on contributions that they are made in his name.)
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DATE: Sunday, January 19, 2020
TIME: 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
PLACE: The home of Linda Roth, 4019 Lorcum Lane, Arlington, Virginia 22207
PRICE: Free, bring an appetizer, entree, or dessert to share. We will send out a link soon where you can register through SignUpGenius to let us know you can come and what you would like to bring.
DIRECTIONS: Linda's home is located at the intersection of Randolph Road and Lorcom Lane. There is street parking on Lorcom Lane, and an entrance by the gate that leads directly to the kitchen. There is also street parking on Randolph Road where the front door is, close to the dining room. Both entrances are good to use.
METRO: The closest metro stop is Virginia Square. From there walk .4 mile to North Quincy Street and 10th Street North. Take the #53A Bus towards East Falls Church Metro. Get off at Military Road and North Lorcom Lane. Walk .1 mile to the intersection of Lorcom Lane and Randolph Road.
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We now have member directory that has enhanced capabilities! It is on a platform called Wild Apricot and it makes connecting with members and finding upcoming Dames events so much easier. But, the directory will only have value if we all enter our data. So, please log in now as instructed below and update your information and photo.
You can access your information in the Members Only section of our website. You also can download the Wild Apricot app on your IPhone or Android smartphone and use it on the go.
This platform can make it easy for you to see upcoming events, register for events and view membership profiles. And, besides being dynamic, members will pay less for tickets because Wild Apricot does not charge an additional service processing fee on top of the merchant processing fees as does Eventbrite. So don't delay!
What to do next:
An email will be sent to you to reset your password. Once you're logged in, you will be prompted to accept the terms and conditions. Then, you can go into your profile and update and verify your contact information.
Your profile includes many areas like social links, profession, photo, etc. Only members can view your profile information.
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We are looking for a Dame to assist with our social media as part of the Communications committee. She will post on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter promoting our events, give shout outs for Dame "sightings" at non-Dame events and post photos taken at our and non-Dame events. This volunteer will work with Vice President of Communications Jill Collins. Please contact Jill if you are interested in doing this important job.
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Toni Tipton-Martin's article "The Legacy of Pralines," with recipes from her new book, Jubilee: Two Centuries of African American Cooking, appeared in the December issue of Southern Living Magazine.
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DAMES NEWS
DAMES WHO READDames Who Read met at Susan Callahan's home on November 18 to discuss From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home by Tembe Locke. Set against the backdrop of the sunny and verdant Sicilian countryside, it is the story of a young African American woman who was transformed by the healing powers of food and family as she was met with the gradual death from cancer of her Italian chef husband. The memoir was discussed over a typical meal of caponata, pasta and roasted fish. The conclusion reached by the group was that while the story was sentimental, the food was delicious! If you are interested in joining Dames who read, contact Eileen Dykes at eileendykes@gmail.com. We meet every six weeks. Sometimes the host prepares dishes inspired by the book or from the selected book's recipes. We are considering adding film next year.
Left to right: Sheilah Kaufman, Paula Jacobson, Susan Barocas, Eileen Dykes, Sheryl Coettrell Hoehner, Sheila Crye, Olga Boikess, Gail Forman and Susan Callahan. Photo courtesy of Susan Callahan.
JUBILEE LUNCHEON AT GUNTHER'S IN BALTIMORE
On November 23, Toni Tipton-Martin gave a fascinating presentation about the world of African-American cuisine--made by enslaved master chefs, free caterers, and black entrepreneurs and culinary stars. It's a cuisine that was developed in the homes of the elite and middle class as well as in the living quarters of the enslaved; that takes inspiration from around the globe; that is a diverse, varied style of cooking that has created much of what we know of as American cuisine.
Left to right: Tambra Raye Stevenson, Toni Tipton- Martin and 2015 LDE-DC scholarship recipient Ashleigh Pearson. Photo courtesy of Lori Gardner.
