| THE CAROLINIAN
September 2026
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. |
I don't know about you, but I'm ready to move forward into Autumn! It's always such a welcome after the long hot summer in Charlotte. Soon we'll be seeing pumpkins and bright orange and red leaves falling from the trees!
Each month I attend a few of our monthly events. This month I was one of the lucky ones to attend the LNO luau pool party at Jean Rottmann's house. Merry Lee & Mare did a great job in their choice of the luau theme. With the pool water and the evening warmth I could almost pretend I was in Hawaii! Each attendee provided a delicious luau-themed dish; Merry Lee taught us some hula hand moves and explained what they represented. Fun was had by all! I also attended Lunch Bunch 2 at the Juniper Grill and met a few of our new members and socialized with others.. It was a cozy setting to spend time with friends!
Our monthly event, Scrabble, took a summer vaca in July and August but is back as of September 1 and will begin at 12:30 pm at Whole Foods in Waverly. Interest chair Patricia Gotsch is looking for more participants this year.
At our August board meeting Chris Green, Community Services Chair, presented us with three non-profit charitable organizations, X-Port Paws, The Blessing Cart and Shepherd's Center and gave us a brief synopsis of each for this year's community service. The board selected the Blessing Cart located in Waxhaw as the focus for this year's charitable project. Blessing Cart is a smaller non-profit ministry that provides food to families and individuals facing food insecurity. They serve with care, consistency, and community-centered support through food distribution, outreach and partnerships that uplift and bring hope to those in need. We will provide a food drive this Fall and next Spring for contributions to Blessing Cart as well as providing assistance in stocking and assisting distribution when needed. The Director/Founder of Blessing Cart will be our speaker at our October luncheon. Our first food drive will take place at our Social in November. Thanks to Chris for her in-depth research and thorough presentation to the board. If anyone has additional interest in either of the other two charities, please contact Chris or me.
Check out VP of Membership Kris Pacilio's message pertaining to our Welcome Coffee on September 3 following our monthly board meeting.
Save the Date - November 12, Friendsgiving Social! We have procured a larger facility this year which will hold up to 90 members! We will also have the cake/pie contest again this year! Registration for that event will open in early October. Look for more details in September.
"August brings quite a few emotions with it. it feels celebratory and festive--it is still summer, after all, and a time when many of us take vacations--but there's also a feeling of nostalgia and sadness as the season winds down. In short, August is bittersweet. It feels heavy and light at the same time, and August creates a feeling that exists in few other months of the year--one that you want to bottle up and save until it comes around again next year."
Dee Drobonick
President
704-641-5960
|  | | Lora Castello - 9/4
Patricia Rumbley - 9/8
Tanya Wells - 9/9
Mickey Key - 9/13
Helen Creighton - 9/14
Kathy Haines - 9/16
| | Karen Kovach - 9/23
Carol Henderson - 9/24
Sharon Parkhurst - 9/24
Chris Green - 9/26
Diane Fohr - 9/26
| | |  |
We are delighted to share that we have welcomed six new members to our club. With these additions, our current membership now stands at 150 members.
Please join us in welcoming our newest members:
- Danielle Brady — originally from South Jersey
- Amanda Casey — from Greenville, NC
- Linda Genovese — originally from Long Island, NY
- Deborah Guastini — from Boston, MA
- Ginni Rutherford — from New Jersey
- Randie Wolfe — from Chicago and Hilton Head
Please also help spread the word about our upcoming Welcome Coffee on September 3rd at 12:15 p.m. at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library - Matthews, 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews, NC 28105. We are hosting this coffee for New Members who have not attended a Welcome Coffee as well as people who are interested in learning more about New Friends of Carolina and possibly joining our club.
If you have friends who may be interested in attending, please invite them to join us. It will be a friendly opportunity for prospective members to meet some of us, ask questions, and learn more about the activities and community our club offers.
Thank you for helping us welcome our newest members and for encouraging others to learn more about New Friends of Carolina.
Kris Pacilio
VP of Membership
rktriple@aol.com
| | Board Meeting for Elected Officers, Standing Committee Chairs and Interest Group Chairs
Thursday, September 3, 2026
10:30 am
Matthews Public Library
230 Matthews Station St.
Matthews, NC 28105
Please stay for the Welcome Coffee immediately following the Board Meeting.
Interest Chairs will be introduced to those attending the coffee.
| | The Welcome Coffee is held immediately after the Board Meeting and begins at 12:15.
It is for New Members who have not yet attended a Coffee and for any prospective members.
If you are a member, please register on the calendar. If you know of a prospective member who would like to attend, please contact Kris Pacilio.
