 Welcome to our Women's Association Website!
In 2002, an energetic group of women from BCC formed what is known as Balcones Country Club Women’s Association. BCCWA is an active, vibrant organization designed to promote friendships, as well as educate and provide fun opportunities. If you are not currently a member of our organization, we hope you will take time to learn more about us on this site and choose to become a member. Balcones Country Club Women’s Association is open to all women who are members of Balcones Country Club. If you're a Social Member of Balcones Country Club and don't play tennis or golf, don't wait for BCC to host a special event so you can interact and socialize with other ladies from the club. Join BCCWA and you will not only enjoy a monthly luncheon, you'll have fun, make new friends, and might even learn a few things from a variety of programs at our monthly luncheons. BCCWA is the perfect opportunity for business women to network, homemakers to socialize, retirees to become productive and share their wealth of experience and knowledge, all while expanding your circle of friends.
But in addition to having fun, we have a mission: Balcones Country Club Women’s Association raises funds for college and vocational scholarships to further the education of deserving students in our community by organizing an annual Market & Pantry Days and selling raffle tickets. Selection is based on need, grades, and community involvement. Since its inception, BCCWA has raised and awarded $40,600 to Westwood High School Students between its inception in 2002 and 2009. In May, 2010 BCCWA awarded SEVEN more scholarships in the amount of $2,500 each - or $17,500, an all-time record for this young organization of dedicated women. Balcones Country Club Women’s Association Scholarship Foundation is recognized by IRS a public charity for which contributions to it are tax deductible.
Be sure to check out the exciting array of events that we have lined up for the 2010-11 season!
Leah Cox, BCCWA President
For membership information, contact Susan Cooper at coopersusan1@sbcglobal.net
BCCWA Scholarship Foundation Honors 7 Westwood High School Seniors It’s been said, ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ -
but when that child is ready for college, where are all the ‘villagers’? Balcones Country Club Women’s Association has been stepping up to the challenge since 2002 by awarding scholarships to outstanding students from Westwood High School. This year, Christina Barr, Nick Kubala, Doris Li, Lia Palmore, Kaitlyn Rank, Heath Schramm, and Melissa Wu are seven hard-working Westwood High School seniors who were honored by Balcones Country Club Women’s Association with a reception and buffet dinner on May 20th at Balcones Country. Guest speaker was Kathy Gregg, Westwood HS Senior Counselor.
In interviews with Sally Metschan, the scholarship recipients discussed their involvement in a wide range of community-oriented projects, some of which included working with children with special needs, counseling at camps for the emotionally disabled, and teaching English to impoverished children in foreign lands. These young men and women are an inspiration with brilliant futures, and shining stars in our community!
The Balcones Country Club Women’s Association Scholarship Foundation is recognized as a public charity and contributions to it are tax deductible. If you would like to support the Scholarship
Foundation, donations or bequests should be made to “Balcones Country Club Women’s Association Scholarship Foundation”, c/o Carole Bankston, 8600 Balcones Club Drive, Austin, TX 78750.  Congratulations Nick Kubala, Kaitlyn Rank, Melissa Wu, Westwood HS Counselor Cathy Gregg, Doris Li, Christina Barr, Lia Palmore and Heath Schramm!
BCCWA Officers 2010-2011 Leah Cox, President
Susan Cooper, Vice President
Rhonda Weegar Recording Secretary
Joy Ashcraft Corresponding Secretary
Sylvia Johnson Treasurer
Midge Norris Parliamentarian
Carole Bankston BCCWA Scholarship Chair
Sharon Meyer Communications Chair Janie L. Williams Past President
BCCWA Past Presidents-Click Here Gearin' Up
We’re GEARIN’ UP for BCCWA’s 2010-11 year with newly installed President, Leah Cox and her Board of Directors. As chairmen are being selected for the coming year, we’re asking all BCCWA ladies to sign up for a committee. Take your pick: Scholarship Foundation; Market Days; Programs; Table Decorations; Social; BCC Christmas Decorating; and, Membership. GET INVOLVED; every one of these committees help lead us toward our final goal every year: Scholarship Awards! Committees
Check out the various committees that are available and need your help and your input. After all, new blood is the lifeblood of all organizations! You'd be surprised what you can contribute - and the unspoken rewards are numerous! TABLE DECORATIONS COMMITTEE
Several ladies from BCCWA make a special effort every month to decorate all the tables at our luncheons!
Through their creative eyes, they focus on the theme for the luncheon (based on the topic or program) and come up with some special ideas for table centerpieces! At the end of the luncheon, each centerpiece is offered for sale in an effort to recoup the purchase price and reimburse the kitty.
Committee Chairwomen:
SOCIAL COMMITTEE
As if we're not social enough, this special committee is just that: special.
In addition to our monthly lunch meetings, the social committee plans special events, such as dances open to all BCC members held twice a year.
