Porch Project Groundbreaking Ceremony

WCA President Patti Kopach addresses attendees before

members of the board and porch committee.

Assembly Member Pat Fahy and PCC Contracting, Inc. dig in to

begin the long awaited porch project.

The Woman’s Club of Albany held a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, April 7, to mark the start of reconstruction of the front porch of our historic home at 725 Madison Ave., Albany, and creation of an accessible entrance to the first floor of the building.

Work on the porch, which the Club fondly calls “the best view on Madison Avenue,” caps a fundraising campaign that included the awarding of two state grants.

The first of two projects is funded by a Dormitory of the State of New York grant member item sponsored by Assembly Member Fahy of Albany and funds raised by the WCA. It will include demolition, new foundation, repairs to the stone front steps and adjacent walls and rebuilding the porch floor.

The Woman’s Club of Albany purchased the building in 1919 to use for club functions and public events. Many of the house’s original details on the first floor, including fireplaces, chandeliers and woodwork, remain intact. The second floor now contains a ballroom whose design reflects the rest of the house.

The house will remain open as a rental venue and for club activities during the construction.

COVID has resulted in some higher costs than anticipated, and we welcome any further financial support and fundraising ideas for the project’s completion and other ongoing and needed work on our beautiful historic home.

Fitness In 5 Minutes -- for Everyone!

With Artie Lynnworth

Tuesday, April 13, at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom (This program is free.)

This event is part of the New Year New You series sponsored by our Programs Committee. 

Get fit and stay fit for life with a daily routine that takes less than 5 minutes. Seem impossible? Artie Lynnworth will share highlights from his book, Get Fit and Stay Fit for Life, in a one-hour workshop that includes demonstrations that all can do. His theme is “anything is better than nothing,” and he will share exercises that take 5 minutes or less to accomplish. The exercise program's motivational strategy is linked to self-created positive reinforcement. All exercises are focused on strength, balance and flexibility and can be done at home, with no special equipment.

 Lynnworth is an author, athlete, lecturer, life coach, banjo player and WCA supporter. Get Fit and Stay Fit for Life is available on Amazon with all proceeds going to charity. 

 Sign up on the WCA website! Invite your friends! This event is free and open to the public.

Come back to 2sDay in the Parlor on April 6

 Enjoy your friends after a very long winter -- keeping in mind our socially responsible mandates. Bring your smiles and your masks -- along with whatever you'd like to nip and nosh on. We've missed you. As always -- 6:30 p.m. until it's time to go home. 

April...No Foolin'

Nor rain,

Nor snow,

Nor sleet,

Nor COVID

Can keep us from our friends so devoted.

The Parlor in April is the place to be (so noted!),

and later Member Monday

 will remind us of our friendships

before our world exploded.

So please stay safe until then

and we’ll see you all in April - our dear friends.

It may be too chilly for the Porch and bamboozling-

But we’ll smile and laugh inside again … No April Foolin’!!

Come back to Member Monday on April 26

 This month's Member Monday has been renamed "Mask-er-AID" in keeping with a light-hearted community-minded theme.  A formal program is not planned so everyone can enjoy this social event -- both friendship-wise and distance-wise. Keep an eye on your email in-box for more information coming soon!

Fulfilling Our Mission of Community Service

 Saturday, April 17, will be the first of many opportunities for WCA members to be a part of the community volunteering to clean up Washington Park. The project is sponsored by the Washington Park Conservancy. 

We will meet at the Moses statue in the park at 9:45 a.m. and work from 10 a.m. to noon. We will be given instructions on where to clean. Bring a rake and garden gloves if you can. Bags will be provided.

 Some WCA members already have signed up directly on the Washington Park Conservancy website. If you have not already registered and want to join the work party, please contact Sue Finn, chair of the Community Service Committee, so she can provide a count for the Washington Park Conservancy.

WCA donated more than 150 bras to the Greater Capital Region YWCA BRAVA program.

WCA donated proceeds from a staged reading of "A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant & A Prayer" to Equinox, Inc. Domestic Violence Services.

Both the WCA and the community benefit from our annual garage sale, staffed by our member-volunteers. 

Hardworking WCA volunteers joined the Washington Park Conservancy for a clean up along Madison Avenue.