New Members Introduction & Robert Warren will lead a discussion on the history of Hoyt Sherman, his family, and his contributions to Des Moines, 11:00 AM

Luncheon, 12:00 PM

Caramel apple salad, rolls, turkey breast, cheesy potatoes, buttered corn, and warm oatmeal cake. Vegetarian option: plant-based turkey.

Public Affairs Department, 1:00 PM

Sarah Borzo, Education and Outreach Coordinator with Metro Waste Authority, will present: Go beyond the curb and behind the scenes to learn about recycling guidelines and what happens to your recyclables once they reach Metro Waste Authority’s Metro Recycling Facility in Grimes, Iowa.

Annual Meeting, 11:00 AM

Please attend the Annual Meeting to receive reports on the Club year and to vote for the slated Board of Directors for next year.

Luncheon, 12:00 PM

Fruit Salad, bread, Medallions of beef with Diane sauce, wild rice, broccoli, and lemon bars. Vegetarian option: Plant-based protein.

Purchase a Lunch

Music Department, 1:00 PM

Antique Harmony is a barbershop quartet with over 100 years of combined experience. They perform a variety of popular songs from the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s along with salutes to our armed services and America. They’ll also be sure to make you laugh with their parodies about getting older, fatter, and balder.

Club Program, 11:00 AM

Major Shir Agha Safi is a former military intelligence battalion commander in the Afghan National Army who dedicated his life to fighting terrorism and bringing peace to Afghanistan, his home country, and the rest of the world. After the collapse of the Afghan government in August 2021, Shir Agha Safi was forced to flee his home country and seek refuge in Iowa. He is the founder and executive director of Afghan Partners, which helps Afghan refugees become self-sufficient in their new home. Shir Agha Safi also is a student at John Dee Bright College at Drake University.

Luncheon, 12:00 PM

Mixed greens with Vinaigrette dressing, bread, pasta primavera with grilled chicken, and almond raspberry bars

Drama Department, 1:00 PM

Maureen Korte has been telling stories, acting and been involved in theater since she was six years old. She now tells stories of every kind, to every age, and culture. This teller travels the world to learn about stories, their origins, the cultures from which they come, and how to tell them.

She is currently working with two Griots from Ghana to publish their stories in Ghana so that they children there can learn them and tell them to their children. Maureen started the Applause, Live Performances for Young Audiences at the Civic Center. She then went to the state and directed History Through The Arts, and also worked for CultureALL.  Currently she teaches for the After School Arts Program, works on commissions, and presents across the country. Maureen is from Des Moines, has a BS from the University of Iowa, and attended East Tennessee State University for her graduate hours. She lives in Ankeny with her husband and beloved dog Finn.  She and her husband have one surviving son, Patrick, who tells stories about his crazy Mother and her eccentricities. 

Antiques & Treasures Department, 11:00 AM

Elizabeth Keest Sedrel has fond memories of Living History Farms, from visits with her grandparents in the 1980s to bringing her niece and nephew in more recent years. She was delighted to join the museum team as communications director in summer 2021. Her previous jobs include editor and copy editor at the Des Moines Register and Better Homes and Gardens, as well as public information officer and lobbyist for a state agency. While she enjoyed all those jobs, they didn't give her a chance to have morning coffee with cows, or traipse through the creek with campers, or hear the clang of a blacksmith's hammer from her office window. Elizabeth holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Northwestern University and a master's in public administration from Drake University. She has lived in Des Moines for 25 years.

Luncheon, 12:00 PM

“The Finisher” Baked potato with barbeque rub mixed with butter, brisket mac and cheese, pulled pork, queso, sour cream, and chive. Vegetarian Option: Baked potato with plant-based pork, queso, mac and cheese.

Lifestyle Department, 1:00 PM

Birds & Bees Urban Farm focuses on educating the community about urban farming. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Your support helps us “seed the city” and reduce the impact of climate change.

Judge Jeff Fleming will discuss why he awarded each piece in both the professional and nonprofessional categories for the 116th Art Exhibition.

Jeff Fleming retired as director of the Des Moines Art Center in the spring of 2023, and now serves as director emeritus. He was appointed director in the fall of 2005, after previously serving as acting director, deputy director, senior curator, and curator since 1999. In 2009, Fleming, in collaboration with the City of Des Moines, created the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park. Located in the heart of downtown, the park includes 31 significant sculptures by 26 internationally-acclaimed artists. Fleming now works as an artist full-time.

