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Date: 7/1/2025
Subject: July 2025 Newsletter "Around the Pointe"
From: Sharon Chapman


What’s Happening … July 2025

President's Message

“Connections with members, technology & community.”

When I think about making connections, I’m reminded of the many books written by Gretchen Rubin*, author of “The Happiness Project.” Our Annual Meeting in 2024 (thank you Belinda Stovall & Deborah Bevis for organizing it!) was focused on her many books and podcasts. Because we are a social club, I re-read Chapter 6 about Friendships where Rubin suggests that we should make at least three new friends because “studies show friendships lengthen life, boosts immunity and cuts the risk of depression.”  I encourage you to participate in PPWA activities and connect with new friends!

PPWA has 8 brand new members going into next season and since June 1st 328 existing members have renewed their membership for next season. Please renew your membership as soon as possible. Your dues determine our budget for events.  Many events such as Theater, Opera and Travel require deposits during the summer months.

Clubs that continue to meet in the summer are Beach Babes, Summer Book Club, Travel Club, Lunch Bunch, Core Strength, Biking-PP Cyclers, and Mah Jongg.

*Books by Gretchen Rubin are available in our Sarasota Libraries

 

Respectfully,

Brenda Hankard

 

 

      Board Member Spotlight

                
C Herbrandson

Cynthia Herbrandson Vice President Historian, Co-Leader Garden Club, PP Cyclers Leader.

 

As your newly elected Vice President, I look forward to being your representative to the PPWA Foundation and your Historian.  Look for me taking photos of your events and please check out your bulletin board pictures at the clubhouse courtyard.  I was born and raised in NW Iowa and moved to SW Michigan where I completed Undergrad and Grad education which led to 40+ years of teaching college level Human Anatomy and Botany.  Upon Retirement in 2018, Florida called my heart and I moved full time to Pelican Pointe.  My passions have always been training German Shepherds, Bicycling and Landscaping.  Pelican Pointe has been the perfect fit for me to totally immerse myself into these and many more activities.  I am looking forward to personally meeting as many of you as I can as we enjoy life around the Pointe!
Membership News
 

Membership renewals are off to a great start with over 300 members already renewed.  Thank you to all who registered so promptly.    All who renew by August 1 are eligible for an Amazon gift card drawing. 


Remember that we encourage summer renewal!  This allows Activity Leaders to make the deposits needed for upcoming member events AND prevents your membership from expiring and disallowing event signup or website access.


If you forgot your user name and/or password, just contact Membership Chairs Lisa Murphy or Karen Proctor. They will email you a password Reset with instructions to create a new password.


To register, go to www.PPWAVenice.org and click RENEW NOW to register for the coming year. Payments can be made by credit card, Apple Pay, or check.  Those paying by check should include the printed invoice from your on-line renewal. Mail to PPWA, 499 Derbyshire Drive Venice Fl 34285. Registration is $25 for the year, with additional fees collected for Current Topics ($5) and Garden Club ($7).


 

 
 
Lisa Murphy
Karen Proctor
Website Tips
 

Confirmation emails are always sent for renewals and donations.

If you don’t see yours, check your Spam or Junk folder.

 
 
 



To order a nametag click on link

Name tag form
Special Event

School Supplies for Garden Elementary School

PPG&CC and the PPWA are once again, collecting much needed supplies for Garden Elementary School. This list was created taking into consideration the items most needed and requested for the coming year. 

 

Please drop off your donations at: Pelican Pointe Clubhouse Atrium or Library

Monday, June 9th through Monday, July 28th

School supplies  will be sorted and delivered to the school Thursday, July 31. 


Garden Elementary School Supply Wish List 2025-2026

 

 Please bring your donated items to the clubhouse Atrium or Library.

Pencils #2 Ticonderoga (pre-sharpened)

Crayons - Crayola box 24

Colored Pencils - Crayola box

Washable Markers

Dry erase markers – EXPO 4 pack black

Dry Erase Board Erasers

White Board Erasers

Elmer’s Glue Sticks 

Elmer’s glue, 4oz. bottle

Highlighters - Yellow

Loose leaf paper, wide-ruled

Erasers - Pink Pearl

Scissors - Fiskars

Compositions notebooks

Spiral one subject notebooks, wide-ruled 70 page

Backpacks - no wheels please

Plastic storage bags (Quart and Gallon)

Supply box

2 pocket folders

Binder 1" (no Trapper Keepers or zipped binders)

Hand Sanitizer - Alcohol free 8oz bottles


Specialty Items for Students:

Insulated Leakproof Water Bottles: 17-24 oz to fit in the side pocket of back packs (slimline)

