Las Donas

The Akron Las Donas Club was organized in November 1957 by Tamara Sriver and Sondra Cumberland with the guidance of Tamara's mother, Mrs. Lamoin (Marie) Hand. These women felt there was a need for young married women to have a club to help the community and socialize with other women, because at that time most women were homemakers, so they needed to get together with other women.

At that time there was a Mothers Study Club, which was established in 1916, and was for the older generation. With this in mind, Sondra, Tamara and Marie organized the club along with several of their friends to become the first junior club in Akron.

The first meeting was held at the home of Mrs. Gary (Tamara) Sriver. Mrs. Hand presided for the election of the officers. Tamara Sriver was voted President; Sondra Cumberland, Vice-President; Mrs. Ted Dunn, Secretary; Mrs. Herschel Walters, Treasurer; and Mrs. Fred Ogle, Publicity Chairman. Other members included Mrs. Walter Cumberland, Mrs. Dale Doering, Mrs. Tom Hill, Mrs. Richard Clark and Mrs. Brad Moore. Mrs. Tad Henderson joined in December, 1957.
The goals of the club were: to promote sociability; increase the love of God; increase appreciation of ethnic values; and participate and aid in raising standards in our community. Mrs. Dale (Alys) Doering came up with the name for the club, Las Donas, meaning The Ladies in Spanish. At the time she was a Spanish student at Manchester College, and ironically thought that would be an unique name.

They became affiliated with the Indiana Federation of Clubs as a junior club, and was the second club in Akron to become a member of the Indiana and General Federation of Women's Clubs. The club dropped their affiliation with he Indiana Federation of Clubs in February of 1978.

The Las Donas Club originally met twice a month, the first Tuesday of every month for business, and the third Tuesday as a social. This has since been trimmed to once a month, the first Monday of the month, September through June, for a combined business and social meeting.

Recent Activities Include:

• Established the Marcus Hackworth & Scott Sechrist Memorial Scholarship to be awarded annually to a TVHS senior. Currently working to raise money to set up this scholarship as an endowment with the Northern Indiana Community Foundation.
• Held Longaberger Bingo events as a fundraiser for the scholarship fund.
• Sponsor Cutest Baby Contest at the Akron 4th of July.
• Sponsored the Tomorrow's Leaders photos of area children in the Shopping Guide News.
• Buy gifts for elderly shut-ins at Christmas time.
• Made or bought items for the Nutrition Site at holidays.
• Helped local families in times of catastrophic circumstances.
• Helped with City Park projects.
• Bake Sales
• Donate items to the Akron Elementary School
• Donate items to the Beaver Dam Pre-School.
• Put together recipes from past and present members for a cookbook.
• Organize a team for the Relay for Life - American Cancer Society
• Hold a Euchre Tournament as a fundraiser for the ACS.
• Hosted the Manitou Training Fall Dance for last few years
• Donated to Brownie troops.
• Donated to various community projects.

Fun Things We Have Done!

• Many different kinds of sampler parties.
• We go out to eat at least twice a year.
• We have had guest night for as long as the club history goes back.
• We have a family cookout in June.

Upcoming Events:

• Bake Sale with the Lion's Club Fish Fry on March 18
• Euchre Tournament - April 22 at the Akron Elementary School at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person. All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.
• Hackworth & Sechrist Scholarship applications are due April 29.
• Relay for Life - June 16-17 at the Rochester High School. Volunteer walkers and donations are welcome.

2005-06 Officers:
Gerry Denning, Pres
Carol Harsh, Vice-Pres.
Kim Heltzel, Secretary
Stacy Harsh, Treasurer
Brenda Ross & Angie Miller, Publicity
Karen Heltzel, Correspondence

Other members:
Denise Bonnel
Shannon Randall
Lacey Jones
Juliet Brazil
Andrea Ludwig
Lynette Brazil

We welcome anyone interested in becoming a member.

Contact person:
Brenda Ross
littlee@kconline.com

 

Scholarship

2006 Las Donas Scholarship Form (select a format:)     PDF  |   Word