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Date: 6/23/2026
Subject: NFC Newsletter
From: New Friends


July 2026   THE CAROLINIAN
 
 Editor:  Lora Castello   nfcnewsletter26@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.
Hi all,

I'm excited to be representing you as the new president for the 2026-2027 New Friends of Carolina!. I'm looking forward to a fun year and hope to see many of you at various events throughout the year..

We had a great joint board meeting on June 4 with 32 attendees.  We greeted new and returning elected board members, standing committee chairs, and interest chairs and said farewell to some as well.. Thank you to both incoming and outgoing members for stepping up to serve New Friends of Carolina,  You can find an updated lists of all officers and chairs on our website under "Documents."

We also thank outgoing hostess Andrea Woods along with our new Welcome Coffee hostesses, Judy DiLiddo and Carol Yeager, who presented us with a delicious lunch and yummy dessert.

There is much planning going on over the next month or two and we hope to have some new and exciting events planned.  Make sure you check the NFC calendar often to ensure you aren't missing anything!  Also, don't forget to add your name to a waitlist if an event is full.  There are often times when some registrations open up for some reason or another. 

We are off to a good start with new members already this month.  Please see Kris Pacilio"s membership message for an update on new members and membership renewal.

Please don't hesitate to reach out with any comments, concerns, ideas!  You can call, text or email me at any time.
 
Dee Drobonick, President
New Friends of Carolina 
Susan Cain -7/1
Kris Pacillo -7/2
Alis Woodard -7/2
Roseann Fochi -7/3
Lucia Chin -7/6
Pauline Trautman -7/8
Kip McCurrach -7/10
Karen Mockler -7/13
Sandy Cummings -7/15
Sue Howard -7/16
Barbara D'Ambrosio - 7/19
Mary McGarvey - 7/28
Chrys Rhodes -7/29
Sherry DeMaison -7/30
I am honored to be VP of Membership for the coming year of NFC! I look forward to an
amazing year meeting new members, enjoying so many of our games, our monthly
luncheons and some of the fun and exciting events planned for the coming year.
 
Please join me in welcoming our newest members, Mary Cantelmo. Mary is
originally from New York and resides in Charlotte with her husband Robert. Carol
Lynn Jenkins. Carol resides in Charlotte with her husband Bill. Lee Cassandra,
Lee is originally from Seattle WA and resides in Monroe. Kathy Taddonio. Kathy is
originally from Oyster Bay NY. Kathy resides in Charlotte with her husband
Richard.

If you meet anyone you think would enjoy being part of NFC, please invite them to visit
our website. And if you have their contact information, please pass it on to me so that I
might be able to contact them with more information about NFC.
Hope you all have a great summer!! See you at our NFC events!

Kris Pacilio, VP of Membership
thank you header
Our new leadership has been installed and is now the acting Board of Directors for the 2026-2027 year. Listed below are our members who have volunteered to take leadership roles in New Friends of Carolina Please take a moment to say thank you to them for their contributions that keep our club a fun place to make friends and also serve our community! 
 
Elected Board Members
President - Dee Drobonick
VP of Membership - Kris Pacilio
VP of Luncheons -Monica Taft
Secretary - Angie Glender
Treasurer - Jean Rottmann
Newsletter Editor - Lora Castello
Webmaster - Lori Herzhauser
Calendar Mgr - Susan Brandenburg
Advisor - Jeanne Deiger
Standing Committee Members
Community Volunteers - Chris Green
E-Librarian - Tanya Wells
Luncheon Reservations - Diana Congdon
Historian - Terri Hatcher
Social - Monya Thomas
Interest Chairs
Appetizers with Friends - Pauline Trautman
Better Homes & Gardens - Sandy Cummings and Karen Bearss
Book Lovers - Terri Hatcher and Debbie Williams
Brews and Bites - Sue Howard
Bunco #1 - Jean Rottmann and Cinder Shay
Bunco #2 - Anne Warren
Care and Concern - Diane McCartney
Contract Rummy - Susan Brandenburg
Creative Adventures - Andrea Woods and Sandee Henricks
Drama Queens - Chris Green
Five Deck Canasta - Judy DiLiddo and Louise Carter
In the Know - Barbara Evers
Ladies Night Out - Merry Lee Wheeler and Mare Walker
Lunch Bunch 1 - Karen Dykes and Jan Pasek
Lunch Bunch 2 - Jan Pasek and Karen Dykes
Matinee Madams - Nancy Hunt
Mexican Train #1 - Kris Pacilio
Mexican Train #2 - Libby Joyce
Mexican Train #3 - Judy DiLiddo
Rummikub - Trisha McGinn
Samba - Jessica Peach
Scrabble - Patty Gotsch
Sip & Stitch - Carol McPhee
Swappers - Carol McPhee
Travelers - Mickey Key
Winers and Diners - Jean Rottmann and Lori Herzhauser
Welcome Coffee - Judy DiLiddo and Carol Yeager

    
Board Meeting for Elected and Standing Members
 
Thursday, July 2, 2026
10:00 am 
Home of Dee Drobonick
5222 Rea Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28226
 
  Event Contacts:
Dee Drobonick  704-641-5960
 
Please make sure if you are on the board to register on the calendar.  If you can not make it please let Dee know.
 
