On January 29, 1968 eight young women met in the home of Mrs. R. Morris (Betty) Ellison to form the Junior Woman's Club of McLean. At the Northern District Spring meeting held on March 30, 1968 in Herndon, Virginia, the Club's charter was presented to our founder and first President, Betty Ellison.
In its first ten years, the Junior Woman's Club of McLean (before it became a general club and renamed NDWC in 1991) donated over $11,300 to various community projects. It was the first civic club to take an interest in McLean-Falls Church Day Care Center, and it has assisted the center every year since 1968! Beginning in 1971, the club assisted with the annual Walk for Mankind and became members of SHARE, Inc. 1972 marked the year when the club first became involved with Meals On Wheels. Reading is Fundamental (RIF) programs were established in several schools beginning in 1973, when the club also began funding camperships to Camp Easter Seal and initiated the annual Christmas tree recycling project. The club first supported the McLean Community Center in 1975, by holding a fundraiser to benefit the new center.
During its first busy decade, club members conducted many other events and volunteer outreach projects in the McLean community and across Fairfax County. They received awards annually for their outreach, fundraising and programs from the Northern District of the Virginia Federation of Women's Clubs (VFWC).
Past Presidents From the First Decade: Betty Ellison (1968-69), Freida (1969-70), Peggy Hanson (1970-71), Barbara Weinhold (1971-72; 1972-73), Polly McLain (1973-74), Judith Kelley (1974-75), Jean Bell (1975-76), Carol Cluff (1976-77) Carol Osborne (1977-78
1978 - 1988
NDWC's second decade began with a priority to grow its membership. Still known as the Junior Woman's Club of McLean, it brought in 15 active new members in its 1978-1979 club year. Health was also an area of concern, and the club donated to several health-oriented organizations, including ASK, American Red Cross and SIDS, and sent a camper to Camp Easter Seal. It was also a member of the Virginia Mental Health Association, supporting the Special Olympics. The club continued to grow its involvement with SHARE and Alternative House, as well as local performing arts organizations. In the late 1970's and early 1980's, the club added committees in Education and Conservation as well as International and Public Affairs, Creative and Visual Arts, Safety and Home Life; many of these committees continued into the first decade of the 2000's.
The early 1980's also marked the beginning of the club's sponsorship of a Spring House and Garden Tour. Lt. Gov. Charles Robb and Mrs. Robb were the first honorary chairs. One of the first beneficiaries of the tour in 1981 was Turkey Run Farm (renamed as Claude Moore Colonial Farm in 1981), which, due to cuts in Federal funding, would have had to close to the public without the club's donation of $200 along with those of other contributors.
The Spring House and Garden Tour continued for the next three years, until in 1984 members voted to try a fashion show fundraiser. The first fashion show was held in the 1984-1985 club year at Congressional Country Club, and it was a huge success. It featured fashions from Full Cry Shop and guest speaker, media professional Bettina Gregory. In 1986-1987, the fashion show location became the Tyson's Marriott.
In 1987-1988, the club won a state award for increased and sustaining members, as well as a Northern District award for public relations and communications. Additionally, its community improvement project conducted jointly with the Woman's Club of McLean in support of the McLean Orchestra won first place in Northern District and second place statewide. That same year, members held an art auction, the largest single fundraiser in their 19 year existence. The auction generated over $3,600 with 29 volunteers. In 1988, members established a book club, conducted a personal safety workshop and planted daffodils at the new Spring Hill Recreation Center. As the club continued to support Alternative House and Camp Easter Seal, it also furthered its ongoing projects with RIF through the McLean-Falls Church Day Care Center and donating children's books to the Dolley Madison Library, a tradition continued by NDWC today.
NDWC Presidents of the second decade: Linda Jennings (1978-79), Katie Ferrin (1979-80), Linda Wayne (1980-81), Tracey Bigger (1981-82), Linda Ragsdale (1982-83), Judy Gray (1983-84), Lynn Ann Mullane (1984-85), Connie Randolph (1985-86), Ginny Sandahl (1986-87), Kate Fisher (1987-88), Sharon Rutland (1988)
1988 - 1998
NDWC's third decade was one of change. Our years as a junior woman's club (1968-1991) allowed us to find our footing and develop valued relationships with local community organizations. Membership continued to grow, sometimes as much as 31% in one year as the club found projects that inspired members to give more and more. Officers installed in January of 1990 began the shifts that included the change of the club's name from the Junior Woman's Club of McLean to the New Dominion Women's Club in 1991. In terms of fundraisers, those which were successful during this time period were historic holiday ornament sales with Colvin Run Mill (1996) and Friends of Pleasant Grove (1997). The "Stop and Shop" that began in 1997 continued into the first decade of the 2000's, and it evolved into the "Gift Gala" featuring over 20 vendors and attracted shoppers from our membership and the community at large. The "Spring Auction" also began in 1997 and became known as the "White Elephant Sale" where members brought new and gently used items to sell in an informal and fun atmosphere at a member's home. The White Elephant was phased out as an annual event only a few years ago.
NDWC Presidents of the third decade: Sharon Rutland (1988), Liz Corwin (1989), Pam Miller (1990), Lee Forman (1990-92), Sarah Enstminger (1992-93), ? (1993-94), ? (1994-95), Sue Gerdelman (1995-96), Ann Flanagan (1996-97), Linda Salley (1997-98)