Event Contacts:
Dee Drobonick 704-641-5960
Kris Pacilio 973-610-7126
| | | | Get well Cards were sent to:
Terri Hatcher after her surgery
Pauline Trautman after her accident
Laurel Chivari after her surgery
Lori Herzhauser after her surgery
Thinking of you cards were to:
Carol Henderson and Karen Olshansky | | | | Dear Friends:Thank you all so much for checking on me while I have been sick. Your sweet heartfelt texts, calls, and prayers mean the world to me and I appreciate each and every one. I am resting and feeling a little better and hope to feel even better after I complete my treatment soon. I am blessed to have such wonderful friends!
Love you all! Carol Henderson. | | |  |
Check out these fun events happening in our area in August, supplied by our
ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER: CHRIS GREEN
THEATER & CONCERTS
09/08-13 Hell’s Kitchen Musical: Belk Theater
09/11-10/04 Come From Away: Theater Charlotte
Truliant Amphitheater Outdoor Events
09/12 Iron Maiden
09/13 James Taylor
09/16 John Fogerty & Steve Winwood
SPORTS (Home Games)
Carolina Panthers: Bank of America Stadium
08/28 Preseason Game: Houston Texans
09/13 Carolina Panthers vs Chicago Bears
Charlotte Football Club: Bank of America Stadium
09/05, 26
Charlotte Knights Baseball: Truist Field
09/08-12 Season Playoffs
FESTIVALS & MISCELLANEOUS
09/11 Foodee Fest: Premium Outlets, Charlotte
09/11-13 Yiasou Greek Festival: Holy Trinity
09/19 UNCC Charlotte International Festival
09/19 Oktoberfest: Fort Mill
09/25-27 Festival in the Park Freedom Park
LOOKING AHEAD:
10/13-18 The Great Gatsby: Belk Theater
10/19 Outlander In Concert: Belk Theater
|
Monthly Membership Luncheon
and Special Events | | September 24, 2026
11:30am social-12:00pm lunch
Hosted by:
Barbara Evers and
Elly Grespin
Red Rocks Restaurant
4223 Providence Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28211
Menu:
Choose One:
Red Rocks Burger-Angus beef medium served on
brioche bun with lettuce,
tomato and onion with fries
Chicken Salad fruit plate
Array of seasonal fruit surrounding
homemade chicken salad with
red onion, celery, almonds,
mayo and herbs.
Small Salmon Caesar Salad-Chopped romaine tossed with shredded parmesan, homemade croutons, and Caesar dressing.
Dessert:
Chocolate cake and Coconut cake
Soda, iced tea and lemonade included
Cash bar
$35 members
$40 guests | |
Our Speaker this month will be
Chef Ron Ahlert, he began his career in the food industry at age sixteen as an apprentice in a Country Club. Formally trained at the New York Restaurant School, he has built a distinguished career cooking across NYC, Paris, and Charlotte – highlighted by featured appearances at the prestigious James Beard House.
Chef Ron's passion for workforce development feeding the hungry and his appreciation for fine cuisine perfectly complements his role as Executive Chef and Director at the Community Culinary School of Charlotte (CCSC). He fully embraces their mission of "Fighting Hunger while Creating Opportunity" and is eager to share it with CCSC students, alumni and all community partners.
You won't want to miss his presentation!
| | |
Thursday, September 10, 2026
6 pm - 9 pm
The Courtyards at Emerald Lake Clubhouse
1037 Avalon Place
Stallings, NC 28104
Merry Lee Wheeler 315-778-4545 Mlwheeler87@hotmail.com
Mare Walker 704-999-0900 Tinzee1219@gmail.com
| |
It's the fabulous 60s again!
Flower power, British Invasion, mini skirts, bell bottoms,
go go boots, folk music, hippies, peace, love, and rock and roll!
Join your New Friends for a look back at the most amazing decade in music, fashion, peace & love!
Locate those bell bottoms, peace signs, go go boots, or mini skirts & tights!
We will enjoy a catered meal from Viva Chicken, reminisce about the decade, and play Name That Tune, 60s version.
$27 per person includes food, non alcoholic drinks, clubhouse fee, tax, and gratuity.
Payable by credit card at time of registration.
Cancel for a refund up to September 2, 2026.
(no refunds after this date.)
| | | | Caravaggio and Baroque Masterpieces
Exhibit with Docent Tour
Wednesday, September 30
11 am-12 pm
Mint Museum
500 South Tryon St.
Charlotte, NC 29202
Please see the calendar for registration and cost
Contacts:
Sandee Henricks 804-839-3283
Andrea Woods 210-836-4264 | | | | At this time, there are no active Dining with Divas groups in the club. If you’re interested in starting one, please contact Dee Drobonick. Dining with Divas is a fantastic way to get to know club members in a cozy luncheon setting. They meet at people’s homes in groups of eight, and the group members remain constant. The hostess designs the meal, and the homes are rotated among the members. | | | | When you take pictures at one of our events...
Send them to our Historian, Terri Hatcher at:
| | | |
Editor's note: 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 | |
Please push on the Calendar button above which will take you to the website calendar to see all the upcoming events. | |