WHEREAS, The Wednesday Club, a social organization in Danville dedicated to promoting culture and community service, celebrates its 130th anniversary on October 25, 2023; and

WHEREAS, The Wednesday Club traces its founding to October 25, 1893, when Miss Augusta Yates of Danville launched a literary club by inviting 11 of her friends to the house of her brother-in-law, Judge A. M. Aiken, Sr., which led to the formation of The Wednesday Afternoon Literary Society, the precursor to The Wednesday Club, for the purpose of presenting programs of moral and literary value; and

WHEREAS, The Wednesday Afternoon Literary Society influenced religious, benevolent, civic, and cultural growth in Danville, while the members opened their homes for meetings, prepared and presented papers, and increased the organization's membership to 20 by inviting both men and women to lecture on a variety of topics; and

WHEREAS, shifting their focus to civic endeavors, members of The Wednesday Afternoon Literary Society visited schools to investigate sanitary conditions, influenced the city to remove an unsightly fence surrounding Green Street Park, enforced an ordinance against spitting in the street, brought improvements in street cleaning, required covers for trash cans, worked tirelessly to get poles for electric wires rather than using trees, and raised money for the creation of a public library; and

WHEREAS, in 1900, under a new president's leadership, a constitution and bylaws were adopted and the membership of The Wednesday Afternoon Literary Society was divided into "circles," or special interest groups, antecedents to The Wednesday Club's eight current program departments of art, civics, current events, drama, education, history, literature, and music; and

WHEREAS, by 1905, the membership of The Wednesday Afternoon Literary Society had outgrown meetings in members' homes, requiring the club to continuously find new space for its programs; the club ultimately established its headquarters at the Westbrook house on the corner of Main Street and Holbrook Street in the early 1920s, and a new clubhouse was constructed at the same location in 1970; and

WHEREAS, in 1924, The Wednesday Afternoon Literary Society officially changed its name to The Wednesday Club, and a year later, the organization established the Crippled Children's Clinic, which at one time served 1,367 children and adults in a single year; and

WHEREAS, in the mid-1920s, The Wednesday Club formed The Junior Wednesday Club, providing younger people with the opportunity to engage in activities aligned with the purpose of the parent group; and

WHEREAS, among its many civic activities, members of The Wednesday Club worked with the United Service Organizations during World War II and helped sponsor Saturday night dances at the local YWCA; and

WHEREAS, in recognition of the tireless efforts and dedication of its members, The Wednesday Club became the first club in the Commonwealth to be cited by the General Federation of Women's Clubs for outstanding civic work; and

WHEREAS, from the inspiration of one woman, Miss Augusta Yates, The Wednesday Club continues to thrive, delivering educational programs that are open to anyone, awarding scholarships to area high school graduates, donating funds annually to nonprofit organizations, supporting charitable and educational projects in the club's geographic area, and serving as a beacon of literacy for the Danville community; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That The Wednesday Club of Danville, one of the oldest women's organizations in the Commonwealth, hereby be commended for its exceptional service on the occasion of its 130th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to The Wednesday Club as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for the organization's history and best wishes for another 130 years of investment in the community.