Club Chronicles: Book Lovers enjoy last meeting of year
Book Lovers Club members celebrating their 90th anniversary are (seated from left) Carolyn Porter; Patricia Cox, president; Susie Hovater Malone, parliamentary adviser; Brenda Oliver, vice president; Lea Touchstone; (standing from left) Hillary Hall, corresponding secretary; Joanne Graham, recording secretary; Debbie Beason; Cheri McCain; Michelle Sibley; Ponda Gordon; Debbie Nale; Leah Masterson; Gina Kiel; Cindy Bailey; and Audrey Herring.
Group members include (front from left) Hall, Porter, Malone, Cox, Oliver, (back from left) Sibley, Gordon, Touchstone, Herring, Masterson, Kiel, Bailey, Beason, McCain, Graham and Nale.
Cox and Malone show off the resolution drawn up by Rep. Jamie Kiel – in commemoration of the club's long history of service in the community – and their certificate from the GWFC.
Nale (standing) serves as one of the hostess for the festive meeting.
Gordon, Cox and Sibley partake of the array of delicious treats.
The auspicious meeting and celebration take place at Hall’s home in downtown Russellville.
Oliver, Nale and Malone are among the members donning festive hats for the occasion.
Susie Malone shares about the club’s history, with Brenda Oliver listening in.
Sixteen members enjoyed a seated dinner in a historic setting decorated with gingham tablecloths and spring flowers. The theme of the meeting was celebrating Book Lovers Study Club’s 90 Years of Federation.
In compliance with the GFWC Women’s History and Resource Center, a program was given on the history of Book Lovers Study Club.
The club was organized and federated in 1928-1929 with 19 charter members. Book Lovers was sponsored by the Russellville Library Club into the Alabama Federation of Women’s Clubs when Mrs. W. A. Gresham was president.
The club was formed as a literary club, and many of the programs focused on the arts, music, literature, community service, conservation, child welfare, scholarship and American Citizenship. The total membership of Book Lovers was limited to 25, and they met twice a month in the afternoon. The meetings were held in the members’ homes. Bennett Hall was one of the probable homes in the community where meetings were held.
The purple iris was named the club’s flower, and the club colors were purple and gold.
In recognition of the 90th year celebration, Rep. Jamie Kiel arranged for a resolution to be passed by the Alabama House of Representatives. Mary Ellen Brock, GFWC international president, sent a letter commemorating the 90th year celebration and the many accomplishments of the Book Lovers Study Club.
In the business session, members signed up for a Summer Reading Book Club. Also, donations were collected for the Canine Companions for Independence.
Patricia Cox, president, will present the club’s cash scholarship to the senior with the third-highest grade point average at the RHS Awards Night Program May 20.
The GFWC-AFWC awards that Book Lovers Study Club received at convention were shared with the members. Everyone was commended for an outstanding year of service.
Club Chronicles is written by Susie Hovater Malone.
