Bethel Women’s Club Installs New Officers for 2012-2014

Bethel Women’s Club Installs New Officers for 2012-2014

The Bethel Women’s Club (BWC) celebrated its 32nd annual Installation Dinner at La Fortuna Restaurant in Bethel on June 14. Honored guest Marilyn Alexander of the Newtown Women’s Club GFWC Inc. installed the new 2012-2014 officers. New members were welcomed with a BWC pin and applause from fellow club members.

Gloria Hutchinson received an award recognizing the contributions she has made for the Vets OASIS project. For the past four years Hutchinson has worked to help open Vets OASIS centers to provide a safe haven in local colleges to integrate returning Veterans into society. The most recent Vets OASIS was officially opened at UCONN on March 21, 2012.  At this time 12 local public colleges and 10 universities has either a Veterans Drop-in Center overseen by the Administration or a Greater Federation of Women’s Center CT (GFWCCT) Vets OASIS, which is run by the Veterans themselves and supported by Women’s Clubs.

The Bethel Women’s Club is a non-profit charitable organization that was started in order to respond to the needs of the community as well as the members of the club. Founded in 1980 at the home of Barbara Findley, the BWC has evolved in a number of ways, but its positive mission remains the same.

In addition to helping Veterans, the group has taken on many civic projects and contributed to many different organizations including the Visiting Nurse Association, Dreams Come True-hospice, the Women’s Shelter, the local food bank and a host of others. Not only does the club function to serve the community charitably, but it also has built decades-long friendships among its members. Women range in age from early forties and up, but are all young at heart.

The BWC is always actively seeking new members. Co-presidents Bonnie Clark and Elaine McCormack run the monthly meetings which are held at the Senior Center and include refreshments, socialization, special guest speakers and raffles.  In addition to civic contributions and charity work the group hosts a number of fun-filled events throughout the year. Its gourmet dinner nights include a special themed evening at a member’s home complete with food and cocktails.  A few times during the year the group goes on hikes, tours museums and goes on many other sightseeing tours.

Monthly meetings are held on the second Thursday of the month at the Bethel Senior Center. For more information please contact Co-president Elaine McCormack  at 203-744-2254 or 55elaine@comcast.net.