“October is a month for gathering - gathering leaves, moments, and memories.” |
 SAVE THE DATE December Holiday Cocktail Party, Wednesday, December 3rd from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. The Asolo Theater, Saturday Matinee on December 6th. "Come from Away", $85.45 per ticket for excellent orchestra seats. Registration is open and seating is available. Look under Events to purchase a ticket.
|
Wow, We have five new members in September: Natalie Curtis, Joyce Hendrickson, Marge Kasper, Ronni Parrish and Adina Schwartz. Our new member in October is Kyle Falco. Let's give them a warm welcome at the next Welcome Club Luncheon. | UPCOMING LUNCHEON Just click on the luncheon to register r
|
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE |
Dear Welcome Club Members, Join us in welcoming Dr. Marjo Mitsutomi as a distinguished speaker at our November 2025 General Membership Meeting Luncheon! With an impressive academic background, Dr. Mitsutomi holds a Th.D. from Newburgh Theological Seminary, where her postdoctoral research explored the interplay of first language and culture in spiritual development. She also earned a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics from Ball State University, focusing on second language acquisition and teaching methods. Dr. Mitsutomi has served as a tenured professor and administrator at esteemed institutions in both the United States and Japan, including the University of Redlands and Akita International University. Her dedication to education has earned her accolades such as the “Best Teacher” award. In addition to her academic pursuits, when living in southern California, Dr. Mitsutomi played a vital role in leadership within aviation and education. As President of M. I. AIR Corp. Flight School and a private pilot, she was a linguistic consultant to the FAA and pioneered the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) linguistic standards for the promotion of safety in aviation. The consulting project led to the global adoption of English proficiency standards for both pilots and air traffic controllers. Her commitment to education also extended to her work with the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, (CCTC) where she advised on bilingual education qualifications for teachers. An accomplished author and translator, Dr. Mitsutomi recently edited a significant work on church safety and translated an autobiographical memoir from Finnish to English. Her TEDx talk reflects her academic and practical insights into a multidisciplinary approach to solving real-life problems. Dr. Mitsutomi is also an experienced ordained chaplain, providing care and support at various organizations, including the Resurrection House, Second Heart Homes and the Sarasota Police Department. With advanced certifications in chaplaincy and mental health coaching, she brings a compassionate and non-judgemental approach to her work. Fluent in Finnish, English, and Japanese, Dr. Mitsutomi has lived and worked across three continents. She enjoys a rich family life with her husband, Jerry Platt, a Professor and Dean Emeritus of San Francisco State University, and their five grown children and ten grandchildren. A trained classical pianist, she is also a co-founder and co-director with her brother Jarmo Kormu of the Bayside Church Chorale, which engages in community outreach to nursing homes, assisted living, etc., and welcomes requests from other interested organizations and parties. We look forward to Dr. Mitsutomi sharing her unique insights and experiences with us! Pamela Modisett, President |
FUN MEMBER MOMENTS
Member Awards and Acknowledgements
If you have a picture, please include it with the announcement. | Sign up for a Special Interest Group (SIG) and have some FUN with the other members. Check Out the List on the Website. There are many Groups to Choose From . It is a Great Way to Meet the Members! | Your SIG Group Pictures Could be Here! Send your group photos to Kristin to publish in the Newsletter so everyone knows how great your group is! Pictures should be taken horizontally and saved as a Large size. Email only, no text, to wcnews@welcomeclubsm.com or Kristin at kristin.triolo@gmail.com Book Club, Cooking Group, Dining Groups, Games of Cards and Mah Jongg and More. Inquiring Welcome Club Members want to know what is happening! Please share. |
The Beach Sisters always have lunch together at the beach outings. You can order lunch at the Siesta Key or Lido Key Food Stands and take it to the beach or eat it at the seating areas just off the beach. Nokomis and Venice beach outings include lunch at Sharkey's at the Pier in Venice or Pop's Sunset Grill in Nokomis before the beach outing.
The October Beach Outing is at Lido Beach.
Meet at the Lido Public Beach Pavilion at 9:30 AM on Wednesday, October 22nd.
Open to All Members. Please Signup Online.
NOTE: The time has changed to 9:30 AM from 11:00!
| 
|
Luncheon Divas on September 29th at the Newest Restaurant on Lido Key with a Circus Theme,
Cirque De St. Armand's.
| |
|
|
The October Savor and Socialize Dinner was at Arts Central in Downtown Sarasota
on Monday, October 13th. 3 Tables of Women Enjoying the Evening with loads of laughter and fun!
|
|
 |
|
The Friday Lunch Bunch Met at the Ringling Museum Restaurant the first Friday of October.
| Members sat at different tables and were served at different times so everyone did not get in the pictures. Diana Stoker took the pictures for the group. Linda Greene is our hostess each month and she was there too! |  |
The Ladies Night Out Happy Hour was at Tommy Bahamas Marlin Bar in Lakewood Ranch. |
|
|
The Travel n' Gals Met on October 12th to talk about plans for the future. There are changes being made. Thank you Karen Doggett for hosting everyone at her home. Stay tuned for more opportunities to participate in club events. |
 |
|
|
|
Welcome Club Monthly Luncheon was held at The Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club on October 16th. The two speakers were Sue Berger, Aging System Coordinator of Sarasota County and Maricela Morado, President and CEO of the Area Agency for Aging for Southwest Florida. |
Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club | Our Greeters were Mariana Corrado and Susan Anderson. | Nancy Allen led the Meeting this Month |
Anniversary Member Recognition
| Great Attendance at the Luncheon
| Sue Berger and Maricela Morado, our two Speakers.
|
Networking is a perfect time to catch up with your friends and meet other members.
| More Networking | More Networking
|
Member Awards and Acknowledgements Congratulations to All Our Members for Their Great Accomplishments! |
We have an Author in our Group! Mariana Corrado has written a romance comedy: Valerie's Midlife Reimagined. It is available at Amazon. The link is: https://a.co/d/4kuLux9 or enter the title and the author to order.  |
Marg Williamson's Watercolor "A Painterly Sky" will be juried at the Florida Watercolor Society's 54th Annual Exhibit at the Orlando Museum of Art.
| Susan Anderson was named the Outstanding Senior Volunteer for her dedication and commitment to Emma E. Booker Elementary School. |
