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Show Ladies Athenaeum Meets Guest Speaker Heard Women's Athenaeum got off to a good start October 1 1 when members met at the Ladies Lounge in the Memorial Mem-orial Building with President Presi-dent Eleanor Bennett, presiding. presi-ding. Suzanne Rowan, manager of Edelweiss Haus, was guest speaker. The members mem-bers lived through history as Suzanne reported on the years she had lived in Iran from 1976 to 1979 and through the revolution. Mrs. Rowan feels the late Shah was America's best friend in the middle east. Pro-west and strongly anti-communist, anti-communist, he maintained the balance of power in the Mid-East and prevented the Russians from pushing South to get warm water ports.' His distractors accused him of nepotism, corruption, and harsh punishment.. three characteristics so deeply rooted in Iranian culture that they can hardly be attributed to the Shah. The Moslem Shah had the greatest religious and racial tolerance; Jews, Armenians, Zaroastrians and the tribal nations of Iran enjoyed complete freedom and high office. The status of women increased enormously under the Shah and Fara Diba, his Queen. The Rowans enjoyed skiing with the Royal family and Suzanne, who was devoted to the queen, did extensive volunteer work setting up lecture programs in four languages at the Queens Museum of Modern Art, which housed her large collection. The Rowans explored Iran, climbed the highest mountains, moun-tains, lived in villages and goatskin tents with nomadic tribes and in palacial residences. resi-dences. They found Persian hospitality to be the most generous they've encountered encounter-ed in the world. They would happily go back when the shooting stops. The next Athenaeum meeting meet-ing will be held October 25 at the same location at 7:30 p.m. An exciting evening is planned with Phyllis Parks of Salt Lake City. She is well-known as an artist, writer, and antique doll collector. She will discuss one of her recent writings "The Birth of a Book." Members are all encouraged encourag-ed to come and bring a friend and an open invitation is extended to the public. |