LDEI CONFERENCE IN NASHVILLE
DC Dames gathered for a photo just before the dinner where our own Nora Pouillon was honored as a Grande Dame. Front row, center, left to right: Drew Faulkner, Nongkran Daks, Nora Pouillon, Judy Rusignuolo, Stacey Adams and Linda Davis Next row, left to right: Cindy Kacher, Linda Roth, Linda Forristal, Olga Boikess, Katherine Newell Smith, CiCi Williamson, Carla Hall, Teresa Farney Back row , left to right: Ann Yonkers, Ann Stratte
Photo courtesy of CiCi Williamson.
Left to right: Cindy Kacher, Ann Yonkers, Nora Pouillon and CiCi Williamson. Photo courtesy of CiCi Williamson.
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PROGRAMS
DC DAMES COFFEE HOUR
Enjoy camaraderie with your coffee at an informal gathering with fellow Dames at Barbara Black's Black Coffee café.
DATE: Tuesday, December 10
TIME: 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.
PLACE: Black Coffee, 4885 MacArthur Blvd. NW
PRICE: Choose your own coffee drink and breakfast item and pay at the café.
PARKING: Parking on MacArthur Blvd and side streets.
DAMES WHO DINE
Join us for dinner and a tour of Savor at Studio 3807, Prince George's County's first artisanal food hall. It is the brainchild of business attorney and food entrepreneur April N. Richardson, Esq. and Peter Siegel, a socially conscious developer, who partnered to bring this exciting opportunity to PG County. Before we eat, we will tour the artist studios next door which houses about 25 pieces of amazing art from local artists.
Savor boasts over 8,000 square feet of space designed for the community to eat and meet. It will feature local culinary artists who will create mini-restaurants, an indoor farmers market, an artisans market and a commercial kitchen for emerging food talent to rent. In addition, you will find pop ups where new food concepts can be tested and a stage for live music performances. As a committed supporter of the arts and community, Savor offers an exciting culinary space so residents and neighbors can explore a variety of exciting local culinary options.
DATE: January 11, 2020
TIME: 12:00 p.m.
PLACE: Savor Food Hall 3809 Rhode island Ave, in Brentwood, MD.
RSVP: More info to come soon
PARKING: Neighborhood parking is limited. More transportation information to come.
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Entre News is our LDE-DC chapter e-newsletter. It is published on the first and third Wednesday of each month. It is on hiatus during the month of August. Deadline for HURRAH! and other news is the second and fourth Thursday of each month. Please send a BRIEF paragraph with your professional and personal news that you would like your sister Dames to know about in HURRAH!
HURRAH! is not meant as an advertising opportunity for a cooking class or event, rather it offers a shout out to members for recent accomplishments and honors. Please submit your HURRAH to eneditor@lesdamesdc.org in a succinct 75 words of less.
DAMES CORNER is a brief feature to help us get to know our sister Dames a bit better. We will randomly choose Dames to profile who have differing professional backgrounds so the coverage is more interesting.
OF INTEREST offers Dames a chance to let their sister chapter members know about events they are involved in that might be of interest to a majority of the membership. Its function is not to promote products, cooking classes, culinary trips, etc., rather to alert members to public programs that might be of professional interest, especially if Dames are featured. We request OF INTEREST entries to be no longer than 150 words. Less is always better.
JOB OPPS can open Dames networks to employment opportunities.
Thank you for you continued interest and participation.
Katherine Newell Smith
Founding Editor, Entre News
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Social Media Connections
Connect with Sister Dames
 LesDamesDC
 @LesDamesDC
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We need ALL members who have FB, Twitter and Instagram accounts to follow and actively re-tweet our members' tweets to spread the great news about our activities and programs!
Connect with Les Dames d'Escoffier International
Please share news, events and updates. Join the LDEI members-only LinkedIn Group to stay connected with other Dames.
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Join a Committee....
You were invited to join Dames because of your talents and achievements and you promised to be part of our chapter's committee work; so, now it is time to
Get Involved!
Our committees offer the perfect opportunity to get to know your sister Dames, share your skills and to give back to the community through service. Every committee needs dedicated participants. Please contact the committee chairs and offer your time and skills, now.
