Our Mission

The mission of the Women’s Club of Glen Ridge is to bring together a diverse group of women in an inclusive environment who, through friendship, volunteerism, education and leadership, engage in civic, social and cultural activities to serve the Club and the greater Glen Ridge community.

Serving the Community

Since 1905

Founded in 1905 the Women’s Club has been successfully fulfilling its mission since its inception and remains a vibrant and vital organization today. The Club hosts social gatherings, educational programs and cultural events. Departments sponsor monthly meetings that feature speakers across a broad range of topics; the Club publishes a quarterly newsletter, Signpost. Other activities include informal cocktail parties, luncheons, yoga, book discussions and day trips to the surrounding area. While enriching minds and creating friendships, Club events and activities raise funds that serve to fulfill our philanthropic goals and maintain our historic clubhouse.

The Clubhouse

In the early years, Club members met in various locations including private homes, schools and churches. Membership grew rapidly because of interest in the civic projects the Club was pursuing. In 1925 the impossible dream of a clubhouse became a reality. A beautiful brick Georgian Colonial Revival building was completed at the corner of Ridgewood Avenue and Snowden Place. Mr. Henry S. Chapman, who lived at the Sunnycrest Estate at 204 Ridgewood Avenue (where the high school now stands) was the sole benefactor of the clubhouse. The building was erected as a memorial to his beloved wife.A plaque remains on the building today recognizing it as the Emily M. Chapman Memorial. The clubhouse is a generous gift treasured and cared for by the members.

A Message from the President

Featured

Sep 30, 2020

A Message from the President

Sep 30, 2020

The Women's Club of Glen Ridge has served as a dynamic center of thought and action in our community since its inception in 1905. The Club is a gathering place in which high ideals of education, culture, health and wellness and social service have long been encouraged and upheld. 115 years later, we are still thriving as a vital resource for civic organizations, our schools, our community and surrounding towns.

Over the years, the Club has had a deep history in drama and music in the community and has housed many major productions – drama and music concerts. Over the past four years, working with the Glen Ridge Public Library, our stage has hosted Selected Shorts - public radio’s program of live readings of short stories - not to mention productions done by our own Drama and Music Departments.

As the first President of color of the Women’s Club of Glen Ridge, I especially feel the gravity of this year of national reckoning with inequality and the call for social justice. During my term I hope to engage the Club’s full membership, to help the Club’s membership to be more representative of our increasingly diverse town. In the next two years, I would like to focus on increasing membership engagement as well as building and broadening our membership.

Sep 30, 2020

Board of Directors

President - Sandra C. Lefkovits

Vice President - Mary Lou Malyska

Finance Committee - Kathleen Weissenberger

Treasurer - Mary Jean Potenzone

Assistant Treasurer - Laura Goldstein

Recording Secretary - Sujana Chandrasekhar

Corresponding Secretary - Sayydah Garrett

Girls’ Club Advisory - Carmen Pence

Grounds Committee - Margo Garrison

Hospitality Committee - Janice Delaporte

House Committee - Laura Cohen

Membership Committee - Diane Schaming

Nominating Committee - Open

Public Relations Committee - Andrea Fleitas

Rental Committee - Ann Nicol

Signpost Editor - Amy Luka

Social Committee - Leslie Convey

Ways & Means Committee - Kimberly Spataro

Art Department - Maria DeMeola

Community Service Department - Sharon Harms

Drama Department - Kristy Graves

Family Department - Tina Payne

Home & Garden Department - Janet Spoerl

International Affairs Department - Kamlesh Mehrotra

Literature Department - Pam Colledge

Literature Department - Sashy Bogdanovich

Music Department - Trisha Turiano

Religions, Spirituality & Wellness - Open