Committees
Book and Needle Woman's Club of Oradell is divided into areas of interest. In addition to our regular monthly meetings of the full club, individual committees meet separately as well; activities include monthly lunches at international restaurants, attendance at theatre productions in NJ and NYC, participation in state-wide Women's Club craft competitions, monthly book club.
Joining a committee is a great way to get more involved! Check out the options below.
Civic Engagement and Outreach Community Service Program
Highlights and encourages citizenship, crime prevention, safety, and disaster preparedness; the needy, hungry, and homeless; and our military personnel and veterans. Projects include providing Christmas stockings for overseas military, delivering Meals on Wheels, and donations to local food banks.
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Chairperson: Kathleen Becker
Education and Libraries
Projects are designed to foster schools, and other educational institutions and opportunities, promote libraries, literacy, and the love of a good book. Through these efforts, we encourage the growth of individuals and communities at home and around the world.
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Among our projects, we provide scholarships to graduating River Dell High School seniors, sponsor River Dell junior girls' participation at Girls' Career Institute on the Douglass Residential College campus, and sponsor the Summer Kickoff Program at the Oradell Public Library Junior Room.
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Chairperson: Louise Lessersohn
History
Our historian, whose grandmother was a founding member of Book and Needle, provides presentations on club history, keeping us connected to the long legacy of women serving their community who have come before us.
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Historian: Jan Atwater
Arts & Culture Community Service Program
Designed to inspire club women and ignite within them a desire to make the world a more beautiful, thoughtful, and caring place through the arts.
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Music: The Book and Needle singers perform a dozen times a year at various senior residences.
Chairperson: Ginny Baird
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Theatre: Members take field trips to experience regional and Broadway productions. We're looking for a new chairperson. Is it you? Email womanscluboforadell@gmail.com
Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness and Prevention
The goal of this program is to increase awareness of, and help prevent, the widespread occurence of violence against women and children in communities across the nation. Projects have included support of Center for Hope and Safety in Rochelle Park, Family Promise, and Prevent Child Abuse New Jersey.
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Chairperson: Bruna Dietz
Health and Wellness
The goal of this program is to improve our well-being by addressing nutrition, disease prevention, and physical and emotional care. Projects have included heart health awareness, a Valley Health nutrition program, a self-defense seminar, support of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), and a program on grief support with Imagine.
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Chairperson: Kathleen Becker
Lunch Around
the World
Members enjoy sampling food from local international restaurants, from French and Turkish to Italian, Peruvian, Thai, Indian and many more. Come have lunch with us while sharing camaraderie!​
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Chairperson: Jan Atwater
Performing Arts: Literature
The Literature Department pays tribute to the "Book" in "Book and Needle" through monthly book club meetings to discuss newly published novels and timeless classics. We also sponsor a scholarship for a graduating River Dell High School senior who excels in English Literature.
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Chairperson: Susan Chambers
Special State Project
As part of the New Jersey State Federation of Women's Clubs (NJSFWC), Book and Needle Woman's Club of Oradell participates in the Special State Project.
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The 2020-2022 Special State Project is Operation Chillout: "No Borders, No Boundaries." Operation Chillout is New Jersey's oldest and only all-volunteer mobile outreach for homeless veterans. Learn more.
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Chairperson: Dr. Marie Woke
Programming
The Programming Department plans the special program portion of our monthly general club meetings. We bring in special speakers on a variety of topics. Recent programs include presentations on the Palisades, historic French filmmaker and Fort Lee studio head Alice Guy-Blache, a crime-solving medium, and even the Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey!
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Are you interested in presenting to the group? Email womanscluboforadell@gmail.com.
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Chairperson: Kris Schmitt
Sunshine Committe
Assists the Corresponding Secretary in spreading good cheer to members - especially those who may be ill or experiencing a family emergency - through cards, rides, and meals. Book and Needle members raise each other up!
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Chairperson: Jane Speciale