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Why Woman's?

Board of Directors

Officers
Karen Andrie
President
Nancy Bierenga
Vice President
Suzanne Carl
Recording Secretary
Sharon Beck
Corresponding Secretary
Paula Martin
Treasurer

Department Chairs

The Arts

Karen Peters
American Home

Deb Roest &
Suzanne Carl
Evening Group

Committee Chairs
Delores Brondyke
Activities

Julie Haines
Communications

Stacey Bierling
Finance

Lindy Olechnowicz
House & Grounds

Carolyn Bowen
Membership

Member at Large
Loribeth Clark

Why do we call ourselves the Woman's Club, singular? Yes, woman is a singular noun, meaning an adult female human being. However, it also means womankind, and as such refers to women collectively.

During the 1800s there were many women's organizations that worked for the improvement of society and to gain political, economic, and legal rights for all women. They used the word "woman" to refer to women as a group, such as: Woman's Christian Temperance Union, National Woman Suffrage Association, National Woman's Committee, and Woman's Rights Party.

In keeping with the Woman's Club movement, our local club, organized in 1890, was called the Muskegon Woman's Club. Therefore, we retained the word "woman's." It has been used on our stationery and yearly program booklets. It is on the large bronze plaque hanging in our hallway, dedicated to Minnie Hubbard Smith, who donated our building in 1903. Later, in 1961, the Muskegon Heights Club joined us, and we became the Greater Muskegon Woman's Club.

Who is the woman of today's club? She is the woman interested in the needs of every woman - spiritual, mental, and physical. We have five departments - each of which meets every month. Then there are monthly meetings for the whole club. There are fine programs, discussions, lectures, demonstrations, and performances. We are indebted for all our fine programs to the abilities of our own members and especially to the fine talents of many of our outstanding community members.

We have elegant teas and delicious luncheons. We raise money to maintain our lovely heritage building, for our excellent programs, and for philanthropy. Are you a woman interested in our activities? If so, we invite you to contact us to make plans to be a visitor at a meeting and to find out how you may become a member of the Greater Muskegon Woman's Club.