The Observer., December 18, 2019, Page 43, Image 43

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Wednesday, December 18, 2019
GO! magazine — A&E in Northeast Oregon
Women’s Service Club marks 100 years with cookbook
By Trish Yerges
For the EO Media Group
ELGIN — The Women’s Ser-
vice Club will mark their 100th
anniversary of community service
with the sales of their own club
cookbook of favorite recipes called
“Sharing Our Best.”
The 20-member Women’s
Service Club meets on the third
Tuesday of the month. The club
sponsors a variety of events within
the community, some charitable,
some for the holidays and an aca-
demic honor or two each year.
“We sponsor the Easter egg hunt
for area children and the Elgin
Stampede parade,” said the club’s
president, Sharon Glasson. “We
also sponsor a table downtown for
the annual trick-or-treat for Hal-
loween and a table for the Elgin
Chamber of Commerce Banquet
each March. We donate sweat-
pants or other needed supplies
to the grade school every year for
children, and we sponsor a needy
family at Christmas with gifts.”
One of the longest running tradi-
tions of the club is their recognition
of “Girl of the Month” in which they
highlight a high school senior.
“The girl comes to our luncheon
with her mom (or another guest),
and she gives us a little talk about
her school activities, senior project
and what her plans are for the
future,” Glasson said. “Then at the
end of the school year, the ‘Girl of
Photo/Trish Yerges
The Elgin Women’s Service Club is promoting its 100th anniversary with the release of a
club cookbook, “Sharing Our Best,” featuring the members’ favorite recipes.
the Year’ is chosen from among
those girls. The ‘Girl of the Year’ is
awarded a jewelry box and mention
of the award at her graduation.”
In the club’s new cookbook,
Glasson wrote a foreword, express-
ing the club’s gratitude for the com-
munity support they have received
through the years from business
owners, the Elgin Stampeders,
Elgin Chamber of Commerce, East-
ern Star Social Club and the club
members, past and present.
“The same commitment and de-
sires to make Elgin a better place
to grow and live is the same today
as it was 100 years ago,” Glasson
said.
Member Dena Allen researched
the club’s history at the Elgin
Public Library and compiled a brief
written history for inclusion in the
centennial cookbook.
Thank You
to the Union Community
for their support of the
Union School Bond
Levy 31-98.
There is nothing greater
than an investment in
our children’s education
to improve the future
“Back on February 12, 1920,
because of a defi nite need for such
an organization in Elgin, a group
of women gathered at the home of
Mrs. Ernest Vehrs and organized
the Women’s Improvement Club,”
Allen wrote.
Other communities at the
time also had their own Women’s
Improvement Clubs, and Elgin
followed suit. The Elgin Recorder
noted that the club started with 24
members. The fi rst offi cers were
Mrs. Ernest Vehrs, president; vice
Mrs. L. Denham, vice president;
Miss Mildred Smith, secretary; and
Mrs. Dan Sommer, treasurer.
“The new club will meet every
two weeks and is open for member-
ship to all ladies and will take up
questions of interest and benefi t to
the city,” read the Elgin Recorder of
Feb. 15, 1920.
Those early meetings also
included entertainment, such as
singing, readings, piano solos, vocal
performances and comedy skits.
The meetings always included cof-
fee and cakes, and today the club’s
meetings include a luncheon made
and served by the ladies of Eastern
Star Social Club.
One hundred years later, the
club offi cers include Glasson as
president, Ann Warren as secretary,
and Kathy Rysdam as treasurer.
“New members and visitors are
always welcome,” Rysdam said.
The cookbooks may be purchased
for $10.50 in Elgin at Wheatland
Insurance, Elgin Electric Company
and Timber’s Feedery restaurant
and in La Grande at the Mitre’s
Touch Gallery.
Proceeds from “Sharing Our
Best” will be used to continue the
club’s dedication “to make Elgin a
better place to grow and live.”
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