2010-11 Social Chairwoman: Dances:
BCC CHRISTMAS DECORATING COMMITTEE
Get in the spirit of the holidays by lending a helping hand on the Monday after Thanksgiving.
Every year a group of BCCWA ladies meet on Monday afternoon/evening and string tree lights, carefully place ornaments, put up the garland, and hang wreaths - all the things that put the spirit in Christmas. Join this group of ladies, sing some Christmas carols, plug in those lights and your holiday spirit, and get ready for Christmas - and a good time!
2010-11 Chairwomen:
Committee:
NEED A LITTLE CHRISTMAS NOW! (partial lyrics from "MAME")
... So climb down the chimney; Put up the brightest string of lights I've ever seen. Slice up the fruitcake; It's time we hung some tinsel on that evergreen bough. For we need a little music, Need a little laughter, Need a little singing, Ringing through the rafter, And we need a little snappy, 'Happy ever after,' Need a little Christmas now.
 2009 Scholarship Winners Ciara Speaks, Claire Hinton,Wesley Miller, Nicholas Dechant, Alicia Carter, Miranda Burris Recipients WANT - OR NEED - A TAX DEDUCTION?!
In 2009 Balcones Country Club Women’s Association Scholarship Foundation was designated a 501c3 by IRS. Therefore, the Foundation is recognized as a public charity and contributions to it are tax deductible. Balcones Country Club Women’s Association raises funds for college and vocational scholarships to further the education of deserving students in our community. Selection is based on need, grades, and community involvement. Since BCCWA was formed, the women have raised and awarded $40,600 since its inception in 2002. During the fiscal year 2008-09 we awarded $12,000 in scholarships to six students. In May of 2010, BCCWA awarded SEVEN scholarships in the amount of $2,500 EACH - or $17,500, an all-time record for this young organization of dedicated women.
In order to raise these funds, BCCWA hosts monthly luncheons to entertain and/or inform our members and the community about topics of interest that will draw them to the function for a social gathering, lunch and sale of raffle tickets. AND, many of our speakers and vendors also contribute raffle prizes and a portion of their proceeds that are raised during our luncheons. In addition BCCWA raises a significant amount of money through Market and Pantry Days every October. This event is open to club members and their guests on Friday evening, and concludes with a silent auction. Saturday is open to the public for one day only.
2010-11 Scholarship Chairwoman - Carol Bankston
2010-11 Committee
In September, 2009 we received a lovely thank you note from one of the recipients:
“Thank you for the generous scholarship and your recognition of my achievements in academics and community service. I am honored to have this scholarship and very thankful to have your financial backing for my college education. I have been mowing a lot this summer, saving money for my college expenses, and it’s going to be hard to give up our company before we leave for school since this was my primary source of income for seven years. Thanks again for your scholarship and I will try to make all of you proud.
Sincerely, Wes Miller”
Market Days The Annual BCCWA Market Dayswill be held at Balcones Country Club on Friday, October 21, 2011, from 6:00 - 9:30 PM. The Balcones Country Club Women’s Association invites all BCC members and their guests to attend a private showing on Friday evening that includes numerous vendors that set up booths in the Brazos Room and Colorado Room, a Silent Auction, and Pantry that offers homemade baked goods such as cakes, brownies, pies, cookies, cupcakes, jellies & jams, canned fruit, homemade fudge and candy.
In the past our Silent Auction has included such items as a Port Aransas get-away, Rockport get-away, One week summer camp at Switchwillo (an English riding stable), $150 leather Longhorn backpack, John Hardy sterling earrings, Two hours of bowling for twelve people on two lanes – Dart Bowl, Framed J Kramer Cole print – “Keepers of the Secret”, Tiffany and Co. graduated drop pendant with freshwater pearls on a sterling chain, Vein Solutions $800 gift certificate, Two tickets to the UT vs Baylor football game, Neiman Marcus makeovers at the beauty bar with wine and cheese for you and three friends, Super Suppers meal preparation party with appetizers and wine for you and twelve friends, artwork and watercolor paintings, golf equipment.
On Saturday morning, October 22, 2011, the doors to Balcones Country Club will open to the PUBLIC between 10:00 am - 4:00 pm so that everyone may attend Market and Pantry Days. A wide variety of merchandise will be available including jewelry, silver collections, pottery, cosmetics, bath and body products, clothing, holiday gifts, toys, shoes and handbags, home decor, and much more!
