Just as someone who knew Wellington only in the late 1970’s might not recognize our village today, an original member of what grew to be the Women of the Western Communities would be amazed to see how ar the organization has come.

Nearly thirty years ago, when Wellington was very young, newcomers were greeted by Nan Boss, a hostess for Welcome Wagon. In that capacity, Nan arranged to visit a new resident of The Twelfth Fairway, Joan Manning, who assembled a group of neighbors for Nan’s call. The gathering was so well received that Nan contacted 300 households and invited the women to become part of the Welcome Wagon Club. By the end of 1977, under the direction of its first President, Joan Manning, the association had a membership of nearly 100.

The Club’s activities were largely social, with monthly luncheon meetings at the Palm Beach Polo and Country Club. When the group outgrew those facilities, meetings were rotated among area restaurants. Get-acquainted teas were held at various members’ homes, and on occasion, business sponsors of Welcome Wagon would speak to the attendees.

The Village of Wellington’s first mayor, Kathy Foster, served as President in the early 1980s, during which time the group began meeting at the original Wellington Club and shifting its focus towards charitable endeavors, including an annual fashion show. The name of the organization was officially changed to the Wellington Women’s Club in 1983-1984. In 1994, President Jo Cudnik began the scholarship program, awarding college scholarships to local high school seniors to continue their educations, a program that continues today.

Over the years, the Club has supported the YWCA Harmony House, a safe area shelter for domestically abused women and their children. In 2010, the Club adopted one of the resident apartments at the facility. The name of the group was changed again in 2011 to incorporate the changing membership, who now reside in Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, the Acreage, Loxahatchee, and western Lake Worth. The Women of the Western Communities keeps the same initials as the original group, as well as all of the social philanthropic works. In 2012, the WWC added monthly donations to the YWCA Harmony House, of much needed items, such as cleaning supplies, health and beauty aids, and diapers.


PAST

PRESIDENTS 

Joan Manning………………………………………………….1977-1978

Ann Schneider…………………………………………….....……1978-1979

Judy Dillard…………………………………………………….......…1979-1980

Julie Biffis Weaver…………………………………….........1980-1981

Kathy Foster…………………………...…………………….......…1981-1982

Janet Cornella……………………………………………….....….1982-1983

Jane Brown………………………………...………………….........1983-1984

Linda Penta…………………………………..……………........…...1984-1985

Debby Raber…………………………………..………………........1985-1986

Julie Wurzler……………………………………..………......………1986-1987

Linda Penta…………………………………………...…………........1987-1988

Lenora Coppola………………………………….………......….1988-1989

Kathy Bryant……………………………………………..…......……1989-1990

Jo Ann Swint………………………………………………........……1990-1991

Elizabeth Christie…………………………………….........….1991-1993

Jo Cudnik………………………………………………………..............1993-1995

Temie Zabarsky……………………………………….........…...1995-1996

Barbara Smith…………………………………………..….......……1996-1997

Maureen Gross……………………………………….…..........…1997-1999

Leah Miller-Chapin………………………………............…1999-2000

Allyson Samiljan & Paula Shaffer............2000-2002

Lynn Barwald & Pat Simmons.…….........….2002-2004

Norma Ulloa…………………………………………………..............2005-2006

Terri Priore……………………………………………….....…..........….2006-2008

Phyliis Burke & Debi Macedonio….....2008-2010


Stacy Kauffman & Laurie Piel.…………………..2010-2012

Mair Armand…………………………………………….............……2012-2015

Lynda Chicano & Donna Kuebler…………..2015-2017

HISTORY: WOMEN OF THE WESTERN COMMUNITIES