Women In Transition (WIT) in the Hudson Valley

What does Transition mean to you? For some of us, it’s the time between watching a TV program and getting out the front door. For others, Transition means getting over a dramatic change in circumstances. But for the woman who starts feeling lost and unsure of which way her life is headed, Transition can be the time when everything comes together and propels her forward into a new and exciting stage in her life.

That’s the point at which Women In Transition (WIT) in the Hudson Valley wants to step in and lend our “sisters” a hand with their search for the answers we all ask as we move through life: Who am I? What do I want? What am I doing? When these questions start to haunt women’s minds, receiving help from women who have been where they are and understand where they’re coming from can make a world of difference, and that’s what me and my partners (Susan, Pamela, Jane, Ellen and Felecia) believe women in the Hudson Valley as well as elsewhere are being let down. Sure, in theory it sounds like this could descend into a self-helpy, sacharrine, touchy-feely affair, a bunch of gals sitting around weeping on one another’s shoulders about the hard times they’ve hit. But sitting around feeling sorry for ourselves is the last thing we feel women undergoing strenuous periods in their life should do. Instead, why not learn how to have what I call “Relational Resilience”?

Relational resilience is the idea that women need to cultivate a set of relationships that allows them the option of looking to other women for help in moving forward. It’s about having an even temperament, and being feisty enough to stand up and fight back when the world starts giving you short shrift. Through a series of workshops, in the Hudson Valley we’ll explore the services that are out there for women who need them, enlightening them as to the support structures they can rely on in their times of need. We’ll bring in consultants in insurance and accounting, legal affairs, mediation, nutrition, psychology and more. We’ll also have workshops in exploring these areas.

Kicking things off, we’ve invited an Image Consultant to come to our first event. She’ll be speaking about three ABC’s – Appearance, Behavior, and Communication. So for all you ladies in periods of transition, come down and join us – while you may have stopped in your tracks, you’re far from derailed!
WIT MayEvent-2

My Birthday — Hire an Event Planner!

Anyone who’s been reading this blog for a while knows that when it comes to most things – frock swaps, cooking, making party favors – I’m a do-it-yourself kind of girl. Want to know where my self-sufficient attitude ends? Planning my own party, that’s where! I’ve just finished having one of the best birthdays ever, and all because I decided early on that I was going to let go and let the people around me take care of things for a change. Of course, the major moral of this story is that no matter how organized you are, no matter how much you think you have an event under control, hiring an event planner (or getting a great friend to take on that roll for you) will let you enjoy your special night that much more.

Take it from me – when I had my party, I didn’t want to be worried about the details! I wanted to mingle, hug, kiss – show off my goofy guy, Donald! And through it all the worry over whether the votives were lit or the candles on the cake were ready or the pictures were being taken? It was gone. That was part of my everyday routine, and it wasn’t going to part of my routine at my birthday. Nope. In this case, I was the guest.

A great example of this was going to BJ’s to pick out the food for the party. My gal pal Lana, who was the hostess of this event, got to do all the shopping. I couldn’t wrap my head around it, and as party girl, that wasn’t my job! I had plenty of other things on my mind. Like the personal touch which connects people to your upcoming event via  email or phone call with last minute party details, (where to park, what to wear on a chilly night, confirm time and directions).

In the end it was an amazing day with incredible weather on a deck on the Hudson River with the Tappan Zee Bridge draped out behind us like a set painting. The party started at five and ended at ten. We all watched the sun set, the bridge making it a jeweled necklace. There was drinking, dancing, eating, and lots of connections.

There were also many people making it happen. A terrific chef, Lance, and a happening DJ, servers who handled and maned the BBQ. A spectacular venue..which is a MUST for events.  Cool friends and donations to  Save Kitty, a favorite charity topped off the night! Of course, given all the movers and shakers in my circles, not everyone was able to make it – and they were all missed – but that was the only detail of the night that wasn’t absolutely perfect.

Bad Poetry for my Birthday Event

There once was a woman named Susan

Who had a special skill at shmoosan

So she came up the Hudson

Decided to have fun

And gathered a group

Like alphabet soup

The young & the old

The short & the tall

She gathered them all

With no fuss at all

She put out the call

To best of the ball

Now we all love her

We admire & hug her

Her “do something” trademark

Has made a big wavemark

Susan, you make a difference

Has proven your brilliance

I wish there was a way

I could be with you today

Have a wonderful celebration

From the BECKER nation..

thank you dear Arlene xx

Knishes & History –A Walking Event

You know the folk story about the shoemaker’s children going barefoot while the doctor’s kids get sick? Well, this Event Planner is taking these tales to heart and I’ve asked a very, very dear friend to plan my upcoming celebration – but more about that next week.

This week’s entry is about a walking tour I recently arranged for a group in the  Hudson Valley  to New York City’s ’s Lower East Side. If you’re in a rush and about to organize a similar event, here are the bullet points:

• Schedule at least 75% of the activities indoors. Particularly, if like me, you’re stuck without a rain date.
• Break down larger groups to accommodate different walking speeds and styles.
• Offer bus service from specific points in the tour, so people of different ages will enjoy themselves.
• Pick a large restaurant that can accommodate crowds, so your group can enjoy a real experience – not just a quick bite and swallow!

Now, for those of you who’ve stuck around for the nitty-gritty:

On the last Sunday in April, I traveled back in time by about 100 years – and it only took two hours! Of course, I’m talking about the drive to the Lower East Side where I joined our guide and a large group of people on a tour of the Jewish Lower East Side. The group, called Knishes & History, trekked from Allen to Orchard to Houston to Grand, rubbing shoulders with crumbling shuls and hip whisky bars along the way, dodging between mikvahs and chi chi boutiques interchangeably.

The sense of moving back in time was incredible, as we looked on at a struggling Greek synagogue. Here, the reading desk is situated in the center of the space, with worshipers gathering on each side – as if viewing an ancient theatrical production. The Eldridge Street Synagogue, having undergone a meticulous restoration of its cathedral-like space, echoed with the ghostly vibrations of immigrants with one foot in the ghetto, the other in the gentile city of Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall.

As an event, this sort of walking tour can be all things to all people, with some visiting the forgotten land of their grandfathers among the Jewish heritage sites, while for the foodies of the group – and don’t worry, I use the term loosely – the trip could be about bagels, bialys, knishes, pastrami and pickles. Thanks to expert guidance and a wonderful crowd, this event really was a complete success!