Club celebrates 92nd anniversary in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Margaret Schiffner is one of seven members of the Moses Lake Woman's Club.

When Schiffner joined the club 25 years ago there were more than 50 members of the local chapter.

As the club nears its 92nd anniversary at the end of this month, dwindling numbers are a sign of how times have changed.

Single parent families, fast-paced lifestyles and increased travel are a few indicators to Schiffner that people don't have time any more to participate in community organizations.

"We've got a gap in our society that's just not committing themselves to do local work," Schiffner said.

The Moses Lake Woman's Club is part of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, the national organization founded in 1890. The GFWC is the world's largest and oldest nondenominational, nonpartisan international volunteer service organization of women.

There are more than one million members worldwide representing more than 20 countries.

In 1914 the Moses Lake Woman's Club was started after a meeting was held at the home of Mrs. C.C. Bulle to discuss the logistics of organizing the club.

Officers were elected and a constitution and by-laws written, after which the club took on its first service project: Allotting funds for the purchase of books for a town library.

Throughout the years the club's service projects would continue to place an emphasis on education.

Each year packets with children's songs, reading tips and a bib are taken to Samaritan Hospital's Mother and Baby Center. The club supports several scholarship programs and art programs for youth, also partnering with Columbia Basin Job Corps students to install public benches around town.

"We even say it on a national level that we're one of the best kept secrets as far as our community work," Schiffner said.

Schiffner, who with her husband George is an avid collectors of military memorabilia, got involved in the club after being asked by a member to come and speak about her knowledge of military history as the Larson Air Force Base was located in Moses Lake.

It was after that presentation when Schiffner was asked to consider joining the club.

Schiffner was excited and surprised about being asked to join, but didn't know anything about the club except that it was for women and was a community service organization.

Community service is one aspect of the club Schiffner has enjoyed most about her participation.

She has been the building superintendent at the arts and crafts building for the Grant County Fair since the early 1980s and at one time or another participated at the state level in each of the six focus areas of the club: the arts, conservation, education, home life, international affairs and public affairs.

The area of conservation was Schiffner's favorite as she grew up on a small farm in Vancouver, Wash., and into her adult life farmed with her husband George in the Moses Lake area.

Nancy Vurk, who is not a member of the club, was recognized last year along with Schiffner's younger sister, Mary Davis, for cleaning up litter on their daily walks around town.

"They do recognize other people other than club members (for their community service efforts)," Vurk said.