On April 27th our regular monthly meeting was held at the beautiful Stony Ford Clubhouse at Orange County Park on Rt 416, Montgomery, NY. The evening was started off with a 5:30 to 6:30 cocktail hour featuring a lovely Antipasto, cash bar  and the beautiful veranda view of the golf course, which was enjoyed by members on the warm spring evening. Dinner was buffet style and included items such as a Tossed Green Salad, Chicken Piccata, Sliced Beef w/ Jack Daniel Sauce, Eggplant Rolatini, Penne a la Vodka, Roasted Red Potatoes, and Green Beans Almondine. Dessert of Vanilla Pudding with Berries and Coffee followed. It was a great setting for our meeting and a GREAT meal.     Our president, Carol Cullen called our club to order at 6:30pm and Angie Spears led our club in the Pledge of Allegiance as well as our prayer.     
     Our club business for the night included reports from various committees including a report from our correspondence secretary Mariann Badalucco that a letter from ORMC had been received thanking the club for our gift of $1,000. And the Goshen Chamber of Commerce has thanked us for our continued membership in their organization.
     Our Friendship Committee Chairperson, Ann Roche was unable to attend this meeting due to her mom passing. Betty Lobb has volunteered to send Ann a card.     Picnic committee reported that "all is well" and final plans for the August 24th event will be revealed soon. Scholarship committee revealed that they have received 23 applications from Goshen Central High School and will be doing some preliminary sorting before getting down to actual interviews of the candidates.  Web report was that to date we have received 1,315 hits on the website.
     The winner for our 50/50 this month was Cathy Turner ($20.00) and the fresh flower decoration was won by Mariann Badalucco. 100 Club winners were: $25.00 each to Lou Ann Rysinger, Carrie Reynolds, George Reynolds, and Jennifer Cullen.      Topics for discussion this evening included Great American Weekend on July 2nd and 3rd, to take place on the church green in Goshen. Kathy Dembek made a motion which was seconded by Jeanette Carbone-Marsh, to participate in this event, and it was passed. The GAW Committee  mentioned that the focus for the event will be to distribute information about our club and create good public/community relations. Additionally they plan to raffle an I-Pad donated by Bill Cullen. Attention getting ideas such as gourmet lollipops were discussed and the committee will return with their ideas. Space for the club will cost $175.00. Lisa Beers will provide a pop-up tent for our use and Jeanette Carbone-Marsh will provide a table. Thanks Ladies! Members can expect to see sign-up sheets at the next meeting. In conjunction with this discussion, it was mentioned by Dawn Santos that our club needs a new banner. Jeanette will look into getting us some facts and figures on this from a company she has dealings with and report back next month.    A reminder that committees have been asked for a written summary of their committee jobs including any expenses. The proposed change to the by-laws known as Life Time Membership was discussed and a few questions were answered. Voting on this will take place in accordance with our laws at the next meeting.
       New business this month was a report that club members Carol, Jeanette, Ellen, and Flo were all in attendance at the ORMC Recognition Reception on April 14th at the Fountains Restaurant at the Wallkill County Club. It was a great affair with wonderful food and short speeches.  Additionally, St. James Episcopal Church has asked our club to lend our support to their restoration by placing an ad in the Tour of Goshen Garden Journal. Dawn Santos made a motion to participate by placing a $50.00 ad in the journal to show our support. The motion was seconded by Rebekah Rochelle and was passed unanimously. Carol will make and place the ad. Tickets and more information about this event is available by contacting Lynn Riccardulli at (845)294-3625. or by clicking here.
     As a last order of business tonight, Margaret Beers read into the record the Slate of Officers for 2011-2013. They were voted on and accepted.         President:               Carol Cullen                                 Vice-President:        Rebekah Rochelle Recording Secretary:                Mariann Badalucco Corresp. Secretary:                Dot Wierzbicki Treasurer:                Susan Wierzbicki Asst. Treasurer:                Dawn Santos
Sergeant-at-arms:    Jeanette Carbone-Marsh                                               Ann Roche
Chaplin:                    Angie Speirs
     The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

September 28th,2010
Women's Networking Luncheon

           Hosted by the Goshen Chamber of Commerce at the Holiday Inn Express located on 2 Bryle Place, Chester, New York  10918, this first time chamber event was well attended by over 50 local business and professional women, Chamber members and their guests. The Luncheon was catered by Sara Harrington of Howell’s Café. Inside, the beautifully appointed great room, tables were filled to capacity with women who came to share lunch and network with each other. The menu included mixed fruit, roasted vegetables, pasta salad and a large variety of wraps. Egg salad, tuna salad, roast beef, turkey, and vegetable wraps to name a few. Coffee and tea was served along side an outstanding assortment of bakery goods provided by Janet Picarelli of Janet’s Quality Baked Goods and a delicious fruit arrangement provided by Judy Annuziata from Editable Arrangements

          Lynn Cione, director of the Goshen Chamber of Commerce, spoke to the group informing them of the many upcoming Chamber events.   Events including next month’s chamber breakfast to take place October 20th with speaker Ed Diana, County Executive of Orange County, NY.,   to be held at Dana Distributors located at 52 Hatfield Lane, Goshen, NY. Mr. Diana will speak on the subject of a new county building. In addition, Lynn gave information on the upcoming Chamber Annual Dinner Dance Gala to be held on November 5th at  The Gardens on Catlin Creek, Slate Hill, NY, honoring outstanding achievement by local citizens, businesses and organizations. The hint of a mixer  to take place in January was mentioned and Lynn reminded the group that the famer's market is winding down with only a few opportunities for people to take advantage of the wide variety of treats found there.  She also made a shout out to Four Square and those people who use it can collect a badge when they check in. (Proof of check in will get you a free apple.) Lynn moved on to door prizes which over flowed the room and much excitement was generated when the drawings took place.  

          Jan Pierce, representing the Holiday Inn Express, spoke to the group about services and accommodations available at this location. The great room, where this event took place, is a perfect place to have meetings and parties. In addition, Holiday Inn Express has teamed up with local caterers to provide catering services  if needed, and (of course) room rentals are available. Be sure to ask for special rates and don’t forget to mention that you are a Goshen Chamber Member.

          Guest speaker Carol Cullen, the Vice-president of Business and Professional Women of Goshen, spoke on the theme of the day “Networking”. What exactly is networking and what can it do for us, as businesses women, professionals and individuals. Carol explained to the group that while networking seems to be a new word, in reality women have been networking for years and through networking many great things have been accomplished. She went on speaking to the group about the BPW and the multitude of good works this not for profit organization has been able to accomplish, right here in Goshen, through networking. Fund raising efforts by BPW have helped the local community with donations in support of  organizations such as the Ray Moody Breast Center, Arden Hill Hospital, and GOVAC. BPW helps the community by helping the individuals in it with yearly higher education scholarships, with a literacy program aimed at children, and with donations to area hospitals and nursing homes as well as, support for other local organizations. The women of  BPW are proud to network with other local not for profit organizations such as the Lions Club in their project to restock the Goshen Food Pantry. In conclusion, Carol thanked Lynn for the opportunity to spread the word about BPW and she gave an invitation to the women at the luncheon to visit the BPW website and consider joining the 40 strong women of BPW. www.BPWofGoshenNY.com