Since 1962, five community service women’s clubs from the Patchogue area had met for an inspiring evening of friendship and inspiration, until COVID restrictions put a halt to public gatherings. On Tuesday, May 3, the Patchogue Lions and Lioness Club, Brookhaven Great South Bay Lions Club, Pilot Club of Patchogue, Woman's Club of Patchogue, and Patchogue Columbiettes were able to come together again and celebrate an evening entitled “Women of Vision, A Friendship Night” at Trio’s at the Holbrook Country Club.

President of Brookhaven Great South Bay Lions Club Christine Rignola had wanted to revive the celebration of women who serve the community and reignite the camaraderie enjoyed between the clubs.

The theme of the evening, “Women of Vision,” was incorporated with tables adorned with framed photos of influential women across time, genres, and from around the world.

“So many inspirational women from our own backyard and from around the world have made our world a better place. My vision was to bring to the table images of these women to inspire the Women of Vision in our own community. I also wanted to remind them that they, too, are so important as they make our world a better place through community service,” said Rignola

Mary Calvi, CBS news anchor and author, who was the keynote speaker, was asked to give words of inspiration and brought a gift of a hardcover copy of her novel “Dear George Dear Mary: A Novel of George Washington’s First Love” for each of the ladies in attendance.

Calvi is co-anchor of the daily morning and noon news broadcasts at WCBS-TV in New York City and since July 2020 is the weekend anchor and weekday fill-in anchor for the syndicated newsmagazine Inside Edition.

Over the course of her career, Calvi has won 12 New York Emmy Awards.

“She [Calvi] is truly an inspiration and a sincere, positive light to everyone she meets,” said Rignola.