Woman's Club of Cranbury
General Meetings
Note that Woman's Club of Cranbury programs run from September through May.
In addition to our various Departments, we have one general meeting each month of all Departments combined. This is our opportunity for fellowship among all members. It is at these events that new members are inducted and Scholarships are awarded.
Departments
About Departments
Unlike Focus Groups, Departments meet monthly and must host one General Meeting each year. Members must join at least one Department.
For more about our departments, see the scrapbook page for items you can view or download.
Arts & Culture (formerly Arts / Creative)
Monthly department meetings are held on the third Thursday of the month at 10 am.
The avenues of art are only limited by our imaginations. NJSFWC Arts Creative Community Service Program encourages members to promote and support arts activities in their clubs, schools, and communities. It is designed to inspire clubwomen and ignite within them a desire to make their world a more beautiful place. The goal is to create programs and projects in a multitude of arts-related areas, both traditional and innovative, that cause the world around us to see and feel what they might have only once imagined.
Civic Engagement (formerly Public Affairs)
Monthly department meetings are held on the third Thursday of the month at 7 pm.
Civic and social responsibilities are key components in our lives. The NJSFWC Public Issues Community Service Program is designed to actively connect members with effective projects and activities relating to civic and social responsibilities. This program focuses on the following areas:
- Citizenship
- Military Personnel
- Emergency and Disaster Preparedness
- Safety and Crime Prevention
Events: We sponsor Meet the Candidates Night and the Easter Egg Hunt in Village Park.
Gourmet
Monthly department meetings are held on the first Thursday of the month at 7:00 pm. Activities run from September through May.
Various culinary topics & interests for the upcoming year are discussed and planned for at our last scheduled meeting in May. Group members take turns either hosting a monthly meeting or by bringing needed food items to round out the program for that evening. Meetings vary in scope, from having a professional cook give us an in-home demonstration to a member pot luck dinner. We also recognize the increasing need for donations to our local food pantries. We support several and are committed to continuing and growing our efforts.
Education & Libraries (formerly Drama & Literature)
Monthly department meetings are held on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 10 am.
From the 1996 Report of the International Commission on Education for the 21st Century and the 1997 Hamburg Declaration: Literacy, broadly conceived as the basic knowledge and skills needed in a rapidly changing world is a fundamental human right. There are millions, the majority of whom are women, who lack opportunities to learn or have insufficient skills to be able to assert this right. The challenge is to enable them to do so. Literacy is also a catalyst for participating in social, cultural, political, and economic activities, and for learning throughout life.
Environment (formerly Conservation & Garden)
Monthly department meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month at 11 am.
The NJSFWC Environment Community Service Program encourages awareness of our natural resources and caring for the world around us. It offers information and ideas to promote environmental appreciation and protection. We work to preserve, maintain, and restore our natural resources; protect habitats for plants and animals; and develop sustainable habits.
Our goals include environmental education; care for our air, land, and water; recycling; litter cleanup; partnerships with community groups, schools, and children; support of wildlife; energy conservation; tree planting; and beautification.
Health & Wellness (formerly Home Life/Social Services)
Monthly department meetings are held on the second Monday of the month at 7 pm.
The Health and Wellness Community Service Program is designed to inform members of issues that affect the well-being of individuals, families and communities by providing opportunities and resources to meet and address needs through volunteering. Through this program, clubs may develop and implement creative projects that promote a healthy lifestyle; increase awareness, prevention, research, and treatment of disease; target personal development; address the issues of hunger, inadequate housing, and homelessness; and/or prevent or correct financial difficulties.
Focus Groups
About Focus Groups
Unlike Departents, Focus Groups do not have regularly scheduled meetings. They provide members with a means to pursue a special interest.
Hiking Focus Group
Dates and times vary. Join the email list to be notified when a hike is planned.
Events: Put on your hiking boots and join us for a walk through our wonderful parks and woodlands.
International Affairs Focus Group
Great Decisions is a national program of the Foreign Policy Association. Great Decisions is the largest non-partisan citizen education effort of its kind and has provided quality information and tools for over fifty years. Their mission: Inform, engage, inspire.
Our International Affairs focus group worked with the Cranbury Public Library to provide these programs on the Second Tuesday of each month. There is a video followed by a discussion of the topic. Sign up for the Zoom meeting on the Library website by clicking the date on the calendar at https://www.cranburypubliclibrary.org/.
Discuss the most critical foreign policy issues facing America today. At 6:30 p.m. watch a half-hour documentary followed by a discussion of the topic.
Information on the topics can be found below
Marilynn Mullen, Library Director, is the facilitator for these discussions. Pat Demers from the Woman’s Club International Affairs Department is the Woman’s Club contact, 609-395-0314.
2023 Topics
1. Energy Geopolitics Access to oil and gas has long held an influence over the politics of individual nations and their relations with others. But as more countries move toward sustainable energy, and supply chain shortages affect the availability of oil and gas, how will this change the way in which the United States interacts with the outside world? By Carolyn Kissane
2. War Crimes Russia's invasion of Ukraine has resulted in widespread charges of war crimes and calls for justice. But what exactly are war crimes? Opinions of what constitutes a war crime have evolved, as have ways to identify and punish the perpetrators. How will the war crimes committed in Ukraine be dealt with? By Francine Hirsch
3. China and the U.S. For the past ten years, the United States and China have been locked in a competition for who has the greatest global influence. One major point of contention is the status of Taiwanese sovereignty, which has become even more relevant recently with the possibility that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine may prompt China to take similar action regarding Taiwan. How will the United States engage a China which is increasingly seeking to expand its sphere of influence? By David Lampton
4. Economic Warfare Waging economic warfare consists of a variety of measures from implementing sanctions to fomenting labor strikes. Such tools are utilized by states to hinder their enemies, and in the case of the United States have been used as far back as the early 19th century. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, economic warfare has been the main means for the west to challenge Russia. How effective will these sanctions be at convincing Russia to cease its war? By Jonathan Chanis
5. Politics in Latin America Electoral results in Latin America over the past four years have led many observers of the regional/political scene to discern a left-wing surge in the hemisphere, reminiscent of the so-called “Pink Tide” that swept the area some 20 years ago. But how much do these politicians actually have in common? What implication does their ascendency have for the region? By Jorge Castañeda
6. Global Famine Fears of global food shortages have followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has disrupted grain shipments from the major grain producer. But what about countries and regions that were suffering before this impending shortage? How is famine defined, and how is it different from simple food shortages? What if any remedies are there? By Daniel Maxwell
7. Iran at a Crossroads By the fall of 2022, Iran was in a state of turmoil due to widespread protests against government-enforced wearing of the hijab, a failing economy, an ineffective new president, and the looming succession of the country’s leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. Abroad, renewal of the Iran nuclear deal seemed doubtful and tensions remain high between Iran, Israel, and Arab states. Many Iranians have lost hope of a better future, and the country seems at a crossroads. How should the United States deal with it? By Lawrence Potter
8. Climate Migration As climate change accelerates and drought and rising sea levels become more common, millions of people in affected regions must uproot themselves and seek safety elsewhere. Who are these affected individuals, and how might the United States aid them, and be affected by the migration? By Karen Jacobsen
