Current and former members of the Women’s Club pose for one final picture togther to celebrate the 80th and final year of the organization.

The Dysart’s Women’s Club recognized their 80th anniversary with a gathering at the Zion Lutheran Church on Saturday, Nov. 16 in what will be one of their final events before completely disbanding in 2020.

Books full of photos, newspaper clippings, letters and memorabilia lined the tables in the church’s dining area as 47 former and present members shifted through the countless memories bound in these books. A list of past members and presidents waited at the end of the display, including the name of the current president, Pat Hansen.

“This club has been involved in a lot of projects over the years,” Hansen said. “We started the preschool in Dysart for three and four year olds that has gone on for quite a few years. A club had started the Jeune Attente Dance Company, created a Baazar. My club, La Maison, has done all the barrels on Main Street for years and the whole club does Christmas on Main. We do entertainment for Holiday Fun on 21. We donate to the city and organizations.”

La Maison was started by Hansen’s sisters and gave her a chance to get out in the community as a stay-at-home mother. She enjoyed the ability to organize events with the club, including their spring banquets. One more still remains on the horizon in April before the general Women’s Club says goodbye.

“We are disbanding after this year because at one time we had 160 members and now we are down to 50 members,” Hansen said. “There used to be seven clubs that made up the general Women’s Club, and now there would only be two small clubs left.”

Tables at Zion Luthern church were lined with photos, news clips and memorablia from over the years.

According to Hansen, La Maison will continue on, yet not in the same capacity as the Dysart Women’s Club currently exists as a national recognized club.

“We’ve always had a vice president of the general club and this year we simply couldn’t find one,” Hansen said. “That was our first clue it was time. Everyone is busy and no one wants to take on the responsibilities. The younger members have children involved in activities, so it’s a different issue than the members who are aging. We hate to say that, but it’s true.”

Yet Hansen hopes that someone else will step up to continue sponsoring and organizing events. Hansen personally plans to continue doing what she can in the community. For this last get-together of 2019, she simply wanted people to enjoy this last morning together.

“I felt this went well and several different clubs came today,” Hansen said. “People stayed around and enjoyed themselves.”