Club Day
Performing Arts, 11:00 AM
"Making Music in Many Ways" Judith Henry is an experienced musician has an undergraduate degree in Music Education with an emphasis in Vocal Performance from Indiana Wesleyan University, as well as a Master's Degree in Organ Performance from Drake University. Judith has taught music in public schools and served as the Music Director of several churches. She composes and performs her own music, and she has recorded CDs of her original compositions. She will perform music from Broadway, Disney, classical, popular , spirituals and a little New Age style using both voice and piano.
Luncheon, 1:00 PM Served by Barattas:
Order from Thursday, Sept. 18 to Friday, Sept. 26 at 11:00am.
Italian Salad: A mix of iceberg, romaine and baby greens tossed with our house Italian dressing and parmesan cheese.
Bread and Butter
Entree Options - click on the item you want to order to go to the payment page.
IF YOU CALL OR EMAIL please indicate your choice or it will be the Cavatelli & Meatballs.
Cavatelli with Marinara (VEGETARIAN)
Dessert
Tuxedo Bars
Gluten Free Dessert
Public Affairs, 1:00 PM
Amy Kahler is the Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of Des Moines Water Works, Iowa’s largest municipal water utility and the largest contract operator for Central Iowa Water Works. With over 25 years of leadership experience in finance, customer service, and utility operations, she advances DMWW’s mission to protect public health by providing safe, reliable, and affordable drinking water.
Guided by her personal “why”— to leave everything a little better than she found it — Amy is committed to finding collaborative solutions, building strong organizational culture, and prioritizing both environmental and financial stewardship. As CFO, she developed robust financial strategies that balance operational demands with sustainable growth while maintaining affordability for customers and played a key role in the creation of Central Iowa Water Works.
Her presentation will include water quality challenges, overview of CIWW (Central Iowa Water Works), partnerships in conservation, and legislative priorities to highlight a few specific topics.
Club Day
Antiques & Treasures, 11:00 AM
The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln - Bob & Joyce Berkenes
Des Moines Women's Club member Joyce Berkenes and her husband, Bob, will speak on the Lincoln Assassination, including little-known facts about Abraham Lincoln and his wife, Mary, the events leading up to the assassination, and the actual murder of the president, which prompted the largest manhunt in U.S. history. Finally, discussion will focus briefly on nine fellow conspirators, their capture, trial, and ultimate fate. Joyce and Bob will bring a few items of interest to enhance your understanding of these tragic events.
Luncheon, 12:00 PM
Art, 1:00 PM
The Monuments Men - The Book: Ruth Ehler, Presenter
Ruth Ehler recounts the role her grandfather, Ralph Hammett, had during WWII as one of the Monument Men. The Monument Men was a small corps of mostly middle-aged men and a few women who interrupted their careers to recover countless artworks stolen by the Nazis. The Monuments Men and Women Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization created to raise worldwide awareness about the service of the Monuments Men and Women (MFAA), honor them for their achievements, complete their unfinished mission of returning missing art to the rightful owners, and educating the public on the importance of preserving our shared cultural art.
Club Day
Book Club Conversation - 9:30 – 10:45 AM, Deets Room
James, by Percival Everett
This conversation will be facilitated by Cindy Johnson and Dale Lewis. If interested, please sign up here. Consider bringing a friend!
And if you need assistance in procuring a book, contact Lou Howell – LouHowell@gmail.com or text 515-229-4781.
About: A brilliant, action-packed reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, both harrowing and darkly humorous, told from the enslaved Jim’s point of view.
When Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, he runs away until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck has faked his own death to escape his violent father. As all readers of American literature know, thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond.
Brimming with the electrifying humor and lacerating observations that have made Everett a literary icon, this brilliant and tender novel radically illuminates Jim’s agency, intelligence, and compassion as never before. James is destined to be a major publishing event and a cornerstone of twenty-first century American literature.
