Advance Notice for December Meeting - Mark your calendars!

Hey Rollingwood Women!

Mark your calendars now for our Tour of the Capitol with Rod Welsh, Wednesday, December 11th at 10 am. Meet on the front steps a few minutes before 10 am. Carpooling encouraged. 

October Meeting Introduces Local Celebrities

Our October meeting was held at Meredith Mason's home, at 2403 Hatley Drive. 

The program was titled "Who's Who of Rollingwood" and featured four Rollingwood residents who are engaged in diverse enterprises that range from child protective services to being Sergeant-at-Arms at the Texas House of representatives.

Andrea Sparks an attorney by training, serves on the Board of the Austin Children's Shelter. and with CASA ( Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Austin. CASA lobbies for children's Bill of Rights to ensure that kids in foster care have a voice in court.

She outlined the lives of kids in foster care and showed a brief video to illustrate the struggles that these kids endure as they are moved around and placed in different homes. She emphasized the need for volunteers especially bi-lingual and male volunteers to serve as mentors to the kids.

Rod Welsh works as Sergeant-at-Arms for the Texas House of Representatives.  The ceremonial role of Sergeant-at-Arms , he said, can be traced back to the House of Commons in England and as far back as the Roman empire. His role is to ensure that the rules of the House are followed and this involves anything and everything from ensuring that a quorum of members is present and controlling access to the chambers to security of all attendees, to ordering the annual Christmas tree to be set up in the chambers. He related many special experiences unique to his role that had historical significance. Leah is working with him to organize a special tour of the Capitol for club members.

Ellen Ambrose is currently on the board of Partnerships for Children after having served as its chair for two years. The organization helps children in residential facilities, in foster care and even those temporarily living with kith and kin while their parents are under investigation and unable to care for them. She helps with the Rainbow Room that provides material goods for children and young adults and helps with Holiday Wishes for these kids. A Mentor program has been started that helps kids prepare for the challenges of the real world when they have to leave foster care at age 19. 

Laila Scott  continues to serve on the Dell Children's Trust board after having been its chair for two years and a founding member with her family's RGK Foundation. The trust has grown to nearly 180 members who meet throughout the year and also annually to fund requests from staff , nurses and doctors for specific needs of the children that are treated at the center. Needs she explained, can be as simple as pillows for preemies to helping to arrange for a cancer patient to go to a prom.

There were several questions. Members left with more empathy and a deeper understanding for the un-met needs of children in the greater Austin area.

Additional information about these organizations can be obtained from the resources below:

Dells Children Fund
Chair - Karen Knight
Link to website http://www.childrensaustin.org/cmcf/get-involved/annual-giving-programs/childrens-trust

Partnerships for Children
www.PartnershipsforChildren.org

Kori Gough - Executive Director
512.698.2627
Kori@PartnershipsforChildren.org

Andrea Sparks
TexasCASA,
www.texascasa.org
asparks@texascasa.org

RWC Bookclub meets October 21st

Melissa Morrow is hosting our next meeting on October 21.  We will be reading The Lion in the Lei Shop by Kaye Starbird.

Our November book is Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman, and in December we will read  Dickens’ A Christmas Carol . Come join us!!!

New Neighbors

Rollingwood Women's Club had a special meeting this week at the new Trader Joe's store which opened last month in Rollingwood.

The group had a tour of the store, had a brief presentation from some of the staff about the company's history and products.

Don't forget our next meeting at Meredith Mason's home located at 2401 Hatley on October 22nd!

What's your Type?

The Enneagram's 9 different personality types were discussed and explained at the RWC's September meeting, hosted by Leah Paulo on September 24th.

Rick and Lesley Bradstreet (pictured above, right) are certified Enneagram teachers. Each member was encouraged to complete an online quiz before the meeting, which would categorize her personality into one (or perhaps, two) of nine different types. Each type has strengths and weaknesses and  Rick and Lesley stressed that success comes from understanding one's own needs and triggers.

Members were encouraged to think about spouses, children and other family members whose Enneagram types might fit into different categories. Members can obtain more information about Rick and Lesley's Enneagram workshops through Leah Paulo.

The October meeting will be at Meredith Mason's home at 2401 Hatley at 7pm on October 22! See you there

Special Interim Meeting at Trader Joe's!!

We have a special interim meeting planned - Join us on a tour of our new neighborhood grocery store - Trader Joes. We will be led in a tour of the store, learn about some of the products they stock and meet a few of the employees. Please meet near the north entrance at 7 pm, Tuesday October 8th. The tour will last about an hour.  And don't forgot about our October 22nd meeting at Meredith Mason's home located at 2401 Hatley. You'll hear from a few of your neighbors and what they are up too.

See you then!