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BIRMINGHAM — The recently reorganized Birmingham Metropolitan Women’s Club has plans to expand community service efforts and grow in membership.
Women’s Club History
Nearly 30 years ago, the then-named Senior Women’s Club was established at the Community House.
The idea of starting a women’s group was sparked by the popularity of the Senior Men’s Club at the Community House.
At the end of December 1992, the Community House began spreading the word about their plan to start this club, and the public’s reaction was overwhelming, club members said.
The first official membership meeting for the Senior Women’s Club was on April 20, 1993.
After years of operating as the Senior Women’s Club, they decided to drop the word “senior” from the name in 2014 in order to attract more members. There are no age restrictions to joining the club.
The final name change came to be during the pandemic, when they became independent from the Community House and changed their name to the Birmingham Metropolitan Women’s Club.
Community impact
The club is working towards finding a way to increase the amount of community service work they do.
“We would like to do a little more charity than we have done in the past, because in the past we have been strictly for fellowship and activities,” Birmingham Metropolitan Women’s Club Corresponding Secretary Martha Hach said.
They regularly participate in the Bottomless Toy Chest, a nonprofit that provides gifts for children in hospitals.
“We are currently searching for where we are going with the service aspect of our group,” Birmingham Metropolitan Women’s Club Historian Suzette Schwartz said.
In May, the club held its annual Founders’ Tea, where they honored founders and past presidents.
At the tea, there was a silent auction, and the proceeds went to Grace Centers for Hope. A total of $1,460 was raised at the auction.
“It is about giving something back to the community. We have been very blessed, and we just want to help out,” Schwartz said.
Events and outings
Recent outings for the Birmingham Metropolitan Women’s Club include Cranbrook Gardens, a Toledo Mud Hens baseball game and Port Huron. Sometimes, the Birmingham Senior Men’s Club joins these outings.
“It is an excellent way to broaden someone’s social life, because we just have so many activities,” Hach said.
Hach said at least 70 women attend their meetings and events.
Several events are being planned for the rest of this year.
The new venue for meetings is the Iroquois Club in Bloomfield Hills.
Their next upcoming event is a fashion show by Just Girls Boutique Sept. 13 where members will model the latest fashions.
Entertainer Paul Richie will be performing a Halloween-themed show Oct. 11. Last year, Richie performed a Christmas show for the club, so they decided to bring him back for Halloween this year.
On Nov. 8, Susan Smith, from Days for Girls, will be speaking at the meeting. Days for Girls is an international nonprofit that provides feminine hygiene products for girls who would otherwise have to miss school during their monthly period.
To close out the year, Dave Bennett will be performing a Christmas-themed show Dec. 13. Bennett is a clarinetist who grew up in metro Detroit and now travels to perform nationally.
Joining the fun
The Birmingham Metropolitan Women’s Club meets 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at The Iroquois Club.
For each meeting, the cost for lunch and speaker is $30, due two weeks ahead of time.
To reserve a spot at one of the lunches, contact Christine Wludya at (248) 303-7339. To inquire about membership, contact Collette Pariseau at (248) 895-7282.
