SLIPPERY ROCK — In 1924, when the Slippery Rock Area Womens Club was formed, women attended all meetings in white gloves and hats.

That tradition has long since fallen by the wayside, but at last Monday's meeting, several members remembered complying with that dress code. Other traditions of the group, like community service and fellowship, were also remembered, but live on today.

The recent meeting was held to kick off the club's new season as well as celebrate its rich history. Scrapbooks full of photos and newspaper articles were displayed and about 40 club members came armed with plenty of memories.

Jen Sproat, co-president, said the group planned the history meeting to coincide with the new season to celebrate past and present. Meanwhile, the group is working to increase membership and planning upcoming fundraiser and Villagefest activities on Sept. 16.

Besides fundraisers for various county groups, the women's club performs service projects with groups like the Butler County Women's Shelter. Club members help fix up rooms at the shelter where abused women and children stay, said Sproat. Only a few people are able to know the location of the shelter, so participation takes discretion, she added.

"We really take that seriously and enjoy helping," Sproat said.

Some recipients of other service projects include the Victim Outreach Intervention Center (VOICe), Slippery Rock Library, Slippery Rock Villagefest, Salvation Army, American Cancer Society, Meals on Wheels, American Red Cross, Slippery Rock Crisis Pregnancy Center and Slippery Rock Girl Scouts.

The club also holds social meetings and field trips for members throughout the year.

And besides reminiscing, Monday was designed to welcome new members. Five or six "newbies," attended, considering whether they would join or not. Co-president Darla Gresgott said her most important goal for the new season is to increase membership.

"At one time we had 200 members," she said.

Now the group has around 20 active members.

Though an agenda was planned and business was conducted, Monday was mostly dedicated to remembering the past. Members took turns sharing their memories.

Nellie Lewis, the oldest past president at the meeting, told fellow members she was too shy to join the club at first but did so after receiving an invitation.

"I sort of grew up in Slippery Rock Womens Club," she said. "Now I look around the room and these women have become some of my best friends."

"With women's clubs, it's an easy way to see what's needed in town because women get involved," said Carol Richards, another past president.

"It also helps train women into leadership roles," she added. "(The) women's club is just a wonderful organization. It just makes your life more interesting."

"It's a great place to meet people," said Lalanda Stromp. "These people become your friends."

One of the most famous fundraisers remembered Monday was the Red Stocking Review. For two years during the 1960s, the club hired a New York City director to bring his expertise and some costumes to help put on a variety show in town.

"All we had to do was provide the warm bodies," said Carol Lambert, president of the group from 1968 to 1970.

Linda Lenz, another past president, remembers the event's revival sometime in the 1970s.

"I saw the ad for that and it said they had baby-sitting," for those who wanted to participate. "I had four kids, so I went," she said.

Hester Hollinger remembers a much simpler form of entertainment that was held during her initiation meeting into the club. At that meeting in December 1975, the group met in a church basement and it "snowed like crazy," she said.

"The kitchen band was our entertainment and it was the funniest thing you ever saw," she said.

Sometimes the club promotes friendships with women all over the world.

Club member Kate Brydon still hears from a former Slippery Rock University student from Taiwan who was involved with club activities during her time in town. The woman calls Brydon on her birthday and at Christmastime each year, she said.

Brydon, 90, the oldest member at the Monday meeting, joined the club in 1953 or 1954 when she married a man from Slippery Rock. Before that, she was a member of the women's club in Grove City, originally joining as a junior member.

"I have my 50-year certificate," for participation, she told fellow members.

Newcomers Kris Bowser and Janene Disanti attended the meeting for the same reason most of the members originally joined — to meet more people in the Slippery Rock area. Both were impressed with the community service projects the group completed each year.

Another newbie, Karen Kriley, said she hoped to become involved with some of those projects. A recent retiree, Kriley was looking for some projects to help with that were close to her home in Slippery Rock.

"This just sounds like a lovely group of people," she said.

For more information on the Slippery Rock Area Womens Club, call Sproat at 724-794-1558 or Gresgott at 724-738-0956.