The International Women’s Club was officially founded in 1971 by a group of very smart, talented and dynamic women who felt that a social group, where women who had come to the United States from different countries as well as Americans who had lived abroad, could meet and exchange ideas and form friendships.
Consequently, the first meeting was held at Gladys Spencer’s home on May 19, 1971. Among the founding members present were Chandana Sarkar (first president), Doreen Anthony (first vice-president), Marion Fearon (first secretary/treasurer), Radha Viswanath, Hazel Teot, Paola Tate, Martha Matalon and Helen Sams. Most of the original members have moved away but their vibrant personalities linger in the programs they organized and the legacy they have left behind.
At the beginning, the group met at member’s homes and helped each other adjust to life in Midland. They exchanged ideas, shared customs from their home countries, taught each other skills such as cooking and quilting and over time deep friendships were formed. As the group grew, meetings were moved to the Mulberry Lane Apartments Clubhouse where they are still held today.
Many lively Tuesday evenings followed with a wide range of programs such as an international fashion show, a program by the Japanese group on how to wear a kimono, demonstrations of how to make spaghetti by Paola Tate and a talk by Paul Oreffice, Dow Chemical President at that time. Halloween and Christmas parties were popular events with scrumptious international potlucks. The tenth anniversary of the club was celebrated with the publication of a cookbook of recipes shared by members over the years. The 25th anniversary was celebrated with a party where all past presidents were recognized with a special coffee mug designed by a member for the occasion. And as an early celebration of the club’s 40th anniversary a new interactive and resourceful website was launched.
Over the last 40 years, this club has helped many women from overseas adjust to the American lifestyle and ease the loneliness of moving to a new city by providing support and a chance to make friends. Many more programs and activities were introduced as the club grew so that presently we have thriving language conversation groups that meet monthly as well as a cooking group, a book club and a craft group besides the regular club programs. Parties for special occasions such as the wine tasting and spring party, as well as the beginning of the year picnic, provide an opportunity to include family and friends in the club’s programs.
There are still members from the original group who put down roots and settled in Midland while others have moved away to other parts of the States or back to their home countries. But wherever they are, many have fond memories of their time in Midland and the friendships they made still endure as they keep in touch with friends all over the world.
