Founded 1914 - Incorporated 1931
Colors - Green & White
Flower - Carnation
Meetings - First Monday of Month, February through December
The Mackinaw Woman's Club is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit, tax exempt charitable organization registered with the State of Michigan. We donate to local organizations which promote education, literary, music, art, cultural, and similar endeavors as part of our philanthropic program.
Mission Statement
The purpose of this club shall be "to create an organized center of action among women for cooperation in literary, educational and philanthropic work; for the study thereof, and for general culture, for the promotion of practical interest in science, art, literature, and music for the betterment of Mackinaw.In the 6 months of February, March, April, June, October, and November, we try to present programs of various interests with speakers whose expertise helps to educate and inform the members on timely subjects. Some of these are presented in local restaurants, or in our own clubhouse. Occasionally, the club as a whole may take a field trip to a particular destination. January is a vacation month. In September we will have a soup, salad, or sandwich luncheon at the clubhouse and enjoy either a program, or play games, or just socialize.In December, we celebrate with a Christmas party for the members before we close our club year. This has been either a potluck at the clubhouse, or dinner in a local or area restaurant. While we are serious about what we accomplish, we are a fun-loving group, but we do not sit around constantly with our "pinkie" fingers in the air as we occasionally have a cup of tea. We enjoy the company of our sister members as we chat over refreshments provided by our hostesses following programs, and we laugh with great gusto.
In the past...
We have also contributed to "Closeup," the program which enables a high school class to travel to Washington, D. C., to see our government in action, including our state representatives and senators. These students overwhelmingly name this project as their most important and interesting in their final comments as graduating seniors.
The club awards a scholarship annually to a graduating senior, whom we consider has participated in community events, has been involved in community service, displays a record of balanced overall activity in academics and athletics, and a high GPA, as well as a goal of realistic values for his or her future. This scholarship is the result of our investment in the Mackinaw Woman's Club Fund in the Straits Area Community Foundation, which supports grants for Cheboygan County and Mackinaw City. This award is the "Lucy Gridley Award," (a true Mackinaw Woman!) who was the daughter of an early past president, Luella Jackson.
Annually we have two major fund-raisers - a 4th of July outdoor Strawberry Social on the Marina Lawn, and the Mackinac Island Swim the second Sunday in August - from which the proceeds allow us to contribute to several worthy causes and organizations.
We Support:
Versiti Blood Centers
Mackinaw Chamber of Commerce's "Music in Mackinaw" Program
Mackinaw City Area Arts Council
Mackinaw Area Public Library
Mackinaw Area Public Schools (Special Needs and School Supplies)
Mackinaw Area Public Schools Close Up Trip (every other year)
Mackinaw Band Boosters
Mackinaw Area Historical Society
Mackinaw Straits Raptor Watch
Diane Peppler Women's Resource Center, Sault Ste. Marie
Straits Area Food Pantry
We have a long list of requests for other donations, which is rotated on an annual basis, as we are able. We also hold smaller fund-raisers such as bake sales, plant sales, occasional rummage sales, craft items, etc. to supplement our income as needed to provide maintenance and upkeep of our clubhouse.
We publish a quarterly newsletter, the "Tattler," to keep members informed of what we, as a club, have accomplished and what plans are ahead for the future of the club. We established this web site to dispense information. The address is www.MackinawWomansClub.org.
Every May we hold a Past Presidents Dinner to honor our past presidents and review our long-established history from 1914 to the present. We also participate in the annual "Grand Parade" just before the "Fort Michilimackinac Pageant Re-enactment" over Memorial weekend.
NEW Opportunity!! Community Mini Grant
pick up the application at the clubhouse or call 812-797-6000 for more information! (applications due May 15th and October 15th)
Mackinaw Woman’s Club
2023 and ongoing accomplishments
Welcomed new members
Yearly Blood drives and exceeded set goals
Created a community grant program, awarded three local projects, stove for the library, sidewalk project at Heritage Village and provided supplies for life skills experiences at Mackinaw High School.
Support the Mackinaw City Area Art Council
Baked cookies and helped the chamber with Christmas Lighting ceremony.
Participated in the Memorial and Christmas parades!
Raised funds from annual plant sale
Stocked purses with needed supplies to be given to needy women.
9. Maintain and stock the Little Free Library that is at the clubhouse.
Donated $100 to Cheboygan and Emmet Counties American Rosie the Riveter Association to help fun out reach programing.
Gave $500+ scholarship to Mackinaw City High School Students
Support members who are shut ins.
Strawberry Social raised $1,200
Provided craft items for library’s summer reading program
Participated in Historic Village Festival
Held two meetings in clubhouse backyard
Baked 600 cookies and volunteered for Mackinac Island Swim Event
Received $13,000 from swim event
Donated volunteers to help various programs at the Mackinaw Area Public Library.
Welcome Bags for new residents.
Fieldtrip meetings are planned to create memories and to educate.
Book club established
Updated electrical in the basement
Installed motion lights at entrance
Jon Vos volunteered to remove the exhause tube from kitchen.
New water heater
Pictures and frames were donated from Nan Kneck's late husband's collection.
Clubhouse landscaping updated
Participated in Trunk or Treat
Repaired and mounted a donated bookshelf,
Removed exhaust pipe in the kitchen, repaired roof and ceiling.
New blinds and curtains for the clubhouse.
Donated to five nonprofits with profits from swim event:
Church of the Straits Food Pantry
Diane Peppler Resource Center
Mackinaw Area Public Library
Mackinaw Public School Life Skills activities.
Mackinaw Area Historical Society
Provided cookies for chamber of commerce events.
Guest speakers are invited to membership meetings
Christmas party was attended by 17 members
Donna Falor our treasurer researches and finds the best investments.
Members volunteer to read to residents at Pinecrest Village.
The Mackinaw Woman’s Club recognizes past presidents yearly.
Made and sent Valentines cards and candy to the residents at Pinecrest.