Headphones: adjustable, over the ear 3.5mm jack (no earbuds or Bluetooth)


Other School Staff Supplies:

Copy Paper

Post It Notes

Baby Wipes and/or Lysol Wipes

Facial Tissues



To make a donation in lieu of purchasing items please click here to donate: Garden Elementary School Supplies

Thank you for your generosity!
If you should have any questions please contact: 
 
Robbie VonSalzen
or
Vicky Ahern
 
School Supplies Program Coordinators

Making Connections

By Brenda Hankard 

Do you ever wonder what our past PPWA presidents are up to?   “Meet Penelope the Pygmy Elephant” is the title of Pat Cartwright’s latest book. Pat was PPWA President 2005-2007 and our first Garden Club Activity Leader.  Cynthia Herbrandson and I met with Pat along with Nancy Parzych (PPWA President 2013-2015) and together we learned about the origins of so many of our clubs and activities that you now enjoy today. Pat is a very creative and dynamic lady, and we can thank her for initiating the Holiday House Tour, Garden Tour & New Member Welcome to new residents.

Pat was an elementary school librarian in Massachusetts before moving here in 2002 from Virginia. In recent years during her retirement she has written and published four children’s books (her son Craig Cartwright is the illustrator).

I’m so impressed with the talented women that we have here in Pelican Pointe. I encourage you to reach out and make connections with Pat and other women who made PPWA what it is today. 

Contact Pat Cartwright to learn more about her booksplcwec@aol.com 

 Pat Cartwright Book

three presidents

                 Cynthia Herbrandson, Pat Cartwright, Brenda Hankard
Arts & Culture

Travel Club

 

LITERATURE & LATTES TROLLEY TOUR

Sunday, July 27th 10am -12pm 

 

Let’s travel to Sarasota to visit Jessie’s Café located at The Reserve for coffee. Then, learn about the famous authors who comprised The Liar’s Club during Sarasota’s literary heyday on a brief tour around town before stopping at Bookstore1 to view their collection of Sarasota authors and receive a 

SPECIAL literary gift!

 

 

 

 
A fun day at Hard Rock Casino in Tampa!

We “traveled” to Tennessee to enjoy the southern humor of Leanne Morgan. The pre-show dinner at Tripletail was yummy! (as Leanne would say)

TRAVEL CLUB:  Amsterdam Tulip River Cruise    April 10, 2026


Here is a link to view the different categories on the ship.  


AmaSerena - Deck Plans, Highlights & Sailings - AmaWaterways™

 Pricing for the cruise only:

 

Category AB – $6248 per person

Category BA – $6048 per person

Category BB – $5848 per person

Category  C – $5248 per person

Category  D – $4048 per person

 

The biggest difference is the location and size of the cabins.  All categories have a French and an Outside balcony except for Category C & D.  Category C has a French Balcony only and Category D has no balcony and a high upper window.

 

There is also a 2-night land package in Amsterdam that is pricing at $950 per person which includes a city center hotel, breakfast, transfers from the airport to the hotel and the hotel to the ship and some tours in Amsterdam.

 

Price includes excursions, wine & beer, port charges, entertainment. Airfare not included.

Solo pricing available. Husbands and guests welcome. 

Contact Keidrie Savelle at AAA in south Sarasota at 941-536-0441.
Health & Fitness
 
Biking - PP Cyclers
 
 

Cynthia Herbrandson
Sue Ostoin
Monica Stathers
The end of May marked the end of Diane’s role as one of the Activity Leaders for our Friday morning rides.  We reach out our hands thanking you Diane for your strength and steady-ship leadership for us.
Pictured here under the Legacy Trail overpass are the following:  Marie Browne, Cynthia Herbrandson, Debby Stumphauzer, Anne Rechten, Mary Gorman, Gina Sangmeister and Diane Santoianni.
Job well done!😊🚴‍♂️
Casey Key Ride June 20
 
Diane Santoianni, Mary Gorman, Cynthia Herbrandson, Gina Sangmeister, Anne Rechten
Hobbies & Crafts
Garden Club
From the garden...

While many of us are working our gardens in “the north” as well as in Pelican Pointe, the Garden Club is working on our schedule for the 2025-26 season and will have that published in a few months.  We have an all new line-up with some added “pop up” field trips in the plan.  Though the Garden Club is not entirely about gardening, it is about celebrating gardens and the nature we enjoy in Pelican Pointe and Southwest Florida.  And maybe we’ll learn a little something in the process! We hope that when you renew your PPWA membership that you will join Garden Club too.  
 
Cynthia Herbrandson
Mary Jane Bergman
Pelican Pointe Women's Association
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