Civic Club getting back to business

“A breath of fresh air.”

That’s how Wimberley Community Civic Club First Vice President Nancy Robertson characterized the club’s first “face-to-face meeting since the COVID-19 virus hit.

“After months of stringent restrictions, the gathering together of Civic Club friends was like a breath of fresh air,” says Nancy. “The positive energy of this group of dedicated women is inspiring in so many ways.”

The Civic Club held its first “in person” meeting of the year last Friday. A pre-virus meeting typically attracted upwards of 80 people. Last Friday’s gathering in the outdoor pavilion at The Waters Point drew about half that many attendees. Most were masked and seating was spread out to accommodate social distancing. The club’s well-known buffet lunch was replaced by individual bagged lunches of sandwiches, fruit salad, chips and a cookie.

In a typical year the club raises as much as $80,000 through various events that are then distributed back to the community in the form of scholarships and grants. After canceling the popular Home Tour, Wine Walk and Style Show, among others, the club’s first order of business was to discuss how to get those fund-raising efforts back on track.

The Home Tour — which attracts hundreds and features open houses at some of the area’s most interesting homes — is normally held in November, but it has been canceled for 2020. There was talk about moving the event to the Spring and possibly of holding a virtual tour. Last year, the Home Tour raised more than $18,000 for local charities and students.

Despite the virus-induced damper put on public events over the last six or seven months, the club has continued its good work.

Through its Benevolent Fund, the members are providing undergarments to victims of domestic violence at the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center. Fund Chairman Bennie Crum reported that when a woman is a suspected victim of abuse, authorities will often take pieces of clothing as evidence, leaving her without.

The club recently got a generous donation of bras from Sheri Fowlie, owner of Dovetails of Wimberley clothing store, which were presented at the meeting.

“Through the outstanding generosity of our members and our community,” says Bennie, “we collected almost $200 in monetary donations and 83 items of underwear with a value of $880.”

The club has a donation button on its website, www.wimberleyccc.org, if you would like to contribute.

The Pepper Project, a Wimberley-based charity that funds education and animal-welfare groups in Cambodia, presented a program on their activities and sold items from Cambodia.

Second Vice President Susan Cooper reported on her Membership Committee efforts to keep members involved in the club during these unsettling times. Upcoming events for members include private shopping trips to local boutiques, wine tasting events, and various field trips to local attractions.

She presented new members with yellow roses. New members in attendance were Pat Gillory, Lauren Groves, Kathy Perry, Pearly Rihn, Becky Selman and Lynn Shuler.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Civic Club, you may join online, or renew your dues, at www.wimberleyccc.org.