Rochester Junior Women’s Club

The Rochester Junior Women’s Club (Michigan) was established in 1956 with 16 members, and today has over 70 members who always come together to support one another. The club chooses three or four major charities to support and several smaller ones, donating approximately $30,000 each year. In total since its inception, the club has provided more than 1 million hours of community service, and raised more than $928,000 to support their community!

They have four fundraising events, including a Lobster Boil in September, BingoMania in October, Spring Luncheon in March, and an Haute to Trot Kentucky Derby Party in May. The club has been instrumental in financially helping to start many organizations that exist in Rochester today.

The club knows how to have fun too. Every November they have an event called Dessert 8’s where eight members go to a host member’s home for appetizers, dessert, and conversation. It’s a wonderful way for new members to get a chance to know women in a small group setting.

Another favorite of the club is the holiday dinner party and auction. Members bring items to auction off, with proceeds going to Guiding Harbor. This year over $1,100 was raised.

Club president Carol Anne Ketelsen’s goal while leading the club is to have members evaluate what they’re doing, why they’re doing it, and make sure it is best for the future of the club. “Change is hard and is it easy to maintain the status quo,” she said. “My symbol is the sea turtle. The sea turtle teaches us the art of adapting to new surroundings and environments. I have encouraged members to be open to change, to stretch their necks out, and take risks to move the club forward.”

Learn more about the Rochester Junior Women’s Club by visiting their website at https://rjwc.org/. To find a GFWC club in your area, click here.