Events

The Mahjong Group meets on the first and third Mondays of the month at the Clubhouse from 1:00-3:00 p.m. in the Club's Tea Room. On months with a fifth Monday, the group holds a bonus meeting. 

If you have never tried this game of skill, strategy, and luck, or you are an experienced player, you are welcome to join in the fun!

Meetings are free and open to all, but a RSVP is required to reserve your spot: mahjong@sjwomansclub.org Want to find out more? Email Mahjong Group Chairs   Liz Edlund and Robyn Ginsburg Braverman., mahjong@sjwomansclub.org.

Note: Qi Gong is on winter break till January 20th. 

SJWC's Qi Gong  (pronounced: chee-gung) Group offers a gentle form of exercise designed to help you release tension and stress from the body while cultivating vitality, balance and inner peace. The group is led by Chair Michelle Henninger, who is a certified Holden Qi Gong Teacher.

Practicing Qi Gong will help you achieve greater mental, emotional, and physical health and well-being. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced practitioner, this program caters to all levels, using postures, flowing movements, breath, sound, imagery and focused intention.

Please RSVP so we know how to set up the room. We look forward to enjoying this new activity with you!

Contact: Chair Michelle Henninger at qigong@sjwomansclub.org to learn more and RSVP.

San Jose Woman's Club Besse Book Discussion Group meets via Zoom on the first Tuesday of most months, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. You do not need to read the book to attend. In August we meet on the first Wednesday in person for a summer potluck. In December, we meet on the first Tuesday in person for a holiday get together. 

 RSVP to Chair Lucille Boone at besse@sjwomansclub.org for the Zoom link.

Meetings are free and open to all. 

Book discussion calendar 2025/2026:

Sep 2nd The Hungry Season: a journey of war, love, and survival by Lisa M. Hamilton (NF)
Oct 7th  The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store  by James McBride (F)
Nov 4 The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentil (F)
Dec 2: In person holiday get together
Jan 6th The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier (F)
Feb 3rd Silicon Valley Reads Selection
Mar 3 Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Apr 7 James by Percival Everett (F)
May 5 Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq  (F)
Jun 2 The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters  (F)

F=Fiction, NF= Nonfiction

The Besse Group was formed in 1997 for those who are interested in discussing books, attending cultural events and enjoying stimulating conversations. It was named in honor of Clubmember and major SJWC donor Besse Slonaker, who passed away that year.

For more information, contact Chair Lucille Boone at besse@sjwomansclub.org.

Note: Qi Gong is on winter break till January 20th. 

SJWC's Qi Gong  (pronounced: chee-gung) Group  offers a gentle form of exercise designed to help you release tension and stress from the body while cultivating vitality, balance and inner peace. The group is led by Chair Michelle Henninger, who is a certified Holden Qi Gong Teacher.

Practicing Qi Gong will help you achieve greater mental, emotional, and physical health and well-being. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced practitioner, this program caters to all levels, using postures, flowing movements, breath, sound, imagery and focused intention.

Please RSVP so we know how to set up the room. We look forward to enjoying this new activity with you!

Contact: Chair Michelle Henninger at qigong@sjwomansclub.org to learn more and RSVP.

The Mahjong Group meets on the first and third Mondays of the month at the Clubhouse from 1:00-3:00 p.m. in the Club's Tea Room. On months with a fifth Monday, the group holds a bonus meeting. 

If you have never tried this game of skill, strategy, and luck, or you are an experienced player, you are welcome to join in the fun!

Meetings are free and open to all, but a RSVP is required to reserve your spot: mahjong@sjwomansclub.org Want to find out more? Email Mahjong Group Chairs   Liz Edlund and Robyn Ginsburg Braverman., mahjong@sjwomansclub.org.

The Mind, Body & Soil Group meets monthly, generally on the third Tuesday of the month at the Clubhouse, a  member's garden or a public garden,  usually from 2-3:30 pm. 

