By Cyrus Guccione
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The Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce celebrates local groups, social clubs and businesses that take on new Chamber membership with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, but on Thursday, Jan. 18, the longstanding non-profit had the opportunity to celebrate alongside one of the oldest clubs in town.

The Fountain Hills Women’s Club celebrated a golden ribbon cutting outside on the Chamber patio.

In front of a gathering of friends and members of the Fountain Hills Women’s Club, Chamber President Betsy LaVoie welcomed those in attendance on behalf of the Chamber board of directors and invited Chamber Ambassador Al Romano of Fountain Hills Healthy Heartbeats to offer a Proclamation of Good Fortune.

“Thereby, we the ambassadors of the Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce wish to congratulate Fountain Hills Women’s Club on their 50th anniversary as an important part of our incredible community,” Romano stated. “We present the proclamation which carries with it 100 years of good fortune.”

Chamber Vice President Tammy Bell also spoke, thankful that the club has been part of the Fountain Hills community for so long.

The Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce also celebrates 50 years this year, and Bell said she and the Chamber staff can resonate with many of the changes and challenges that the club has undergone through the years.

“We’re so thankful that you have kept it going this long (and) have been such a huge, positive impact on our community,” Bell said.

As a special gift, Christian Curry, senior field representative for Rep. David Schweikert, presented the club with a certificate of congressional recognition for celebrating 50 years in the community.

Fountain Hills Mayor speaks

Fountain Hills Mayor Ginny Dickey also spoke at the event, offering her congratulations on a “wonderful golden anniversary.”

One of the things that makes the Fountain Hills Women’s Club special, Dickey said, is its emphasis on giving scholarships to local women in Fountain Hills.

“As we go through different phases in our life, we see a lot of need and really appreciate that you have recognized that and what you’ve been doing for all these years for this beautiful community of ours,” Dickey said, adding that while she has lived in the community for 40 of those 50 years, she joked, “…We don’t talk about how old we are because we’re all young and moving forward.”

President of the Fountain Hills Women’s Club Barbara Higgins accepted a pin from Mayor Dickey and thanked those present for joining in celebration and discussed a brief history of the club.

After a few women got together at one of the local pubs in September of 1973, Higgins said the first formal meeting of the Women’s Club was held in January of 1974.

“It really was the only game in town for a long time,” Higgins said.

To date, the club has given over $350,000 in scholarships and helped donate to the local library and the L. Alan Cruikshank River of Time Museum in their infancy stages.

The club has reached upwards of 200 members and is actively seeking more members in the community.

Joanne Colella, chair of the Fountain Hills Women’s Club upcoming fundraiser, “Gold in Them Hills,” said she was “incredibly impressed” by a group of women that not only hit its 50th anniversary but is also nearly as old as the town in which it resides.

“The annual luncheon this year is going to be bigger and better than ever before,” Colella said, adding that Classy Jazzy has been commissioned to perform the fashion show.

Betsy LaVoie said she was impressed with the powerful group of women who have worked tirelessly to uphold local women and support the Fountain Hills community since 1974.

“To the women and men behind those women of the Fountain Hills Women’s Club, congratulations to you,” LaVoie said. “Your ambassadors, your town and your elected officials, your board staff – we are all here to celebrate you.”

“The Gold in Them Hills” Gala is set for Saturday, March 9, at We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort.

For tickets, visit 50gala.givesmart.com.

For more information visit fountainhillswomensclub.com or its Facebook page at Facebook.com/fountainhillswomensclub.

We invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org. Cyrus Guccione can be reached at cguccione@iniusa.org.