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Civil War Round Table Holds First "Ladies Forum"

Civil War Round Table Holds First "Ladies Forum"

March 6, 2013 - Southport, NC - On Tuesday evening, February 26th, forty-five female Round Table members attended the first ever "Ladies Forum" of the Brunswick Civil War Round Table. It was held at Trinity United Methodist Church in Southport. They came to hear local historian and living history interpreter, Charen Fink, R.N., M.Ed., talk about women during the Civil War. "Women played a significant role in so many ways during the war, and received so little acknowledgement," explained Ms. Fink. "This is why our Round Table decided to reach out specifically to our female members to give them a chance to hear how we females contributed to the war effort."

Upon arriving, attendees were awed by an extensive collection of Civil War antiques, reproductions, and items, all related to women. A manikin, "Lizzie", was undressed to reveal the many layers of clothing typically worn by most women. The power point presentation included many pictures and information about a lady’s toilette, clothing, jewelry, domestic activities, health, courtship, motherhood, photography, medicine and occupations. Nancy Ovsenik, a Round Table member, presented mourning and funeral customs. She and her husband, Ed (who portrays an undertaker and is also a Round Table member), are Civil War re-enactors, and portrayed a typical funeral situation. Period refreshments were offered using Civil War era recipes (known then as receipts), consisted of Mary Todd Lincoln cake, gingerbread, Sally Lunn bread, molasses cookies, and pound cake, and followed by coffee and hot chocolate. Overwhelmingly the audience felt it was an excellent program. Some evaluations even included suggested topics for additional future "Ladies Forum" programs. Based on the interest and enthusiasm expressed by the evening’s attendees, Ms Fink feels certain the Round Table board of directors will unanimously endorse future “Ladies Forum” meetings as an adjunct to the Round Table’s regular monthly meetings.

Ms. Fink is a director of the Brunswick Civil War Round Table, and has been a member of various Civil War related societies, organizations and Round Tables, including past president of the Mahoning Valley Civil War Round Table, Society of Civil War Surgeons, National Museum of Civil War Medicine, Society of Women of the Civil War, the Southport Historical Society and the Cape Fear Civil War Round Table.

Regular Brunswick Civil War Round Table meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month at Trinity United Methodist Church. Everyone is welcome. The guest fee is $5 which can be applied toward the $25 annual membership dues. Registration begins at 6:30. Each month a renowned guest speaker joins the Round Table to present and discuss topics of interest to both Civil War buffs as well as those interested in knowing more about this period in our history. Currently, the Round Table has over 530 members, including over 200 females, and growing each month since their first meeting in May, 2010.

For more information about this growing non-profit organization contact president Wally Rueckel at (910) 253-7382, or email wrueckel@questor.com.


 


 


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