Monday Programs for the 2025-2026 Season will be held at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture (VMHC), 428 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd, Richmond, VA 23220. For event locations, see details on the event’s page.
Please note: Special Events require registration, which can be accessed through our website. Programs are complementary.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2025 – Special Event: Tour
A Closer Look at Maggie L. Walker
11:00 am – 1:30 pm | Chair: Rebecca Hickman
Join us for a private tour of Maggie L. Walker’s home in Jackson Ward to gain a more personal understanding of this remarkable woman. Walker was a bank president, newspaper editor and fraternal leader. Her vision and courage continue to be an inspiration for women today. After the tour, enjoy lunch at Mama J’s.
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MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2025 – Special Event: Luncheon
Members Luncheon
12:00 – 2:00 pm | Chair: Patricia W. Hackler
Experience one of the many valued benefits of membership by attending a luncheon at the Commonwealth Club. Come with a friend or join a table with other TWC members. The luncheon is an excellent opportunity to renew friendships or make new ones within the community. Together we will prepare for a wonderful season of programs that starts on October 13 at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture. The fee includes lunch and a non-alcoholic drink. Payment for the luncheon is due with your reservation. Additional charges must be paid to the Commonwealth Club directly.
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2025 – Special Event: Tour
Tour of the Library of Virginia
10:00 – 11:30 am | Chair: Terry Long
Do you have an interest in historical research and genealogy? This guided tour of the Library of Virginia, a premier research center for history and genealogy, will begin with a film followed by a tour of the Library, archives and the current exhibition on Jackson Ward. Limited to 25 members, you will have plenty of opportunity to ask questions of the staff. Those who can stay can have a Dutch treat lunch at Whisk, the Library’s new Café.
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MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2025 – Program: Louis Masur
A Journey North: Jefferson, Madison and the Forging of a Friendship
2:00 – 3:00 pm | Chair: Robin Hurst
Between May 21 and June 6, 1791, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison took a trip together on horseback through upstate New York and parts of New England. This “northern journey” came at a moment of tension for the new nation, in whose founding these Virginians and political allies had played key roles. The Constitution was ratified, and President George Washington was in his first term of office. Whether the country could overcome regional and political differences and remain unified, however, was still very much in question. Hence, some observers at the time wondered whether this excursion into Federalist New England by the two most prominent Southern Democratic-Republicans, both future presidents, had an ulterior motive. Award-winning historian Louis Masur, Distinguished Professor of American History and Studies at Rutgers University, will discuss this journey as detailed in his new book, A Journey North: Jefferson, Madison and the
Forging of a Friendship. Jefferson declared at the end of his life that his 50-year friendship with Madison had been a “source of constant happiness” to him.
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MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2025 – Program: Ben Pentreath
An English Vision: Traditional Architecture and Decoration for Today
2:00 – 3:00 pm | Chair: E. Preston Lee
For more than 20 years, Ben Pentreath has championed exceptional English design, creating homes, interiors and town developments that are at once traditional and distinctively modern, timeless and boldly contemporary. An award-winning classical architectural designer and decorator whose impressive client list includes King Charles III, he and his eponymous studio have established a powerful reputation for commercial projects with an abiding sense of history and place. His interiors sing with color and texture, and his residences replace fussy excess with a light, effortless sense of comfort and harmony. Join us as Pentreath walks us through the stunning variety of projects featured in his latest book, An English Vision. More than anything, the projects featured reflect his refined yet playful style, which integrates history, tradition, the different rhythms of time, and the personal tastes of his clients.
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MONDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2025 – Program: Geraldine Brooks
The Chrisman Family Foundation Speaker
The Art of the Historical Novel: Making Fiction from Fact
2:00 – 3:00 pm | Chair: Sabet Stroman
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks masterfully blends historical research with compelling storytelling, bringing the past to life in her acclaimed novels. In this engaging program, she explores the delicate balance between fact and fiction, sharing her process for transforming real events, historical figures and archival discoveries into immersive narratives. Brooks will discuss the ethical and creative challenges of reimagining history, the role of research in shaping character and plot, and how historical fiction can offer fresh perspectives on the present. Drawing from her bestselling works, including March, People of the Book and Horse, she provides insight into how writers craft authentic, emotionally resonant stories from historical sources.
