More Kensington Memories
Stories from some of the longtime members of the Woman’s Community Club of Kensington (WCCK), told at their March meeting. Part 2.
Lively Looking Back
Irene Iskrant, member since 1955
The club has been fortunate to have such talented and capable presidents. I became a member in 1955. Jeannie Baxter opened my eyes to what club work is all about. She was an inveterate note writer. Everything, no matter how small, was rewarded with a cordial note from Jeannie. I remember her announcing, “I’m so proud of all of you.”
Estelle Waters served for two terms and never wore the same hat twice. I asked her where she kept all those hats. She said that she kept them in the attic.
Bessie Shafter wore stunning outfits. But she was much more than that. She got us involved in the Thrift Shop. That brought us funds for Over Sixty.*
We also had speakers and skits. No one relished the job of luncheon chair. Most of us had young families and were very busy. When someone said, “I’ll do it,” what a relief!
* Over Sixty Counseling & Employment is a nonprofit community service that provides screening and job placement for men and women over 55, at no charge to the job seeker or the employer.
Formality Less Formidable
Claire Kordella, member since 1961
It was considered an honor to be proposed for membership and to be a member of the club. Things were more formal in those days: our manner of addressing each other—Mrs. So and So—as opposed to the first-name basis. Hats and gloves were worn at meetings. We were always on our best behavior. There was a tea for new members each year.
The club remains progressive, while slightly less formal in procedure and manners.
Some Surprises
Mildred Eisenhart, member since 1956, and Fran Weir, member since 1964
Fran: One of my most favorite and fun memories goes back to March 1984. The occasion was the Shamrock Luncheon, the Golden Age of Fashion, a salute to 350 years of Maryland history. I remember that to show the year 1700, a member came in a long flannel nightie, and her husband was in a nightshirt and cap and had a candle. Also a Gibson girl, a Tin Lizzie and Duster, dancing to the Charleston and the jitterbug, abbreviated beachwear of the jet age, and a wig and hair curlers and blue jeans and T-shirt of the 1960’s.
At the end, to everyone’s very audible gasp of astonishment, a member discarded her colorful costume and displayed a nude body stocking as she streaked out of the hall.
Mildred: Three hundred fifty years — a lot of clothes and a lot of people. I came in 1956. Music, dance, and Elvis was King, and then a tumultuous time. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, in 1969 a great leap for mankind when the Eagle landed. Then in 1981 the shuttle and in 1986 the Challenger explosion. In 1984-85, the garden group had 71 members. I was a member of the drama club and the garden group.
Friendships and Cook Books
A reading of the words of Virginia Nelligan, member since 1966
When I joined in 1966, a committee prepared the luncheons. A committee of two people would plan the meal and buy the food for the Monday luncheon. We would meet on Sunday to prepare it. When a luncheon was especially good, requests were made for recipes for the newsletter. In 1984 we compiled our first cookbook in commemoration of our 50th anniversary. The profits went to Over Sixty. In 1987, we put out a second cookbook of our favorite recipes. The profits again went to Over Sixty
When you work on a committee, you get to know the people better, which is great.
The following are presentations from the Woman's Community Club of Kensington Anniversary Celebration. These articles were from the same event, published over a number of newsletters
Newsletter published Fall, 1998
For More Newsletters, please visit www.garyditto.com/newsletters/index.htm
