Message from the CO-PresidentS
Over a century ago, the Woman’s Club of Chevy Chase was established by 13 dynamic women—women who wanted a space for gathering space and for working on ways to improve their community. The WCCC has seen a lot of change since then. Hats and gloves are no longer “fashion first” for our meetings, but they often show up at our Cherry Blossom Tea, an annual Club-wide event to which we invite community members to join us in making real our tag line, “Community, Commitment, Caring, Since 1913.” Membership, no longer limited to denizens of Chevy Chase, also now includes men! We continue to build friendships and to evolve and adapt to achieve our goals.
The charter members would be proud of the ways the WCCC has grown--in numbers, in diversity, in purpose, in understandings of community. Currently, with nearly 300 members, the Club “seeks to benefit the community through volunteer service, educational and cultural programs, and philanthropy, while promoting member collegiality and friendship.” Not only do we offer scholarships to local students and make direct grants to such international groups as Doctors Without Borders and World Central Kitchen, but we also host monthly blood drives by the American Red Cross. We also contribute thousands of volunteer hours—collecting, cooking, and coordinating—to improve the lives of our neighbors through our alliances with such area nonprofits as Interfaith Works and Bethesda Cares, Inc. In calendar year 2023, for example, thousands of dollars in donations of space, time, talent, and treasure were made in support of our community, writ large and small.
Interest groups and events afford many opportunities for developing friendships through activity at the WCCC. Over many years, the love of music, bridge, gardens, good literature, and more have drawn returning and new members together for fun-filled learning experiences. And community-focused events, such as the Community Art Show and Sale, Mystery Mansion, the Artisan Craft and Gift Sale, and Santa’s Workshop, give members a chance to engage in purposeful and enjoyable work, as we interact—face to face—with the broader public.
More than half of the members prefer evening events, as they balance work, family, and other volunteer commitments. Many members have retired from demanding careers and now explore new interests at their own pace. A full schedule of interest groups, speakers, and events lets members chose a focus and to participate as they wish.
While the WCCC shapes its own programming, as an affiliate of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, an international organization of 2600 existing volunteer clubs across the globe “united in their dedication to actively improve the lives of others,” we often coordinate with other Clubs at the district, state, and national levels to implement GFWC initiatives.
The WCCC helps members thrive with social, educational, and community opportunities. Building on the foundation laid in 1913, we look forward to continual growth. Here’s hoping that you will join us.
Wilsonia Cherry and Barbara Rapp, Co-Presidents
The Woman’s Club of Chevy Chase
