Our first chapter meeting of 2025 was held early February at The Fortnightly, and we were pleased to welcome three guests: Annette McErlean, a friend of Barbara Wing’s, JoEllen Zacks, a former Near North Chapter member, and our beloved Auxiliary Coordinator, Maria Penland.

Maria Penland presented a capsule report of the Auxiliary’s history, and an up-to-date report on the present Clinic activities.  Her presentation was appreciated by all—especially our newer Ambassador members and prospective members.

A “sewing bee” group gathered at Trucia Drummond’s home for multiple cutting, pinning and sewing sessions.  A total of 60 tag blankets were completed and will be included in our pledged AngelBaby Bags for new IWS mothers this summer.

Ambassadors have been practicing our mission – supporting other chapters’ benefits and events!  We were represented at Hinsdale’s wonderful Tablescapes March benefit, as well as Lake Forest’s spectacular Showcase House and Gardens event.  We fully appreciate all of the effort that goes into creating and managing these events; we laud our fellow Auxiliary members and thank them for their invaluable support of the Clinic.

Our Garden Committee, spearheaded by Casey Byrne, changed the seasonal plantings in the welcoming pots from winter to “almost spring” with festive pansies!  The father of an IWS patient, and a landscaper at that, offered his skills and strength to the potting procedure. Then earlier this month, the group gathered to add two additional planters at the Clinic entrance as well as fill the flower beds with new perennials and colorful annuals to welcome official spring and summer and our IWS families!

Janie’s Kitchen – our food pantry originally funded by a Lake Forest donor is the joint effort of IWS and the Chicago Food  Depository.  Janie’s Kitchen is going strong, with committed support from several of our members: Kelley Gibson (Project Chair), Roslyn Steinberg, Casey Byrne, Stephanie Mantis and Diane Nesbitt.  Our patients are most appreciative of this opportunity.

Our final meeting of this fiscal year will be held at the lovely home of Maria Enright, and she will be joined by Karen Hale and Stephanie Mantis as co-hostesses. We are looking forward to welcoming new Ambassador-at-Large members!