Awards
Pulitzer Prize Winner * #1 New York Times Best Seller *. National Book Award Winner * National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist * One of the New York Times Book Review’s 10 Best Books of the Year * Shortlisted for the Booker Prize * Kirkus Prize Winnter * A Los Angeles Times Best Fiction Book of the Last 30 Years * In development as a feature film to be produced by Steven Spielberg * A Best Book of the Year: The New York Times Book Review , LA Times, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The Economist, Time, and more.
History & Travel, 11:00 AM
Two Trips to the Land of the Pharaohs - Sheila Bingaman and Deb Douglas, Presenters
Luncheon, 12:00 PM Served by Baratta’s
Wedge Salad: with cherry tomato, cucumber and blue cheese dressing
Bread and Butter
Entree Options Chicken Parmesan:
Chicken breasts breaded with seasoned bread crumbs and parmesan cheese, topped with our red sauce and melted mozzarella.
Penne Smothered in our unmistakable red sauce.
GLUTEN FREE Grilled chicken with red sauce
Gluten-free pasta with red sauce Egg Plant Parmesan (VEGETARIAN)
Dessert
Tiramisu
Gluten Free Dessert
Lifestyle, 1:00 PM
Kay Fenton Smith, author of ‘Blue Ribbon Baking: Stories and Recipes from the Iowa State Fair Food Competitions’.
A few years ago, Smith, a passionate cook and avid State Fair enthusiast with a professional background in marketing, was surprised that while there are many great books about the Iowa State Fair and cookbooks with State Fair recipes, no one had ever told the history of the fair’s food department and competitions.
“Here we were, the No. 1 state fair food competition in the nation,” Smith says. “Why wasn’t there a book about it?”
Club Day
Open to the Public
Club Program, 11:00 AM
Abby Sawyer, Folk Singer & Song Writer - Concert - HSP Theater
Abbie Sawyer is a singer-songwriter who captivates live audiences with her stirring lyrics and soulful voice.
Her 2025 LP, Persimmon—called “a tall glass of hope” by dsm Magazine—was recorded over four seasons in her Iowa home as an exploration of the human experience, the creative process and blind faith. The 12-song collection witnesses the bravery it takes to love in the dance of being alive.
Her debut solo album, Love Is a Flood (2022), illuminates her experiences of motherhood and the pandemic, including postpartum anxiety and depression, joy and healing. This album and Abbie’s experience was featured on Iowa Public Radio and National Public Radio.
Abbie performs and records as a solo artist, as well as with Diplomats of Solid Sound, NOLA Jazz Band, The Night Lights, and Abbie & the Sawyers, with a sonic range from retro soul to New Orleans jazz, Americana and women-led Folk.
Abbie has shared billings with The Righteous Babes, Rufus Wainwright, Leyla McCalla, Lake Street Dive, The New Mastersounds, and Fitz & the Tantrums. She has toured internationally and her projects have over 40 million streams on Spotify.
Luncheon, 12:00 PM
1:00 PM Hoyt Sherman Place Staff Appreciation
Club Day
Literature, 11:00 AM
Okoboji Writers' and Songwriters' Retreat with Julie Gammack
The Okoboji Writers' and Songwriters' Retreat is an annual event held at Lake Okoboji in northwest Iowa. Julie Gammack will provide an overview of the retreat that is for writers of all skill levels. The retreat focuses on essays, memoir, nonfiction, fiction, reporting, songwriting, and how to market. Award-winning authors, newspaper editors, columnists, songwriters, and motivational speakers are featured. There is a story in everyone of us and Julie Gammack will share how the retreat makes that story come alive.
Luncheon, 12:00 PM Served by Baratta’s
Tossed Garden Salad with Ranch & Raspberry Vinaigrette
Bread and Butter
Entree Options
Bowtie Pasta with Chicken: Served in white sauce made of freshly grated cheese & cream.
GLUTEN FREE Penne with Chicken and White Sauce
Bowtie Pasta with White Sauce: Served in white sauce made of freshly grated cheese & cream. (VEGETARIAN)
Dessert options
Red Velvet Cake
Gluten Free Dessert
Happy Holidays! December 3 Book Exchange at the Noon Luncheon
Get ready for the holidays! Wrap up a new or old book and bring it to the December 3 luncheon to exchange at your table. The conversation about our books will encourage all of us to expand our reading and make connections with people at our luncheon table.
