Monday, November 10, 2014

Notes from RWC History

Shanthi Jayakumar, RWC Historian 1994- 10-28-2014
1968-69:
RWC PROGRAMS 1968-2014
1. The club starts an “Informal Gathering” in the Fall. This later became the Wine & Cheese party.
2. Member Caroline Marble presents a program of slides of Cambodia where her family had resided for many years.
3. Speaker Mark Levburg of the Austin chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union shared the work and purposes of the organization.
4. Program was a presentation by VISTA Volunteer Lynda Gonzales who spoke of her work in Manor.
5. Talent show was held at the Zilker Club house.
1970’s:
  1. BookreviewbyFrankRichardson(U.TProfessor)of“AguidetorationalLiving”. Guest members included Senator and Mrs. Lloyd Doggett.
  2. Talk by Mrs. Billie Coopwood (then administrative secretary to Sarah Weddington) on Women’s Legal Rights.
  1. 3  Artist Dalhart Windberg demonstrated oil palette painting and painted “Hill Country Sunset”. He then donated the painting to the club. The club had a drawing with tickets sold at $1. The Capitol National Bank won the painting and donated it to the City. The Women’s Club made $2000 on the sale of this painting!
  2. 4  Club sponsored a Talent Show at Westlake High School, held a garage sale and received donations to assist Tony Oates to attend Special Olympics for the deaf in Romania. She won Bronze for the U.S
  3. 5  The club sent a letter of support to the newly formed “Now or Never” group that was actively working for the creation of the Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve. Martha Hudson and Flo Macklin were part of that group.
  4. 6  Club donated water cooler, clock to City Hall.
  1. 7  Special skit “Inside Rollingwood” was performed. Fund raising efforts included a garage sale, sale of spices, consignment clothing sale, year book ad sale and the painting sale raised over $3000 and added to the previous 3 year collection of $1700 helped the club pay for donation of furniture, ($1150) drapes ($600), the patio ($768), landscaping ($1000) to the newly built City Hall. The club also donated $ for Christmas gifts to 5 needy families in the Eanes school District.
  2. 8  The Club starts an annual tradition (exact date unknown) of Halloween in Bandit’s cave courtesy of Lilian Crider who had bought the property in 1950 and preserved many of the relics in her antiquities store on Barton Springs Road. Crider sold the property to Velma and O.O. Shurtleff in 1978 and they invited the Women’s club to hold Halloween parties for the children complete with dry ice smoke and spooky stories as well as pumpkin decorating contests until 1988 when the cave property was sold to Dan McNamara a spelunker who closed the cave for fear of vandalism. Admission to the cave was 25cents. Kids 5and under came between 6-7 and older kids from 7-8. It is said that the cave runs under Rollingwood and gets its name from the bandits that hid out in it and who used to rob the wagons on the San Antonio Trail in the days before the Texas Revolution. Another tale gives the bandits credit for robbing the Texas Treasury of $17,000 worth of gold and silver coins and hiding in the cave. They were never caught and the loot was not recovered.
  3. 9  In 1978, Hazel Maxwell starts the very 1st July 4th Parade to bring neighbors together and foster community. The parade had the fire truck, trash truck, decorated cars, decorated bicycles and yes, HORSES! When the parade began, the noise from the fire truck spooked the horses, sending them galloping in a frenzy all the way back to the stables on Bee Cave Road! Horses were outlawed after that!
  4. 10  RWC organizes a Sampler Supper to fund raise for the club. Residents bring a casserole or covered dish (salad, dessert, vegetable or meat) and 10 copies of the recipe. Recipes were sold for 25 cents each. Anyone not bringing a dish donated $1. The club made over $50 in contributions and sale of recipes. All money went for the park fund.
  5. 11  Discussion and approval on creating a park adjacent to City Hall in Rollingwood. City council donated $750 and the RWC had $270.
1980’s:
1 Tract of land being developed into a park “a tree at a time and a fence post at a time” and according to club president Hazel Maxwell (1978-79)“Our work on the
park is measured in inches right now. The next time it will be the full yard.” There
was only one lonely cottonwood at the time.
  1. 2  Trees planted. Members serve as Volunteer Firemen and assist in rescue efforts in
    the flood of 1981.
  2. 3  Some members raise funds for the park by collecting and recycling aluminum cans.
  3. 4  Volunteer Fire Department barbecue supper to raise funds for firemen’s equipment.
    RWC contributes desserts.
  4. 5  RWC and residents plant 22 trees in the park while Jess Walters sings “Trees”.
  5. 6  May Day picnic 1985, the play scape ribbon cutting by mayor Harry Rogers
  6. 7  RWC annual Christmas parties are held at City Hall.
  7. 8  District Attorney Ronnie Earle speaks to the club.
1990’s:
  1. Membershipduesgofrom$3to$5.Clubthemeis“womenworkingtogetherto promote social and educational activities for its members.
  2. 1st “Yard-of- the-Month” contest with the purpose of raising awareness for the beautification of Rollingwood. A committee is formed and a sign is to be placed in the yard and name of recipient to be published in the Picayune.
  3. ProgramsincludeXeriscaping,Women&Parenting,historyoftheEanesarea, Holiday party and Christmas decorating, a Spring style show and luncheon and a Community barbecue dinner for fund raising.
  4. Clubpromotesthechanceto“meetneighborsdownthestreet,comparenoteson retirement, raising teenagers, dealing with toddlers, juggling a career and family.....something for everyone.”
  5. SpeakerJodyConradt,U.TWomen’sathleticdirector.
  6. SpeakerJohnDromgooleanexpertonorganicgardening.
  7. SpeakerKathyCronkiteondepressionandherbook“EdgeofDarkness”.
  8. SpeakerToodyByrdofWestlakeHighSchool.
  9. TourofUmlaufSculpturegardensbydocentHazelMaxwell.
10.Club delivers 1st Christmas Goodie baskets to City Staff in 1995. 11.Exploring the Internet World and connections in cyber space. 12.Talk by Statesman columnist Jane Greig.
