Presidents' Letter: Looking ahead to 2026

Dear SCC Members,

Happy New Year! We hope your holidays were both joyful and restorative. Now we look ahead with renewed commitment to a meaningful and enjoyable year in 2026

When we kicked off the Summit College Club year in September with our first Presidents’ message, we said that we want to emphasize connection – between members, between our branch and other branches, and between Summit College Club and our communities. Since then, we’ve worked collectively to provide opportunities to connect – some new, some long-running, and some revitalized – starting with our Interest Groups:

• Our book group is meeting regularly on the third Wednesday of each month (this month, that is January 21st); you can join any month. Reach out to Janice Hartman to add your name and email to the book group list, if you’re not already receiving these notices.

• The lunch group is back after a few dormant years, with a lunch in October and November. Starting this month, it will meet every fourth Wednesday of the month at Winberie’s at 12:30. For January, that’s on Wednesday the 28th. Drop in!

• The Dining Group meets every second Saturday of the month for lunch, with a different Group member choosing a restaurant each month. Spouses/significant others are welcome, too. Again, email Janice Hartman if you’d like to join the group. This month, the luncheon will be at Aubrey’s Corner in Summit on January 10.

• If you would like to start or re-start an interest group, contact either of us (Hedy or Karen) and we’ll be happy to help you get things started. 

There are a few more immediate efforts you’ll see in the next two months for connection, and we encourage your participation. The first is a member meeting via Zoom; we’re working to finalize the date now. At the meeting, you’ll hear from the committee working on a renewed Strategic Plan for SCC; hear about some of the ideas for a community-oriented project (and add your own ideas); and catch up on the work of our Board committees like Programs, Communications and Membership. Please make an effort to attend.

We also want to gather more specific input from members on what kinds of programs and projects would be of interest. Do you enjoy attending lectures on specific topics? Working to offer a STEM-oriented program for young girls? What factors make it easy (or difficult) for you to participate? Your thoughts on these and other questions will help our committee leaders focus on the opportunities that are most engaging, while also contributing to our mission. We will be finalizing the approach to gathering your input over the next month.

Finally, if you have ideas on how we can strengthen our connections and build new ones, we want to hear them! Email or call either of us, or any Board member (we’re all in the Yearbook) and let’s have a conversation. Connections often start with one person reaching out. You can be that person.

We want to thank all of you for being a part of Summit College Club. For over 100 years, our members have stood up for women’s education, equity and empowerment. We continue to make a difference today. And we do our best work, and have our best experiences, when we  connect with others. Here’s to a terrific year in 2026.

Sincerely,

Hedy Tukey

Co-President

Karen Kaplan

Co-President