Somers Women's Club

Women's Club Scholarships

There are Memorial Scholarships available through the General Federation of Women's Clubs of Connecticut (GFWC/CT) to qualified women pursuing their education. Applicants must possess a minimum 3.0 average and must have completed at least two years of undergraduate study at an institution of higher learning. Contact Co-Chairs of the Scholarship Committee of The Somers Women's Club, Vange Chatis at 860-749-8633 of Fran Shaver at 860-749-0526 for an application packet and further information. The application deadline of February 10, 2012 must be strictly followed and incomplete applications will not be considered.

Crazy Whist Party

The Somers Women's Club will host another enjoyable afternoon of Crazy Whist, at the Town Hall Auditorium, on Main St in Somers on Tuesday October the 25th, The doors open at 12:30 and the games start at 1:00p.m. Tickets are $6.00 and can be purchased that day at the door. There will be refreshments, a Door Prize and a Raffle. For more information, please call Linda at 860-7632762 or  Donna at 413-386-4580. This is an afternoon you won't want to miss.  The Somers Women's Club is a member of the GFWC/CT

See's Candy Sale

The Somers Women’s Club is launching its annual holiday sale of See’s Candies during the month of October. These delicious chocolates, sweets, and nuts are shipped from California and available only during this season. Place your order for See’s Famous Old Time Candies with the Somers Women’s Club and avoid high
shipping charges.

The candy will arrive before Thanksgiving, wrapped in holiday paper, and ready for gift giving. For an illustrated flyer and order form, please call Dot at (860) 749-6611. ~ Orders must placed before Nov.7th, 2011.

All profits from this fundraiser will be used for college scholarships and worthwhile community needs. The Somers Women’s Club is a member of the General Federation of Women’s Club of Connecticut.

Our Officers

Left to right include the Incoming Officers for 2010 - 2012. Director: Linda Louise LaCasse , Treasurer: Fran Shaver, Second Vice President: Carmella Brennan, Secretary: Maureen LaFlamme, First Vice President: Charlotte Stopa, State President GFWC/CT Jo Ann Calnen, President: Karen Anderson.

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Somers Women's Club New Fund-Raising Project

The Somers Women's Club has initiated a new fund-raising project which will raise money and help preserve the environment by reducing the amount of non-biodegradable waste in our landfills. Partnering with CC Cash (Cartridges and Cell phones for Cash) the Club has placed collection boxes at the Somers Public Library, Somers Town Hall, Geissler's Supermarket and the Somers Transfer Station. Please save your empty ink jet, laser and fax cartridges as well as used, inactive cell phones and drop them i a collection box at any of these locations. Funds raised will be used for worthwhile Town projects and school scholarships. For additional information, please call 749-2770 or 749-6611. The Somers Women's Club is a proudly affiliated with the General Federation of Women's Clubs International and the COnnecticut State Federation.ll phones for Cash) the Club has placed collection boxes at the Somers Public Library, Somers Town Hall, Geissler's Supermarket and the Somers Transfer Station. Please save your empty ink jet, laser and fax cartridges as well as used, inactive cell phones and drop them i a collection box at any of these locations. Funds raised will be used for worthwhile Town projects and school scholarships. For additional information, please call 749-2770 or 749-6611. The Somers Women's Club is a proudly affiliated with the General Federation of Women's Clubs International and the COnnecticut State Federation.

The Somers Women's Club has reduced the price of their wooden Plaques featuring prominent locations in the Town of Somers.  The Plaques remaining include Casual Corner,  Parson's House,  Town Hall, and Somersville Congregational Church.  These plaques can be purchased at Kassandra's Herbs Unlimited at 54 Springfield Road, Somers, Ct  06071 ,   or by calling Kassandra at 860-749-0839 or Fran Shaver at 860-749-0526.

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What We Do

Every two years the Club raises funds and makes a
significant contribution the Community. For the years
2000-2002 we donated $1,500 dollars towards the
purchase of a score board for the Mabel B. Avery
Middle School, $300 dollars for the Mabel B. Avery
Technology Department to buy saws.

1998-2000 We donated $3,000.00 for the Somers High
School Band Uniforms, $1000.00 for the Somers Police
Explorers, and $1,400.00 to the Somers Fire Department
for a Hand Held Carbon Monoxide Detector.

We give two high school seniors scholarships every
year based on their grades, participation in school
activities, volunteer and community service.

We give an annual financial contribution to the
Cultural Commission for the Summer Concerts on the
Green.

