Encores Club of Doylestown Donates Funds for Pediatic Leukemia Research
On Thursday October 19th, 2017 the Encores Club of Doylestown presented a check in the amount of $3,000 to the KickLeuk Foundation, a group that supports funding for pediatric leukemia research, and supports families dealing with the challenges of the disease. KickLeuk was started by the Stephens family of the New Hope - Solebury area after their daughter was diagnosed with AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia).
The donated funds were presented during the Encores October luncheon that was held at the Continental Tavern in Yardley, PA. The money was raised during the "raffles" held during the group's monthly luncheons held throughout the Fall of 2016 and the Winter and Spring of 2017.
Pictured below (L-r) Paula Hoff, Presdent of Encores of Doylestown and Suzanne Stephens, Co-Founder of KickLeuk Foundation
The donated funds were presented during the Encores October luncheon that was held at the Continental Tavern in Yardley, PA. The money was raised during the "raffles" held during the group's monthly luncheons held throughout the Fall of 2016 and the Winter and Spring of 2017.
Pictured below (L-r) Paula Hoff, Presdent of Encores of Doylestown and Suzanne Stephens, Co-Founder of KickLeuk Foundation
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Meet a Committee Chair Member:
April 2018
Betty Stone - Vice President of Luncheons
I was born and raised just outside of Boston and consider myself a proud New Englander, although I’ve been away for many years. Went to school in Cambridge, Mass and attended a two year business school in Boston. After working in a law firm in Boston and then with a start up consulting group who were young guys and graduates of Harvard Business School – it was great fun - I married Al Reilley, whose company had just recently moved his office to Fort Collins, Colorado. I grew to love it there - a beautiful part of the state – just north of Denver, at the foothills of the Rockies. I unfortunately lost my husband in 1982 which then propelled me into a position in Marketing at a local bank – which I loved – and was there for eight years. The bank was very involved in the community and, therefore, I became a liason between the bank and other businesses and organizations such as Colorado State University and the local ballet company, Fort Collins Symphony, etc. In 1992 I, along with my Mother, who had moved to Fort Collins two years prior to losing my husband, moved to Doylestown to be closer to my sister and brother-in-law. This is a lovely community and I quickly became involved in church, book club and other activities. After several years, I met and married my second husband, Darrell Stone. Again, after some lovely years with Darrell, I became a widow again. Ok – I get it – no more husbands for me. I have, though, inherited some precious “grandchildren” who think of me as their grandmother and now, in one case so far, I’m a great-grandmother. I am thoroughly blessed. So now, I’m involved again with some new adventures. I co-volunteer with Bonnie Rice at Good Stuff Thrift two days a week, and she introduced me to Encores. I have worked on the Ways and Means committee, and this year have been organizing the luncheons and have offered to do it again next year. I’m still involved in a book club, meal ministry at my church, a home fellowship group that meets every other Tuesday night and have become a bit of a “groupie” to the Bach Choir in Bethlehem, attending the Bach at Noon concerts once a month in Bethlehem and many of their other concerts around PA. I also, have done some fun travelling with wonderful friends. It is a pleasure being part of Encores and meeting so many delightful women who are full of energy and love of life. “Us girls” are so good at sharing our lives, aren’t we?
Betty Stone - Vice President of Luncheons
I was born and raised just outside of Boston and consider myself a proud New Englander, although I’ve been away for many years. Went to school in Cambridge, Mass and attended a two year business school in Boston. After working in a law firm in Boston and then with a start up consulting group who were young guys and graduates of Harvard Business School – it was great fun - I married Al Reilley, whose company had just recently moved his office to Fort Collins, Colorado. I grew to love it there - a beautiful part of the state – just north of Denver, at the foothills of the Rockies. I unfortunately lost my husband in 1982 which then propelled me into a position in Marketing at a local bank – which I loved – and was there for eight years. The bank was very involved in the community and, therefore, I became a liason between the bank and other businesses and organizations such as Colorado State University and the local ballet company, Fort Collins Symphony, etc. In 1992 I, along with my Mother, who had moved to Fort Collins two years prior to losing my husband, moved to Doylestown to be closer to my sister and brother-in-law. This is a lovely community and I quickly became involved in church, book club and other activities. After several years, I met and married my second husband, Darrell Stone. Again, after some lovely years with Darrell, I became a widow again. Ok – I get it – no more husbands for me. I have, though, inherited some precious “grandchildren” who think of me as their grandmother and now, in one case so far, I’m a great-grandmother. I am thoroughly blessed. So now, I’m involved again with some new adventures. I co-volunteer with Bonnie Rice at Good Stuff Thrift two days a week, and she introduced me to Encores. I have worked on the Ways and Means committee, and this year have been organizing the luncheons and have offered to do it again next year. I’m still involved in a book club, meal ministry at my church, a home fellowship group that meets every other Tuesday night and have become a bit of a “groupie” to the Bach Choir in Bethlehem, attending the Bach at Noon concerts once a month in Bethlehem and many of their other concerts around PA. I also, have done some fun travelling with wonderful friends. It is a pleasure being part of Encores and meeting so many delightful women who are full of energy and love of life. “Us girls” are so good at sharing our lives, aren’t we?