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CLASS SERIES: BEGINS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2025 – Special Event: Art Instruction
Watercolor Class series: Holiday Cards
Dates: October 29, November 5, November 12 and November 19
10:00 – 12:30 pm | Chair: Maggie Delonay
Get to know your inner creative side through the instruction of Richmond Artist, Susan Singer. She will help you get over the feeling of intimidation that learning a new skill as an adult can bring. In this series of classes, you will be creating watercolors on card stock. Themes will be centered on the Fall/Winter Holiday Season. Supplies are an additional $15, to be paid on the first day of class.
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2026 – Foundation Gala
Hard Hats and High Heels
6:00 – 8:30 pm at the Bolling Haxall House | Co-Chairs: Pattie Sutton and Cathy Tullidge
Kick Up Your Heels!
Enjoy a benefit for the Bolling Haxall House where legacy lives and elegance thrives. Wear your favorite pair of shoes, sandals, heels or flats! It is out with the old, in with the new as we celebrate the much-anticipated auditorium renovation. Catering provided by Champagne Taste, featuring music from DJ Charles from Renown Sound, Sillyshotz Photobooth, and LIVE AUCTION!
Sponsorships available at various levels and include admission to the event. Information found on the registration page. All Sponsors will be recognized on promotional materials and a portion of your sponsorship is tax-deductible.
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2025 – Program: Dr. Brian Carpenter
The Art of Aging
2:00 – 3:00 pm | Chair: Priscilla L. Cash
No matter how old you are, you are aging. You started aging from the moment you were born, and you will continue aging until the moment you die. That is the brutal, universal fact. But people age differently, as you have noticed if you have looked around and compared yourself to your peers. We have all heard about the placebo effect; the way we think about ourselves and the world around us dramatically impacts our health, how fast or slowly we age, and even how long we live. In fact, people with a positive mindset about aging live on average 7.5 years longer than those without. That might sound alarming to those of us who struggle to see the bright side, but the good news: We can make surprisingly simple changes or small shifts that will really pay off. Brian Carpenter, Ph.D., professor of psychology at Washington University, will break down the science of thought and will show how our mindset—or thought pattern—exerts a substantial influence on physical health. Most importantly, he will also provide specific strategies to use that will improve the quality and length of our lives.
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2025 – Program: Kathleen Biggins
The C-Change Climate Primer: A Non-Partisan Multimedia Program on the Science of Climate Change
2:00 – 3:00 pm | Chair: Lisa P. Kunz
Kathleen Biggins, the founder and president of C-Change Conversations, discusses climate change in a way that underscores the urgency of the issue without inflaming partisan passions. By framing it not as a political issue, but as a human one, she emphasizes the science and risks of climate change. Developed in consultation with scientists, business leaders and public policy experts, this program will provide a rational, nothing-but-the-facts explanation of the impact that climate change is having on our health, economy and global security.
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2025 – Special Event: Craft Instruction
Make Your Own Holiday Wreath
3:00 – 5:00 pm | Chair: Robin Hurst
Add a personal touch to your holiday decor by creating your own wreath. Join fellow club members for guided step-by-step instruction through the process to make the perfect wreath unique to you. All supplies will be provided, including wreath form, wire, greenery, decorative items and ribbon for your bows. If you have special items you would like to include in your wreath, please bring them. Beverages and snacks will be provided.
