Our commitment to connecting extraordinary women with each other began in 1996 when Missy Lavender (now Co-founder & Executive Director of the Women’s
Health Foundation) launched a First Tuesday monthly breakfast gathering for a small group of women at a Chicago Health Club. Two years later, Marcy Cole, PhD, took over the coordination in Chicago and transitioned the gatherings into an evening venue.
The primary purpose has and continues to be the intention to create and expand a vibrant, diverse sense of community amongst extraordinary women.
With that in mind, R. Rosenblate, launched a Los Angeles Chapter in 2003. Marcy Cole moved to L.A. in the Fall of 2004 and resumed coordination.
On Left: Marcy Cole & Missy Lavender On Right: Marcy Cole and R. Rosenblate
In the Fall of 2006, we extended our reach by launching a non-profit arm called First Tuesday Circle of Giving, offering our collective support to women, children, and families in need, both locally and globally. FTCOG retained its 501-C3 Status for 4 years, and then transitioned in the Fall of 2011 to making sure its legacy continues to promote the value of Social Service within the First Tuesday community.
In order to provide more to our community and to insure consistent support of our non-profit efforts, Marcy Cole transitioned First Tuesday LA in the Fall of 2007 and First Tuesday Chicago in the Summer of 2009 into a membership organization.
On Left: Rose Venditto and Kathy McCabe with Marcy Cole during FT Chicago launch weekend. On Right: Chicago First Tuesday gals at Leadership dinner!
First Tuesday gatherings are held in private homes or public venues on the first Tuesday of each month. Each evening includes unstructured social time, dinner, networking, refreshments, and programs with featured amazing speakers that focus on personal and professional development.
In the spirit of building “community”, we have had lots of programs and events through the years. Here are some images to share that captured some very fun times together!
We also keep the connection and communications flowing through our on-line LA & Chicago Yahoo network where members can send announcements, questions and requests via the group e-mail system. One First Tuesday gal recently shared, “It’s the transparency, interactivity and generosity that makes this kind of communication system so powerful and invaluable”.
In 2011, Chicago transitioned to an on-line only community.
Los Angeles let go of the previous $252 membership and streamlined its structure to be more available to all. There continues to be Live Events during the 1st Tuesday of the month on the west side, the 3rd Tuesday of the month in the Southbay and the monthly “Book Club for the Soul” gatherings as well.
Come Join Us!
To become a First Tuesday LA Online Member there is a yearly membership fee, which also allows increased online visibility via your profile and blog entries.
There are now over 350 women in Chicago and over 900 women in LA, who are either peripherally affiliated or actively involved with our community of amazing women.
Please peruse the links on this site to discover even more detailed information, and Thank You for visiting our network . We hope to officially welcome you on board very soon!