CARE AND CONCERN
 
       Cards have been sent this month to J. Burton for the passing of her husband.  
Laurel Chivari and Cinder Shay also received cards after their surgeries.
 
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
 
Looking for something fun to do on July 4th?  Head out to Truist Field for the 
Stars and Stripes Spectacular Sky Show
 
 
Check out these fun events happening in our area in JULY, supplied by our
ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER:  CHRIS GREEN
 
  
THEATER & CONCERTS
06/25-07/05 Oliver! The Musical: Rock Hill Theatre
06/26-08/08 Not Just Another Love Story: NarroWay Theatre, Fort Mill
07/07-08/09 Dracula: Booth Theater
07/10-07/26 Hairspray: Mathew’s Playhouse
07/11 AC/DC: Bank of America Stadium
07/17 Usher & Chris Brown: Bank of America Stadium
07/18 Man of the House: CPCC Park Theater

Truliant Amphitheater Outdoor Events
07/08 Santana & Doobie Brothers
07/18 Chicago & Stix
07/24 Lenard Skynard & Foreigner
07/30 John Mellencamp

250th INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATIONS!
07/03 Town of Matthews Independence Festivities
07/03-04 Whitewater Center July 4th Festival 
07/04 Stars and Stripes Spectacular Sky Show: Truist Field
July 4th Parades: Indian Trail, Waxhaw, Fort Mill Amphitheater, Monroe, Baxter Village, Tega Cay, Pineville, Harrisburg
07/04 Lake Wylie Fireworks: Buster Boyd Bridge
07/04 Carowinds Celebrate America Fireworks Show
07/04 Free Fishing Day: No license All Public Body Waters

FESTIVALS & MISCELLANEOUS
06/26-07/05 Titantic Exhibition: The Park Expo & Conference Center
06/28 Charlotte Symphony Summer Pops-Celebrate America: 
(Symphony Park @South Park

SPORTS (Home Games)
Charlotte Knights Baseball: Truist Field
07/07-12, 07/21-26

LOOKING AHEAD:
08/14 Tim McGraw; 08/17 Motley Crue; 08/22 Luke Bryant


 
 
 

Monthly Membership Luncheon 
and Special Events
No luncheon in July. See you in August
Ladies Night Out
Reids's Fine Foods
331 Barcley Downs Drive
Charlotte, NC 28209
July 8 at 6 P.M.
 
Join us to wish the USA a Happy Birthday, New Friends Style.  Dress in your favorite patriotic outfit and come dine, laugh and play USA trivia! 
 
Merry Lee Wheeler
315-778-4545 (p)
mlwheeler87@hotmail.com

Mare Walker
704-999-0900 (p)
Tinzee1219@gmail.com
Sequence
Thursday July 30th @1pm
Home of Barbara D'Ambrosio 
12123 Chatsworth Ct.
Charlotte,28277

Please join us for another fun afternoon playing our new favorite
game.Light snacks will be provided.See you there!
10 seats available
Join us on a new Creative Adventure
 
 Monday, July 27, 12:30pm to 2:30 pm
 Home of Andrea Woods
1909 Crestgate Drive
Waxhaw, NC  28173
 
It’s Christmas in July and we are making No-Sew Christmas Ornaments.  Sandee and Andrea will supply a “kit” with everything you need to make one or two beautiful ornaments and show you how easy it is to make them.
Only 6 spots...hurry and register!
Cost $10 pp
Lora_NL
 
 Editor's note: Thank you for once again giving me the opportunity to be the Newsletter Editor for the 2026-27 Board. I look forward to working with Dee and the new board. Sandee Henricks has the newsletter looking beautiful, so you most likely will not see many changes to the design. One change will be that I will no longer include individual calendar links for each event; instead, I will only provide a single link to the main calendar. If you have any questions about the newsletter, please reach out to me. I am happy to add any information approved by Dee to the newsletter. My contact information is NFCnewsletter26@gmail.com 
When you take pictures at one of our events...
 
Send them to our new Historian, Terri Hatcher at:
 
 
Please push on the Calendar button above which will take you to the website calendar to see all the upcoming events.
Any and all feedback is welcome.  Email your suggestions and comments to
 
Lora Castello at NFCnewsletter26@gmail.com
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