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2025 – Program: Julie Satow
When Women Ran Fifth Avenue: Glamour and Power of the Dawn of American Fashion
2:00 – 3:00 pm | Chair: Cabell G. West
The American department store was a palace of consumption that epitomized modern consumerism. Every wish could be met under one roof: afternoon tea, a stroll through the latest fashions, a wedding (or funeral) planned. It was a place where women, shopper and shopgirl alike, could stake out a newfound independence. Whether in New York or Chicago or on Main Street, USA, men owned the buildings; but inside, women ruled. In her book When Women Ran Fifth Avenue: Glamour and Power of the Dawn of American Fashion, award-winning journalist Julie Satow draws back the curtain on three American women who made 20th century department stores a mecca for women of every age, social class and ambition. This stylish account, rich with personal drama and trade secrets, captures the department store in all its glitz, decadence and fun—and showcases the women who made that beautifully curated world.
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2025 – Program: David Ignatius
Cybergeddon: Fact, Fiction and the Future of Warfare
2:00 – 3:00 pm | Chair: Patricia W. Hackler
As a new age of warfare dawns, with artificial intelligence and other forms of high-tech conflict as the primary mode of combat, it is easy to miss this inflection point: Foreign adversaries have repeatedly conspired to undermine the American political system. The U.S. has responded, after several false starts, with an overt effort against a covert enemy. As the Pentagon continues to play catch-up in a rapidly evolving battlefield, it must also learn how to work with Silicon Valley and the global tech giants who pay fealty to no single state. According to David Ignatius, Washington Post foreign affairs columnist and author of 10 spy novels, now that the battle has been joined, the world we live in will be a contested information space with no clear enemy, target or goal. Drawing from his coverage of the global charge toward technological dominance, Ignatius presents a sophisticated game of cat-and-mouse where the winners own the future of warfare and security, and the losers forfeit everything, including privacy and economic stability. With his wide-ranging knowledge of the CIA, national security and policy, Ignatius delivers an in-depth account of what’s at stake and proposes possible outcomes and solutions. As Ignatius wrote in his thriller, The Quantum Spy, “In a world where everything is written in zeroes and ones, nothing can be trusted.”
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MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2025 – Members Event
Holiday Reception
1:00 – 3:00 pm | Chair: Kay Holmes
Celebrate the beginning of the holiday season with our traditional Holiday Reception at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture (VMHC). Enjoy the delicious treats and special time together. The afternoon will include a special display of The Woman’s Club archives that are housed at VMHC. What a fun way to kick off the season with your Woman’s Club friends!
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MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2026 – Program: Liza Mundy
The Secret History of Women at the CIA
2:00 – 3:00 pm | Chair: Karen K. Berson
Liza Mundy, the acclaimed author of Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II returns to the Club with a revelatory history of three generations at the CIA—the women who fought to become operatives, transformed spy craft and tracked down Osama Bin Laden. Propelled by the same meticulous reporting and vivid storytelling that infused Code Girls, Mundy offers a riveting new perspective on history in her book The Sisterhood: The Secret History of Women at the CIA, revealing how women at the CIA ushered in the modern intelligence age, and how their silencing made the world more dangerous. Created in the aftermath of World War II, the Central Intelligence Agency relied on women even as it attempted to channel their talents and keep them suppressed. Women sent cables, made dead drops and maintained the agency’s secrets. Despite discrimination—even because of it—women who started as clerks, secretaries or unpaid spouses rose to become some of the CIA’s shrewdest operatives.
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2026 – Special Event: Tour
The Virginia Holocaust Museum
10:30 am – 12:30 pm | Chair: Rebecca Hickman
Join us for a private tour of the Virginia Holocaust Museum at Tobacco Row. By examining the historical record of the Holocaust of the 20th century, the tour will give us a deeper understanding of the dangers of hate, prejudice and indifference. This remarkable museum, founded in 1997 by Mark Fetter, Jay Ipson and Al Rosenbaum, is dedicated to remembrance, preservation and education by narrating the complex and sobering history of this terrifying period.
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MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 2026 – Program: Dr. Melvin Patrick Ely
Black-White Relationships in Antebellum Virginia: A Fascinating Look
2:00 – 3:00 pm | Chair: Ann T. Burks
Since 1619 when slaves were first brought over, Virginia has been witness to America’s longest social experiment in Black and white relationship dynamics. Dr. Melvin Patrick Ely will discuss how, beyond the typical master-slave narrative, people of different races interacted in daily life through shared religion, folkways, and even criminal activities, challenging traditional assumptions about the era. Discover new insights into the intricate social dynamics of life on small properties and the shared human experiences that existed alongside the brutality of slavery. Dr. Ely holds masters and doctoral degrees in history from Princeton University and is currently the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Humanities at William & Mary. A Richmond native, he is author of Israel on the Appomattox and the forthcoming A Terrible Intimacy.
