Athena Study Club has existed for 93 years years ago
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
The Athena Study Club in Marion has existed since 1914. It was organized as a federated club with centralized rules and guidelines. Except for a brief pause during World War I, it has met regularly for 93 years.
Named after the mythological Greek goddess, Athena, "the goddess of wisdom, skills, and warfare," the women's clubs were organized to promote their involvement in society.
According to one longtime member, Ruth Viets, there were six federated clubs in Kansas at one time, but Athena is the only one remaining.
In the 1980s, the local club dropped its affiliation with the mother organization and became basically a social club.
Viets said when she joined the club in the early 1980s, there were at least 25 members. Now, membership is down to seven. They don't meet during cold, winter months.
The club's motto is: "To help and be helped." Members are Frances Turner, president, Lenore Dieter, Claudia Allison, Ruth Jo Penner, treasurer, Erna Mae Yeagley, and Viets.
Marie Morse no longer can attend meetings but is considered an honorary member.
At their meetings, members hear reports from nursing homes, schools, and other community-related entities.
"We are making sure we are staying alert and keeping up with what is going on in the community," Viets said.
Members take turns giving the lesson at their monthly meetings. This year, they have been playing various TV games.
It was the Athena Study Club which initiated the traditional lighting of the Christmas tree in Central Park the day after Thanksgiving. The club bought the lights and city employees put them on the tree.
Penner, a member since the early 1970s, said being with a group standing around the tree with candles "made me feel like being in a Christmas card."
This year, the lighting of the tree occurred Sunday.
Dieter is the youngest member of the club. She said she joined because her mother, Lola Wheeler, was a member. Her grandmother also had been a member. Others joined by invitation.
The Neo Century Club and 20th Century Club, both active in Marion, are offshoots of Athena Study Club.
In view of its declining membership, the future of Athena Study Club is uncertain but it always will be a part of Marion history.
