An egg, cradled in June Kern's apron, slips from her grasp during a skit at a meeting celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Culbertson Women's Club. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette) [Click to enlarge]

CULBERTSON -- Many, many years ago -- 100 to be exact -- women in Culbertson decided they needed to become more involved in "the affairs of the community," and Mrs. Nettie Corrick "talked women's club" until "the movement was put into action."

The "Culbertson Women's Club" recently recognized the initiative of those women so many years ago, and celebrated the club's 100th anniversary with a reception, skit and cake.

According to the minutes of the first meeting -- on Feb. 1, 1908 -- the purpose of the club would be "mutual improvement, beautifying the city and social recreation." Early topics included: Laws in Nebraska regarding women and children, new state laws, compulsory education and the duties and limitations of the government.

Projects and accomplishments of the Women's Club through the years include:

* Securing and maintaining a city park.

* Sponsoring a "Best-Kept Yard" contest.

* Welcoming receptions for teaching staff

* Social events for brothers-in-law, fathers-and-sons and mothers-and-daughters.

* Contributions to an educational scholarship fund and to the organization of a domestic science department.

* Support of the American Red Cross.

* Circulation of a petition in 1920 in support of a new school building.

* Planning the community's first Boy Scout and Brownie troops. Co-sponsorship of the Culbertson Lions Club and Culbertson Youth Center.

* Planting a memorial tree in the cemetery in 1931, in memory of James Henderson, the comunity's last Civil War veteran.

* Installed horse shoe pitching pits and shufle board courts in Hillside Park.

* Tax and alcohol/narcotics informational seminars. In 1938, the topic was "the marijuana seed."

* Legislative and government debates. In 1934, women debated whether Nebraska should adopt a one-house legislature or retain its two-house form of government.

* Bake sales and benefit bridge parties.

* Parliamentary law drills, penny marches, silver teas, mystery sisters, holiday parties, alumni and junior/senior banquets, cancer control programs, tree plantings in the park, art exhibits, war relief work, gift packages to service men, knitting for the Red Cross, musical programs, yarn drives, the Fourth of July parade.

* Worked to influence the city fathers not to grant liquor/beer licenses.

* Supported of the Children's Home in Omaha.

* Purchased a home from Mrs. Rothermel and transformed it into the city library. The club started meeting in the library in December 1937.

* Creation of "The Women's Club Trio" in 1946, to perform at club meetings.

* Candles for Korean families without electricity.

* Installation of a cafeteria in the public school.

* Organized the Culbertson Garden Club.

* Support of Girls State.

* Support of the drive to build a city swimming pool.

* Providing babysitting services so voters could go to the polls.

* Development of a park beautification project with the Culbertson Community Improvement Program.

* Support of the Hitchcock County Pantry.

* The printing of the "Celebrating 100 Years with 100 Recipes" cookbook in recognition of the club's 100th anniversary.

Rosemary Corey, the club's 2007-08 president, contributed this recipe for the book:

PEANUT BUTTER FINGERS

Cream 1/2 cup butter

Add:

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup firmly-packed brown sugar

Cream well and blend in:

1 unbeaten egg

1/4 tsp. salt

1/3 cup peanut butter

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 cup flour

1 cup rolled oats

Spread in a greased 9x13-inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

Sprinkle with 1 6-oz. pkg. semi-sweet chocolate chips. Let stand for five minutes.

Combine:

1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar

1/4 cup peanut butter

2-4 tbsp. evaporated milk

Mix well.

Spring chocolate chips evenly. Drizzle with peanut butter-powdered sugar mixture.

Cool and cut into bars.

Although the club was forever involved in a community project, or even an issue that had state-wide ramifications, club members never forgot that one purpose of the club was self-improvement.

The club collect, recited at the opening of each meeting, has through the years reminded members: "Keep us, O God, from pettiness. Let us be large in thought, in word, in deed. Let us be done with fault-finding and leave off self-seeking. ... And, O Lord God, let us forget not to be kind."

Even today's citizens and politicians could take lessons from the Culbertson Women's Club. Its 'Resolutions for Club Women" reads, in part:

* "I will endeavor to attend the club meetings more regularly."

* "I will help the presiding officer by making motions promptly."

* "I will learn to state my motion in the fewest words possible."

* "I will refrain from talking during musical selections, the same as I would do during an address."

* "I will be charitable. Each member has a right to promote measures in which she is interested, and to defeat those of which she disapproves."

Women, throughout the ages, have wanted what is best for their families, their friends and their world. Members of the Culbertson Women's Club resolved, throughout their 100 years, to: " ... not allow terror and greed, cruelty and oppression to invade my domestic tranquility. I shall strive to give my children and my children's children a world that is free and secure.

"I shall teach them to love and to lend aid to their men, as I shall do. And above all, I shall clasp the hand of my neighbor from sea to sea in lasting friendship."