2019-2020 Committee Chairs
Membership - Dames Who Dine:
Karen Lippold
dameswhodine@lesdamesdc.org
Membership - Engagement:
Carole Sugarman
Women in Gastronomy:
Laurie Bell
Eileen Dykes
Grants:
Jessica Botta
Scholarships:
Nona Nielsen-Parker
Green Tables:
Karen Vartan
Edee Hogan
Global Culinary Initiatives:
Amy Riolo
Public Relations:
Jill Collins
Development:
Annie Boutin King
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2019-2020
Julia Rutland
Financial Officer
Drew Faulkner
Communications Officer
Jill Collins
Directors
Olga Boikess
(Programs)
Karen Lippold
(Dames Who Dine)
Diane Neas
(Parliamentarian)
Karen Vartan
(Green Tables)
Alternate:
Carole Sugarman
(Member Engagement)
Janet Yu
(Past President)
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To view the latest approved board meeting minutes, go to www.lesdamesdc.org and
click on the Members Only tab and enter the password. Click on the dropdown menu for LDE-DC Board and you will see a link to the board meeting minutes. During each monthly board meeting, the board approves the previous month's minutes and they are then posted to our website.
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It is easy to find chapter documents and resources, our event archives and past editions of Entre News.
We now have a single password that all Dames must use to access the Members Only section of the website. The password is ldedc2014. Please do not share this password with anyone outside of the Chapter. We are revising the members only section but the password remains as above. See Stacey's President's Letter for more information.
If you are having trouble logging into the website please contact our Communications Officer at communications@lesdamesdc.org
Under Member Login, you will see a revised menu where you can find:
- past and current Entre News issues posted under the Entre News Archives tab.
- archives of past chapter activities in the LDE-DC Dame Only Events menu along with upcoming events.
- helpful files including chapter letterhead, name tag template, LDEI logos and tax-exempt certificates under Documents and Forms.
- our chapter's standing rules, bylaws and membership roster under Bylaws, Roster & Minutes.
- A roster of Dames that can be printed out.
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LDEI Quarterly Deadlines:
The deadline for sending in Member Milestones and Chapter News for the SPRING issue of the LDEI Quarterly is JANUARY 20. Our archived Quarterly magazines are available online. If you are not receiving hard copies of Quarterly, please check your online contact information at www.ldei.org If it is correct, please contact Greg Jewell info@ldei.org to make sure you are on the mailing list.
Quarterly Guidelines:
Photography/Images-Electronic images must be properly focused, in color with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi (TIFF or JPEG). Cell phone photos are acceptable if they meet resolution requirements. Do not send photos taken off the internet or embedded with text in Word files or PDF files. Identify individuals in photos from left to right in the message of your email. Include photo credits, if required. CAPTIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR PUBLICATION.
Member Milestones - Edited by Dorothy Koteski (Phil)
Share your professional news with Dames in all chapters in our LDEI Quarterly. Shout, don't whisper, about your accomplishments. We all want a chance to say "Brava!"
Submit Member Milestones by filling out the interactive form at: http://link.ldei.org/ldei-member-milestones. Any field marked with an asterisk (*) is required. Note that some forms have character limits due to space constraints. To submit a photo, reply "Yes" to "Would you like to submit a high resolution quality image?" Then click "Next". You will be taken to a second page where you can upload your images.
Be sure to click the SUBMIT button to upload your responses. You will receive an email confirmation that your submission was received. Press releases and cookbook covers are not accepted. Entries received after the deadline may appear in a following issue.
Please know that you can also email your information, if you prefer. The email addresses listed under the Submission Guidelines will always be active and will forward to the correct person.
Submit Chapter News by filling out the interactive form at: http://link.ldei.org/ldei-chapter-programs.To submit a photo, reply "Yes" to "Would you like to submit a high resolution quality image?" Then click "Next". You will be taken to a second page where you can upload your images. Be sure to click the SUBMIT button to upload your responses. You will receive an email confirmation that your submission was received.
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