Since 1896
MEETINGS: September - May (2nd Friday) 11:30a.m. - 1:30p.m.
The Village Inn Restaurant (1621 NE 10th Avenue, Portland OR) 503-284-4141
Order from menu (15% gratuity expected)
Email the club with questions or comments by clicking on the Oregon Grape photo.
Highlights of 2008:
Three new members joined our club, bringing our membership to 28 at last count. Our members actively participate in charitable and philanthropic events throughout the area.
In support of our State President's Project (Animal Therapy), the club donated $1000 to the Blue Heaven Therapeutic Riding Academy at Christmastime. Members gave donations of pet food and toys to the FIDO Program operated by Clackamas County. One arm of their program delivers dog and cat food with local Meals on Wheels. The FIDO program is unique and a model for new programs across the nation. Additionally, the club donated $500 toward the purchase of a service dog for a 5-year old child with severe diabetes.
Since the sale of our clubhouse in 2002, our scholarship program for high school seniors entering an accredited college in Oregon have benefited many students. Some have received scholarships for as many as four years. Scholarships are now given in the amount of $1500.00 per award year. In 2008, forty scholarships totaling $60,000.00 were awarded.
2002 saw 5 scholarships awarded for a total of $ 7,500.00
2003 saw 8 scholarships awarded for a total of $ 12,000.00
2004 saw 16 scholarships awarded for a total of $ 24,000.00
2005 saw 27 scholarships awarded for a total of $42,000.00
2006 saw 37 scholarships awarded for a total of $ 55,500.00
2007 saw 40 scholarships awarded for a total of $ 60,000.00
Unique to our club is our member who is a professional clown. Humor is a great healer, so in light of that, she performs briefly at each meeting.
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Photography by Gene Holt
2009 - Our Club President highlights the history of our club.
1896 - Seventy-seven intelligent, farsighted women established the Portland Woman's Club
1897 - Members initiated a movement to get manual training in public schools
1898 - Members urged the establishment of public parks
1899 - Members organized the Oregon Federation of Women's Clubs as the first step toward a free public library system
1900 - The Portland Woman's Club opened the first cooking school in Portland
1901 - The club furnished funds toward securing the first library bill ever put on the books in Oregon
1901 - The Oregon Federation of Women's Clubs joined the General Federation of Women's Clubs
1902 - The club saved the trees in the Park blocks that had been ordered cut down
1903 through 1905 - Club members were actively involved with the Lewis & Clark Exposition celebrations and initiated the
Statue of Sacajawea. Members entertained visitors during the fair
1908 - Members advocated closing for stores to be 6:00 p.m.; worked to increase salaries for public school teachers;
advocated including Kindergarten within the public school system, and supported a $125,000 University Fund
1910 - The club established a free bed at an open-air sanitarium
1913 - Members inaugurated a city-wide "Apple Call" to demonstrate means of reducing the high cost of living
1914 - The club gave aid to needy families of unemployed men, cooperated with the Public Health Department (city)
promoting an anti-flu campaign as well as supporting efforts to secure a meat inspection ordinance
Photography by Gene Holt
Our Clubhouse (photo circa 2008):
1922 - The club acquired their own building on Taylor Street.
The Club House was sold in 2001 and the earnings were invested with interest
used to provide academic scholarships to High School graduates...
as many as 40-$5000 scholarships were awarded in a given year at the peak of our earnings
1922 - 2002 A published history of our club is available for sale (limited to supply on hand).
This page posted as part of the www.gfwc-ofwc.org website.
Please refer to the Home Page for all documentation and legal information.
