Mendota Business and Professional Women's Club Records

Forty-five charter members elected Myrtle Beitsch, president, Mrs. W. L. Gish, vice president, Lorraine Lasswell, secretary, and Adena Johnson, treasurer at the organizational meeting of the Mendota Business and Professional Women’s Club on February l0, 1937. The club’s purpose contained the following statements: 1) to elevate the standards of women in business and professions, 2) to bring about a spirit of cooperation among business and professional women of the United States, and 3) to extend opportunities to business and professional women through education along the lines of industrial, scientific, and vocational activities. In addition, the club community and heavily involved itself in worldly affairs by donating time and money to several charities. Among it’s many projects, the Mendota BPW Club’s greatest contributions went to needy children and families. In 1942-1943 the club donated money to the Child Welfare Association. In 1946-1947 fifteen dollars went for the rehabilitation of a Belgian child and seven packages for the needy went to Holland and Europe. In 1947-1948 the club sent a CARE package to a family in France. In 1953-1956 the members contributed fifteen dollars to the Ministerial Association for a needy family. The club made Christmas baskets for needy families in 1957-1958 and in 1964-1966 the club, with it’s district, sponsored a foster child in Columbia, South America. Educational speeches and contributions, facets of other club programs, benefitted a wide variety of people. Members collected 25 pounds of junk jewelry and small mirrors in 1943-1944 to send to World War II servicemen for use as barter with natives. Marguerite Stitt Church, congresswoman, visited and spoke to the club in 1952. In 1956-1957 the group sent letters to legislators urging passage of the Equal Rights Amendment. The club also urged participation in the reorganization of Civil Defense in 1960-1961. And, throughout it’s history, the Mendota Business and Professional Women’s Club actively worked for and donated to the Mendota Hospital Association. Today, the club continues it’s diligent work to help needy citizens and educate it’s members.

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