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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2026 – Special Event: Panel Discussion
Let’s Talk Politics with Jim Bacon and Bob Lewis
11:45 am – 2:00 pm | Chair: Courtney Hyers
Though The Woman’s Club embraces many viewpoints, many members share one passion: talking politics. Treat yourself to informed and honest conversation on today’s political climate with Jim Bacon, journalist and creator of the blog Bacon’s Rebellion and Bob Lewis, long-time reporter for the Associated Press covering Virginia politics and government and currently a contributing columnist to the Virginia Mercury. Member Pam Stallsmith, former editorial page editor of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, will moderate the discussion. All of today’s problems might not be solved, but we will experience the “delightful friction” of our members’ “well-trained minds.”
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MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2026 – Program: Jayme Swain
Making a Difference in Our Community: VPM, Virginia’s Home for Public Media
2:00 – 3:00 pm | Chair: Pamela P. Stallsmith
VPM is playing an increasingly important role in communities across the Commonwealth. As our local public media organization, it is strengthening its newsroom to provide trusted local and regional news coverage; producing more arts and culture content, including the purchase of Style Weekly; and supporting families with resources to improve learning outcomes for our youngest children. VPM President and CEO Jayme Swain will share more about the organization’s impact and give a sneak peek into VPM’s new headquarters in downtown Richmond, which is slated to open in 2026.
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2026 – Program: Col. Stephen T. Ganyard
The New World Order
2:00 – 3:00 pm | Chair: Donna S. Colan
Global affairs are constantly changing. What are the most pressing issues and what are their implications? Who is up, who is down? Where are the worrisome trends and why? Where are the positive trends and why? Col. Stephen T. Ganyard, retired from the U.S. Marine Corps, is uniquely qualified to explore these questions, whether from an economic, diplomatic, military or social perspective. In his role as deputy assistant secretary for plans, programs and operations in the Bureau of Political Military Affairs with the U.S. Department of State, he was responsible for international planning, policy and analysis. A decorated combat veteran, he has also served for more than twelve years as an on-air contributor for ABC News.
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2026 – Program: Ken Farmer
On the Road with Ken Farmer: Highlights from a Collector’s Life
2:00 – 3:00 pm | Chair: Susan D. Rockwell
Ken Farmer, an appraiser on PBS for over 20 years, conducts a live appraisal for our Club members. He has appeared on the popular PBS series Antiques Roadshow since its inception in 1996 as a specialist in folk art, furniture, decorative arts and musical instruments. Farmer will share highlights from 50 years of experience with antiques, give tips for collecting and downsizing, and tell the story of his greatest find: a rare copy of the U.S. Constitution. After the lecture, as seen on the television show, he will evaluate pre-selected objects or items from members, revealing the details and value of these items. Live appraisals will be limited to a total of 15 items.
If you can join us on that date and would like a live appraisal, please email photos, dimensions and any additional details of your object to Farmer’s assistant, Lizzie Oglesby, at , no later than Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. Oglesby will let you know via email by Feb. 2 if your treasure has been selected for the live appraisal. Disclaimer: This will be a verbal appraisal subject to what is known or assumed about the object at that time, with no guarantees of authenticity or value.
PLEASE NOTE: Farmer does not appraise coins or currency. If you intend to submit jewelry or any bejeweled objects, he requires a previous appraisal, preferably with a gemologist’s report. He will consult with his expert colleagues ahead of time on categories such as Asian objects, antiquities, militaria and other specialties.
