Ossoli Circle ‘Tea’ a big draw
Ossoli Circle is hosting its 38th Annual “I Love Ossoli Tea” from 1 to 3 p.m., Monday, Aug 8, in the Ossoli Circle Clubhouse, 2511 Kingston Pike.
Although this event is for members only, Ossoli Circle will host an “Opening Members Coffee” beginning at 11 a.m., Monday, Sept. 12.
For more details, prospective members may call said Jan Coley, Ossoli Circle publicity chair, at 865-248-9206 or e-mail coleyjan@gmail.com
“I Love Ossoli Tea”
As for what prospective members might look forward to, the “I Love Ossoli Tea” party “is a way for our members to celebrate the club,” Coley said. “It is one of the highlights of the year.”
“I Love Ossoli Tea” chair Sherry Hillis noted the first tea was held in August 1984 in the home of her late mother-in-law and past president Florence Hillis.
“Florence gave an elegant tea for Ossoli Circle members, and she hoped it would motivate everyone to shower the club with donations for the upcoming Centennial Celebration,” Hillis said. “We have had the tea at various locations over the years, including back at the Hillis home in 2018 (Florence died in 2009) and Historic Westwood in 2019.
“This year the committee wanted to return to our clubhouse for afternoon tea,” she added. “It is also a fun time to wear our pretty dresses and hats and see each other after the summer break.”
.Ossoli Circle is a General Federation Women’s Club, founded Nov. 20, 1885, and is “the oldest Federated Women’s Club in the South,” according to a club press release.
It is a charter member of the General Federation of Women’s’ Clubs, founded in 1890, and the General Federated Women’s Clubs of Tennessee, founded in 1896.
