 | Houston Heights Woman's Club |
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The Houston Heights Woman's Club offers a a variety of community service and social activities. Whether you're looking for outreach service in our community, an engaging book club discussion, an arts outing, or a happy hour get-together, the club offers something to match the diverse interests of our membership. Club members look forward to our annual events:
The Houston Heights Woman's Club proudly sponsors many charitable causes. When our founding members adopted a Constitution and By-Laws in 1905, they added the clause "to aid and encourage charitable and educational interests of Houston Heights" as an integral part of the Club's purpose. Community outreach continues to be a vital part of our organization. Many of our events are free and open to members and guests, and one of the many benefits of membership is reduced pricing for some of our annual events. Learn more about our Signature Events and view upcoming events on the Events Calendar or learn more about our events. |
For nearly a decade, local area public school students have received uniforms from Club members. Our annual School Uniform Drive ensures students at area HISD Elementary and Middle School children have the clothing they need to be successful in the classroom. Each summer members and friends donate gently used school uniforms and funds to purchase dress code compliant clothing. Club members contact donors, gather gently used clothing, and work with school leaders to ensure the clothing reaches students. Financial donations are accepted throughout the school year as schools do contact us to help meet new needs. |
The Women’s Studies Library Initiative (WSLI) continues the club's tradition of literacy and women's history by ensuring our local public school libraries have a rich collection of books on women's history. We typically host a reception for our local school librarians in March of each year. See the titles we donated in 2022!
Our club meets on the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm. Traditionally, we meet at the clubhouse over snacks and drinks provided by that month's group leader, but we are currently meeting over Zoom due to the ongoing pandemic. The books we read are suggested by members at a meeting in January and then chosen by member vote. We usually choose about 12 books and fill the schedule in advance for the year. If a member's suggested book is chosen, she generally leads the discussion that month, although other members also volunteer to lead meetings depending on the circumstances. Our December meeting is a holiday party instead of a book discussion. In January we usually host a special Books and Tea event on a Sunday afternoon, when we serve snacks and tea and a local author comes to speak to the group. Any member of the HHWC Evening Group is welcome to join the Literary Club! We are a casual group; you can come to one meeting or all of them, and you are welcome to come to meetings even if you have not read the book. We read books from all genres: fiction, non-fiction, short stories, essays, memoirs, and occasionally poetry. In 2022-2023, we are reading:
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This Hortense Ward Scholarship is presented annually to a female law school student from a Houston area law school. In 2022, the scholarship was awarded to Detericka Chambers, a student at Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University. The recipient is selected based on exemplifying qualities of public service and commitment to social causes, especially those involving women. The $2,500 scholarship, which may be used for direct school expenses or for living expenses. is presented and the recipient introduced at the HHWC Founder's Day reception. 
The Jolly Old St. Nick listens to the wishes of children of all ages from the Heights community at this free community event, photos are self-taken. You may recognize some of Santa's elves! In 2022, Santa at the Clubhouse will take place on December 10. |
The HHWC began as The Houston Heights Literary Club at the turn of the last century. The original sixteen members were women looking for a place for "study and enlightenment" and met weekly, when they spent all day giving presentations and discussing the readings. Our modern incarnation of this club was started in 2006 by local writer and historian Anne Sloan with the goal of creating a space to read award-winning, important, and/or controversial books that would spark engaging discussions among the members. 
Since 2012, Club members have welcomed their dear friend, Santa Claus, to the clubhouse the first weekend in December.  When the temperature outside finally starts to dip, and we begin to hear a rustling of leaves, members of the Houston Heights Woman’s Club know it’s time to start polishing their brooms and dusting their hats as the annual Witches Luncheon is around the corner. The Witches Luncheon has been a signature, can’t-miss event of the Houston Heights Woman’s Club since 2009. Club member, Trudy Nelson, who initiated this club tradition, replicated a New Orleans tradition where women gathered on the Friday before Halloween t and support local restaurants. In fact, there are several restaurants in New Orleans’ historic French Quarter that continue this tradition today. At HHWC, our Witches Luncheon is planned by members who are named Good Witch and Bad Witch for the day (or longer...). They establish the theme of the luncheon (past Witches Luncheon themes have included: Moon Over the Enchanted Forest, Masquerade Ball, Hocus Pocus, Legendary Casting Spells in Cinema, Books, and Music), and identify a local restaurant to convene our coven! Grab your broom, your cauldron and your hat...You won’t want to miss this extraordinary and spooky event!
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In 2007, members launched one of the Club’s most popular fundraising events, the Victorian Tea (also known as the Winter Tea). For many years, the event was held on a Sunday afternoon in December.
Guests arrive at the Clubhouse which has been transformed into a winter wonderland. Member-hostesses adopt a table, establish its theme and decorate it with fine china, crystal, silver, linens, and elaborate centerpieces. Attendees (some of whom are dressed in their best Victorian attire) enjoy a traditional afternoon tea of scones, quiches, finger sandwiches, tarts, cookies, and the finest Darjeeling tea. It is not an event that will soon be forgotten!
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