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The Randolph Woman’s Club celebrates 50 years
RANDOLPH — The Randolph Woman’s Club celebrated 50 years as an organization on Saturday, Oct. 11.
All members, past and present, were invited to attend the special event. Honored guests were Charter members, as well as anyone who had been a past member of the Club.
As a fun activity everyone, past and present members, were introduced and encouraged to tell about a memory that stood out being a member of the Club. It ended with a slide presentation highlighting many of the projects and events that the club had accomplished throughout its 50 years.
The GFWC Randolph Woman’s Club began in March,1975 when an organizational meeting was held at the home of Mrs. Eugene (Linda) Gubbels. The purpose of this new group of ladies would be for the educational and civic betterment of the community.
A Charter meeting was then held May 9 at the Randolph Colonial Manor meeting room with 25 individuals signing the Original Charter.
Officers elected were: Linda Rogers, President; Dorothy Jensen, First Vice-President; Linda Gubbels, Second Vice-President; Sherry Bradley, Secretary; and Gaylene Taylor, Treasurer. By the end of the summer membership had grown to a total of 34. The Club was affiliated with the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) until 2008, when it withdrew its membership from the GFWC and NFWC but remained a local club.
One of the Club’s biggest projects each year is the Fall Craft Show. A Country Craft Show began in July of 1975 in conjunction with the Randolph Community Club Fair. In 2002, the annual event was changed to a Fall Craft Show and is now being held the first Saturday in November. Proceeds are split between the Lied Randolph Public Library and the Randolph City Park for purchase of children’s books and park improvements.
In the beginning years of the club, a Fine Arts Fair was held for the Randolph Public Schools students and members of the community. By 2016 the Fine Arts Fair Sponsorship was dissolved and changed to sponsor a Fine Arts Scholarship, along with the Randolph Arts Council, for a deserving graduating Senior of Randolph Public School planning to pursue an education in the Fine Arts.
In 1976 they began sponsoring the Randolph New Year’s Baby, with Dan Lienemann being the 1st born that year. This project remains strong as businesses continue to provide gifts for the new baby and his/her parents each year.
Other continuing projects since 1975 have been entertaining at Colonial Manor. Every January the Club celebrates with the residents, by playing Bingo and serving birthday cake to honor the residents that have a birthday in the month. Other on-going projects for the Club have been collecting goods for the Randolph Food Pantry and also providing care packages for the Haven House, a family service center. The Club has made many donations throughout the years and continues to do so wherever the community need exists.
In these past 50 years, the Randolph Woman’s Club has done many civic and fun projects. One of the biggest undertakings for the Club was in 19781979. The Randolph Public Library was in desperate need of more space. Through donations totaling $1,579.00 and multiple hours of volunteer labor, the basement of the Randolph Public Library was developed into a warm and inviting Children’s Library. Other worthwhile projects in past years were delivering books to shut-ins, welcoming newcomers to Randolph, supporting the HOBY (Hugh O’Brien Youth) program, and sponsorship of Girl Scout Troops.
Since 1975 the Club has done many one-time projects such as: cards for trees, blood pressure clinic, swine flu shots, fingerprinting clinic, convincing the city to institute a house and street numbering system, working with the FHA girls on a block-mother program and many more.
The Club Year runs from September to May. At each monthly meeting, there is a program which is both informational and fun. Through these programs, members have learned many new things and gained a depth of understanding of other things. Of the 17 members at the present time, there remain only two, Jo Kilburn and Sharon Riedel, that have had continuous membership since they signed the charter.
The Randolph Woman’s Club welcomes anyone who would like to join, be a community worker and have fun.