If you are in need of a book to exchange, contact Lou Howell at LouHowell@gmail.com or text 515-229-4781.
Performing Arts, 1:00 PM
Drew Peer
Club Day
Art, 11:00 AM
Ben Millett is grounded in traditional block-based patchwork quilting techniques. He employs personal color palettes in quilts to examine nuances of Queer identity, pop culture, and quilt making itself, incorporating the continuum of purpose on which quilts exist, from utility to Art.
Luncheon, 12:00 PM Served by Baratta’s
Tossed Garden Salad with Ranch & Raspberry Vinaigrette
Bread and Butter
Entree Options:
Baked Lasagna: Layers of pasta, seasoned beef, Italian sausage, fresh vegetables and ricotta cheese smothered with our red sauce.
GLUTEN FREE Penne with Red Sauce & Sausage Link
Vegetable Lasagna: Layers of pasta, vegetables and ricotta cheese, with white sauce and mozzarella. (VEGETARIAN)
Dessert:
Lemon Sunshine Cake
Gluten Free Dessert
History and Travel, 1:00 PM
Club Day
11:00 AM
JoAnn McCracken Young will present a program on grief.
Luncheon, 12:00 PM
Start the New Year Thinking about Books and Authors – Get Ready for Book Trivia!
Our February 4 luncheon will give us all the opportunity to reminisce (and laugh) about favorite books and authors when we explore trivia about them at our luncheon tables. For example:
Can you name the four sisters in Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women?
What title theme did James Patterson use in his early books?
Louise Penny has a favorite detective in her many mystery novels. He was even featured in a three-episodes series, “Three Pines.” What is his name?
Bring a friend to take part in the fun!
1:00 PM
Author Kali White Van Baale will share her journey with writing. Cindy Johnson is scheduled to host this program.
Kali White VanBaale is the award-winning author of the novels The Monsters We Make, The Good Divide, and The Space Between. She also writes and publishes short stories, personal essays, and articles. Kali is the managing editor-at-large of the nonfiction literary journal Past Ten and print anthology The Past Ten, and is a core faculty member in the Lindenwood University MFA in Writing Program where she was named adjunct professor of the year.
Club Day
Book Club Conversation –9:30 – 10:45, Deets Room
Small Things Like These, Claire Keegan
This conversation will be facilitated by Glenda O’Brien and Lou Howell. If interested, please sign up here. Consider bringing a friend!
If you need assistance in procuring the book, contact Lou Howell at LouHowell@gmail.com or 515-229-4781.
About: Small Things Like These is award-winning author Claire Keegan’s landmark new novel, a tale of one man’s courage and a remarkable portrait of love and family.
It is 1985 in a small Irish town. During the weeks leading up to Christmas, Bill Furlong, a coal merchant and family man, faces into his busiest season. Early one morning, while delivering an order to the local convent, Bill makes a discovery which forces him to confront both his past and the complicit silences of a town controlled by the church.
An international bestseller, Small Things Like These is a deeply affecting story of hope, quiet heroism, and empathy from one of our most critically lauded and iconic writers.
Awards:
Oprah’s Book Club Pick 2024 * New York Times Book Club Pick 2024 * Now a Major Motion Picture Starring Cillian Murphy * A New York Times Bestseller * Shortlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize * Winner of the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction * One of the New York Times’s 100 Best Books of the 21st Century * The Irish Times Best Book of the 21st Century
Club Day
Lifestyle, 11:00 AM
Global Greens Market - Immigrant Mentorship Program - Lutheran Services of Iowa
A representative of Lutheran Services of Iowa, Immigrants and Refugee Services will speak about the LSI Global Greens Market and mentorship program. This market is held on Saturday mornings from 9:00 to 12:00 at 1907 Carpenter Avenue in Des Moines. She may bring some produce from the market and recipe ideas.