March 2018
Mary Lee Lieser – Sunshine and Showers
Bill and I moved to Doylestown from Falls Church, Virginia, 20 years ago. Why move to Doylestown when we didn’t know anyone here? Because we had visited Bucks County during home leaves from assignments abroad and found a perfect condo in Teversall, a community with proximity to the County Theater and to the YMCA. Early on I joined Newcomers where I met wonderful friends. Some have moved away but many who are still here also “graduated” to Encores. Having served on the boards of both Newcomers and Encores in various capacities has been an excellent way to forge new friendships.
Our assignments abroad were fascinating, beginning in 1965 when we went to West Berlin, a divided city at that time. The Berlin Wall had been built in August 1961 and we were living in Bonn, then the capital of Germany, when the Wall came down in November 1989. It was exciting to experience that part of history. After two years in West Berlin, we lived in Oslo, Norway, for five years. Our first child, who was born in the Red Cross Hospital in Oslo, later joined the Sons of Norway when she and her husband, a US Air Force officer, were assigned to Minot, North Dakota. She was the only member who was actually born in Norway! In 1972, we returned to the States, where our second daughter was born, and studied Russian in preparation for our next assignment to Leningrad, USSR (now St. Petersburg, Russia), where we served from 1974 until 1976, when we moved to Vienna, Austria, and our daughters attended the American International School for four years. We returned to the States in 1980 and left in 1983 for Copenhagen, Denmark, where we spent three delightful years before moving to Bonn in 1986 for a four year tour.
During our years abroad, I worked intermittently as a CIA analyst, but when not working had the good fortune to become involved in a variety of activities. A book club which I co-founded in Norway in 1968 is still active and a couple of the original members keep me up to date on their book selections. I’ve had the opportunity to be on the board of the American Women’s Club in Oslo, co-leader of the Girl Scout troop at our daughters’ school in Vienna, and a volunteer at schools at our various posts.
After my husband retired in 1997, we decided that we preferred to move to a small town but wanted it to be a special one. What could be more special than Doylestown, where one can join organizations like Newcomers, Encores, AAUW (American Association of University Women), Questers and take classes at CLR (Center for Learning in Retirement) at Delaware Valley University. Not only can we attend local theaters, but also theaters in Philadelphia, Princeton, and NYC. We have enjoyed ballet everywhere we have lived and the Pennsylvania Ballet has not disappointed, nor has the abundance of opportunities to attend jazz events.
Most important wherever we have lived, we have been fortunate to have good friends. We are still in touch with many from previous assignments and have been blessed with the new ones who have helped us during difficult times in more ways than one could ever imagine.
The accompanying photo was taken in front of a painting in Bill’s and my new apartment at the Pine Run Retirement Community. The artist is Encores member and good friend Loretta Montgomery. She is one of our many talented members in Encores!
February 2018
Shelly Bittman - Community Service Committee
I just want to start by saying how much I love Encores. It’s truly a non-judgmental organization. You can do as much or as little as you want. However, those who are more involved get more out of their membership.
I became an Encores member about three years ago. I had been retired for little while and needed something worthwhile to fill up the day. Because of my work experience in nonprofits, a good match for me was to join the Community Service Committee. At each luncheon, membership is encouraged to bring an item or write a check to the charity that the Community Service Committee selects from the many worthwhile charities in Bucks County. I wish to thank all of you for your overwhelming support of these charities.
