Brandishing the colors of the women’s suffrage movement, the Haworth Woman’s Club recognized noteworthy New Jersey women at a luncheon, including the club’s outgoing president.
Over 50 Woman’s Club members from the state and district federation celebrated the two-year tenure of President Rachael Salandra March 4 at the First Congregational Church hall, 276 Haworth Ave. Co-presidents Barbara Brusco and Barbara Farina are to fill the vacancy.
"I have always been proud to say I am a member of the Woman’s Club of Haworth," said Salandra to a standing ovation from the audience. "Thank you all for coming and making this a part of a special memory on my journey through life."
The New Jersey State Federation of Woman’s Club is the largest women’s service organization in the state geared toward volunteerism, leadership training and education. The state is divided into eight districts, with Haworth as one of 33 towns in the Palisades District, said Old Tappan club member Dianna Savadjian.
As part of this year’s campaign theme, the Woman’s Clubs emphasized open space preservation, literacy and domestic violence.
Salandra said that through "generosity and hard work" the Haworth Woman’s Club has accomplished its goals by donating linens to Shelter Our Sisters in Hackensack and collecting more than a dozen used cellphones for domestic violence victims.
"And we’re still not satisfied that our outreach is over," added club member Joan Livingston.
Each of the seven luncheon tables carried green, purple and white tablecloths and bore the names of prominent New Jersey women, such as Vogue fashion editor and U.S. House of Representatives member Millicent Hammond Fenwick. During the luncheon, Mayor John DiRienzo and other attendees dined on onion quiche, a spring salad and a cannoli cream cake.
Club members thumbed through an assortment of scrapbooks highlighting women achievements set on another table in the hall.
New members were welcomed with yellow carnations and pianist Ed Menzer performed several classical pieces from Frédéric Chopin.
"This club has been a part of the district for 87 years," said Deen Meloro, past district club president, in a celebratory speech. "And it continues to be a vital part of the district."
