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Date: 9/23/2025
Subject: NFC Newsletter October 2025
From: New Friends


October 2025   THE CAROLINIAN
 
 Editor:  Sandee Henricks   nfcnewsletter2024@gmail.com   
NOTE:  This newsletter contains hyperlinks for you to view club events.
  Prior to reading the newsletter, it is advisable that you log into the
New Friends of Carolina website.  Have your Username and Password available.

Welcome to October...
 
Pumpkins, Pumpkins, everywhere. I cannot believe it is time to get the fall decorations out. Pumpkins, apples, leaves, and acorns in colors of orange, yellow, and red. I hope you get to take a trip to see the fall foliage this year or a train trip to the North Carolina State Fair. Whatever your annual traditions, send your pumpkin pictures to Mare Walker. I will choose a few for a special pumpkin recognition at the October luncheon.

We had our first Welcome Coffee on September 11th with 42 members and guests registered. We added a few new members, and our total is now 157.  Thank you to Dee Drobonick and Welcome coffee hostesses Andrea and Sheila for planning such a wonderful welcome coffee.

October is another busy month on the New Friends event calendar. Our October luncheon is at Angela’s Italian restaurant. You will not want to miss our program presented by Francis Nazzaro, The Sinatra experience. The food is always delicious, and I am sure it will be another delightful luncheon. A few other events to try...Bunco, Contract Rummy, Samba, 5-deck Canasta, Sip & Stitch, Brews & Bites, or Book Lovers, just to name a few. Andrea Woods has arranged a guided walking tour of Historic Waxhaw on October 22nd. After the tour you will have time for lunch and shopping at all the little boutiques in town. Remember January brings the merger of Crafty Creations and Pop-Ups into one group called Creative Adventures.
 
This year, our Community Volunteer chair, Noelle Picozzi, will be coordinating events with 2nd Harvest Food Bank and Turning Point.  Please consider registering for our first volunteer event of the year at 2nd Harvest Food Bank.  (See calendar for October 30th 1 - 4pm where you will have the opportunity to sort food.)

We do not have a luncheon in November due to the Thanksgiving holiday. However, your social chair, Laurel Chivari and her committee have planned a Friendsgiving event you will not want to miss. Look for more details to come for this social event to be held on Thursday, November 13th.

December’s luncheon will be at the Ballantyne Country Club, which I am sure will be beautifully decorated for the holidays and get us in the spirit. This year’s event will be a Holiday Brunch with a little gingerbread in the mix. Watch for more details next month.

Before you know it, we will be turning the page to 2026! How time flies when you are making friends and enjoying all the events New Friends of Carolina has to offer. Do not forget to register for the luncheon, especially if it is your birthday month. You will be recognized and presented with a small gift and serenaded with Happy Birthday.
 
Jeanne Deiger, President
New Friends of Carolina
 
If you are one of our October birthday ladies listed below, don't forget to sign up for the next Membership Luncheon.  Your birthday will be acknowledged, and you will receive a special birthday gift!
Carol Yeager  10/1
Libby Harris  10/2
Andrea Woods  10/3
Angie Glender  10/3
Barbara Lowrance  10/5
Mitzi Czapla  10/7
Vonnie Bishop  10/12
Janet Wakelin  10/12
Adrienne Jenkins  10/13
Jean Rottmann  10/13
Carolyn Redmond  10/19
Lisa Graf  10/19
Barbara Evers  10/20
Elaini Bingham  10/22
Terri Hatcher  10/24
Pam Wilde  10/26
Pegge Murphy  10/29
Christine Roach  10/29
Mare Walker  10/29
Karen Dedrick  10/30
We held our Welcome Coffee on Thursday, September 11 and had a fantastic turnout!

First, thanks to those Interest Chairs who attended the Welcome Coffee and provided a little insight to your monthly events!  I also want to thank Andrea Woods and Sheila Collins for being our hostesses for our coffee.  And a special thank you to Andrea, Lisa Byrne and Susan Brandenburg for providing the delicious munchies for the Coffee. 

A few weeks ago, messages were posted on NextDoor and other social media inviting local women to come to our meeting and see what we are about and to possibly join NFC.  We had 19 awesome women register for the Coffee and 14 were able to attend.  This was the biggest guest attendance at any of our Welcome Coffees!  Before we even held the meeting, we had one new member and within 24 hours after the meeting two new members joined.  I did reach out to all those who attended and will keep in touch with them.

Jeanne did a great job with her Power Point explaining to our guests about our club, our monthly events, how to register, and etc.  Board members were on hand to interject some information as well.  At the end of the meeting, we surprised our guests by drawing names to give away two lovely yellow mums.

