Last Thursday, members of the University Women’s Club gathered together for a morning coffee at the home of Joan Dressel, club president, to commemorate a very special event: the club’s 85th birthday.
“We decided to have a coffee to get some of the girls together,” Dressel said. “It was not a formal meeting. It was more of a celebration.”
According to Dressel, the club’s primary purpose is to familiarize the new faculty with the campus area and “make it seem a little more like home” by introducing them to other members.
The club meets for bridge the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month.
In addition, they have a book review group, which meets on the fourth Monday of each month.
“At times we do our own reviews, but often we have guest speakers,” Dressel said.
Dressel also noted that the members were open to any new ideas for other special interest groups. “At one time, we had a garden and sewing club,” she said. “Sadly, these have gone by the wayside.”
The club was established Oct. 4, 1916, almost five years after the university was founded, by former ETSU President Gilbreath’s wife.
At one time, the group consisted of over 200 members.

Author