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
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.