General Meetings

GENERAL MEETINGS 

Open to members and their guests


Place:     Green’s Farms Church, 71 Hillandale Road, Westport

10:45 am    Coffee and Conversation

11:30 am    Meeting and Speaker


NOTE: Extra parking is available in front of the large lot on the grass and across the street in front of the Minister’s house.



March 11 – John Cilio: Spymistresses – The Story of Allied Women Spies of WWII

 

Spies belong to a special group of people with flexible identities, elastic morals, and what has been referred to by some as situational ethics. Many take dangerous risks, complete their missions, and live to tell the tale; others don’t. During World War II, several women risked their lives to work within enemy territory to uncover secrets. Some were professionally trained; others were simply masters of intrigue and deception. They covertly served the Allies and made significant contributions to the war. 


Learn about how some of these women spies made a difference in the European and Pacific theaters of WWII by John Cilio, a historical storyteller, author, and researcher who has brought historical stories back to life for more than 15 years. After a career in corporate marketing, he joined the Organization of American Historians and the Association for the Study of Connecticut History. He has published numerous articles in national media and eight historical books ranging from women in WWII and their impact on today's business world to vintage helicopters.


 

March 25 – Gail Howard: Marrying Across the Color Line in Sixties Chicago


Did you come of age in the 1960s? Have you experienced hate coming at you? You may recognize some of these experiences and feelings, which Gail Howard discusses in her memoir White Wife/Blue Baby. The memoir examines how she at least partially “unlearned” racism by marrying across the 1968 Chicago color line and caring for her gorgeous, vivid, fragile baby girl. With an MFA from UMass/Amherst, Gail managed student support programs and taught writing at area colleges. After retiring, she offered private memoir writing workshops and (finally) wrote her own memoir, which was published last fall by All Things That Matter Press. She blogs at www.whitewifechicago1968.blog.