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2026 – Program: Kelly O’Keefe and Matt Williams
The Power of Authentic Branding
2:00 – 3:00 pm | Chair: Frazier M. Armstrong
The Brand Federation’s founding partner Kelly O’Keefe and managing partner and chief growth officer Matt Williams will explore why branding has become a central topic of conversation today. They will break down the key factors that shape brand perception and examine the critical link between branding and purpose. Through real-world examples from their work at Brand Federation, O’Keefe and Williams will illustrate how the strongest brands align their core values with company culture, customer experience and marketing communications. Along the way, they will share insights that businesses and nonprofits alike can apply to build more authentic, impactful brands.
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2026 – Program: Dr. J. Kim Penberthy
Can We Connect with the Departed? Studies of After-Death Communications at the University of Virginia
2:00 – 3:00 pm | Chair: Linda C. Chance
Approximately one in three people report an after-death communication (ADC) at some point in their lives, typically within a year of the death of a loved one. It is the phenomenon of a living person experiencing perceived spontaneous contact with a deceased individual, often interpreted as a message or sign from the departed. It takes various forms such as seeing, hearing, feeling or sensing their presence. Essentially, it is a belief that a deceased loved one is communicating after death. These experiences occur in cultures worldwide, according to research by the Division of Perceptual Studies at the University of Virginia. Dr. Kim Penberthy, professor of research in Psychiatric Medicine at UVA, will present her studies, as well as the research of others, on the impact of ADCs on human belief systems, fears, spirituality and grieving. The UVA Division of Perceptual Studies is a privately funded “research group devoted to rigorous evaluation of empirical evidence for extraordinary human experiences and capabilities.”
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2026 – Special Event: Book Discussion
Book Discussion with Lyndee Walker
12:00 – 1:30 pm | Chair: Lynda Starr
Bring your lunch and join TWC members for a stimulating conversation with best-selling local author Lyndee Walker. A finalist for Agatha and International Thriller awards, Walker writes thrillers and mystery series featuring strong women characters. Her latest psychological thriller, The Pastor’s Wife, will be offered for sale at the event.
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2026 – Special Event: Tour
Richmond’s Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Sacred Heart
10:00 – 12:30 pm | Chair: Rebecca Hickman
Experience the awe-inspiring beauty and fascinating history of this stunning architectural gem at Monroe Park. Completed in 1906, the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart serves as the seat of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond. A highlight of this guided tour is the recently installed organ, which was built by Montreal firm, Juget-Sinclair. With over 4,000 pipes, it is their largest project to date. Olivier Latry, the organist from Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, performed the dedicatory concert in the fall of 2024.
You may bring a brown-bag lunch. Parking is available on Cathedral Place.
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MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2026 – Program: Dr. Robert Winn
Taking the Fight to Women’s Cancers
2:00 – 3:00 pm | Chair: Betty N. Crutcher
According to the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Facts & Figures, women under 50 are now more at risk for developing cancer than men. Cancer incidence continues to rise for many common cancers—especially for women. The incidence rate for women younger than 50 has increased from 51% higher than men in 2002 to 82% higher. Though the overall death rate from cancer has decreased by 34% since 1991, women under 50 continue to outpace their male counterparts in new cancer diagnoses. Dr. Robert A. Winn, director of the VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, will detail what this latest data means for women, and how the work at the Massey Center is helping shape the national approaches to cancer research, prevention, screening, treatment and survivorship. Winn is immediate past president of the Association of American Cancer Institutes and chair of the 2024 American Association for Cancer Research Cancer Disparities Progress Report.
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2026 – Special Event: Tour
Tour of Monumental Church
2:00 pm start time | Chair: Sherri Sale
Designed by architect Robert Mills and built between 1812 and 1814, Monumental Church is one of America’s earliest and most distinctive Greek Revival churches. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated as a National Historic Landmark, it is located in the Court End historic district. Tour the church, which commemorates the 72 people who died in the Richmond Theater fire on December 26, 1811. The tour takes about one hour and will explore both the architecture of the church and information about the burial site. While the church is ADA compliant, there are no restroom facilities. VCU hospitals are a short walk away for restroom needs.
