President's Message Claudia Weber
August 2023
The long hot summer (also, a great movie) will be remembered especially in January when heating costs replace air conditioning bills. And unlike “up north” where I came from, the return to school is now upon us.
To remind us of the value of a Catholic school education, our July meeting included Shana Druffner, principal of the new St. Michael Academy in Nolensville. She is energizing and inspiring and there are more specifics about her presentation on this website.
I am reaching out to each development director and principal of our current high schools (Pope Prep, Fr. Ryan, and St. Cecilia) to get updated information on our scholars and to advise them on our efforts to increase the Aurelia Varallo Mariani scholarship fund.
As always, I need help in contacting parishes for their participation in our events.
I look forward to our next board meeting on August 4 in which we will firm up our event materials and preparations with Lauren Barca and Courtney Conklin assemble the October 6 Pearls of Wisdom evening event at Richland Country Club.
To volunteer your own treasure and time contact:
If you have other business to add to our agenda, contact me directly.
On Wednesday, August 23, 5-7 p.m., Kendra Scott Jewelry in the Hill Center of Green Hills, invites our members and their friends and family to shop and support our League. Something to add to our cocktail attire in October?
Special thanks to members Darcy Bomer and daughter Devri for hosting members and friends on the afternoon of July 30 to share their Cute and Comfy Shoes & Apparel (tax free) profits with us!
Please join us on August 16 when we host Tasha Kennard of Thistle Farms back at Coco’s Italian Market Patio-she will bringing items for purchase from the hard-working talented hands of the residents there.
Meantime, stay cool and RSVP!
Respectfully,
Claudia Weber
NCBWL President 2023-25
July 2023
Summertime! What are your favorite memories and what are your current plans to make more?
My dad was born on the 4th of July so that meant that there would always be red (strawberries),
white (cake and icing) and blue (blueberries) for dessert.
Such a blessing to have parents who enjoyed their children and made the most of “time off” from school.
Our June meeting was fully attended by guests and members who heard about the work of Nurture the
Next, reminding us of how hard the work of parenting can be for families with little or no support.
Thanks to all who brought diapers, baby clothes and other items to the meeting. Melanie Scott talked about
how the home visitors use positive reinforcement to what parents are already doing well.
Our League routinely includes a link on our website to encourage direct donations for the non-profits represented by our speakers. So, if you didn’t get to attend, visit their link.
At our next gathering on July 19, Shana Druffner the first principal of St. Michael Academy will introduce herself and her own journey as an educator and leader. Shana knows about our League’s fund-raising efforts and that St. Michael already has some “seed money” set aside from our Pearls of Wisdom efforts.
Lauren Barca and Courtney Conklin are steadily working to assemble the October 6 Pearls of Wisdom evening event at Richland Country Club.
To volunteer your own treasure and time contact:
lauren.barca@gmail.com or ellece@yahoo.com.
In the meantime, we have two other fundraising opportunities this summer in which a percentage of sales will go to our League:
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Sunday, July 30 1pm-4pm Cute and Comfy Shoes and Apparel (thanks to owner and member Darcy Bomer).
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Wednesday, August 23 5-7pm Kendra Scott Jewelry (thanks to Courtney and Lauren’s outreach).
Light refreshments will be offered at each event and freely invite friends and family to shop and support our League.
Thanks again for recent membership renewals, timely meeting RSVP’S and for taking a “pledge” at the last meeting to contact your own parishes to promote NCBWL.
Here is a handout for your own use as a current member.
Respectfully,
Claudia Weber
NCBWL President 2023-25
June 2023
By now, graduations have taken place with much to celebrate in our own families and for those we
support and applaud.
Our League congratulated and sent cards to our senior scholars:
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Mia Picchietti, Pope John Paul II High School
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Naomi Mejia, St. Cecilia Academy
Wishing them well as they take their next educational steps. In speaking to representatives at both schools,
I heard a lot of enthusiastic comments about both graduates.
Our May meeting is detailed in the minutes (see Member Portal) and was a rousing success supporting Habitat for Humanity’s upcoming Women’s Build this month in Lebanon, TN.
On June 21, we will hear from Melanie Scott from Nurture the Next, a local maternal/infant program with a mission “to see all children in Tennessee thriving in safe, stable and nurturing families and communities.” A tall order, but with success stories to share. Please bring diapers and/or new infant/toddler items. We would like to “shower” this program.
On July 19, we host Shana Druffner, J.D., M.S., the first principal of St. Michael Academy (which will eventually be our fourth Catholic High School for scholarship support). She will give us a wish list of most needed teacher supplies.
We continue to meet at Coco’s Italian Market on 51st/Charlotte Ave., a Catholic-owned family business with friendly service and wonderful food.
Lauren Barca and Courtney Conklin will be recruiting a “squad” to help them with the October 6 Pearls of Wisdom evening event at Richland Country Club. Summer is upon us with travel and time off, but I am already reaching out to potential table and program sponsors.
A successful fundraiser with lots of attendees offers us great fun and the funding needed to keep up the good work of cheering on more graduates!
Thanks again to all who have responded in a timely manner to membership renewals and meeting RSVP’S and especially to those who bring a friend!
Also, if your business or parish event needs a boost, please send brief announcements to Communications Chair Patricia M. Smith patriciam@hervoiceworks.com. Patricia will also coordinate with Kelley Colopietro for social media messages.
Respectfully,
Claudia Weber
NCBWL President 2023
May 2023
There is so much to be grateful for as Spring and Summer begs us to get outside and BREATHE. May is Mary’s month and always reminds me of the garden flowers we added to our church and school altars. I imagined that she could smell the lilacs and see our dresses!
I am humbled by your votes of confidence as I try to follow in the footsteps of Lynne and our past presidents. The new board is enthusiastic about the planning that comes with leadership.
Thanks to Sandra, Karoline, Trish, Patricia, Kelley, Mary, Connie, Ellen, Courtney, Lauren, Tricia, Jennie, and Carol Ann for meeting on May 4th at our first board meeting.
Every new board welcomes members’ suggestions and offers of help; we are generally rookies in our positions so the more the better. Please send your suggestions to claudiaweber1946@gmail.com.
We will keep our 3rd Wednesday meeting schedule but can investigate other venues, especially if we keep growing!
There is much to plan and do during the next two years and on May 17, we will hear from Habitat for Humanity and the leaders of the Women’s Build planned for June in Mt. Juliet.
We will continue to hold most meetings at Coco’s Italian Market on 51st/Charlotte. On June 21, we will hear from Nurture the Next, a maternal/infant program that needs support and attention. In July we have the honor of hearing from Shana Druffner, principal of St. Michael's Academy in Nolensville. You can read more about the new school here.
Overall, we will point toward our annual Aurelia Varallo Mariani Memorial Scholarship fundraiser to promote Catholic high school education for girls.
The Pearls of Wisdom evening event will be October 6 at the Richland Country Club and it’s never too early to seek more donors and sponsors. Our goal of supporting Catholic education is commendable and we will advertise our events in the Tennessee Register.
Expanding membership, especially in parishes that do not have a NCBWL member, is an ongoing goal. I intend to help our new membership chair in identifying parishes with low or no membership.
Our improved website including PayPal for fees and donations will make the Treasurer and Membership jobs smoother and eventually paperless.
Thanks to all who have responded to membership renewals and meeting RSVPs.
Our April meeting had a terrific attendance - let’s keep it UP!
Respectfully,
Claudia Weber
NCBWL President 2023