We have entered the month of September so that makes us believe the season is Autumn— you know, the time of year when the leaves start to fall, the skies turn grey and there is a hint of cool in the air.
It is hard to imagine the above. As I sit here the temperature is closer to that dreaded three digit figure and we are trying to figure out whether it is true that we save electricity if we put that AC to 78 instead of 75.
We should, of course, not need that AC at all. A year ago at this time we wrote about that extra bounce we have in our step, how the slight chill in the air has given us the impetus to be a bit more lively and how we had nothing but good times in which to look forward.
Instead of that, however, we see ourselves walking around like those television zombies looking for a place to lie down. Such is the weather in early September in the South Bay.
Regardless of where the thermometer is at this particular time it is September and things are going to get done. In past years we would highlight the schools at this time.
Labor Day would come and go and the school bells would ring. And suddenly the streets would be empty of skateboards, bikes and other modes of child transportation. There would be no need. All the kids were in school. Aha, but not today. With all the contrivances that are added to education we find that year-round-school is the most prominent. It is the one to which the administrators point with pride and call it progress. Maybe so.
We find, however, that not all units in the South Bay are that “progressive.”
I can name two, the Sweetwater Woman’s Club and the local chapter of the Retired Teachers Association who are, more or less, conventional as well as traditional who come out in September ready for a year of work.
Of all the units in the valley, that is, those that are not government-oriented but are simply those which people join because they are going to do some good the local woman’s club would have to take top billing.
A couple of years ago the SWC celebrated their 100th anniversary. The ladies of the club did it up right. They set aside an afternoon for a celebration at the clubhouse, inviting folks of note to join in the festivities and in return received the plaudits of the community for the many positive things that come around in the valley that are due to the efforts of this club.
So, as they have done for more than a century the SWC will start the club’s new year with a traditional luncheon next week on Thursday, Sept. 12th.
Led by the club president, Susan Lewis, the unit will once more launch a series of endeavors that will keep club members occupied in many philanthropic deeds. This will include such events as the annual home decoration tour early in November and other like doings. We will attempt to highlight those events as they occur.
We might add that this first meeting of the year commences with a tradition that is relatively new, but a tradition, nevertheless.
For the fourth year the club members will be entertained by the Merrie Ukes, the local ukulele ensemble. The musicians, led by long time member, Hideyo Haga, will attempt to lend an informal approach to a mixture of business and song.
As a long time educator I could never embrace the concept of year-round school. Being schooled in tradition I prefer the start of a new year in September. Do like the Woman’s Club does it to get a good start. And with ukulele music to boot.
