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Druzea Club Records

History

The Druzea Club was formed in Bellingham, Washington in 1937 in the home of Mrs. Maude Fischer with the express purpose of facilitating mental improvement and social enjoyment for its members.  In 1938 the club joined the Washington State Federation of Women’s Clubs and enjoyed a long association with this umbrella organization. 

Druzea is a Russian word meaning ‘friendship’ which was to be the root of the Druzea Club’s purpose in the local and regional communities.  The club was active in a number of service projects which included aiding needy families during the holidays, collecting magazines for monthly drop-off at the Juvenile Detention quarters of the Court House, sponsoring a rural school through the Save the Children Federation, assisting in the restoration of the Whatcom Museum as well as engaging in war service projects during World War II.

Library service was also one of the main focuses of the Druzea Club, which took an active role in the formation of Friends of the Bellingham Public Library in October 1952.  The club dedicated hundreds of volunteer hours to the Friends’ annual used book sale in support of the library.  The club was also involved in the establishment of a library at Pt. Roberts by furnishing books and magazines to the local community.  This action was recorded in the history of the Washington State Libraries which listed the club as the founder of the Pt. Roberts library.

The Druzea Club was active as well in supporting State and General Federation of Women’s Clubs projects and also gave financial assistance to the Heart, Cancer, and Polio funds, the local food bank, the Indian Youth Mission, the Home for Abused Women and the Salvation Army.  The club also acted as a leadership training ground in that five of its members eventually became Federation of Women’s Clubs district presidents, three were general chairman to the state convention when it was held in Bellingham, and several members went on to become state officers and department chairs.  This connection with the Federation was cherished by club members and fortified their resolve to continue actively supporting their local and regional communities.  The club celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 1987 and has since disbanded.