Limited parking is available in front of the church. Carpooling or parking at the TWC parking lot to ride the VCU Pulse bus on Broad St (which is convenient to the church) is encouraged.
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MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2026 – Program: Heath Hardage Lee
Stories Hiding in Plain Sight
2:00 – 3:00 pm | Chair: Suzanne Munson Jernigan
Heath Hardage Lee is an award-winning historian, biographer and curator whose popular books focus on inspiring stories of women who made history by overcoming adversity, a perfect theme for Women’s History Month. Her second book, The League of Wives: The Untold Story of the Women Who Took on the U.S. Government to Bring Their Husbands Home, is being developed into a television series about America’s POW wives, including Richmond’s own Phyllis Galanti. Her other books include The Mysterious Mrs. Nixon: The Life and Times of Washington’s Most Private First Lady and Winnie Davis: Daughter of the Lost Cause, a biography of the daughter of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. She also writes about history and politics for publications such as Time, The Hill, The Atlantic and White House History Quarterly. In addition to her writing career, Lee has an extensive background in museum education and historic preservation. A Richmond native and former member of The Woman’s Club, she has recently returned to Richmond from Roanoke.
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MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2026 – Program: Patrick Bringley
All the Beauty in the World
2:00 – 3:00 pm | Chair: Meghan G. Hughes
Patrick Bringley’s bestselling memoir about his 10 years working as a guard at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, All the Beauty in the World, brings new meaning to the term “art appreciation.” From long shifts rotating among the galleries, studying the masterpieces that he protected and pondering the role of art throughout history, Bringley offers an insider’s view of this vast palace of art. Praised by The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Associated Press, the book has been named a best book of the year by the New York Public Library, NPR and The Sunday Times (London), which selected it as the outstanding art book of 2023. A leader of public and private tours of the Met and a lecturer at museums and other venues around the country, Bringley will bring his work to life during this presentation.
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2026 – Special Event: Tour
Tour of the Historic Richmond Randolph No.19 Masonic Lodge in Shockoe Bottom
2:00 – 3:00 pm | Chair: Danielle Kopp
Join us for a private guided tour of the historic Richmond Randolph No. 19 Masonic Lodge. Completed in 1787, it is the oldest active Masonic Lodge in America. Learn about the building’s history over its nearly 250-year past, including its uses through two major wars and its prominent founding members and the historical figures who have visited.
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MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2026 – Program: Vicki Valosik
Swimming Pretty: Shaping Sports, Safety, and Society
2:00 – 3:00 pm | Chair: Lisa-Margaret S. Bryan
In Swimming Pretty: The Untold Story of Women in Water, Vicki Valosik explores the compelling history of women who challenged societal norms through the medium of aquatic performance. From vaudeville to Hollywood to the Olympics, she chronicles the evolution of synchronized swimming and brings to life the colorful cast of characters whose “pretty swimming” forever changed women’s relationships with water. Long before Esther Williams dazzled on screen, swimming starlets like Lurline the Water Queen and Annette Kellerman stunned Victorian audiences with their mastery of “scientific” swimming—expert aquatic feats previously only exhibited by men (including Benjamin Franklin)—and used their platforms to advocate for safe and sensible swimwear, lifesaving instruction and physical education for women. Far more than bathing beauties, these trail blazers broke barriers, redefined what was thought proper and possible for their sex, and parted the waves for generations of female athletes. Join Valosik for a thought-provoking discussion of how “swimming pretty” shaped sports, safety and society in ways still felt today.
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2026 – Special Event: Dinner Discussion
Dinner and Book Discussion
5:30 – 7:00 pm | Co-Chairs: Lenore Kopelovich and Lynda Starr
Celebrate Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa, with dinner and a discussion of her latest book, Be Ready When the Luck Happens. Dinner will be at various homes of Library Committee members. When you register, your hostess will invite you to her home and assign you one of Ina’s recipes to complement her entrée from the Contessa’s recipes. Wine and soft drinks will be provided along with good food and fun conversations.
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MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2026 – Program: Anna Quindlen
The Chrisman Family Foundation Speaker
Women in the 21st Century: Is Life Better?
