President’s Message
Dear Fellow Treasure Coast Smithies,
First, I would like to thank Janet Duchaine ‘73 for leading our club for the last four years. Janet did a wonderful job with the help of the board to organize events in the community and our annual cocktail party and meeting. What many of you may not know is that Janet is an excellent chef and prepared most of the food for our get-togethers, allowing us to donate additional monies to the Smith Scholarship fund. Clearly a difficult act to follow, but I will give it a try!
Our other Board members are listed below; please feel free to reach out to any of us with suggestions.
We have an exciting season of events planned in which we hope you will be able to participate. Our November get-together will be an on-site visit to the Alzheimer and Parkinson Association at 2300 5th Ave., #150, in Vero Beach on November 13th at 10:30 am. Barbie McKelvey, our Community Relations coordinator, writes, “Many of us are dealing with Alzheimers or Parkinsons either in our own family or circle of friends. Vero Beach has a wonderful resource to provide support and education for patients, families, and the public.” To join us for the tour and talk, contact Barbie McKelvey as soon as possible at barbmckelvey@gmail.com or 203 536-9529 to reserve a place. If you are interested in lunch, we will meet at River Twist at 717 17th St. following the tour.
In 2025 we are working on a joint event with Amherst College alums in January or February; counting on the ever-popular Vero Beach Museum of Art docent tour and tailgate soon after the opening on Feb. 1 of “French Moderns: Monet to Matisse;” planning the annual cocktail party on an evening in the latter half of February; expecting a visit from the Smith College Director of Athletics, two coaches, and the College Softball team in March; and arranging the annual meeting/luncheon and speaker in early April. Additional information will be forthcoming as the season unfolds. I look forward to seeing you soon.
Heidi Hild Sommers
Treasure Coast Smith Club President
Directory updates (name, street addresses, email address, telephone numbers) should be submitted to Becky McManus at mcmanus.becky@gmail.com. Please help keep us up to date with any changes, so we know where to reach you.
Dues for the 2024-2025 season are due and payable at this time. For $30, you help defray administrative costs, receive the updated Directory (every other year), and gain entrée to the Annual Meeting/Luncheon held in the spring. The Annual Meeting is open only to dues-paying members because it is then that we vote for the new Board and the amount of our donation to a college scholarship.
The Smith Club Scholarship Fund is the principal funding source for our scholarship account at the College. Each year the recipient is a local (Florida) scholar. This year’s recipient is Amelie Kurlander, Class of 2027, from Deland, FL, who is majoring in history. When asked about a course that captured her attention, she wrote, “‘Reacting to the Past’ has been my standout course. The professor cares about all his students and is very passionate about history. In [the course] we have had plays on marriage, debates on biblical creed, and practiced the fox trot…it definitely pushes the envelope.” She wants to study abroad in Geneva or Copenhagen, frequently goes to random clubs like Japanese or Illustration Club, and loves the trail behind the Pond where “the river is serene,” as well as the Botanical Garden where she can sit and call her parents or friends. At the end she added, “Thank you!! It is wonderful individuals like you that help make it possible for those of poorer backgrounds to still have a prestigious education…One day I wish to follow in your footsteps and support other Smithies.” Let’s keep making these opportunities possible.
Payment: Annual dues and donations to the Scholarship Fund for the 2024-2025 season are due now and can be mailed to our treasurer Cynthia LaMothe at 1080 Reef Road, #207, Vero Beach, FL 32963. Make sure your name is on the check so you can be properly credited. OR, if you prefer, you can use Zelle to make your payment. The recipient is Smith College Club of the Treasure Coast and clamothe@verizon.net is the email to use. The first 20 members to pay either way will receive an “early bird” reward. If you choose to wait, a mailing will be sent at the end of October including a form and return envelope for dues and donation.