[When was this written? Guessed 2005]

In 1937 I moved to Appleton, Wisconsin, as a new bride.  We established ourselves in the Methodist Church in Appleton.  Shortly after, the three branches of the Methodist Church were united.  The women’s organizations of these three branches likewise united becoming United

Methodist Women.  This was about the time that I joined and I have a card acknowledging me as a charter member of the newly formed National United Methodist Women.

I wasn’t very active at first, but I recall some amusing incidents in my first couple years in this organization.  There were several circles dividing the town geographically.  The little house that we rented was on the outskirts of the central area of the town where the most aristocratic homes were.  The circles were divided by geographical location and I found myself in a group of women who were wives of professors, professional people and the like.  I felt like I was out of my league.  On one occasion to raise money we took donut orders from people and businesses in the area.  I was in a car with several women delivering the donuts.  One of our stops was a bar in a not so savory location.  Being the new kid on the block, I was the one selected to deliver them.  It was my first, last, and only transaction in a bar!

I became friendly with a woman in our neighborhood whose husband was the janitor in our church.  They had 3-4 small children but she was active in the women’s organization.  One evening we had a fundraising dinner and she was asked to bring a pound of butter which she did although her funds were tight.  Each woman was also expected to pay for her own dinner, which she also did.  Then, at the close of the event, surplus items were for sale and she was expected to buy back her pound of butter.  This didn’t seem fair to me.

In another fundraising incident while discussing a possible bake sale one of the women declared she couldn’t contribute to a bake sale because, “My maid doesn’t like to cook.”  Then I really felt out of place!

Experiences such as these might have put off a young bride if it were not for the background of my mother’s many years in the women’s organizations of the Kingsley Methodist Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  I was proud to be asked to be a member of this newly formed organization of Methodist women.  A membership I still proudly carry. 

From Appleton we moved to several locations and whenever possible I was involved with the work of the United Methodist Women.  In 1951 we moved to River Falls, Wisconsin, where I have been a member of the United Methodist Women for over 50 years.  At first, with a growing family, I limited my activity to the evening circle, a group of young mothers and business women, which I still attend.  Eventually, I became more active in the local and district level. 

After I retired from teaching, I decided to participate in a conference sponsored by the Wisconsin Conference of the Methodist Church.  It was about 1975 and dealt with the oil crisis in the Mid-east.  The Northwest District had a busload going.  On this trip I met several women who were conference and district officers of the UMW.  I guess they saw me as a possible prospective officer because, at the next annual meeting of the NW District, I found myself elected the secretary of Social Concerns.  I found it to be a livewire organization of concerned women who took social issues seriously but also knew how to have fun together. 

Finding myself relatively free from family responsibilities, and newly retired this looked like a good opportunity for me to become involved.  It turned out to be very enriching and worthwhile. 

After two terms as Social Concerns Secretary, I was nominated for the UMW Conference Nominating Committee.  I’ve also served as reporter for the Wisconsin Conference Newspaper, and President of the District UMW.  Because of my interest in the district and conference affairs, I have been able to meet and enjoy the company of many people who will remain dear friends for the rest of my life.  It’s broadened my view of the work of the church.  I was privileged to attend two national conventions of the UMW at San Diego and Philadelphia, as well as several sessions of the Wisconsin Conference Annual School of Christian Missions, which I highly recommend to one and all. 

The experiences I’ve had in the UMW, beginning at the local, continuing at the district and conference levels have been richly rewarding.  If you are ever approached to become an officer at the local, district, or conference level, just jump up and down and say yes.  Whenever and wherever we meet at a gathering of UMW we don’t have to say a thing; we just put our arms around each other and laugh.