Bill Text: VA HJR909 | 2019 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commending The Woman's Club.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-02-21 - Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ909ER) [HJR909 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2019-HJR909-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, The Woman's Club, a vital and venerable civic organization in Richmond marks the 125th anniversary of its founding in 2019; and
WHEREAS, The Woman's Club was founded when most women did not attend college and few owned property, yet the energetic, forward-looking founders created an organization to foster lifelong learning and enrich the lives of its members, and these women were instrumental in establishing other important civic institutions in the community; and
WHEREAS, The Woman's Club was founded in 1894 with 14 members at 313 West Franklin Street, and in 1900, the group purchased the Bolling Haxall House at 211 East Franklin Street, which remains the club's most visible connection with the community; the Italianate-style building became a Virginia Historic Landmark in 1971 and has been lovingly preserved and protected over the years; and
WHEREAS, in 1921 The Woman's Club established the Education Endowment Fund, now named The Woman's Club Scholarship Fund, to provide scholarships which they award to this day; over 500 young women have been named Mary Munford Scholars, an award titled after the pioneering educator, founding member, and past president Mary-Cooke Branch Munford; and
WHEREAS, forming an all women's club was a bold enterprise in the days before women could vote, and The Woman's Club has since welcomed thousands of women, with notable past members including two Pulitzer Prize winners, Ellen Glasgow and Mary Wells Ashworth; the club currently has almost 1,500 women as its members; and
WHEREAS, The Woman's Club's events include a Monday program series that features local, national, and international lecturers who speak on a variety of topics; notable speakers have included Amelia Earhart, Frank Lloyd Wright, Vincent Price, Jessica Tandy, Hume Cronyn, Jehan Sadat, Barbara Bush, and Lady Carnarvon, the 8th Countess of Carnarvon; and
WHEREAS, The Woman's Club hosts special events that fulfill its mission to educate, inspire, and engage today's women by offering exposure to new ideas and new people; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend The Woman's Club on its civic, educational, and cultural contributions to the City of Richmond and its residents; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to The Woman's Club as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for its inspiring and engaging history, mission, and programming.
