The Ladies’s Nationwide Republican Membership turns 100 this yr, however could not make it to 101.
The historic political membership in midtown Manhattan has discovered itself in dire monetary straits because of the continued coronavirus pandemic, in line with a fundraising attraction despatched to members on Dec. 15 which mentioned the establishment was “in jeopardy.”
“As a result of most of our revenues comes from our 28 lodge rooms and our catering enterprise, the membership has been particularly arduous hit by this yr’s COVID-19 pandemic,” the membership mentioned in a letter signed by all of its senior officers. “Our membership dues solely account for roughly 5% of our general income.”
The letter, which implored members to provide, mentioned the membership anticipated lodge income to be down 68% in 2020 and a minimum of the primary half of 2021. Catering was off 80%.
The membership was based in 1921 by New York suffragette Henrietta Wells Livermore as a spot for politically lively ladies to fulfill and share concepts.
The group was warmly embraced by President Calvin Coolidge, who was keen to draw newly empowered ladies voters after the passage of the nineteenth modification in 1919. His portrait hangs in a the membership’s fourth-floor library, which was devoted by First Woman Grace Coolidge.
The membership’s present headquarters on 3 West 51st Road was erected through the depths of the Nice Despair between 1932 and 1934. The neo-Georgian mansion by Frederic Rhinelander King is listed on the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations.
Former First Woman Laura Bush, and former Second Girls Lynne Cheney and Marilyn Quayle, are listed as honorary members.
When reached for remark, membership officers insisted the fundraising drive had labored and the membership’s future is safe.
“The letter was very profitable. We now have donations, we now have secured funding, and we’re hopeful that the pandemic can be over in an inexpensive period of time and we will get again to 100% enterprise,” membership treasurer Carol Mann instructed The Submit.
She declined to say how a lot was raised or how deep the opening is.
President Rosanne Varvaro insisted the membership was at no danger of closing they usually deliberate to stay round for a very long time.