Please join me in welcoming new members - Cherie Powers, Patty Gotsch and Christine Dorociak.   RosAnne Atkins, (who joined in June) attended the Welcome Coffee as well.  We have a total of 9 new members from the beginning of our new year June 1 which brings us to a total of 157 members!

Please remember that we have NFC business cards that you can give to prospective members whenever you meet someone who you think would enjoy our club.  If you know of someone and want me to contact them and give them some information about the club, I'll be more than happy to do that.

Our next Welcome Coffee will be in February 2026.

Dee Drobonick, VP of Membership
nfcmembership2025@gmail.com
CARE AND CONCERN
 
Get Well cards were sent to
 
Carol Rider
Diane Fohr
Kathy Haines
 
 If you know of anyone in our club who could use a card, a call, or a meal due to illness, hospitalization, and etc., please let me know.
 
Diane McCartney
(917) 399-9189
dianemccartney1@yahoo.com
Chris Green has found these...
Fun events in and around Charlotte in October...
 
THEATER
Wicked: 09/24-10/26 Belk Theater
Mary Chaplin Carpenter/Brandy Clark: 10/04 Knight Theater
Giselle (Ballet): 10/08 Booth Theater
Charlotte Symphony- Dolly Parton’s Threads: 10/17-18 Knight Theater
Once: 10/17-18 Booth Playhouse
Charlotte Symphony-Peter And the Wolf: 10/18 Knight Theater
Charlotte Ballet-Whispers, Echoes, Voices: 10/30-11/01 Knight Theater

SPORTS
 Carolina Panthers:
10/05 Miami Dolphins @ BOFA
10/12 Dallas Cowboys @ BOFA
10/19 @ NY Jets
10/26 Buffalo Bills @ BOFA

Charlotte FC (Soccer):
10/04 @ Wash DC United
10/18 Phil Union @ BOFA

FESTIVALS
Carolina Renaissance Festival: 10/04-11/23 (Sat & Sundays)
Autumn Treasures: 10/11 @ Waxhaw
Carolina Balloonfest (Statesville): 10/17-19
Mint Hill Madness Family Fun Festival: 10/16-18

LOOKING AHEAD
Six The Musical: 11/04-09 Belk Theater
The Sound of Music: 11/18-23 Belk Theater
Charlotte Ballet-Nutcracker: 12/05-21 Belk Theater
Charlotte Symphony-Handel’s Messiah: 12/05-07
How The Grinch Stole Christmas! 12/23-28 Belk Theater
Let's go on a creative adventure!
Crafty Creations and Pop-Up Events are merging to offer a new opportunity for our members called
 
CREATIVE ADVENTURES
 
This interest group will spark your creativity and curiosity by alternating artistic activities and excursions to local venues that will expand your knowledge and fun quotient.  One month, you may be hands-on with an artistic project; the next month, you may be touring the Amazon distribution center or participating in the Battle of the Game Shows.  Most events of Creative Adventures will be held on the fourth Wednesday of the month unless otherwise noted on the calendar.
So...get ready to create, learn, and partake with Creative Adventures in January of 2026!

Monthly Board Meeting
and Special Events
October Board Meeting
 
The Board Meeting is for Elected Officers and Standing Committee Chairs
 
 
Thursday, October 2, 2025
10:00 am to 12:00pm
 
The Home of Susan Brandenburg
5513 Two Iron Drive
Matthews, NC  28104
 
Event Contact:
Jeanne Deiger
704-607-3105
Everything
PUMPKIN & APPLE
 
Join us for our annual sharing of food and recipes featuring pumpkin or apple. 
 
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
12:00 Noon
 
Home of Kathy Salvador
2510 Rosebud Court
Tega Cay, SC  29708
914-588-0851
 
Please let Event Contact Sandy Cummings know what you plan to bring...call 704-321-0214 and leave a message.
 
Now is your chance to show your culinary creativity!
 
Spaces for 14 Apple/Pumpkin Loving Guests
Creative Adventures
Waxhaw Walking Tour, Lunch & Shopping
 
Wednesday,
October 22, 2025
10:45 AM until 1:30 PM

Historic walking tour of Waxhaw:  guided tour of downtown area by the Waxhaw Preservation Dept. Leisurely paced walk on paved, flat sidewalks compatible for everyone with frequent stops. 

Then meander over to Emmet's Social Table for lunch at 12:00 noon followed by lots of shopping in the many quaint antique and boutique shops on your own.

Meet at the Waxhaw Women's Club
200 E South Main Street
(lots of free parking)
at 10:45 a.m.
 
