Democratic Women’s Club of Santa Cruz County
DWC BROADSIDE
November 2007
Mystery Birthday, 50+ Years
One of history’s mysteries was the birth year of the Democratic
Women’s Club. By 1970, the club already
was known as the oldest active political organization in the county. Archival
memorabilia suggest the group sprang, fully formed, from the pages of a 1957
scrapbook with a structure of directors and a set of functioning committee
chairs.
DWC’s early boards of
directors set a high standard for luncheon meetings with programs and
knowledgeable speakers. The club focused
its collective attention on political and social issues, candidates, and office
holders, but organized occasional special events to raise money and promote
camaraderie among the membership.
Officers and committee chairs assumed responsibility for the same tasks
the board does today.
Then, as now, new
officers were installed annually at a membership tea or other special occasion. In the first part of the 21st
Century, a new board steps forward at a holiday party in December. Installation of officers occurs in a brief
ceremony officiated by a friendly elected official, such as a member of the
state assembly, a state senator, or local mayor.
Hanukkah, Christmas, and
winter solstice often are incorporated into the installation festivities, along
with food, music, fellowship, and perhaps a lively champagne concoction served
from sparkling glass bowls and trimmed with floating rings of frozen orange
juice. Once required as preferred attire
for women who imbibe champagne punch at a social event, hats and gloves are no
longer considered as necessary as they were in the 1950s.
In 1957, the president of the Democratic Women’s Club was
identified as Mrs. Jane Hartman, who probably favored hats and gloves for
special occasions. Her first and second
vice presidents were Mrs. S.K. Annand and Mrs. Edith Hayes. The secretary and treasurer of the group were
Mrs. H.C. Thompson and Miss Ettie Garner, followed by Mrs. Margaret Oliver as
corresponding secretary.
The program chair was Edith Hughes, who worked with the
publicity chair, Mrs. H.C. Thompson, to further the efforts of the membership
committee under Mrs. Ruth Knowdell. Mrs.
Esther Prevalett, who was in charge of raising funds for the club, chaired the
ways and means committee. Sally Jones, the publisher of an early socially aware
DWC newsletter, The Democratic Digest, met deadlines with as
much gusto as those who create the modern equivalent, Bellringer.
Mrs. Geneva Bujese, and her telephone committee of 1957, would
appreciate the value of contacting members by electronic means, without
dialing, mailing, or knocking on doors.
Now, in 2007, membership contact is accomplished by
electronic mail, with U.S.
Postal Service mailings, phone, and word-of-mouth as other options. Today’s board includes a social chair,
currently filled by Alyne Fisher, who hauls food, beverages, and decorations to
special events and meetings. In 1957,
the honor was carried out by a capable Mrs. Elizabeth Gullan with support by
Mrs. Ruth Leerskov, chair of the civic committee. To keep the group’s meetings on track that
year, Miss Lillian Gubelman served as DWC’s official parliamentarian, a
challenging job in any era.
Mystery Solved. 1953
Happy Birthday, DWC
DWC’s approximate birth date was revealed in newspaper clips,
probably from the Santa Cruz
Sentinel. These clips identify five consecutive club presidents from the first
who served about 1953:
1953 Mrs.
Frank Anderson, the first president of DWC
1954 Mrs.
S.K. Annand
1955 Mrs.
Katherine Pike-Skelton
1956 Mrs.
Hendrick Walbroek
1957 Mrs.
Angus (Jane) Hartman
In a meeting to honor the club’s past presidents, Mrs. Frank
Anderson attended with her successors, with the exception of Mrs. Walbroek, who
was in Europe at the time. The meeting was held at the BPW Clubhouse on
September 10, 1957.
Judy.warner@sbcglobal.net
Santa Cruz, California
Comments, corrections,
and queries welcome.
