An Idea Becomes a Reality
|
In 1960, a group of women university graduates decided to form a club to provide fellowship and make a contribution to the rapidly growing city of Kelowna. The date of the Club Charter: November 9, 1960.
The following Mission Statement was adopted:
During the club's very first year the members organized a Career Fair for girls at Kelowna High School, the city's main secondary school at the time. The following year the long tradition of helping women students attain post-secondary education began, and it continues to this day.
Discussion groups for young mothers began (with free babysitting provided) later known as Capsule College, an 8-lecture series co-sponsored by Okanagan College's Adult Education department. Practical support for the arts also started early, with sponsorships of theatre, symphony concerts (Vancouver Symphony), a regional drama festival, initial moves to create the Kelowna and District Arts Council (KADAC) and letters of support for the National Film Board.
Community endeavours included support for the Okanagan Regional Library, and Meals on Wheels. The annual tradition began of passing around a stocking for personal contributions to a chosen community project or group. A Directory of Community Services was compiled, typed by members and published, and made available at the library. A decade later this directory became Advice Services Kelowna, and later still Kelowna Community Resources. Long before it became the norm to do so, the club's advocacy widened to include the importance of protecting the environment.
In the 1980's Project Literacy was founded by club members, with many involved personally as tutors. Other community organizations helped were the Salvation Army, Friends of Schizophrenia, the Food Bank, and the Women's Shelter. The club also started the Friends of the Library, with club members serving as its first executive. Affordable housing was addressed, with a particular focus on secondary suites. Arts support continued with donations to the Kelowna Art Gallery, KADAC and the Kelowna Museum. Environment activism also flourished. The Adopt-a-Road project was spearheaded by the club's walking group; we now clean up two streets in Kelowna twice a year.
|
 First Adopt-a-Road volunteers, members of the club walking group, early 1990's.
For more club history see:
|
