Members of the Marlinton Woman’s Club celebrated the club’s 95th anniversary September 4 with special guest Southern District President Betty Long.
Long greeted the group and gave accolades for their efforts in serving Pocahontas County.
“I’ve been looking at your website and I am so impressed,” she said. “I am very impressed with you guys. I saw a lot of people working together. I saw you all doing some activities that really mean a lot. I saw you working in the community, looking for community projects and that is what the Woman’s Club is all about.”
The Greater Federation of Woman’s Club is the largest organization nationwide and includes like-minded women serving their communities.
“There’s so many people throughout the United States that are in the GFWC so you know how many people really get served,” Long said. “Sometimes we think we’re not doing anything, but guess what? My little saying that I always say is ‘great accomplishments often have simple beginnings.’ We might start off small doing some things but we can accomplish a lot by doing them.”
Sometimes volunteers don’t get the thanks they deserve, but Long said expecting a thank you shouldn’t be the reason to volunteer.
“There is so much that we can do as volunteers and I was thinking – today has been a terrible day and I’ve been thinking ‘why do we do things like this?’” Long said. “I’ve spent the day trying to do things. They were not things that I was paid for. It was not something that I will ever get much of a thank you for, but you know what? It doesn’t matter. It’s how you feel in your heart after you get something done.
“A lot of people don’t see you doing these things and there is so much that needs to be done,” she continued.
Long assisted the club with installation of its new officers – a ceremony that was created by long time club member the late Mary Lou Dilley.
“We always like to tell a little story that we love to do the installation of officers because it is a tradition that we all remember from our beloved Mary Lou Dilley,” Margaret Worth said. “When we have the installation of officers, we get a little more prissy than we really are because Mary Lou liked it that way.”
The theme of the ceremony is the wheel – a never ending circle bringing spokes together in order to operate.
“The wheel is a very simple machine which has pushed the ages forward in the realms of farming, manufacturing, industry and transportation on land, on the sea and in the air,” Worth said. “Tonight we use the wheel as our symbol of our club’s aims and objectives. Within this unbroken circle is the inspiration for unity, friendship and community spirit.”
President Michelle Bubnis, vice president Cindy Sabota, secretary Phyllis Lucas and treasurer Dotty Mitchell, represented by Wally Clark, were installed as the 2014-2015 officers.
During the ceremony, the club honored members from the club’s early years and those who are no longer able to attend meetings, including Jane Price Sharp, Ruth Morgan, Lois Tibbs, Helen Davis, Paula Newkirk, Jerry Jett and Diana Cooper.
The Marlinton Woman’s Club meets the first Thursday of each month. For more information about the club, contact membership chair Laura Dean Bennett at 304-799-7341.