The purpose of this club shall be "to create an organized center of action among women for cooperation in literary, educational and philanthropic work; for the study thereof, and for general culture, for the promotion of practical interest in science, art, literature, and music for the betterment of Mackinaw"

So, what do we do? Good question!

We hold 4 blood drives for the American Red Cross in March, June, September, and December. We provide snacks and treats, along with services to donors.

We provide the means to send 5 to 6 elementary grades to the beautiful Cheboygan Opera House in March to attend a professional stage production attuned to children, some of whom may never have had the opportunity to see one before. The Youth Theatre stories portrayed teach a valuable lesson to youngsters. 

We have also contributed to "Closeup," the program which sends a high school class to Washington, D. C., to see government in action, including our state respresentatives and senators. These students overwhelmingly name this project as their most important and interesting in their final comments as graduating seniors.

The club awards a scholarship annually to a graduating senior, whom we consider has participated in community events, has been involved in community service, displays a record of balanced overall activity in academics and athletics, and a high GPA, as well as a goal of realistic values for his or her future. This scholarship is the result of our investment in the Mackinaw Woman's Club Fund in the Straits Area Community Foundation, which supports grants for Cheboygan County and Mackinaw City. This award is the "Lucy Gridley Award," (a true Mackinaw Woman!) who was the daughter of an early past president, Luella Jackson.

This year we have three major fund-raisers - the Rummage Sale along with the Village in May, the Strawberry Social, on the 4th of July, and the Antique Show on the first Tuesday in August - from which the proceeds allow us to contribute to several worthy organizations. We donate at various times to:

  • Mackinaw Chamber of Commerce's "Music in Mackinaw" Program
  • Cheboygan Area Arts Council
  • Mackinaw Area Public Library
  • Mackinaw Area High School Project "Closeup" (Teens travel to Washington, D. C. to see their legislators in action)
  • Mackinaw Band Boosters
  • Rein or Shine Pep Club (Equine Therapy for handicapped children)
  • Diane Peppler Women's Resource Center, Soo (shelter for battered women started by a young Mackinaw attorney, who later died in a car accident)
  • The Mackinaw Ice Skating Association

We have a long list of requests for other donations, which is rotated on an annual basis, as we are able.

We also hold smaller fund-raisers such as bake sales, plant sales, craft items, etc. to supplement our income as needed to provide maintenance and upkeep of our clubhouse.

We publish a quarterly newsletter, the "Tattler," to keep members informed of what we, as a club, have accomplished and what plans are ahead for the future of the club.

We began and established a web site to dispense information. The address is www.mackinawwomansclub.org.

Every May we hold a Past Presidents Dinner to honor our past presidents and review our long-established history from 1914 to the present. We also participate in the annual "Grand Parade" just before the "Fort Michilimackinac Pageant Re-enactment" over Memorial weekend.

In the 6 months of February, March, April, June, October, and November, we try to present programs of various interests with speakers whose expertise helps to educate and inform the members on timely subjects. Some of these are presented in local restaurants, or in our own clubhouse. Occasionally, the club as a whole may take a field trip to a particular destination.  January is a vacation month. In September we have an annual potluck picnic at the clubhouse and enjoy either a program, or play games, or just socialize.

In December, we celebrate with a Christmas party for the members before we close our club year. This has been either a potluck at the clubhouse, or dinner in a local or area restaurant. 

While we are serious about what we accomplish, we are a fun-loving group, but we do not sit around constantly with our "pinkie" fingers in the air as we occasionally have a cup of tea. We enjoy the company of our sister members as we chat over refreshments provided by our hostesses following programs, and we laugh with great gusto and perhaps even more spirit than our "Red Hat" sisters!