MIND BODY AND SOIL MONARCH WORKSHOP
Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 2:00 - 3:30 PM
SJWC Tea Room, 75 South 11th Street, San Jose

Come learn about increasing the monarch butterfly population in your own
garden by planting milkweed, guaranteed to attract monarchs. We will be
forming newspaper “pots” and planting seeds which can then be transplanted to
your garden. We will focus on milkweed and other host plants that sustain
butterflies and their larvae, and we will share best practices, learned by
experience.

We will supply demo and instructions, newspapers for pots, potting soil, seeds,
and some host seedlings. Please share seeds if you have them, and your own
experience with monarchs. We will begin to plot who is planting what and where,
to see if we can form butterfly pathways that result in greater populations in our
own neighborhoods - and then comes the “guerrilla gardening” when we
stealthily plant in adjoining locations or wherever we think milkweed will thrive.

There is simply nothing like seeing monarchs every time you look out the
window! And then all those voracious caterpillars munching away and keeping
one connected to nature in the most miraculous way. There will be snacks, good
company, relaxation, and milkweed and butterflies to come!

Avid gardeners all, we clear our minds and find inspiration working in the garden; we work on keeping our bodies fit and strong, and in the soil we find the immense satisfaction that gardening can bring. We promote sustainability, planting native species, protecting pollinators, and safe and healthy practices. We produce beauty, peace, conviviality, good things to eat and bouquets galore! We share garden know-how, learning from each other and from garden masters. We visit other people’s gardens and gardens of note near and far. We share cuttings and seeds and, most importantly, we share, nourish and grow friendship. We welcome you to come grow with us!

To learn more or RSVP and get details, contact Chair Mary Lou Mason at garden@sjwomansclub.org

SJWC's newest group, Qi Gong (pronounced: chee-gung) offers a gentle form of exercise designed to help you release tension and stress from the body while cultivating vitality, balance and inner peace. The group is led by Chair Michelle Henninger, who is a certified Holden Qi Gong Teacher.

Practicing Qi Gong will help you achieve greater mental, emotional, and physical health and well-being. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced practitioner, this program caters to all levels, using postures, flowing movements, breath, sound, imagery and focused intention.

Please RSVP so we know how to set up the room. We look forward to enjoying this new activity with you!

Contact: Chair Michelle Henninger at qigong@sjwomansclub.org to learn more and RSVP.

Art, Culture, & Antiques generally meets on the fourth Monday of the month, September through June. 

This month, LInda Gray-Moin, will take us to Charles Lutwidge Dodgson's  (aka Lewis Carroll) sitting room. She will tell us about the art and other belongings  he choose to surround himself with and how it inspired his work. Don't miss this fascinating visit to Uncle Dodgson’s fireside. 

RSVP for the current month at https://sjwc_antiques.eventbrite.com.

For more info, contact Group Chairs Sandy Swirksy and Alice Gosak Gary at antiques@sjwomansclub.org

SJWC's newest group, Qi Gong (pronounced: chee-gung) offers a gentle form of exercise designed to help you release tension and stress from the body while cultivating vitality, balance and inner peace. The group is led by Chair Michelle Henninger, who is a certified Holden Qi Gong Teacher.

Practicing Qi Gong will help you achieve greater mental, emotional, and physical health and well-being. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced practitioner, this program caters to all levels, using postures, flowing movements, breath, sound, imagery and focused intention.

Please RSVP so we know how to set up the room. We look forward to enjoying this new activity with you!

Contact: Chair Michelle Henninger at qigong@sjwomansclub.org to learn more and RSVP.

SJWC's Sewing Group, chaired by veteran sewers Sandy Swirsky and Jackie Daemon, meets on the fourth Wednesday of most months, September through May,  at the Clubhouse from 10 am to 2 pm to work on a community or personal project. If you have an easy to move sewing machine, bring it with you.

Group members work on a community project such as stockings for the Farmworker Caravan to distribute, tote bags for SJSU's Spartan Pantry, or a personal project to use or gift.

Bring your lunch and beverage and snacks to share if you want.

Please RSVP so we know how to set up the room. We look forward to enjoying this new activity with you!

Contact: Chairs Sandy Swirsky and Jackie Daemon at sewing@sjwomansclub.org to learn more and RSVP.