Tyne Daly reads from Smart Women Don't Retire at book launch party (June 19, 2008)...
What a fabulous experience that was! In Washington, we were thrilled when author and Washington Post columnist Abigail Trafford introduced us to the more than 80 women who came to hear us speak. In Chicago over fifty women attended our presentation and then participated in peer group simulations. The buzz emanating from the groups was palpable. Scheduled to end at 8:00 pm, the room was filled with the sound of women talking and enjoying each other well after 8:30. TTN’s Terry Kozlowski, who organized this terrific evening, happily signed on many new members.
In the San Francisco bay area we had two events. At Book Passage, a terrific independent bookstore in Corte Madera, Marin Country, my dear friend Toby Tuttle introduced me to the waiting audience by revealing a photograph of me wearing a gold Cleopatra headpiece (how could I expect to be taken seriously after that!) But I guess I recovered because one woman seemed to be taking copious notes (no, she wasn’t a reporter) and emphatically nodding her head in agreement with everything that was said. Later Janet Mandelstam, co-chair of the SF TTN Chapter, welcomed her and other eager audience members to form a peer group. The next day, at a downtown SF presentation, we spoke again and enjoyed visiting with many TTN members we knew and meeting new ones.
Christine and I returned to New York just time to attend the fully-booked June 19th gala book publication party. What a blast! Speakers Christine; Sally Jessy Raphael, Cynthia Harris, me, and Tyne Daly talked about transitions, and honored guests Marlene Sanders and Roma Torre showed their support. (See images from the event here:)
Thanks to Rhona Drossman, who will forever after be known as “the balloon lady,” the main salon at the Salmagundi Art Club was festively decorated with gold-colored Smart Women Don’t Retire – They Break Free balloons. The stellar evening would not have happened without the enthusiastic and dedicated support of fifteen TTN volunteers and TTN's talented staff (thank you especially Cathy, Marie and Carole).
Our next stop on the book tour was Long Island where we got to sip wine, munch delicious hors d’oeuves and chat with members of that lively chapter before addressing a large crowd at the Book Revue, a wonderful independent bookstore in Huntington. Posters in the store revealed that such prominent “authors” as Barbara Walters and Bill Clinton had been there before us. Not slouchy company for us to be in. Congratulations and thanks to Ellen Bartoldus and Fern Lambroza for organizing this joyful celebration.
Our final event was in Philadelphia, where nearly 200 people filled a studio at the NPR radio station WHYY to hear us speak. That presentation – including the excitement generated by the audience as it participated in a TTN peer group simulation -- was video recorded for future educational uses.
Wherever we went, we met members who were happy to hear news about TTN’s growth, and many, many women who hadn’t known about TTN before. The best part was receiving warm and enthusiastic responses to our presentations, which I think shows how compelling it is for women to hear about the dynamic TTN community when grappling with retirement issues on their own.
Christine and I offer a warm welcome to all new TTN members.
Gail Rentsch
Tour Stops:
New York City – June 5, Borders, Time-Warner Center
Washington – June 10, Woman's National Democratic Club
Chicago – June 12, Crossroads Center
San Francisco Bay Area –June 14, Book Passage Café
San Francisco -- June 16, SF State Downtown Campus, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
New York City – June 19, Salmagundi Club
Long Island – June 24, Book Revue Bookstore
Philadelphia – June 26, Boomervision!® , WHYY
