February 1, 2007

Almaden Valley Women’s Club seeks new members to continue local good works

Local club benefits local schools, students, community center and more

By Carol Rosen
Staff Writer

The Almaden Valley Woman’s Club will hold its first meeting of 2007 on Tuesday, Feb. 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the Joint Venture Church on Camden Avenue.

The Almaden Valley Woman’s Club 2007 executive board includes (bottom row, from left) Second Vice President—programs—Patty Rottjakob and AVWC President Michelle Correa; second row, Fund-raising President Lauren Wilson, first Vice President—membership—Mia Burnham and Parliamentarian Cindy Griffeth; and top row Treasurer Jennifer Weber and Secretary Sandy Palicio.

The club is actively and aggressively seeking new members, said Mia Burnham, vice president in charge of membership. Those interested in joining should contact Burnham (408-839-6071 or burnhamfamily@sbcglobal.net) as soon as possible for more details and to reserve a place at the next meeting.

New members are important, adds Michelle Correa, AVWC president, because new members bring in new ideas, new thoughts and new energy. They are also essential for putting on the major fundraiser of the year.

Established in 1965, AVWC does its fund-raising through the annual Almaden Art & Wine Festival. All of that event’s proceeds are given back to the community in grants to local schools, scholarships to local grads and other local community charities.

“We specifically give back all the money we make to the community, focusing on children,” said Correa.

For example, besides its usual grants, last year the club gave $10,000 to the Almaden Community Center, which at the time was under construction. “We try to give something to everyone that asks,” said Burnham. “We give to local charities first and then to others that are nearby such as the women’s shelter in Willow Glen.”

Currently the club has about 55 active members with a number of active sustaining members. The latter category consists of members who support the club, pay dues, but do not necessarily come to all club meetings. Club meetings are the first Tuesday for eight months out of every year at 7:30 p.m. at the Joint Venture Church on Camden Avenue.

While the club doesn’t plan activities outside of its fund-raising, many women make new friends and end up socializing and sometimes taking excursions together, added Correa, such as a recent hiking trip to Yosemite. “We have a lot of fun.”

Members and their husbands all work at the annual festival. The club has a reputation of getting things done and offers community grants to a long list of charities and organizations in the area. Some of these include the Diabetes Society, Sunday Friends, Loaves and Fishes, Special Olympics, Emergency Housing, Hospice of the Valley, Career Closet, San Jose Library, Music in the PARK and the Almaden Valley Counseling Services.

The club has provided scholarships and financial assistance to students and nonprofit children’s foundations, educational facilities including public and private schools in Almaden, teen programs and community organizations.

Membership dues are $45 per year for members and $75 for new members. The extra money covers the cost of red shirts for new members and their husbands. For more information, or to learn more about the AVWC, contact Burnham at (408) 839-6071 or burnhamfamily@sbcglobal.net.