Scarsdale Woman’s Club holds membership drive
BY DEBORAH SKOLNIK
Attendees learn about group’s outstanding educational and civic activities.
Follow the leader Joan David, who heads the World Cultures and Thrift programs at the Club, hopes many new women will become members and join her efforts.
On Tuesday the 24th, the Scarsdale Woman’s Club opened its elegant doors to visitors. While the group holds public programs throughout the year, this time its aim was to entice attendees to join its intellectually curious, civic-minded ranks.
“We’ve had a very good turnout today,” said Club President Vivian Menna as she stood amid a milling crowd of guests. The organization hadn’t held a recruitment event since pre-COVID, but it seemed like the right time to revive the practice, she said. “We felt that we want to have better exposure to the community,” she explained. “A lot of people are under the mistaken impression that we’re for Scarsdale residents only, but we aren’t. We are located in Scarsdale, but have members throughout Westchester and beyond. We want to get the word out that all are welcome to join.” A display card showed some of the many places members hail from, including New Jersey, Connecticut, and other, more distant States.
Attendees at the event had plenty to take in and think about: Tables situated along the perimeter of the great room touted the numerous activities available to the Club’s roughly 225 members. It was clear there is something for everyone to enjoy, from a book discussion group to a chorus, plus pottery classes, author visits, theater excursions, and more.
Voluminous goodness Over the years, the Club has donated 2 million books to military personnel and veterans, children with special needs, and many other people.
And then there are the philanthropic programs for which the Scarsdale Woman’s Club is so well-known. The Thrift group—or section, as the Club calls it—sorts and sells donated goods and distributes the funds to a variety of worthy causes. (The next tag sale will take place on Saturday, October 19th, from 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m., and Sunday, October 20th, from 10:00 a.m.-3 p.m.) A sign listed the nearly 25 charities that were recipients of that largesse last year, including the Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps., Scarsdale Meals on Wheels, and other organizations throughout town and the region. The Club also has an initiative called Operation Bookshelf, which holds philanthropic books sales and also donates books to local hospitals, Vietnam veterans, homeless shelters, libraries, and even a community center in Kentucky. “Over the years, we have given away two million books,” said Joan David, who heads the Thrift section.
And of course, there are events that are open to everyone in the community. On October 1st, for instance, a violin, cello, and piano trio will perform. On October 9th, Emily Kenison, author of The Book of Women Inventors, will give a presentation on women’s inventions from 1790 to 1880. “And come back on October twenty-third,” said David, a glint in her eye. “We’re going to have a Flamenco dancer!”
If you couldn’t make the event, click here to download a membership application or call (914) 723-0024.
Scarsdale Woman’s Club, 37 Drake Road, Scarsdale; https://www.scarsdalewomansclub.org/ swc1918@verizon.net; (914) 723-0024