Luncheon, 12:00 PM -
Sunflower Catering will serve:
Harvest Salad, Bread & Butter, Lemon Picatta Chicken, Harvest Roasted Vegetables, Caramel Apple Cupcakes
Vegetarian/Gluten Free option:
Harvest Salad, Bread & Butter, Plant-based Lemon Picatta "Chicken", Harvest Roasted Vegetables, Caramel Apple Cupcakes
Literature, 1:00 PM
Writing Historical Fiction - An Iowa View: Ann Hanigan Kotz, Author Presenter
Ann Hanigan Kotz resides in Adel, Iowa, and was a high school English teacher for 33 years, serving 30 of them at Waukee High School. She is originally from Denison, a town in western Iowa where her books are set. She earned her bachelor’s from the University of Northern Iowa and her master’s from Viterbo University in Wisconsin. She retired from teaching in 2001 and picked up her writing career the same year. Her program follows her journey from writing her first book, The Longest Journey—a book she originally self-published—to being signed by BookPress Publishing in 2002 and the re-release of her first novel under the title, The Journey of Karoline Olsen. Ann delves into how she wove her Norwegian family stories—the untimely death of her great, great grandfather; her great-great grandmother’s return to Norway and birth of a child on the ship; and the disappearance of the youngest Olson, Gilbert—into her Olsen trilogy books. Her audience gets a sneak peek at her current project, one which includes her Irish family, and the research she’s been doing on Iowa circuses. Ann offers her audience an inside look at the publishing world as well as her travels across Iowa, teaching history to patrons at local libraries. Ann finishes her program with a few anecdotes from her life in the public.
Opening Day
Open to the Public
1:00 P.M. in the Hoyt Sherman Place Theater
Jackie on Stage: Featuring Sondheim and Other Fun Stuff
A Cabaret by Jackie Schmillen
From small-town Iowa to the bright lights of Hoyt Sherman Place, Jackie on Stage is a heartfelt and entertaining musical journey that traces the path of one woman’s big dreams. Join Jackie Schmillen—Central Iowa TV host, performer, and proud Iowa native—as she returns to her theatrical roots in a cabaret filled with heart, humor, and, of course, Sondheim.
2:00 PM Reception in the Hoyt Sherman Place Gallery
Please come and enjoy this free to the public performance as we kick off our 140th Club year!
Club Day
Antiques & Treasures, 11:00 AM
Ingersoll Dinner Theater - The Reopening with Steve Wilke-Shapiro
Please join us to hear Steve Wilke-Shapiro, Owner/Architect Sequel Architecture + Interiors, tell the story of the Ingersoll Theater and the numerous changes it has been through over the years. It is currently under rehabilitation to become a live music venue. In this presentation, he will show some rare photos, give you a sneak peak at the interior renderings, and talk about the rehabilitation process underway.
Boxed Lunch 12:00 PM
Caterer: In The Bag
CLASSIC CLUB. A giant of a sandwich with shaved smoked turkey, crisp bacon and tender roast beef, stacked high with Swiss and cheddar cheese, lettuce & tomato on our marbled rye • Fresh sliced fruit or a crisp veggie cup • Pasta salad • A brownie for dessert • Condiments • Water or Lemonade
or
MIDDLE EASTERN VEGGIE. Delicious and nutritious hummus topped with Kalamata olives, feta cheese, fresh green leaf lettuce, cucumber, red onion, and tomato. Served in a pita • Fresh sliced fruit or a crisp veggie cup • Pasta salad • A brownie for dessert • Condiments • Water or Lemonade
The deadline to order a lunch has passed.
Art, 1:00 PM
Women Artists: Hooligans, Rebels, & Rabble-Rousers - Paula Kerman, Author Presenter
Paula Kerman grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, but has made Des Moines, Iowa, her home since attending college at Drake University, where she completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. She also has a master’s in education and was an art educator for forty-three years in the Des Moines Public Schools, at the Des Moines Art Center, and at her in-home studio. She is passionate about her art practice and has exhibited and sold her work. After experiencing significant loss, she began researching and painting strong women who inspired her. Hooligans, Rebels, and Rabble-Rousers is her first book.
