NDSU Women’s Club announces officers, kicks-off new academic year

The NDSU Women’s Club will soon kick off the new academic year by showcasing all the club has to offer.

When the NDSU Women’s Club originated in January of 1920, members consisted of the wives of faculty, as well as some female faculty members. The goal of the club was to help with social functions for the NDSU president and his wife.

Originally, an invitation was required to join the club. However, in 1977, membership was opened to all university personnel, including graduate students.

Since then, membership has opened up even further.

“[For] over 90 plus years, NDSU Women’s Club has broadened to now embrace anyone who supports the academic mission of NDSU,” Judy Petermann, the Women’s Club’s president, said.

Affiliation with NDSU is not required to join the club.

“We encourage students, as well as faculty, faculty spouses and staff to try a sample of the full array of what NDSU Women’s Club offers these days,” Sandy Huseby, the communications coordinator for the club, said.

The NDSU Women’s Club offers several activities and other avenues for members to get involved.

The club hosts three major events throughout the year during the fall, winter and spring. These events feature speakers from around the community to talk on any number of issues.

For example, NDSU alumnus Tracey Moorhead, executive assistant to the president of Concordia College, will speak about the National Book Awards on Sept. 10.

The club also takes an active role in philanthropy. The club has co-partnered with organizations like Habitat for Humanity, the United Way school backpack program, A Women’s Perspective at the Hjemkomst Center and the Waterford and Edgewood Vista, explained Huseby.

Special interest groups within the club include Book Club, Midday Meetup, International Women, Valley Gardeners, Sewing group, and the Poetry and Writing Group. Members can get involved in volunteer and service groups as well.

Every year, these interest groups change and evolve, and new groups are added every so often, Huseby said. For example, a film club is working on becoming a full-fledged interest group within the club.

“We are a vibrant, multi-generational, multi-interest club,” summarized Huseby.

The club also furnishes annual scholarships. The scholarships are funded by a percentage of membership dues and donations to the scholarship fund, Huseby said.

The club announced its officers for the 2012-13 school year on Aug. 15. These officers are selected by a nominating committee.

The NDSU Women’s Club is open to any and all women in the community and members range from college aged women to those in their 80s. Huseby and Petermann both encourage students to join.

The membership fee for students is $10.

For more information about the NDSU Women’s Club, visit http://www.ndsu.edu/diversity/resources_for_women/wwwndsuedudiversitynsuwomensclub/ or their Facebook page.

The NDSU Women’s Club kick-off meeting will take place at 7 p.m. on Sept. 10 at Concordia’s Knutson Campus Center.