Membership is vital to any organization. This year Book Lovers Study Club celebrates its 90^th anniversary. Without its dedicated members over the years, this milestone would not have been achieved. Our club has consisted of diverse talents, interests and backgrounds – mothers and daughters, business and community leaders, teachers, professionals, retirees, homemakers and executives – united by a dedication to community improvement through volunteer service.

Recently Book Lovers Study Club held a membership tea for prospective members and current members at Bennett Hall. This year’s GFWC Alabama membership theme is Purse-sonality, so each table featured purses with live floral arrangements as centerpieces. Following delicious refreshments and socializing, President Patricia Cox presented a brief history of the club.

Book Lovers was organized in 1928 with 19 members. The Club’s colors are purple and gold, and the Club’s flower is the iris.

The first club’s yearbook in 1928 was handwritten. Members made their own yearbooks through 1934; that way they survived Black Tuesday and the Depression of those days. The first printed yearbook was made in 1935. Copies of most yearbooks have been stored in our local library over the years.

Book Lovers is affiliated with the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, which is a network of support for more than 80,000 clubwomen.

An orientation program on the club’s activities, meetings, events, projects and leadership opportunities were also presented.

At the close of the meeting, each attendee received a clubwoman’s survival kit to guide them as they live the volunteer spirit.

By Susie Hovater Malone