Member in Focus

August 2003

Ginny Daly would like to acknowledge how delighted she is that the Washington press has noted the singular talents that seem to run in her family. First off, a few years back none other than the well known and well respected Washington Post newspaper ran quotes and photos of our own Deirdre and Maura Daly displaying their abilities for knowing not only how to drink but also for “eating in bars.” In that selfsame publication in a December ’02 feature on Christmas presents, Markie Daly McKaig was quoted saying how she is known to ask neighbors to save sturdy boxes from fine stores so she can box up her flea market finds. (The origin no doubt of my having created the family mantra “never believe a box!”)

Now, adding yet more luster to the family aura, Mary Daly Gorman is quoted in the February issue of The Washingtonian magazine in an article about the reopening of the old Avalon theater in Chevy Chase. “One day when I was in third grade, my sisters and I skipped school. We must have gone home for lunch, walked back past the school (Blessed Sacrament) and down to the Avalon. We snuck in the side door. We didn’t even know what film was playing. When you can skip school and not get caught the world is your oyster.” I just can’t tell you how impressed I am that the keen eye of the Washington press has picked up on the sterling talents of my kith and kin. It just does this Clanswoman so proud! Better yet: Imagine the legacy we can pass on to future generations of our dazzling skills of: eating in bars, putting flea market finds in Tiffany boxes and sneaking into movie theatres without getting caught. Mom & Daddy (Jack & Mary Daly) would be ever so proud, as am I, of my nieces and my sisters! What else is there to say about all this except, in the spirit of Mardi Gras: “Laissez le bon temps roullez!” — Ginny Daly

ANWC member Goody L. Solomon, a food and health writer for several decades, and her associate German Munoz, have produced the first complete anti-smoking manual. Called, “Butt In, Save Yourself and Others from Death by Tobacco” (1st Books Library, $14.95 paperback), it combines a concise, graphic picture of tobacco’s fatal flaws with easy anti-smoking steps. Readers will also learn how small, individual donations to organizations of their choice can accumulate into a war chest of more than $55 billion to fund the work of anti-smoking activists. The bulk of the book, therefore, lists the names and addresses of national and grass roots organizations committed to snuffing out smoking. Also included are: summaries of scientific findings on tobacco’s health risks, resources for “would-be quitters” and highlights of the “war on smoking” since 1965. “Butt In…” can be purchased through book stores around the country on bookseller Web sites such as: www.amazon.com, www.borders.com and www.barnesandnoble.com and from www.1stbooks.com.
— Goody Solomon

ANWC Literacy Chair Robyn Hickey would like to thank everyone who has donated children’s books for the literacy project at the holiday gala. The books were given to ANWC’s literacy partner, Books From the Heart, and they were distributed to low-income public school libraries in the area. Please contact her if you are interested in participating in the Literacy Committee.

ANWC Member Nikki Whitlock - My father, W. Richard Whitlock, passed away on Friday, 28 March at home with his loving family by his side. He fought a hard battle against cancer for the last 2 months and tried to the bitter end. I was fortunate enough to make it home to Pennsylvania to spend his last day with him and my family. As a South Coventry Township Supervisor for the last 28 years, he was solely responsible for amassing over 300 acres for a public township wilderness park. The township presented my father with the news that the Township Park will be dedicated to him, Woody’s Woods. It overwhelmed him and he stated, “This made my life!” Being a part of the community was the next most important thing in his life after his family.