We also accept applications from women in town who are
continuing their education and submit them to the
General Federation of Women's Clubs of Connecticut for
scholarships from the Phipps and Schoelzel Memorial
Scholarship Funds.

Our funds our raised through the sales of our Building
Plaques of Somers' Historical Buildings, Arts and
Craft Auction, Annual Fashion Show,
Bus Trips, and our new line of Pewter Ornaments of
Buildings and Scenic Views of our town.
Medallions of the Somers Free Public Library, the Somers Elementary School and Somers High School are now on sale.

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A Brief History of Accomplishments of the Somers Women’s Club

• · Services and donations for the library have been continuing projects since 1921, including the formation of the “Friends of the Library” (an organization that continues today). We have also made various donations of equipment and books throughout the years (including a recent collection of books regarding women’s health issues).
  
  · As a result of our initiating efforts in 1923, our concerns regarding the need for a community and school nurse in Somers ultimately resulted in the creation of the Somers Visiting Nurses Association. We still support the VNA each year.
  
  · As a result of our making arrangements for serving hot soup or hot cocoa to the children who carried their lunches to school between 1921 and 1939, this program was expanded to the lunch program which was then taken over by the PTA and eventually the Board of Education
  
  · Our biggest single contribution reflected eight years work between 1930 and 1938 when we encouraged the formation of the Somers Fire Department and helped purchase a fire engine together with funds from the Town.
  
  · In 1937, we sponsored a Junior Women’s Club. It was disbanded in 1963 and some of the members joined the Somers Women’s Club.
  
  · Girl Scouts and PTA (PTO) and the Ambulance Corps got a boost in their starts and continuing support from our Club. In 1938, we sponsored a Girl Scout Troop.
  
  · Every year since 1957, one or more scholarships have been given to Somers students headed to college.
  
  · A large contribution was made toward the children’s wing of the then new Johnson Memorial Hospital.
  
  · Our services and contributions relative to our Veterans started in the 1920’s with the raising of funds for the Veterans Memorial located near the Town Hall. It has continued through the years with knitting/crocheting hats for Veterans, rolling bandages during WWII, making up and sending “goodie boxes” and greeting cards to our military personnel in Viet Nam and Iraq, contributing to a new wing for the Veterans Home and Hospital in Rocky Hill, CT, etc.
  
  · In 1969, we collected dress material for an orphanage in Paracha, Brazil. This enabled them to make their own clothes and to teach them a trade. This was not the only international assistance rendered through the years.
  
  · Through the years we have purchased such things as a large television set for the Senior Center; mobile radio programmer, a two-way radio for town emergency vehicles and other equipment for the ambulance, paramedics, and Fire Department; a computer and surveillance camera system (the latter being purchased in 2006) for our State Troopers Residence Office; a flag pole and pear tree for the Historical Society Museum, etc.
  
  · A reading area was provided for the library of the new Elementary School; Japanese motif stained glass window and panels, fountain and rock garden, plantings, cushions and books; uniforms for the High School band students; saws for the industrial arts program of the Middle School as well as a scoreboard for the school’s field; numerous hours have been spent volunteering at the elementary school for after-class assistance to the students, working in the office or library, etc. For a number of years, we have contributed to the Summer Concerts on the Green that are co-coordinated by the Somers Cultural Commission.
  
  · Over the years, we have stepped in and helped individual town residents in times of need, be it a disabled individual or an accident victim. We have also made contributions to such worthy causes as Salvation Army, Easter Seals, American Cancer Society, etc. For several years, the members have donated nonperishable foods at our monthly meetings and donated them to food pantries at our local churches and the Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen. In addition, each year we hold a luncheon for the seniors in town. During the Holiday Season, members have been donating items to the Domestic Abuse Center. This is in addition to other services and donations made throughout the years. Likewise, each Holiday Season members have been donating toys to the Toys for Tots Drive.
  
  The bulleted list above is just a sampling of the services and donations the Club, as a whole, has made to the community and beyond. This list doesn’t begin to cover all the thousands of hours individual members have volunteered to such things as delivering meals to those in need for the Meals on Wheels Program and cooking/serving meals at the Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen; assisting the elderly with tax return preparations as part of the AARP Taxes for Elderly Program; assisting their respective churches and synagogues in so many ways; assisting local hospitals, schools, senior centers, VNA Board, and the library; mentoring young people; assisting victims of disasters; etc. In addition, our individual Club members have donated thousands of dollars to various charities and worthy local, state, national and international needs.
   

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