Laurel Club Celebrates 100 Years!

Laurel Club volunteers

The First Presidency sponsored a 100th Birthday Celebration for the Laurel Club on Sunday, May 7 in the Auditorium—Laurel Club and Assembly Room areas.

Portion of Statement of Recognition of Laurel Club Given at the 2005 World Conference

"We are most pleased at this 2005 World Conference to acknowledge the Laurel Club. From humble beginnings at its organizational meeting on May 17, 1906, by a handful of Stone Church women, the Laurel Club last month entered its one hundredth year of continuous operation.

Women Workers Banquet ca. 1930s Copyright Community of Christ

"Words cannot express the impact the Laurel Club has had on both the church and the Independence/Kansas City community over these many years. From the beginning the club was formed to raise money, first for the Independence Sanitarium and Hospital and Lamoni, Iowa, Children's Home, and over the years for countless worthy church and community causes.

"Staffed completely by volunteers, the Laurel Club first served meals at the Stone Church and then since 1929 in the Auditorium when World Conference delegates and visitors first had the benefit of their services.

"We wish it were possible to give a count of the total number of volunteers given by the women, and now men, of the Laurel Club over this almost 100 years. However, to say that this stretches into the millions would not be an exaggeration. Beyond this, the Laurel Club records do indicate that more than $475,000 has been given to the church and to community organizations combined just during the last fifteen years."

Wilma Elliott, president, gives $15,000 from Laurel Club to Church, asking Pres. W. B. Smith to divide money among three different church-sponsored agencies involved in national and international outreach: Tom Benett, accepting for Missons Health Fund, Howard Sheehy, Sr., accepting for Restoration Trail Foundation, Dr. Barbara Higdon, accepting for Missions Abroad Education Fund. Copyright Community of Christ

Laurel Club board, ready to present the first installment of their $25,000 pledge to Words for the World Copyright Jim Doty

People in line for lunch at the Laurel Club 2000 World Conference

Thousands of people have eaten, met old friends and made new ones, visited with members from other countries, and shared many special times over a meal in the Laurel Club at World Conference, the International Leaders Forum, Peace Colloquy, and other special events and dinners.

The Laurel Club is an extraordinary example of volunteering. Many generations of women, including men in the last twenty five years, have given their time and talent and expertise to run this amazing ministry for the Church and the Communities of Independence and Kansas City, and more.

I