Club Day
The Rev. Dr. Michael Foss will give a presentation as Major Samuel Hawkins Marshall on the history of the Byers Room at Hoyt Sherman Place. Major Byers knew of Hoyt Sherman Place since he served in the
Civil War under Hoyt’s brother General William T. Sherman. Byers decided to leave his large collection of art, furniture and artifacts to the Des Moines Women’s Club as long as they created a
room named after him to display the collection.
DMWC Appreciation Event
Des Moines Women’s Club Members will receive a free drink of their choice at Jazz in July on the Hoyt Sherman Place lawn.
Club Day
11:00 AM, Club Program
John Krantz Trio featuring Randy Ward on Bass and Jim Eklof on drums.
John Krantz has been a mainstay on the Des Moines jazz scene since he returned to public performing in 2006. He loves the standard jazz repertoire in addition to many lesser knowns compositions by some of his musical heroes, but always attempts to cater to the audience. Krantz has recorded three CD's to date (available on iTunes - all in different formats - duo, trio and quintet. John was inducted in the CJC Jazz Hall of Fame in October of 2024 and is the President of the Hoyt Sherman Place Foundation Board of Directors.
12:00 PM, Luncheon
Catered by Great Caterers of Iowa. Greek salad, lemon picatta chicken, steamed broccoli, wild rice pilaf, bread, coconut cream dessert or banana cream dessert. Vegetarian option: Eggplant Parmesan.
Club Day
11:00 AM, Installation of New Officers & Memorial Program
12:00 PM, Luncheon
Catered by Hy-Vee. Broccoli, raisin, bacon salad, fried chicken, 3 bean salad, cheesy potato casserole, and ice cream. Vegetarian Option: Broccoli Cheese Quiche
1:00 PM, Public Affairs, State of Our Iowa Government
Representative Mary Lee Madison is serving her second term in the Iowa House of Representatives. Committees include Education, Environmental Protection, Transportation, Economic Development and Technology and Justice Appropriations. She has earned degrees from St. Peter’s University B.A., M. A., Seton Hall University, M.Ed. Tarleton State University, M. Div., Turner Theological Seminary at The Interdenominational Theological Center.
Club Day
Annual Meeting, 11:00 AM
This is our very important annual meeting, and each Club member is asked to attend. There must be a quorum of 30% of membership present for this to be declared official, so your presence is needed.
Luncheon, 12:00 PM
Catered by Hy-Vee. Chef Salad, Charcuterie board, and mini cupcakes.
Club Program, 1:00 PM
Documentarian, Nik Heft will present The Negro Artist based on Caleb Rainey. If you’ve met Caleb Rainey, you understand why his poetry is nothing less than essential. This documentary follows Rainey's story as a spoken word poet with artistic roots in eastern Iowa. His poetry and community service efforts are bolstering the arts across the state of Iowa and the greater Midwest—a Black voice that demands to be heard amidst often-overlooked spaces. As we dive into Rainey's world, we see a profound exploration of race, identity, and the lived realities of systemic inequality. His work challenges us to confront uncomfortable truths and inspires us to envision a more equitable future. By sharing Rainey’s story, we hope to provide a window into the transformative potential of poetry and to affirm the significance of every voice in the ongoing quest for justice and understanding.
Club Day
New Member Introductions, 11:00 AM
Luncheon, 12:00 PM
Catered by Great Caterers of Iowa. garlic bread, mixed fresh fruit salad, glazed cooked carrots, cheesecake bars. Vegetarian Option: No Chicken. Gluten-Free Option: Gluten-Free noodles and dessert.
Performing Arts, 1:00 PM
DMWC Member, Robin Breen Fulton, will give a presentation on the Treasure Trunk Theater program. Treasure Trunk Theatre creates a nurturing space for children to develop their imagination, confidence, and creativity through the magic of storytelling. It encourages self-expression and celebrate individuality. Using the power of dramatic play to inspire each child to be their unique self, to connect with others, and to see the world in an empathic way.
Club Day
Art Exhibition Judge’s Talk, 11:00 AM, Byers Room
Diane Kunzler has a degree in Art from Graceland University, in Lamoni, Iowa and an MFA from the Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University in Boston, Massachusetts. After 38 years of teaching in the public schools, she "retired" to focus on her own work. She teaches classes at Kunzler Studios and at the Des Moines Art Center - mostly to satisfy her continued need to instruct people.
