It's Been a Busy Year for the Rochester Junior Woman's Club!

The Rochester Junior Woman’s Club has had a busy year! From September to June the club donated more than $28,000.00 to charitable organizations, they provided more than 5,000 hands-on volunteer hours to the community and they managed to have a little fun in the process as well!

Their fundraising year started off in early September with the Art and Apples Festival. Club members Lisa Belisle and Bethany Perry with Carol Welte and Melodi McDonald chaired the food tent where the club’s signature Apple Blossoms and Fresh Squeezed Lemonade were sold to raise funds for the Paint Creek Center for the Arts. A few weeks later, the club held their 16th annual Lobster Boil on September 27th, chaired by members Noelle DuBois, Lee DeMontigny, Carla Giddings and Kimberlie Stellman.

More than 1500 lobsters were sold to raise funds for Crittenton Hospital Medical Center Foundation, Meadow Brook Theatre, The Rainbow Connection, The Museum at Van Hoosen Farm and Older Persons’ Commission (OPC). The end of the year brought their annual Christmas Auction, chaired by club members, Mary Anderson and Bethany Perry, which raised more than $2000 for Guiding Harbor and Rochester Area Neighborhood House.

The club kicked off spring, when they hosted their annual “Spring Highlights’ Luncheon and Shopping Boutique at the Royal Park Hotel. Chaired by club members Courtney McGinlay and Christina Pipkin with co-chairs Jennifer Hyvari and Kelly Kamman., they raised more than $12,000 additional funds for Crittenton Hospital Medical Center Foundation, Meadow Brook Theatre, The Rainbow Connection and The Museum at Van Hoosen Farm.

In May, the club introduced a new event, “Haute to Trot,” a Kentucky Derby themed event held on May 2nd at Wyndgate Country Club. The evening, chaired by club members Kelly Kamman and Sue Upton, included Kentucky Derby themed food, mint juleps, assorted bourbons, a cigar tent and live entertainment with Steve “Single Shot” Flagg. Additionally, there was a “Win, Place, Show” Derby Race Raffle as well as a Horse Race Track Game, and prizes awarded for the “Best Hat” and “Best Blazer” and raised almost $17,000 for the club’s charitable projects.

Also, in May, the club presented two $500 scholarships, through the Community Foundation of Greater Rochester, to Emily Freeland and Micayla McMurray, both of Rochester High School, each with a $500 scholarship at the annual awards ceremony held May 15, 2015 at Rochester Adams High School Auditorium. And, in June they finished their club year by participating in the Rochester Relay for Life where they raised more than $4,500 for the American Cancer Society.

But, that wasn’t all for the members of RJWC! If all of the check writing didn’t keep them busy enough, they also provided countless hands-on hours to other local organizations including: hosting exhibition openings at Paint Creek Center for the Arts, serving meals at their Learn More Now luncheons and assisting with special events at the Older Persons Commission. The members also assisted with the pumpkin carving station at the Stonewall Pumpkin Festival at the Rochester Hills Museum in October, decorated Dinosaur Hill for the holidays, sold Daffodils for Dinosaur Hill in March, worked each of the Carson’s Community Days Charity Sales and sponsored the Community Kitchen at the Rochester Community House in May.

In addition, throughout the year the members donated clothing and accessories to Whoo U R Shop, Upscale Resale for a Cause, old cell phones, iPods, electronic readers, PDA’s, computers, laser and ink jet cartridges or the First Five Count Program for early childhood interventions at Easter Seals, provided non perishable food items to the Neighborhood House Food Pantry and collected Box tops and Labels for Education. They also hosted a Euchre Euchre’ Tournament to benefit “Sew Much Comfort,” a Bunco night to benefit Relay For Life, attended GFWC’s legislation day in Lansing and toured the GFWC headquarters in Washington D.C.in April.

And, since RJWC doesn’t believe in “all work and no play” they did a few things just for the fun of it! Beginning in the Fall, they held their annual Dessert 8’s to welcome new members. As the new year began, they got creative at Painting With a Twist, Learned to dance at “Boots and Beer” held at the Rochester Ballroom, found a little culture at the DIA visiting the “Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo in Detroit” exhibit, and wrapped up the fun by learning about jewelry making and design at “An Evening at J. Thomas Jewelers.” Throughout the year they hosted a monthly book club, a dining group and the Key West Exercise Challenge, which logged almost 8500 miles by the end of the year!

And, at the end of their club year in June, they celebrated with a lovely dinner in the Christopher Wren dining room at Meadow Brook Hall where they installed their new Club President Lisa Belisle, as well as their new club officers, President Elect – Alicia Chenhalls, Vice President – Anne Dieters-Williams, Recording Secretary – Donna Affeldt, Corresponding Secretary – Linda DeMarco, Treasurer – Lynn Marie Oates and Parliamentarian – Cyndi Toupin The club also welcomed 18 new members; Laurie Barr, Pat Beshke, Deb Bezaire, Karen Geibel, Lisa Geiger, Erin Grunewald, Sue Jayroe, Patty Petro, Marie Saverino, Lindsay Slotka, Christina Strickland, Sally Warner, Maria Willett, Lori Wilson And Elizabeth Witten. In addition, 5 Years; Donna Affeldt, Chris Gray, Deb Panter, Kathy Warriner and Nancy Wright were recognized for celebrating their 5 year club anniversary in the club.. Outstanding members were also recognized for their significant volunteer activities over the past club year; Volunteer of the Year was presented to Carol Ketelson, and “Club Woman of the Year” was presented to Lisa Belisle and “Woman of Achievement was given to Kathy Lewis.

As you can see, contributing to the growth and vitality of the community is the core of the Rochester Junior Woman’s Club! For almost 60 years they have contributed to the growth and vitality of the community through volunteer service and donation of funds to local charities and organizations. Over the years, RJWC has donated more than 1 million hours of community service and raised more than $890,000 to support the local community.

Proceeds from the club’s upcoming fundraising events will go to benefit Friends of the Paint Creek Trail, RARA’s SCAMP program, Rochester Symphony Orchestra and Vista Maria’s Wings program. The club is currently planning their annual Lobster Boil which will be held on September 26, 2015 where live New England lobsters are flown in fresh and members of RJWC cook and wrap the lobsters and have them hot and ready as customers pick them up at the OPC drive-thru site.

The club is also currently planning their annual “Spring Highlights” Luncheon and Shopping Boutique for March 19, 2016 at the Royal Park Hotel. As well as the “Haute to Trot” Kentucky Derby event planned for May 7, 2016.

The club currently has approximately eighty women who are committed to serving the needs of the community. They meet on the third Thursday of each month, September through May, at the Rochester Community House. And, they welcome new members all year long!

If you are interested in learning more information about the club please Alicia at 248-310-5979 or achenhalls@yahoo.com. You can also visit their website at www.rjwc.org or follow them on Facebook at “Rochester Junior Woman’s Club.