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Woodbridge Woman's Club |
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Service and Friendship |
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History - Achievements |
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WOODBRIDGE WOMAN’S CLUB HISTORY 1965-1999
In 1965 Angela Gregory, then Northern Virginia District Vice-President and President of the Woman’s Club of Manassas, Virginia, interested Ellen Lawrence, correspondent for the local newspaper, in publicizing a preliminary meeting to form a Woman’s Club in the Woodbridge area. In response, 35 women organized the Woodbridge Woman’s Club on March 15, 1965 at the Cunningham-Mount castle Funeral Home. Officers were elected, by-laws were adopted and the Club was federated immediately with the VFWC (Virginia Federation of Woman’s Clubs) and GFWC (General Federation of Women’s Clubs).
Having no building of our own, we have met in a funeral home, various schools, churches and libraries, the Virginia Power and Sanitary District buildings, Hub, sports clubhouse and the Occoquan Pointe Clubhouse. We meet the third Monday of October, January, February, March, and May at the Chinn Library. During months when there was a holiday on our Monday, we meet at the Occoquan Pointe Clubhouse. September and December meetings are held in private homes and the April meeting is our installation luncheon at a restaurant. We have no general meeting in the month of our annual luncheon-fashion show, which was usually held at the Montclair Country Club. Our Club has sponsored approximately 38 fashion shows. Our dues started at $5.00. Dues were raised to $25.00 several years ago. When there is a holiday on our Monday, we hold the meeting the following Tuesday at the Chinn or Potomac Library.
In 1970 we started a newsletter informing members of meetings, important dates, district, state and GFWC news, newsy items about members. Later that year we formed a “Love Committee” to do something nice for members who are ill. Meals were prepared and delivered. This later became the Courtesy Committee. In 1986 we tried secret pals for a year or so but this didn’t work out and the Love Committee no longer exists.
We have a Calling Committee to keep members reminded of meetings. To keep up interest in the Club we held night meetings several times starting in 1975. We were loosing members who moved away or went to work. The night meetings were not successful.
During this same period we held exercise classes and bridge lessons which lasted a few years.
To promote friendship and cooperation we have held, since 1965 the following workshops; paper poppies, crochet and jewelry, burlap, silk and organza flowers, needlepoint, macramé, crewel embroidery, Swedish embroidery, knitting, topiary tree, Christmas center pieces, ceramics, flower drying, decoupage, resin casting, cloth flower baskets, ceramic bead necklaces, quilting, hand towels, hat pin cushions, Christmas balls, bread dough flowers, bridge tallies, straw wreaths, ashtrays, candles, pine cone and nut trees, counted cross stitch and kissing balls. We no longer have workshops
Two members Norma Ford and Bobbie Frank provide centerpieces and favors. Starting in 1977 plaques were awarded for many years to an “Outstanding Member”.
A book club started in 1990 and is still meeting monthly. We worked for months in 1989 to complete the Woodbridge Woman’s Club Cookbook’.
Each summer since 1972 there has been a summer social; a special party, cook-out, pot luck, barbecue, a crab feast or some activity in which husbands could participate. This has not been done the last several years. Members however, have met for fun or educational activities, including visiting GFWC Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
As stated in our By-laws the object of our Club shall be “to promote the welfare of the community and to develop the cultural life of our members, it shall carry out the objectives of the state and General Federation where possible”.
Promoting the welfare of the community:
In 1965 we raised money for draperies for the new Leesylvania Library by holding a Community Art Show at Marumsco Plaza. We also raffled a silver tea service. That same year a luncheon and fashion show to benefit the Woodbridge Retarded Children’s Training Center was held at the Lazy Susan Inn with fashions by Jelleffs. Luncheon/Fashion Shows have been held yearly ever since with the proceeds going for education. We started granting $250.00 scholarships to a senior from each of our two high schools. This amount rose to $300.00, $400.00 and then $500.00.
A third and fourth high schools were built and for several years we were able to grant $750.00 scholarships to four recipients but in 1994 we had to reduce the amount to $500.00. We have also supported the Hugh O’Brien leadership training and Girls State programs. We now award three scholarships of $1000.00 to seniors representing our six local high schools.
A big project was helping other civic organizations to promote the building of a hospital in the Woodbridge area. We planned and carried out a Potomac Hospital Barbecue and Ground Breaking Ceremony in Veterans’ Park which attracted hundreds of people. Members volunteered at the Hospital Association Office while the hospital was being built. It was completed in 1972 and the hospital auxiliary drew some of its officers and many members from the Woodbridge Woman’s Club. Many of our members have continued to volunteer there.
Our work for the Salvation Army is well known. Thousands of Christmas gifts have been wrapped, stockings stu6ffed and since 1975 bears and dolls dressed. We have donated to their Christmas basket for years. We have wrapped gifts also for the Red Cross at a table in Potomac Mills Mall.
ACTS is supported monthly with cartons of food and donations at Christmas.
In the early 1970’s, members donated over 150 paperbacks and children’s books to the Leesylvania Library and we planted trees at Lynn Middle School, Potomac Hospital and in 1987 two trees were planted at the Senior Center. Members still donate books to our libraries.