As mentioned in the paragraph above, I spend my entire working career at non-profits having worked at a variety of places – from public television to social services agencies to colleges and private elementary schools. I did everything from direct mail requests to major gift solicitations.
On a personal note, I am married to Vic (for 50 years). I have an adult son and an adult daughter. Four grandchildren ages 13 to 7 years of age. I am truly blessed - professionally and personally!
Mary Lee Lieser – Sunshine and Showers
Bill and I moved to Doylestown from Falls Church, Virginia, 20 years ago. Why move to Doylestown when we didn’t know anyone here? Because we had visited Bucks County during home leaves from assignments abroad and found a perfect condo in Teversall, a community with proximity to the County Theater and to the YMCA. Early on I joined Newcomers where I met wonderful friends. Some have moved away but many who are still here also “graduated” to Encores. Having served on the boards of both Newcomers and Encores in various capacities has been an excellent way to forge new friendships.
Our assignments abroad were fascinating, beginning in 1965 when we went to West Berlin, a divided city at that time. The Berlin Wall had been built in August 1961 and we were living in Bonn, then the capital of Germany, when the Wall came down in November 1989. It was exciting to experience that part of history. After two years in West Berlin, we lived in Oslo, Norway, for five years. Our first child, who was born in the Red Cross Hospital in Oslo, later joined the Sons of Norway when she and her husband, a US Air Force officer, were assigned to Minot, North Dakota. She was the only member who was actually born in Norway! In 1972, we returned to the States, where our second daughter was born, and studied Russian in preparation for our next assignment to Leningrad, USSR (now St. Petersburg, Russia), where we served from 1974 until 1976, when we moved to Vienna, Austria, and our daughters attended the American International School for four years. We returned to the States in 1980 and left in 1983 for Copenhagen, Denmark, where we spent three delightful years before moving to Bonn in 1986 for a four year tour.
During our years abroad, I worked intermittently as a CIA analyst, but when not working had the good fortune to become involved in a variety of activities. A book club which I co-founded in Norway in 1968 is still active and a couple of the original members keep me up to date on their book selections. I’ve had the opportunity to be on the board of the American Women’s Club in Oslo, co-leader of the Girl Scout troop at our daughters’ school in Vienna, and a volunteer at schools at our various posts.
After my husband retired in 1997, we decided that we preferred to move to a small town but wanted it to be a special one. What could be more special than Doylestown, where one can join organizations like Newcomers, Encores, AAUW (American Association of University Women), Questers and take classes at CLR (Center for Learning in Retirement) at Delaware Valley University. Not only can we attend local theaters, but also theaters in Philadelphia, Princeton, and NYC. We have enjoyed ballet everywhere we have lived and the Pennsylvania Ballet has not disappointed, nor has the abundance of opportunities to attend jazz events.
Most important wherever we have lived, we have been fortunate to have good friends. We are still in touch with many from previous assignments and have been blessed with the new ones who have helped us during difficult times in more ways than one could ever imagine.
The accompanying photo was taken in front of a painting in Bill’s and my new apartment at the Pine Run Retirement Community. The artist is Encores member and good friend Loretta Montgomery. She is one of our many talented members in Encores!
February 2018
Shelly Bittman - Community Service Committee
I just want to start by saying how much I love Encores. It’s truly a non-judgmental organization. You can do as much or as little as you want. However, those who are more involved get more out of their membership.
I became an Encores member about three years ago. I had been retired for little while and needed something worthwhile to fill up the day. Because of my work experience in nonprofits, a good match for me was to join the Community Service Committee. At each luncheon, membership is encouraged to bring an item or write a check to the charity that the Community Service Committee selects from the many worthwhile charities in Bucks County. I wish to thank all of you for your overwhelming support of these charities.
As mentioned in the paragraph above, I spend my entire working career at non-profits having worked at a variety of places – from public television to social services agencies to colleges and private elementary schools. I did everything from direct mail requests to major gift solicitations.
On a personal note, I am married to Vic (for 50 years). I have an adult son and an adult daughter. Four grandchildren ages 13 to 7 years of age. I am truly blessed - professionally and personally!