Our History

The Chico Women's Club began in 1913 as the Chico Art Club. Our founding mothers included Annie Bidwell and Margaret March, the first president. Meetings were held in each other's homes until they built our present clubhouse in 1933. A fire in 1950 destroyed all of the Club's early records. The 1951 yearbook lists 242 members by their husband's first and last names! It also indicates that they were a part of the National Federation of Women which was known for its progressive agenda.

By the 1960's they called themselves the Chico Women's Club and used their own first names. In the 1970's they helped create Caper Acres and restore Bidwell Mansion. They also began hosting the mansion's Holiday Open House and we still do today.

In the 1980's membership began to decline as women became employed, single mothers, and literally on the move. By the millennium only a small group of older women remained. In 2004 a group of younger women joined the club and membership has risen again to over 100. These ninety plus years have seen an expansion of the Club's goals from self-enrichment, to community service and a focus on national and global concerns.

The Club Today

Our programs run from September to June and begin with the tradition of a September Tea at which we welcome new members and celebrate our Club's birthday.

We sponsor periodic lectures of interest to our membership which includes the annual filmed speakers from the current year’s Bioneers conferences. We have joined with five other local women's groups to form a Micro-finance Collaborative which provides loans to women in developing areas of the world.

We coordinate a TimeBank to facilitate and record the exchange of skills and services among members, helping to create community 'one hour at a time.' Our annual fundraisers include Works in the Works, Poetry and Prose, Champagne and Chocolate, and Quilt raffle.  All proceeds fund scholarships and grants to community or global agencies.

Every year the Chico Women's Club awards two scholarships to graduating senior girls. Any senior wishing to apply for our scholarship is encouraged to contact the Chico Scholarship Association through their high school counseling offices

We encourage all area women who share our values, vision and mission to become members of the Club. We maintain contact with each other through our programs, social gatherings, and a weekly e-mail newsletter.

Board members are elected each spring. The Board meets the first Tuesday of each month and all members are welcome to attend. We are a non-profit corporation.