Winnetka Community House

A shared purpose: Supporting the mission of Winnetka Community House

W o m a n ’ s B o a r dAbout Winnetka Community HouseWinnetka Community House is a unique non-profit on Chicago’s North Shore that receives no tax dollars. Founded in 1911, the mission of the WCH is to enrich the lives of North Shore residents, their families and friends by provid-ing educational, cultural, social and recreational opportunities for North Shore residents of all ages.

• Fully equipped two-tiered Fitness Centre with locker rooms, steam rooms and showers.

• Room rentals for business meetings, weddings, civic organizations, corpo-rate functions, exhibits, fundraisers, birthday parties, mitzvahs and more.

• The beautifullly landscaped Arches Garden available for weddings, receptions, cocktail parties and other special events.

• On-site caterer and event planning. • On-site childcare room.

• Programs and class offerings including theatre, fitness, youth enrichment, dance, martial arts, camps, youth basketball art, ceramics, science, languag-es, dog obedience, sports and more.

• The Winnetka Bike Sale and Kids’ Garage Sale in April.

• Winnetka’s long-running traditional Haunted House in October.

• Theatre facilities and productions including resident theatre groups for adults and children

• Space for associated groups: North Shore Art League, Winnetka Community Nursery School, Junior

League of Evanston-North Shore, Winnetka Youth Organization, Open Communities and many more.

About the Woman’s BoardThe Woman’s Board was formed in 1976 by an enterprising group of women to support the entity they considered vital to the unique quality of their commu-nity. Their children had spent Saturday afternoons playing ball in the gym of WCH, watched movies in Matz Hall on Friday evenings and congregated during after-school hours at the bowling alley. Bridge groups, armchair travel lectures and theatre offerings all found a home through the years at the Goth-ic-style building located at Pine Street and Lincoln in Winnetka.

As the venerable institution faced financial challenges, the group of women dedicated themselves to raising funds to help keep it running. The original Woman’s Board has grown in 40 plus years to more than 100 women (active and sustaining members) from surrounding North Shore communities.

The Winnetka Community House receives no tax dollar support. Eighty-five percent of the funds raised by the Woman’s Board go directly to the operating budget of the Community House, with the remainder earmarked for special projects and needs. These funds along with generous and ongoing support from local businesses and residents have helped to grow and sustain the Winnetka Community House—one of the only centers of its kind in the United States.

Who Are Our Members?Our members are a multigenerational group of women, working together to support and promote the Winnetka Community House. We work in a team environment with many opportunities for individual contributions. Members of the Woman’s Board are unofficial “ambassadors” for the Winnetka Commu-nity House. Members are encouraged to participate in events sponsored by the Woman’s Board, such as the Preview Party, and other member social events and to volunteer when possible as additional “womanpower” is needed.

Benefits of Membership:Woman’s Board membership offers social opportunities, experience in event and project management and fosters a strong sense of camaraderie and purpose in the community. Woman’s Board members receive a free Community House Membership which entitles them to pre-register for many classes at reduced rates and other benefits. The Woman’s Board also offers complimentary on-site babysitting during Board meetings for its members.

Woman’s Board ActivitiesThe Woman’s Board is known for Antiques+Modernism Winnetka, a celebrat-ed three-day show that premiered in 2010! Based on the highly successful and nationally recognized and respected Winnetka Antique Show and Modernism Show, previously held separately, Antiques + Modernism Winnetka features prestigious dealers from throughout the United States and thousands of attend-ees. The show represents the best of design through the centuries.

The Wine and Beer Tasting is an exciting event that the Woman’s Board has hosted since 2010. It is an opportunity to sample superb wines from around the world alongside microbrew and premium beers. Delicious pairings of savory hors d’oeuvres, cheese and sweets are also served. Wine is available for purchase from the vendors, and can then be picked up in Winnetka.

Breakfast with Santa is a fun event for the family. Kids enjoy breakfast, crafts and the chance to have their photo taken with Santa Claus. The event has grown in popularity, selling out in 2011. For the event, Woman’s Board mem-bers oversee the transformation of Matz Hall into a winter wonderland.

Requirements of Woman’s Board Membership:• Attend monthly meetings (except July and August) the second Wednesday

of each month at 12:30 p.m. A light lunch is followed by the meeting

• Support the fundraisers of the Woman’s Board by assuming a job for the Antiques+Modernism Show and helping with at least one other event.

• Serve on an interest committee, such as House and Grounds, Social, Nomi-nating, or Membership

• Pay annual dues, which includes a credit toward the purchase of Antiques+-Modernism Winnetka Preview Party tickets.

About Winnetka Community HouseWinnetka Community House is a unique non-profit on Chicago’s North Shore that receives no tax dollars. Founded in 1911, the mission of the WCH is to enrich the lives of North Shore residents, their families and friends by provid-ing educational, cultural, social and recreational opportunities for North Shore residents of all ages.

• Fully equipped two-tiered Fitness Centre with locker rooms, steam rooms and showers.

• Room rentals for business meetings, weddings, civic organizations, corpo-rate functions, exhibits, fundraisers, birthday parties, mitzvahs and more.

• The beautifullly landscaped Arches Garden available for weddings, receptions, cocktail parties and other special events.

• On-site caterer and event planning. • On-site childcare room.

• Programs and class offerings including theatre, fitness, youth enrichment, dance, martial arts, camps, youth basketball art, ceramics, science, languag-es, dog obedience, sports and more.

• The Winnetka Bike Sale and Kids’ Garage Sale in April.

• Winnetka’s long-running traditional Haunted House in October.

• Theatre facilities and productions including resident theatre groups for adults and children

• Space for associated groups: North Shore Art League, Winnetka Community Nursery School, Junior

League of Evanston-North Shore, Winnetka Youth Organization, Open Communities and many more.

WINNETKA COMMUNITY HOUSE620 L INCOLN AVENUE, WINNETKA, IL 60093

847-446-0537 WINNETKACOMMUNITYHOUSE.ORG