13.Tour of National Wildflower Center.
14.Adult and Child CPR demonstration.
15.RWC fundraises $ for the park by selling bricks at $100 each to be placed on a Commemorative pathway at the park. The enhanced Playscape is dedicated to the children of Rollingwood. Ribbon-cutting ceremony and a Octoberque dinner.
16.Programs on “Getting Organized”, Skin Care and on being Jewelry savvy. 17.Cooking with club member Marilyn Scher.
18.Tour of the Harry Ransom center with docent Ann Russell.
19.Program on the Faith Home for babies with AIDS.
20.Presentation on Wild Basin wilderness Preserve by Flo Macklin and Martha Hudson, two of the founding members.
21.Tips for creating a shade garden by members Mary Victor & Holly Salmon and All about Silver by member Bea Howe.
22.Introduction to Jewish traditions by club members.
2000’s:
  1. RollingwoodushersinNewMilleniumY2KwithaBalloonDroponDecember31stat 3017 Hatley Dr
  2. CookingmadeeasybyMarilynScherandanothervisitfromJaneGreig.
  3. Bill&StephanieHammtalkondaughterandsoccergreatMiaHamm.
  4. TourofGovernor’sMansion.
  5. RWC’smajorfundraisingwith“DeckthePark”toraise$25,000.Fundraisingefforts
    were spear headed by Marilyn Kounnas, Sandra Farrell and Deb Celusniak with
    support of the entire RWC membership and the Rollingwood community.
  6. AuthorSusieFlataupresentsherbook“FromMyMother’sHands”.
  7. OtherprogramsincludeWomenandInvesting,SpringFashionsandgardeningtips.
  8. 1st meeting in January 2002 with Mayor and City Council for updates on City
    matters.
  9. SpringStyleShow.
10.Parenting and Children’s Behavior with practical parenting skills on redirecting
children’s behavior and solving conflicts at home and work.
11.Deck the park raises $25,000 for the park. Earlier the club had raised $16,000 over
the years of fundraising.
12.Club is invited to tour the home of James David owner of “gardens”. This home was
featured in a national magazine.
13. Walton’s Florist.
14.Wine Tasting with Austin Wine Merchant, The Cellar, Central Market, Twin Liquors.
15. Michael’s Holiday Decorating Demonstration.
16.25th Anniversary of July 4th celebrations and 1st certified 5K Run/Walk. 17.Dedication of the Park Pavilion.
18.Demonstration at Rowing Dock.
19.Southern Living explained.
20.Clothes at Nordstrom’s.
21. Memory Lane-talk by longtime residents.
22.Demonstration of how to make your own jewelry at BeadZ.
23.Yoga & Exercise by member Leticia Rodriguez
24.Cosmetic Dermatology.
25.Europe Travel.
26.Cooking demonstration at Whole Foods.
27.Jiu Jitsu Self Defense Demonstration.
28.Tour of Natural Gardener.
29.Women’s Health.
30.Kirk Tuck Photography.
31.Tour of Blanton Museum
32.Demonstration of how to make chocolate by the Chocolatier
33.Visit to Lilly Pulitzer Shop.
34.Green Neighbor Challenge by City of Austin.
35.Enhancing your Beauty- tips for make-up.
36.Healing with Acupuncture.
37.Decorating with Collectic Home Designs.
38.Progressive Home tours-new and remodeled.
39.Going Green with reusable bags.
40.RWC 50th Anniversary celebration.
41.Wardrobe Essentials at Nordstrom’s.
42.Beijing Olympics-a special report.
43.Women’s Health & Pilates.
44.Quick & Delicious meals with Cookwell & Company.
45.Décor & You interior decorating tips.
46.Progressive Home Tour
47.Dedication of Field House.
48.Book Swap.
49.Flashing lights in the rear view mirror: what to do if pulled over.
50.Tour of Sprout’s Farmer’s market store.
51.Tea Embassy and the art of tea making.
52.Antique linens-how to care for these.
53.Sustainable Food Center & Community Gardens.
54.Hospice : Life and Death preparedness.
55.Healthy French Cuisine with Chef. Alain Braux.
56.Train For The game Exercise and fitness.
57.Charity pajama party : donate for a cause.
58.Mindfulness: the art of Being Present with Dr. Allison Sallee. 59.Sustainable Gardening with Dick Peirce.
60.Self Defense for Women with Esther Robards-Forbes from The Picayune. 61.Interior Design and Decorating with Bay Hill design.
62.RWC Wine & Cheese with former Presidents attending.
63.Enneagram : study of personality types.
64.Tour of Trader Joe’s
65.Who’s Who in Rollingwood.
66.Charity pajama party: donate for a cause.
67.Private Tour of the State Capitol.
68.Finances and “Smart Women finish rich”.
69.Tour of Dell Children’s Hospital.
70.Holiday Shopping.
71.Cooking Class at Whole Foods Market.
72.JEI Design : Custom design concept.
73.BioMolecular Beauty at Westlake Faces: looking your best at any age! 74.My Fit Foods food tasting.
75.Miranda Darr, Fifth Avenue Club Consultant: how to audit your closet. 76.Antonelli’s wine & Cheese pairings.
77.Shopping at Sanctuary.
78.Exercise the Pure Barre way.
79.Dr. Glen Luepnitz on nutrition to deal with female Hormone fluctuations. 80.Discovering Your Memory Power.
81.Meeting at City Hall.
82.Vom Fass sampling of oils, vinegars and wines.
83.Exercise with personal trainer Josh Kintigh. 
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