Redwood was the fourth CWC branch, established in 1975, with special impetus from Helene Schellenberg of Berkeley CWC who had moved to the North Bay. In Santa Rosa, Helene was a writing teacher who formed a private critique group with some of her more eager and talented students. She, along with Ruth Walker, promoted to the critique group the idea of forming a regular club as a branch of CWC. She founded the Redwood Branch with 45 charter members with the help of James Walker, acting chairman for the organizational period.
It was through the teachers of writing, Helene S. Barnhart in Santa Rosa and Margaret Scariano in Novato, that many new members were recruited and guests invited to the dinner meetings.
In 1984, the late Inman Whipple (President, 1978) wrote of Helene Schellenberg Barnhart and Dianne Kurlfinke:
“In my opinion, these two people have brought the dream of a writing club to fruition and then stood behind it and encouraged it all the way. They have constantly fostered the exchange of ideas, speakers, activities, support, and cooperation with all the other branches. Our success is directly due to the efforts of these two—the right dream with action at the right time.”
For a period of ten years, Redwood Branch was one of the CWC “Quad,” the four existing branches (Berkeley, Sacramento, Peninsula, and Redwood), each in Northern California. It was possible to hold all-branch meetings and to form close relationships among CWC members.
Today, Redwood Branch continues the tradition and purpose that our founding officers established. Redwood is currently the largest branch in CWC and its growing membership both attends and supports its many activities.
Presidents of Redwood Branch
1975 Helene (Schellenberg) Barnhart
1976 Dianne Kurlfinke
1977 Natlee Kenoyer
1978 Inman Whipple
1979 Herschel Cozine
1980 Edward Dolan
1981 Alla Crone Hayden
1982 Mildred Fish
1983 Waldo Boyd
1984 Margaret Scariano
1985 Dave Arnold
1986-87 Mary Priest
1988-89 Marion McMurtry
1990-91 Mary Varley
1992-96 Barb Truax
1997-98 Marvin Steinbock
1999 Dorothy Molyneaux
2000 Carol McConkie
2001-02 Gil Mansergh
2003 Carol McConkie
2004 Charles Brashear
2005-07 Linda C. McCabe
2007-09 Karen Batchelor
2009-12 Linda L. Reid
2012 Elaine Webster/Robbi Sommers Bryant
2013-15 Robbi Sommers Bryant
2015-16 Sandy Baker
2016-20 Roger Lubeck
2020-22 Shawn Langwell
2022-23 Judy Baker