Member’s served as hostesses for the Marumsco Creek Park swimming pool dedication and helped in the Rotary International’s cleanup of U.S. Route 1. We worked at the TB x-ray unit and our Club joined the Anti-pollution Council whose purpose was to clean up the Occoquan Reservoir. We donated clothing to the Lorton Rehabilitation Center and donated to the Jaycees “Shopping for Children’s programs. We supported the building of the Juvenile Detention Center in Prince William County.
In June 1971 we held a sidewalk art show at Marumsco Plaza with 71 artists. Participating. 372 paintings were displayed and ribbons given in all categories. Crafts were included with special section for children’s entries. A workshop had been held to make art show posters.
That same year we attended and organizational meeting of the Senior Adult Club at the Marumsco Community Center, serving refreshments and providing transportation where needed. We also provided hostesses, refreshments and table centerpieces for the Open House at the new Mental Health Clinic in Manassas.
In October 1971 we worked at the Art mobile at Rippon Middle School and volunteered at the Oral Cancer Clinic. In the next month we prepared Christmas Seal envelopes for the Potomac Tuberculosis and Respiratory Disease Association.
In July 1972 we helped at the T.B. Association’s mobile unit and the next June we worked at a flea market for the benefit of multiple sclerosis.
In December 1974 we volunteered at the Virginia Museum Art mobile at Fred Lynn Middle School. We provided refreshments for the official dedication of the Potomac Library.
In October 1975 we introduced our poster and essay contest to our county schools on “What the Bicentennial Means to Me”.
In January we presented a check for $1500.00 to Medicom. This represented the income from a white elephant and bake sale in May 1975 and from a doll house a member’s husband had constructed. Our members all papered, painted, decorated and furnished it, then displayed it throughout the county and sold chances on it. We began planting flowers and plants at the Occoquan Mill House Museum in April 1976 and continued cultivating and weeding for several years.
February 1977 saw members cleaning up the Eastern Prince William Clubhouse. Later that year we promoted “Birthright” of Prince William. We had a baby shower and also donated layettes etc. We made eggshell flowers, holders for patients at the Woodbridge Nursing Home. The same year we registered patients for oral and breast cancer checks at the Cancer Clinic. We participated in the Charity Fair at Manassas Mall, raffling of a hand made Christmas tablecloth and a hand crafted ceramics Nativity Scene. We decorated a Valentine tree centerpiece for the Woodbridge Nursing Home in January 1981.
Members served as hostesses at a tea dance at the Woodbridge Senior Center in September 1984 and volunteered at the annual Health Fair there in 1984 and in 1985.
In 1985 we con a CIP Citation for our walking project. In the 1990’s we helped at the Decorator’s Show House in Manassas as we had earlier in Haymarket.
In the 1990’s nine members began tutoring in elementary schools as part of the English as a Second Language (ESL) Program.
Our Club sponsored a conservation poster contest at Belmont Elementary School in 1999. Nine teachers at the school were provided free CPR classes through our efforts. We collect pennies for a local school and used stamps for a charity.
We have Certificates of Appreciation, Outstanding Club and Merit Awards from the Federation of Women’s Clubs of Virginia.
To develop the cultural life of its members:
Members formed a writers group in 1970 which produced essays, poems, short stories and a clever calendar. They added spice to our newsletter with profiles of members, news about vacations, cruises and parties. Down to three members in 1980 they disbanded.
Beginning in February 1972, there was held a Mardi Gras Ball and February dances continued for several years.
In June 1972 we held “Art in the Park”, and art show and family Picnic. Through the years we have had flower demonstrations and plant exchanges.
We give the GFWC history at a meeting each year and hold orientation for new members.
Starting in 1974, we held Bridge Brunches at Woodlawn Country Club for many years.
Members attended an “Internet” computer class at Chinn Library in 1999.
A group known as the “Roadrunners” made trips through the years to the National Art Gallery, Community concerts, dinner theaters, retirement homes, house tours, and historic sites, Richmond, Gunston Hall Candlelight Tour, GFWC Headquarters and the Smithsonian.
Objectives of the State and General Federation:
All Members must be registered to vote and they are urged to vote. March is known as Legislative Month as we have a speaker on the accomplishments of the General Assembly.
We give the GFWC history at a meeting each year and hold orientation for new members. We have had lessons in parliamentary procedures and other leadership points.
In 1970 we obtained signatures on petitions for better treatment of prisoners of war in Southeast Asia. Also that year we had a contest in which members would write her interpretation of the Collect.
We recycle aluminum and we have annual programs on pollutions and conservation.
Referenda and resolutions are supported when requested. We have written to our Congressional representatives on numerous causes. The Stop Sweatshop Act of 1977, legislation for training for health aids, nursing assistants and other health care workers and other concerns.
We make contributions of favors, centerpieces, etc. for Northern Virginia District, VFWC and GFWC functions when asked.
We collect used stamps, pennies and small toiletries for various charities.
At Christmas, instead of sending cards to members, we donate the money which is given to ACTS or another charity. We also donate money from our “silent auction.
“SERVICE AND FRIENDSHIP” |
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HISTORY OF THE WOODBRIDGE WOMAN’S CLUB |
