Last December, I sat next to Barbara Guterman, a beautifully made-up, tall blonde, at the JWI (Jewish Women’s International) event where I was being honored as one of ten women to watch. We were watching other panels in the basement level hotel ballroom and chit-chatting over our buffet breakfast. I asked her what she did and she told me about her event series, a monthly series in Bethesda, MD called TGIF: Teach, Give, Inspire Fridays that brings women together.
“I mean, I’d be happy to come,” I offered, shamelessly.
“Fantastic!” she said.
Fast forward to June when I flew down early on a Friday morning from New York and arrived at the most gorgeous country club, rolling greens, and manicured landscapes greeting me. The interior of the clubhouse sparkled with wood paneled libraries, sunshine-filled meeting rooms, and towering flowers straining up towards intricate chandeliers. This was going to be a good one.
By the time I got up to give my own talk, I’d met all types of women, reunited with friends and colleagues like Becky Meloan and Meghan Riordan Jarvis, and settled in for a slightly off-color, very frank, hilarious and powerful series of introductions and talks by sponsors and speakers like Pam Sherman.
I had to rush off the stage to make my flight home, a new custom-made glass microphone gift weighing down my backpack, filled with that upbeat feeling when you’ve really connected with new people. I highly recommend both attending and speaking at the event. Plus, as a surprise, Barbara was kind enough to give every attendee a copy of On Being Jewish Now and even sent me an honorarium that covered my travel. So lovely! I was just doing it for fun.
Now, Barbara sent me this high-def recording so you can feel like you were there with us, too. Thanks, Barbara!
