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Fairlawn City Women’s Club marks 50-year history

1/10/2013 - West Side Leader
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By Kathleen Folkerth

Shown above following the presentation of a resolution honoring the club are, front row, from left, Betty Huston, Beverly Eichner and Shirley Werner, and back row, Ruth Anderson, Fairlawn Mayor William Roth, club president Jan Butler and Fairlawn City Council President Russell Sharnsky.
Fairlawn City Women’s Club members marked their 50th anniversary at their Jan. 4 meeting.
Photos: Kathleen Folkerth
FAIRLAWN — Members of the Fairlawn City Women’s Club kicked off the new year with a celebration of the civic organization’s long history in the city.

The 50-year anniversary was marked Jan. 4 at the group’s monthly meeting at the Fairlawn-Kiwanis Community Center as about 30 members gathered.

Special guests included Ohio Sen. Frank LaRose (R-District 27), who made a surprise appearance and whose grandmother, Ruth Anderson, is an officer. He gave the group a proclamation, which he said was most likely the first proclamation issued of the new year by the Senate.

In addition, Fairlawn Mayor William Roth and City Council President Russell Sharnsky were also on hand to present the city’s proclamation to the group.

Among the members who attended the event were Shirley Werner, Beverly Eichner, Betty Huston and Anderson, who have been members of the club the longest — 45 years.

Huston, who has served as president five times over the years, said the members are a friendly group.

“We get along beautifully,” she said.

“The most outstanding quality is the hard work and dedication to our area,” added Jan Butler, who currently serves as president. “If there’s a job to be done, someone is there to do it.”

Today the group numbers about 50 members and they focus on raising money for scholarships for students living in the Copley-Fairlawn City School District. Phyllis Martino, Civic Committee chair, said typically the group awards one or two scholarships a year to deserving students, who may attend private or public schools.

Martino said the group also supports a family in need each holiday season. This past Christmas, the members collected $372, and the club matched that with another $300 for a mother and her two children.

Another of the group’s projects is providing lunches twice a year to workers in the Fairlawn Service Department.

The club has provided many features at Bicentennial Park, such as a decorative fountain, gazebo, flagpole and flowers. It also runs a Home Christmas Decorating Contest each December, for which club members seek out the best and most creative holiday displays.

According to the city’s resolution, the club also has sponsored a tree planting project and supported after-prom activities at Copley High School, the Rescue Squad Telemetry Fund, Beggar’s Night parties at schools or the parks, Stewart’s Caring Place and Harvest Home at the Haven of Rest.

The women also over the years have given donations to the city, such as a welcome sign and lectern, movie screen and projector for the community center.

The group meets on the first Friday of the month at the Fairlawn-Kiwanis Community Center, 3486 S. Smith Road, with coffee at 9:30 a.m., a meeting at 10 a.m. and then a brief program. All women who live in the Copley-Fairlawn City School District are eligible to join. For additional information, call Billie Corbett at 330-666-2184.

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