2:00 – 3:00 pm | Chair: Charla M. Eastep
How much of “all” are women having? Is the balancing act working? More women are working. More women are becoming physicians, veterinarians, lawyers, journalists and CEOs. Despite the advances, the 21st-century woman still battles gender bias, unequal pay, mental and physical harassment, and caregiver demands from both the young and the elderly. Anna Quindlen, the Pulitzer-winning journalist and novelist, will discuss the overall status of American women, where and how progress is happening, and why the future is brighter than ever.
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THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2026 – Special Event: Tour
Day Trip: Anne Spencer House & Garden Museum and Poplar Forest
7:15 am – 6:15 pm | Co-Chairs: Kathy Fling and Elle Faye
Travel to Lynchburg’s Anne Spencer House & Garden Museum, the former home of renowned Harlem Renaissance poet Anne Spencer. Named a Virginia Landmark on the National Register of Historic Places, up to 95% of the original house and cottage furnishings remain in place today and the home is considered one of the most intact house museums in the US. Anne Spencer’s garden is also the only known restored garden of an African American in the US. Anne Spencer was a poet, civil rights leader, advocate and librarian. Her home and garden served as a gathering place for leading African Americans, such as W.E.B. Du Bois, Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes and Martin Luther King, Jr. Our excursion will continue with lunch at The Neighbors Place, a restaurant highly recommended by Virginia Living Magazine. The trip will continue with a tour of Poplar Forest, Thomas Jefferson’s private retreat, before return to Richmond.
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MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2026 – Program: Patrick O’Connell
The Creative Worlds of Patrick O’Connell
2:00 – 3:00 pm | Chair: Kay M. Tyler
Transforming a humble garage into one of the world’s most elegant establishments, Patrick O’Connell continues to work his creative magic at the Inn at Little Washington and in the charming township of Washington, Virginia. He will reveal his plans for preserving and enhancing the town’s colonial heritage through artful building adaptations and will share some of his Michelin three-star culinary secrets, flair for sumptuous décor at the five-star hotel, and sustainable farm-to-table food sourcing. Sole proprietor of the Inn, author of three books, and a self-taught chef, O’Connell is often referred to as “the Pope of American Cuisine.” He was asked to cook for Queen Elizabeth II at the Governor’s Mansion during her visit to Virginia in 2007. The Inn became the first in America to earn two five-star awards from Mobile Travel Guides. The Michelin Guide awarded it three Michelin Stars in 2019, a distinction that it has retained; and in 2021, it received the Michelin Green Star for sustainability. Back by popular demand, O’Connell will end our program season with panache and humor.
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THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2026 – Special Event: Walking Tour
Walking the Ward with Gary L. Flowers
10:00 am – 12:00 pm | Chair: Sherri Sale
Gary L. Flowers will provide a 20-stop walking tour covering 1 ½ miles of historic Jackson Ward in downtown Richmond. Tours include educational, economic, religious and social institutions that inspired the name “Black Wall Street,” and “The Harlem of the South,” and the district served as an early model of Black capitalism in the US. Flowers’s walking tour spans decades and salutes the African American achievements here between 1888 and 1940. Flowers is a 15th generation Virginian and a fourth generation Jackson Ward resident, dating back to his great-grandparents who moved to the Ward in the 1890s. Certified as an Ambassador Guide by Richmond Region Tourism, Flowers is highly active in historic Jackson Ward, and currently serves on the faculty of the Valentine Museum tourism department.
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MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2026 – Members Event
Annual Business Meeting and Luncheon
12:00 – 2:00 pm | Co-Chairs: Becky Satterfield and Kristin Hidell
Join your friends in celebrating the conclusion of our Club Season!
Register early as spots are limited! Individuals will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis. To reserve a table of 8 or 10, members must provide the names and dietary restrictions of all your party.
Please contact Annual Luncheon Co-chairs Becky Satterfield (804-938-6004) and Kristin Hidell (804-814-7651) with any questions!
Email dietary restrictions to