Luncheon: Caesar Salad, bread, roast chicken with Parmesan Orzo, peas, and lemon bars. Vegetarian Option: Plant-based chicken. Gluten-Free Option: Italian Roast Chicken and Quinoa.

Drama Department, 11:00 AM

Cather 150, A Brief History of Willa Cather, Rachel Olsen, Director of Education and Engagement, The National Willa Cather Center, with a Selected Reading of her work, read by Rachel Olsen and Ana McCracken

Luncheon, 12:00 PM

Warm apple sauce, rolls, stuffed pork with sage dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, roasted mixed vegetable, and chocolate revel bars. Vegetarian option: Plant-based chicken cutlet. Gluten-free option: no stuffing, and gluten-free gravy

History & Travel, 1:00 PM

Bob Berkenes will present on the tragedy of the Titanic on April 14, 1912.  1500 women, men and children died in this tragedy.  Come learn what caused the tragedy, if it could have been avoided and what it felt like when the ship struck the iceberg. 

Literature, 11:00 AM DMWC Book Club

Joe LeValley, author of five Iowa-based mystery novels in four years, didn’t set out to write books, but that’s what he’s been doing since retiring in 2018 from a 30-year career as an executive at Iowa’s Mercy Medical Center hospitals. LeValley’s books are set in the fictional town of Orney, Iowa, and follow the personal and professional life of Tony Harrington, a reporter for the local newspaper, The Town Crier. As Tony moves and sometimes stumbles from one harrowing experience to another, readers also learn about the economic difficulties facing small towns and local news organizations in the digital age.

Luncheon, 12:00 PM

Lettuce wedge with Asiago cheese and vinaigrette dressing, breadsticks, beef tips deburgo, glazed carrots, and red velvet cake. Vegetarian option: mushroom with wild rice pilaf.

Public Affairs, 1:00 PM

Shane Goodman from City View and Living magazines will present on Rural Communications-What's Happening to Journalism, small editors.

Luncheon, 12:00 PM

Salad, chicken parmesan over angel hair pasta, bread, Valentine’s Day cookie. Vegetarian option: eggplant parmesan over angel hair pasta. Gluten-free option chicken parmesan over gluten-free noodles.

Club Chorus, 1:00 PM

Club Program, 11:00 AM

Hailing from the lively city of Des Moines, IA, Andrew Hoyt is the real deal—a singer/songwriter with roots deeply intertwined in the vibrant heart of the Midwest. He's all about embracing his artistic side and isn't afraid to let his creative juices flow. Andrew's musical journey centers around his partnership with the prestigious Hawaiian KoAloha ukulele. Andrew has been signed by the distinguished indie label, Golden Bear Records, known for its association with The Well Pennies. This achievement reflects Andrew's commitment to making his mark on both domestic and international stages. Be sure to watch this talent closely, as his journey promises to be pretty darn impressive!

Luncheon, 12:00 PM

Baked potato soup with bacon crumbles, chicken salad sandwich on a croissant, and brownies. Vegetarian option: baked potato soup with cheese crumbles, plant-based chicken salad sandwich on a croissant. Gluten-Free option: Gluten-free bread.

Art Department, 1:00 PM

Marie Louise Kane, known as Loulou, is an Art Historian with degrees from Columbia University and Washington University. She has lived in Des Moines with her husband and daughter since 1993. She spent some years as Director of the Anderson Gallery at Drake University, and Associate Director/Curator of Salisbury House. She now works solely as a fine art appraiser, a side-gig she entered over 30 years ago. The range of art, clients, and assignments she encounters are perennially challenging and fulfilling.

Art Department, 11:00 AM

A Mississippi native, Jennifer Drinkwater is an artist, an associate professor of art & visual culture and the community arts specialist for extension and outreach at Iowa State University. Jennifer explores how we bring artwork from the studio into the world, and how art-making can both build and shape community. Over the years, she's created installations in restored prairies in Nebraska; collaborated on public art projects in vacant sites on Iowa main streets; spearheaded a community knit-bombing project; painted murals with middle school children on a juke joint in the Mississippi Delta and in Perry, Iowa; and written free toolkits about these projects.  Jennifer's also the creator of The What's Good Project, which celebrates the meaningful stories from where we live through community conversations and painting. Although she's spent one year of her life living in tents, Jennifer currently resides with her husband and dog in an almost tiny house in Ames, Iowa.

