Deb Cenname has been selected to lead the CSA Women’s Association, as Diane Young-Spitzer “retires” from office.

Deb is a long-time CSAer. Her children, Will Daugs and Kit Baker, are the fourth generation of her family coming to the CSA. Her parents bought their first cottage in 1947, on Standish Road. Deb and her husband Lou decided to retire here full time four years ago. They love living year round in Michigan. We all know Lou from the CSA office. Deb keeps busy working at Betsie Hosick Health and Fitness Center and being a CSA Trustee… and now, CSA President. We look forward to Deb’s many contributions.

We are sad to see Diane Young-Spitzer move on to other interests, but she deserves some extra summer time with her family after years of service to the CSA Women’s Association. Diane provided the energy and leadership to maintain many of the Women’s Association’s traditions, while also leading us in new directions.

Diane is an environmentalist who not only promoted “green” efforts within the Women’s Association, but encouraged them throughout the CSA. She also championed the development of the CSA Web site via a Women’s Association donation, involvement with the Web site committee, and by staying at the forefront of providing Women’s Association content on the site. We thank her for those contributions, and many more.

Stay tuned for more information on the many Women’s Association activities for 2009!

Women’s Association of the CSA
Winter Board Meeting Report
November 10, 2007

We hope that the CSA community enjoyed another active and successful summer of events sponsored by the Women’s Association. Read all about our 2007 season!

July Coffee Speaker: Elizabeth Laidlaw, founder and Creative Director of Lakeside Shakespeare Players was animated and entertaining.  Babysitting was provided during both July and August Coffees.

August Coffee Speaker: Hans Voss, Executive Director of Michigan Land Use Institute inspired great interest in the MLUI’s “smart growth” efforts.

July Family Night Dinner: We tried something new this year: our first almost green menu was very successful (even made a small profit). CSA’ers embraced our efforts to champion local farmers by serving natural turkeys and locally made products. Many Assembly members cooperated by providing fruit and green salads and side dishes made from locally grown produce.  We served pies that were baked locally, created name tags from recycled paper and encouraged folks to bring recyclable dishware and utensils.
Our motto: “Think globally and act locally.”

Adult Workshops: A fun time was had by all at our digital photography, flower arranging, Ukrainian egg decorating and book talk/reviews workshops.

Arts and Crafts Fair: booths sold out; continuing our green efforts, we served buffalo bratwursts in addition to turkey hot dogs at the Food Booth.

Artist-in-Residence: Nora Venturelli, landscape and figurative painter from Argentina, now residing in Ann Arbor. Conducted 3 adult workshops, 1 children’s workshop and one lecture/slide talk.

2007 CSA Directory: sold all 250 copies. Many thanks to Laurie Burns, Judy Furber, Lou Cenname and Saskia von Wolferen for pulling the data together and editing the directory.

Lemonade Sunday: drinks and cookies were all gone both in July and August.
Women’s Association continued:

Book Talk: with Laura Shapiro (Julia Child) followed by reception of Julia- inspired appetizers was very well attended.

CSA Authors and Artisans Sale: was well attended by both artists and buyers.

Donations: The Women’s Association also donated to several local charities including Lakeside Shakespeare and the Michigan Land Use Institute.

Assembly Purchases: We purchased several items for the Assembly including:

1. Hand-held microphone for use at Assembly Building events.
2. Cover and wheel base for Steinway piano in Meeting House
3. Replacement ping pong table
4. New equipment at Crystal View Café, including popcorn popper and    smoothie blenders.
5. CSA website domain name.

We are also coordinating with the Pilgrim Fund on the purchase of wheelchairs.

2008 Season: We look forward to another busy season in 2008. In addition to expanding the artist-in-residence program, we will be sponsoring two outdoor movie nights and a square dance with live caller.  So get ready to swing your partner…

Respectfully submitted by the
Women’s Association of the CSA:

Diane Young-Spitzer, President
Debbie Cenname, Vice President
Jan Lauerman, Treasurer
Darcy Howe, Assistant Treasurer
Julie Walton, Secretary
Jan Wynne, Assistant Secretary
Debbie Burditt, Mary Gosnell, Molly Harrison, Mary Hays, Jane Taylor, Linda Campbell, Judy Furber, Carole Jones, Debbie Kearns, Gail Pollina, Welcome to our new 2007-2010 board members: Beth Wolszon, Sarah Menchaca, Eva Rosenthal, Marcia Dennison and Judy Norris

Retiring Members: Many thanks to our retired 2004-2007 board members: Laurie Burns, Sarah Larson, Laura Millar, Patrice Spitzer and Darcy Howe