Event Contact:  Andrea Woods (210) 836-4264

 
Capacity - 15 Adventurers
October Monthly Membership Luncheon
Start spreading the news...
This month's luncheon will be truly special.  Besides the delicious food being served, we will be serenaded, if you close your eyes, by Old Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra!  Come swoon with us...where the songs are smooth, the sauce is rich, and friendship is always on the menu.
 
As we enter the restaurant, we will smell the wonderful aroma of homemade pasta, the sauce that has been simmering all morning and mouth-watering garlic bread.  Finding our seats, let's get ready to go back in time.  Frank will be singing wonderful songs like "Come Fly with Me", Strangers in the Night" and "The Way You Look Tonight."  As the luncheon concludes, we will hear the final notes of "My Way" bringing smiles and wonderful memories for us to remember.
 
Thursday, October 23, 2025
11:30am - Social   12:00pm - Lunch
 
Angela's Ristorante Italiano
9705 Mintworth Avenue
Charlotte, NC  28227
 
Menu
 
House Salad
Choice of
Eggplant Parmesan
Chicken Piccata
Penne ala Vodka Sauce with Meatballs
Shrimp Scampi
Dessert
NY Style Cheesecake
 
60 spaces available - Active Members $35.00, Guests $40.00

Getting To Know You...

                                 Sheila Collins
What is the biggest lesson that life has taught you?  Life has taught me to pay attention to my intuition, and to trust it.  It's usually pointing me in the right direction.
 
What is something that there is no substitute for?  There is no substitute for time.  We think we have all the time in the world, but we never know.  My first husband died when I was 59, and I learned a lot about living in the present and appreciating moments.
 
Name someone (past or present) that you would love to meet in person and what questions would you like to ask?  I'd love to meet my great-grandmother on my mother's side.  She came from Ireland and married an older man, my great-grandfather.  Her name was Margaret.  She read tea leaves and from what I've heard, she was very wise.  I'd love to have tea with her and hear the old stories.
 
If money were no object, I would...  I would travel, travel, travel.  I thoroughly enjoy it and always learn a lot.  My favorite place to travel is Ireland.  It feels like home to me.
 
Do you have a secret, or not so secret, passion?  My not-so-secret passion is making jewelry.  I get lost in it!  I love the beauty of stones and crystals and being able to create something special with them.
 
Words of wisdom that you have never forgotten...  I have worked with people with dementia in the past.  I once asked a client with dementia how I could best help her.  She said, "Treat me like an equal, and we'll do just fine."  I think that could be said by anyone.  I've always remembered and valued that exchange.
 
Come join us for
Ladies Night Out

This is a fun evening where members/guests either attend a special event, or go out for dinner at a local restaurant 
 
LNO usually meets the second Wednesday of each month. There are 18-20 openings depending on the location.  You will find this smaller event is a wonderful way to get to know new (and long-time) members.
 
For more information, contact the Interest chairs...
Diana R Congdon
704-608-1529 (p)
dianacongdon@gmail.com

Barbara D Hannon
980-245-2665 (p)
bdhannon@verizon.net
 
Please use the links below to learn more about each event.
Food, Friends and Fun
Appetizers with Friends - Meet at member's home for appetizers and desserts
    
 
 
Better Homes & Gardens - Special events held every other month
        
 
Brews and Bites - Explore a new brewery/pub each month
 
 
Dining with Divas - An 8-member group who meet for lunch at a member's home on a rotating basis.  Contact Pauline Trautman (704) 507-5680 for information to be a sub or create a new group.
        

Ladies Night Out - FUN and FRIENDS
         
 
Lunch Bunch 1 - Meets on the 2nd Friday each month at a different restaurant
           
 
Lunch Bunch 2 - Meets on the 3rd Friday each month at a different restaurant
             
 
Matinee Madams - Meet for a movie and sometimes lunch
(Watch your email or President's Monday message for updates)
 

Winers and Diners
Meet at member's home for cocktails and then out to dinner
  
Books, Crafts and Service
Book Lovers - Meet the 3rd Wednesday of every month to discuss a selected title
         
 
Book Swappers - Sharing interesting books
(We meet every other month at a member's home)
      
 
Crafty Creations - Make new friends and learn a new craft
         
  
 
Sip and Stitch - Bring your needlework...new members always welcome
      
 
 
Sports and Games
Bunco #1
        

 
Bunco #2
         
 
Contract Rummy
       
Five Deck Canasta
      
     
 Mexican Train 1
        
 
Mexican Train 2
          
 
Mexican Train 3
           
Mexican Train Evening
          
   
Rummikub
         
 
Samba
         

Scrabble
  
 
       
Any and all feedback is welcome.  Email your suggestions and comments to
 
Sandee Henricks at nfcnewsletter2024@gmail.com
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