I’m a member of the Nineteenth Century Club and longtime resident who asks of the village, the county and the state: Is there no room for our charitable organization in Oak Park, Cook County and the State of Illinois? [19th Century Club gets hefty tax bill from county, News, Nov. 18] Is it because we have been too busy supporting our community and haven’t bragged enough about what we do? Is it because we existed before the Village of Oak Park and ever-changing tax laws?
Does the village want, instead of a historic organization that any community would be proud to have, another parking lot, high rise or big-box store?
As the volunteer webmaster, I’ve learned about the history of our organization and its commitment to charitable outreach. Members were and are unique in their commitment, which has evolved according to the needs of the era. Not everyone has what it takes to be a committed member – membership involves volunteering time, talents and personal resources for our charitable projects.
No one asked us to raise money back in 1951 to give away four-year scholarships to students at Oak Park and River High School. We just did it and still do it.
No one asked us to found and fund other local nonprofits. We just did it and still do it.
No one asks us to knit, sew and crochet garments for newborns and others in need. We just did it and still do it.
No one asked us to organize and fund programs every Monday that are educational, informative, and available to the public for a nominal fee. We just did it and still do it.
No one asked us to organize a green initiative that collected four full truckloads of computers (and components) that were refurbished for low-income families and nonprofits, or recycled responsibly (kept out of landfill). We have also recycled many other items to benefit nonprofits. We don’t benefit financially from these recycling efforts. We just do it.
We are doers, but not good at getting our efforts on the front page. We see a need and act on it.
What we raise is mostly spent locally. When we purchase, we mostly purchase locally.
Yes, it’s only a building, but Frank Lloyd Wright, Ernest Hemingway (his mother was a founder) and Gwendolyn Brooks have walked the halls. Recently, the Jesse White Tumblers rocked our auditorium with an amazing performance for a children’s program on a school holiday.
We take the mantle of community commitment that has been passed down to us from generations of members seriously, and we want to continue doing what members have been doing since 1891: giving back and making a difference in our community.
Pat Davis is an Oak Park resident and member of the Nineteenth Century club, a nonprofit women’s club based in Oak Park.