Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Huntsville Woman's Club Hisory

Huntsville Woman’s Club (HWC) began in 1965 with 35 chartered members whose husbands were the engineers and scientists who had come to Huntsville to work in rocket and space programs.  Previous to the  opening of the rocket/space programs Huntsville (the oldest town in Alabama) was a sleepy “King Cotton” community of about 3,500 people. The members agreed that their immediate purpose would be to identify and help solve the problems of the 75,000 new arrivals into the Huntsville area.

Now in 2010, our 45th year as a volunteer organization, we are proud of our  accomplishments.  In past years club members compiled a sign language dictionary for the deaf, carried diabetes detection kits door to door in  Huntsville, held charity balls to raise funds for the American Cancer Society, developed and presented a smoking awareness program for all 5th and 6th grade public schools.  The members assisted in opening a Day Care Center for mentally challenged adults enabling them to live with their families rather than be institutionalized, and equipped satellite stations of  the Madison County Senior Center to provide blood pressure monitoring  for senior citizens. Our club members donated cash and collected and  delivered needed items for Care Assurance System for the Aging and Home Bound of Madison County (CASA).

Our largest fundraiser, an annual Luncheon and Fashion Show, provides funds for Meals-on-Wheels, resulting in over $161,000.00 being donated  over 25 years.  In 2009, our 25th Fashion Show netted enough to furnish over 3,600 meals ($9,000).

Our club members have won many honors and awards in the past 45 years:  First Place in Creative Writing of Poetry, Photography, Cloth Painting,  Decoupage and Wood Burning Pictures, and Best Overall for the scrapbook for three consecutive years from the Alabama Federation of Women’s Clubs (AFWC).  Our club also received special awards from the General  Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC), AFWC District I, and our local city government. 

Since 1986 our club has awarded scholarships to mature women of Madison County who are studying at the University of Alabama, Huntsville, who need further education to return to the workforce after an absence.  These scholarships are in the amount of $1,000 each, and are administered by the University. In 2009, two additional $500 scholarships were awarded.

Membership

HWC welcomes serious inquiries regarding membership.  HWC requires no sectarian, partisan or political test for membership.  A member shall be a registered voter.
A.    Any woman, whose objectives and works are in harmony with HWC, may present application for membership to the Second Vice President.  The application shall contain the signatures of two members in good standing as sponsors.  Membership shall be approved by the Board.
B.    A prospective member shall attend two meetings and an orientation before the membership can be submitted for approval by the Board.  This is done so that the prospective member may fully understand the privileges and responsibilities of the Club membership.
C.    Members of The General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) who wish to transfer to Huntsville Woman’s Club may do so by providing GFWC membership credential showing good standing in a federated club and by attending one session of Huntsville Woman’s Club orientation.  They shall be approved by the Board and notified of membership by the Second Vice President.

For more information,contact:  BettyePugh@aol.com

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Meetings

HWC meets the first Friday of the month from September to June at the Christian Life Center (CLC), First Baptist Church, 600 Governors Drive, SW, Huntsville, Alabama (map: http://www.fbchsv.org/aboutfbc/directions.html).

A social time begins at 9:30 a.m, with the meeting beginning at 10 a.m.

For more information, contact:  BettyePugh@aol.com