Diane’s work has been featured in many juried and one person shows around the Midwest. The subject matter of her oil paintings and pastels is usually pulled from nature and often examines the subtle nuances a busy society might typically miss - how water flows over and between river rocks or beads up on the leaf of a lily pad. Diane serves as the education expert for Kunzler Studios.
Luncheon, 12:00 PM
Homemade Spinach & Cheese Tortellini topped with red and white sauce, bread, Arancia Insalata, and sunshine cake.
Art Exhibition Gallery Night
Complimentary wine and appetizers will be served. This fee and open to the public.
Art Exhibition Opening Day Tea
Judge Diane Kunzler will announce the winners for the professional and nonprofessional categories. Hot tea and cookies will be served. This is free and open to the public.
Club Day
Club Program, 11:00 AM
Sarah Routh, and Iowa-born singer/songwriter gives an energetic and heart-full performance every time. Sara embraces musical growth yet stays true to her jazz & folk roots. She is constantly reinventing herself in order to bring excitement to her audiences in both live and recorded settings.
Luncheon, 12:00 PM
Catered by Hy-Vee. Waldorf salad, meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, apple crisp. Vegetarian option: lentil loaf.
Lifestyle, 1:00 PM
Bill Ekhardt, Parish Associate at Westminster Presbyterian Church, will present on social media in our lives.
Club Day
Performing Arts, 11:00 AM
With 25 albums under his belt, Chad Elliott's writing is highly respected among his peers of fellow songwriters. His songs have won multiple awards. (Woody Guthrie Song Contest, Kerrville NewFolk, 3rd Place International Songwriting Competition, International Blues Challenge Semi-finalist). Elliott is releasing his 26th album, Untested Wings, in 2024.
Luncheon, 12:00 PM
Catered by the Great Caterers of Iowa. BBQ beef, cowboy beans, coleslaw, potato salad, biscuits, and brownies. Vegetarian option: BBQ impossible meat.
History & Travel, 1:00 PM
Valerie Van Kooten, administrator of the State Historical Society of Iowa, will talk about the Society, what it does, and about the State Historical Museum.
Club Day
Public Affairs, 11:00 AM
“The U.S. and China: Is a Cold War Necessary?” David Skidmore, Professor of Political Science at Drake University, will speak on US-Chinese relations. David Skidmore received his Ph.D. degree from Stanford University and taught at Hamilton College and the University of Notre Dame before arriving at Drake in 1989. During the 1996-97 academic year, he taught at the Johns Hopkins-Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies in Nanjing, China. He also served as a Fulbright Scholar based at the University of Hong Kong in 2010-2011. Skidmore served as Director of the Principal Financial Group Center for Global Citizenship (2002-2017) and the Nelson Institute for Diplomacy and International Affairs (2012-2017), both at Drake University. He is past Director of the Drake Curriculum and First Year Seminar programs. His research and teaching interests lie in the areas of international political economy, American foreign policy and international relations theory.
Luncheon, 12:00 PM
Vegetarian Lentil Soup, mixed green salad with almonds and dried cranberries, Turkey Club, and Oatmeal fudge bar. Vegetarian option: Veggie Wrap.
Antiques & Treasures, 1:00 PM
A dilapidated building at 2513 Woodland Ave. sat vacant for numerous years. The City of Des Moines put it up for auction in 2023. Four bidders gave a presentation to the City detailing what their visions were for this building. Because of the building’s state of disrepair, none of the bidders were allowed to enter the structure. Steve Wilke-Shapiro, who is an Architecture, won the bid. Come listen to Steve’s presentation on how he brought this uninhabitable building back to life. He tells the history of how this was once a grocery store in the 1920’s and then a barber’s shop for in the 1960’s for black patrons. With months of Steve’s hard work, this structure is now a beautiful office space for his business, Sequel Architecture + Interiors located at 2513 Woodland Ave, Des Moines, IA
Club Day
Literature, 11:00 AM
All Book Club Read of The Seed Keeper by Diane Wilson. A haunting novel spanning several generations, The Seed Keeper follows a Dakhóta family’s struggle to preserve their way of life, and their sacrifices to protect what matters most.
