Mimi Burns presenting to Dorothy Hunt & Plate to recognize 47 years continuous service to the Fillmore Women’s Service Club.

Past and present members, guests, and educational scholarships recipients were invited to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Fillmore Ebell Club and the 50th Anniversary of the Fillmore Women's Service Club. The event was held at the Memorial Building for an evening with dinner and dancing to recognize the wonderful work and dedication these two clubs have provided the community of Fillmore.

The Fillmore Ebell Club's objective was the promotion of culture, education, art, literature, music, and other fine arts. The first club meetings were held in homes, and in 1916 the meetings were held in the new Masonic Hall. In April 1929 the Club became interested in having their own clubhouse, which was completed in 1931. In 2000 the Clubhouse was sold. The Ebell Club ceased operations this year with its remaining assets being distributed to organizations in the community.

The Fillmore Women's Service Club started in 1964 when a group of young women formed the Fillmore Junior Women's Club, a Federation. In 1970 the group became the Fillmore Junior Ebell Club. In 1979 the group officially became the Fillmore Women's Service Club, a non-profit organization whose objective is the pursuit of educational, philanthropic and civic work in our community. Over the years the FWSC has donated money from fund raisers back to the community, to groups and individuals, and the support of our museums and libraries. The making of over 4,000 baby hats for newborns at Santa Paula Hospital, the first group to sponsor Bicycle Safety, purchased the first resuscitation machine for the Volunteer Fire Department, support for the schools, including money to every teacher in the school district for supplies and so much more.

Brad Hudson representing Congresswoman Julie Browning, Patty Quiroz representing Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, Shelly Johnson representing Assemblyman Jeff Gorell, Ventura County Supervisor Kathy Long, and David Wilde and Lucy Rangel representing the Fillmore Unified School Board presented Certificates of Recognition to Mary Ford, President of the Fillmore Ebell Club and Jeanne Klittich, President of the Fillmore Women's Service Club accepting on behalf of the clubs.

Mimi Burns, Committee Chairwoman, made a special presentation of an engraved plate to FWSC member, Dorothy Hunt, who has been a continuing member of the Fillmore Women's Service Club for 47 years.

Since 1970 Fillmore Women's Service Club has been supporting our graduating High School Seniors with Scholarships, Susan Banks, Youth Chairwoman, introduced the High School Educational Scholarship recipients, who were present. The Club also is currently giving Community Scholarship and an Adult Womens Scholarship, Susan also recognized those recipients who were present. Since 1970 The Fillmore Women's Service Club has given $251,850 in scholarships to Fillmore Students.

The Anniversary Celebration was a wonderful way to acknowledge the community service these two clubs have given the city of Fillmore. Many displays of photos, scrapbooks and newspaper articles were on display. Many FWSC scholarship winners wrote testimonials that were touching and inspiring about what their scholarships meant to them.

These motivated and generous women, have touched our community, and the lives of many individuals. With their hard work and dedication they have made our community a better place.

The Fillmore Women's Service Club is open to any woman over the age of 21 who would like to help the community. Membership fee is $15 a year and the club meets once a month for eight months of the year. For more information you can go to www.fillmorewomensserviceclub.com.