Market Days Directory The Balcones Country Club Women’s Association extends the opportunity to purchase an advertisement in Market Days Directory, which is distributed to several hundred Market Days shoppers. Within this directory, BCCWA sells a LIMITED number of business card-sized advertising spaces. With purchase of advertisement, your business name is prominently featured as a sponsor in our stars "Wall of Fame" which will is hung outside the Balcones clubhouse entryway during Market Days on Friday and Saturday. Additionally, the business name appears on our Sponsor Board which will be placed inside the entryway to the Balcones Club House. To advertise in our directory, please make your check for $50.00 payable to the BCC Women’s Association. The deadline to submit your advertisement and payment is Tuesday, September 13, 2011. Please mail the business card you wish to use for the advertisement and your payment to: Nita Martinez, 9300 Cedar Forest Drive, Austin, TX 78750. For questions, please call our Vendor Relations Committee Chairperson, Nita Martinez at 751-6482 or Cell 512-751-6482. BCCWA designates their profits from renting the booths to go toward the BCCWA Scholarship Foundation, and all other profits from our Market Days event benefit the BCCWA Scholarship Fund.
Programs As a small group of ladies, the Program Committee selects a theme for the monthly luncheon and reaches out to speakers and vendors. The programs are designed to entertain and inform our membership about various subjects which in the past have included fashion shows, personal organization, floral design, interior decorating and rearranging rooms, wine and cheese, gardening, antiquing, painting, packing for a trip, entertainment by dancers and singing groups. Our annual Christmas luncheon is for BCCWA ladies only (no guests) and is typically held at the home of one of our members. With the exception of two evening meetings during the year - one being the scholarship awards banquet held every May - the programs take place during our monthly luncheons held on the third Thursday of the month (excluding June, July and August). We begin with a social hour from 11:00 - 11:30 am, and then lunch is served in the Brazos Dining Room. Around noon we conduct a brief meeting which is followed by our featured program. The luncheon is usually over by 1:00 pm, allowing business women to meet for lunch, enjoy the program, and return to work in a timely manner.
The Program Committee will meet in July to begin planning the programs for September, October and November; December Christmas luncheon is held at a member's home; in November we begin final planning for topics from January through April; and, in May BCCWA awards scholarships to students at an evening dinner banquet that will also include the students families, counselors, invited guests and significant contributors to the Scholarship Foundation.
The monthly luncheons and the programs are promoted through BCC newsletter TEMPO, as well as direct e-mails to all BCCWA members from the BCCWA Communication Secretary.
2010-11 Program Chairwoman - Sharon Meyer
Committee:
2011-12 Meeting & Luncheon Dates, and Programs
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Market Days Raffle Tickets
are now available to purchase or sell.
Please contact Raffle Ticket Chair Martha Davis
at marthadavis@aol.com if you would like to start selling now!
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Please Save These Dates!
Past Programs Reservations In order to attend a BCCWA function, reservations are required by 5:00 p.m. on the Tuesday preceding the Thursday luncheon. To place a reservation for yourself and your guests, call Kaye Burson at BCC: 512 258-1621, or you may make a reservation by e-mail at Kburson@balconescountryclub.com. Guests are most welcome to attend our luncheons and programs; however, we request that each guest attend no more than two events per year, at which time they will be encouraged to join our Association. Out-of-town visitors and relatives are welcome for unlimited visits.
The various meals are chosen by two members of the Luncheon Committee with the help of the BCC food and beverage director. Each meal is reasonably priced (approximately $15 per person) and includes coffee and iced tea, salad, dinner rolls, entree, and dessert.
As per BCC policy, anyone who is a "no-show" at an event and fails to cancel her reservation will be billed for any expenses incurred.
The price of the luncheon is set by Balcones Country Club, NOT the Women's Association, and no part of the fee charged is collected by BCCWA. The only income generated from these events that support the Scholarship Foundation are from the sale of raffle tickets, silent auction, and vendor contributions.
2011-12 Luncheon Chairwomen (they select the Menu): Membership
BCCWA is a diverse group of women, all ages, sizes, backgrounds, always looking to welcome new members to join our fun group of women. The Membership Roster is updated and e-mailed on a regular basis to all BCCWA members. We also post a list of our members on the BCC website under "Amenities, Women's Association."
If you're a Social Member of Balcones Country Club and don't play tennis or golf, don't wait for BCC to host a special event so you can interact and socialize with other ladies from Balcones Country Club. Join BCCWA and you will not only enjoy a monthly luncheon, you'll have fun, make new friends, and might even learn a few things from a variety of programs at our monthly luncheons. BCCWA is the perfect opportunity for business women to network, homemakers to socialize, retirees to become productive and share their wealth of experience and knowledge, all while expanding your circle of friends. But something even more special, your membership and involvement will help BCCWA to raise funds for the BCCWA Scholarship Foundation. Come to our May scholarship awards banquet and meet the students and their families that benefit from our efforts. With every $1 raffle ticket you purchase throughout the year, you'll be helping a deserving student further his or her education in a more-than-ever trying economy on families that are struggling.
2011-12 Membership/Hostess Chairwoman: Susan Cooper
Committee:
Click Here for Membership Application Articles of Association Members Photo Gallery Market Days Directory BCCWA wishes to thank all the contributors to our 2010 Market & Pantry Days! Member Advertisements Check out the this years BCCWA Fashion Show
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