Lifelong Friendships develop through CFUW Interest Groups
As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, it is a welcome opportunity to look back and see what has attracted our CFUW members over the years.
While the creation of the Sherbrooke and District club in 1968 was motivated by a desire to support women’s access to higher education, a mission that continues today, the involvement of members in various interest groups has allowed friendships to blossom beyond CFUW. Some of these friendships have now lasted over decades. They include spouses and children and involve trips together not just around the Eastern Townships, Quebec and Canada, but in some cases all over the world. The involvement with CFUW has thus created lifelong bonds.
New members, whether new to the area or returning to their roots in the Eastern Townships, will easily find a connection through mutual interests and thus are able to establish new friendships quickly.
These interest groups have evolved and changed over time and currently include Bridge, Dining out, Fun with Cooking, Art, Grandmothers to Grandmothers, Travel, Walking, as well as 2 Book Clubs in Lennoxville and Ayer’s Cliff.
The collection of pennies, now loonies and toonies, has contributed to the community donations made on behalf of the club and interest groups over the past 50 years. Over 30 local organizations are beneficiaries of the regular collections from CFUW Sherbrooke and District. The current total is $2500 annually dispersed to several community groups.
Our “Dining Out” Group has tremendous fun exploring all corners of the Eastern Townships testing new dining establishments during lunch or dinner and sharing their experiences with their members. Their review of restaurants is published in the Townships Sun.
“Fun with Cooking” involves trying out new cooking ideas, taking lessons from a pro or just enjoying delicious food under a theme while costs are shared by all. The group contributes to a local charity such as school lunch programs.
The art group is for anyone interested in exploring the world of art. Members organize joint visits to local and national exhibits as far away as Quebec City, Ottawa and Montreal.
“Grandmothers to Grandmothers” raise funds to contribute to the Stephen Lewis foundation which supports grandmothers in Africa who support their grandchildren as sole caregivers due to AIDS. Money is raised through sales of handicrafts, an annual used clothing sale, annual tea and more.
Our newly formed “Travel Group” shares ideas on websites, travel and medical insurance, bookings and destinations, and organizes short and long distance trips. Recent destinations were an Alaskan cruise and a two-night stay in the Thousand Islands.
The bridge club meets every Thursday afternoon, working hard to increase their bridge skills to possibly win the Trophy award at their Christmas get together. This group also contributes regularly to worthy local causes.
The walking group loves exploring new walking trails all around the Eastern Townships and depending on the time of year, will venture as far as Sutton, Newport, Coaticook and Kingsey Falls. A walking calendar with detailed information on trails and pictures was published for 2011.While the walks are easy to intermediate and usually not more than 1 hours, the calories burnt are quickly made up by enjoying a light lunch at a lovely local restaurant following the walk. These walks are every other Thursday at 10 a.m. Carpooling is encouraged and members take turns in leading the various walks.
The two book clubs, “Book Club” in Lennoxville and the ”New Leaf Reading Group” in Ayer’s Cliff, are organized separately. Both clubs meet once a month at members’ homes where the host presents the book and all discuss and evaluate the book, author and its history. The choice of books for the coming year is planned in June. While the Lennoxville group meets from September to June, the New Leaf Reading Group meets throughout the year, skipping the months of February and March. Both Groups donate to local libraries at the end of the season. The choice of books is varied and can range from self-help books and biographies to local and international authors of fiction, historical fiction, mystery, satire and the classics. The discussions are vibrant, interesting and thought provoking at all times.
CFUW Sherbrooke and District welcomes all women in their membership, it is not necessary to have a degree or diploma.
For more information on the various interest groups you may contact the coordinators Judy Wilson Herring at 819842-3297 or Allison Connelly at 819-565-8355
This is the sixth article in a series about CFUW Sherbrooke & District, celebrating 50 years in 2018. Its vision is to be a dynamic club for all women in the Eastern Townships engaged in our community by promoting education and lifelong learning in a gender-equal society. To learn more about CFUW Sherbrooke and District, please contact cfuwsherbrooke@gmail.com. Plan to attend our Summer Market on August 24 & 25.