Quota Club celebrates 60 years of service

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EAST LIVERPOOL - A group dedicated to community service and helping others had its own reason to celebrate. The Quota Club of East Liverpool had a 60th birthday party.

With 56 members and guests in attendance, the groups gathered at the East Liverpool Country Club to not only reminisce, but also to look forward to future projects.

The local membership is a part of Quota International which was first organized in 1919 as an international service organization that links members of all ages, occupations, and nationalities in a worldwide network of service and friendship.

With a motto of "we share," Quotarians are known especially for their service to deaf, hard-of-hearing, and speech-impaired individuals and disadvantaged women and children.

According to local Quota Club President Joan Witt, members share the values of serving and encouraging others, developing friendships, and promoting international understanding.

"There is closeness in this organization," Witt said. "This is a group that can be counted on when things need to be done. They will be there."

Some Quota International dignitaries were there to help celebrate the local group's 60th birthday. Daryl Perrine, the International president, Mary Pribish, the International treasurer, Dottie Callender, 6th District governor and Pat Kanehl, a past district governor were in attendance. The Quota Club of East Liverpool was chartered on June 21, 1948. One of the first projects for the organization was the establishment of a speech clinic for young children, according to Witt.

For many years, that clinic was held at North Elementary School. After several successful years under the guidance of the local Quota Club, other organizations took an interest in the project, and it was eventually incorporated into the programs at City Hospital, Witt said.

The first president of the local group was Dorothy Harrison Horsley, a local business owner. Her husband owned a photography studio along Broadway, according to Witt.

Today, the two longest serving members are Juanita Clendenning and Mary Black. Both have been members of the organization since 1964.

This is the second time around as president of the local club for Witt who joined up in 1986.

The group still strives to help those who have experienced hearing loss and the effort has also become proactive through the use of infant screening for hearing problems and an endorsement of classes in sign language for infants and parents.

According to Witt, gifts from the club during the last few years included portable amplification systems for Beaver Local and East Liverpool schools and individual systems for students with specific needs. Lately, the group has provided gifts to the residents of the Fleming House in Lisbon.

The group works throughout the year for various causes including the donation of hats, gloves, socks and mittens for needy school children, the preparation of desserts for the Meals on Wheels program and the ringing of Salvation Army bells.

Witt said the group raises money through garage sales, house tours, dances and other activities. But, it's the annual nut sales drive that provides the largest revenue stream and the most recognition.

"We've become known as 'the nut ladies,'" Witt said with a grin. But through the effort, the group generates roughly $3,000 annually - all for a good cause.

"This group is something special," Witt said.