Luncheon, 12:00 PM

mixed greens with creamy parmesan dressing, hot beef sandwich, corn, hot fudge sundae. Vegetarian option: plant-based meat. Gluten-Free option: gluten-free sandwich bread.

Literature Department, 1:00 PM

A panel of librarians representing Ankeny, Des Moines, Urbandale, and West Des Moines will share some of the services they provide in 2024.  Recommendations of books in different genres for Club members will also be given.

11:00 AM Music Department

Phil Hague has been playing the harmonica for 25 years. His music is sure to get your toes tapping!

12:00 PM Luncheon

Cole slaw, bread, meatloaf, au gratin potatoes, green beans, monster cookie. Vegetarian option: plant-based meatloaf.

1:00 PM Antiques and Treasures

Pat Meiners, from the Des Moines Historical Society, will present on the Sims Cemetery, which began as the Agency Burying Ground in 1855. It has also been called the Four-Mile Cemetery and Harris Cemetery. It is located on the L.D. Sims Estate.

President’s Project, 11:00 AM

Robin Fulton from Mary’s Helping Hands will present on how they provide hope, love and support for expecting mothers who may need a helping hand with basic needs for their child’s first year of life.

Luncheon, 12:00 PM

Chicken over noodles, Watergate salad, ciabatta, peas, and warm apple crisp. 

 Vegetarian Option: Plant-Based Chicken. 

 Gluten-Free Option: Rice or corn noodles.

History & Travel Department, 1:00 PM

A Journey to Armenia and Georgia by Sheila Bingaman

Armenia and Georgia are two small South Caucasus countries surrounded by larger and often more aggressive countries.  Sheila Bingaman will talk about her recent trip to these two frequently over-looked but fascinating countries.  Topics will include their history from ancient times to currently international struggles including the heart breaking story of the Armenian genocide and diaspora.  

Holiday Party, 11:00 AM

The DMWC Club Chorus will perform and there will be an ugly sweater contest!

Luncheon, 12:00 PM

Tossed salad, rolls, pecan glazed ham, gratin dauphinoise potatoes, cognac glazed carrots, flourless chocolate raspberry torte.

Vegetarian Option: stuffed portabella mushrooms, quinoa, and roasted tofu.

Luncheon, 12:00 PM: 5 Cup salad, ciabatta, brown butter salmon, roasted new potatoes with garlic herbed butter, broccoli, and lemon bars. Vegetarian option: Eggplant parmesan

New Member Introduction, 1:00 PM

Hoyt Sherman Place Theater

Club Program, 11:00 AM

Beth M. Howard is an author, blogger, and radio commentator. She is also known for being the (former) resident of the American Gothic House, where from 2010 to 2014 she ran the Pitchfork Pie Stand. Her books include World Piece: A Pie Baker’s Global Quest for Peace, Love, and Understanding; Making Piece: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Pie; the cookbook, Ms. American Pie: Buttery Good Pie Recipes and Bold Tales from the American Gothic House; and Hausfrau Honeymoon: Love, Language, and Other Misadventures in Germany. She has written for the New York Times, Real Simple, Country Living, and many other publications; she’s been featured on CNN, CBS This Morning, BBC, NPR, and more; and she has given a TEDx talk about the healing powers of pie.

Luncheon, 12:00 PM

Carmel apple salad, rolls, maple glazed turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, butternut squash, and pumpkin pie with whipped cream. Vegetarian option-plant based turkey.

Purchase Luncheon

Drama Department, 1:00 PM

Kathleen Davenport, Turnaround Arts Local Program Director and Visual Arts Coordinator for the Des Moines Public Schools will present on a program of the Kennedy Center that transforms schools through the strategic use of the arts.

Join Des Moines Women’s Club members and guests you’d like to invite for a box luncheon in the Borlaug Ballroom, located in the former “stacks room” of the century-old Des Moines Public Library Building on the west bank of the Des Moines River. Following lunch, docents will lead our group throughout the building/museum for approximately a 1-hour tour.