Luncheon, 12:00 PM
Catered by Baratta’s: Cavatelli, salad, garlic bread, and lemon sunshine cake.
Lifestyle, 1:00 PM
Jean Logan is a nurse, a researcher, and an educator who, as an elected official served two six-year terms on the Broadlawns Board of Trustees. While she was a faculty member at Grand View, she helped design the Caring Curriculum, which influenced the title of the book Broadlawns: A Century of Caring.
Broadlawns Medical Center has persisted through the worst and the best of times, tending to the people of Polk County. Originally established as a tuberculosis hospital, Broadlawns has transformed into a facility that comprehensively meets citizens’ needs by providing access to high quality care at low financial cost. This book documents the history and curated stories that illuminate Broadlawns over the course of the last century, from 1924 to 2024. Included are sections on the school of nursing, medical education, celebrities and ghost stories from the past, along with documentation of leadership and photographs of old and new buildings that have served the people over the years.
Club Day
Holiday Party, 11:00 AM
Luncheon, 12:00 PM
Catered by the Great Caterers of Iowa: Caesar salad, lemon rosemary chicken, wild rice, vegetable medley, and flourless chocolate torte with raspberries.
Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Option: plant-based chicken
Club Day
Performing Arts, 11:00 AM
Lincoln High School Choir will perform under the direction of Brandon Record.
Luncheon, 12:00 PM
Catered by Baratta’s Italian Restaurant and Catering: salad, bread, Mediterranean pasta with chicken, and red velvet cake.
Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Option: Mediterranean pasta.
History & Travel, 1:00 PM
Beth Hoffman was living the good life: she had a successful career as a journalist and professor, a comfortable home in San Francisco, and plenty of close friends and family. Yet in her late 40s, she and her husband decided to leave the big city and move to his family ranch in Iowa—all for the dream of becoming a farmer, to put into practice everything she had learned over decades of reporting on food and agriculture. There was just one problem: money. Her book, Bet the Farm chronicles this struggle through Beth’s eyes as a beginning farmer. She must contend with her father-in-law, who is reluctant to hand over control of the land. Growing oats is good for the environment but ends up being very bad for the wallet. And finding somewhere, in the midst of COVID-19, to slaughter grass-finished beef is a nightmare. The couple also must balance the books, hoping that farming isn’t a romantic fantasy that takes every cent of their savings.
Club Day
Club Program, Hoyt Sherman Place Theater, 11:00 AM
Acoustic musicians Brad & Kate have been entertaining crowds across the Midwest with their wide-ranging music, offering a variety of familiar songs ranging from The Beatles to John Mayer and Stevie Wonder to Adele. This event is free and open to the public.
Thanksgiving Luncheon, 12:00 PM
Catered by Hy-Vee: turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, cranberry salad, and pumpkin pie or apple pie with crumb topping.
Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Option: Pho turkey
Club Day
Literature, 11:00 AM
The Jane Austen Society of North America is a non-profit organization staffed by volunteers and dedicated to the enjoyment and appreciation of Jane Austen and her writing. Vision: Because literature has the power to change and enrich our lives, we want to see more people reading the great authors, with special emphasis on Jane Austen. Mission: Our mission is to foster among the widest number of readers the study, appreciation, and understanding of Jane Austen’s works, her life, and her genius.
Luncheon, 12:00 PM
Catered by Great Caterers of Iowa: country slaw, smoked beef tritip, cheesy potato salad, cowboy beans, and oatmeal fudge bar.
Vegan/Gluten free Option: eggplant parmesan.
Art, 1:00 PM
Dr. Kelly Baum, Director of the Des Moines Art Center, will present. Dr. Baum will lead the Art Center in furthering its mission to provide opportunities for transformational art experiences through its collections, exhibitions, and educational programming. Dr. Baum comes to Des Moines from The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York where she has served in multiple roles since 2015, most recently as the Cynthia Hazen Polsky and Leon Polsky Curator of Contemporary Art.