Moira Moynihan-Manoog, a Principal at a local financial firm, will head the 130-year-old private social club. The new President remembers when she and her sister and mother had to enter the club through a “back door,” but is now focused on “transforming the club into a sustainable entity that will be relevant for generations to come.”
For the first time in its 130-year history, the Worcester (Mass.) Club has named its first woman President, the Worcester Business Journal reported.
The club, founded in 1888, announced its new officers on June 14, including Moira Moynihan-Manoog, a firm Principal at MSW Financial Partners in Worcester, as its new President.
Nominating chairman and previous President John Spillane nominated Moynihan-Manoog, the Business Journal reported.
“Our members share my great enthusiasm for Moira’s leadership in this role, as it marks and welcomes an exciting new era in the long history of our club,” Spillane said in a statement.
Moynihan-Manoog told the Business Journal that she’s looking ahead to being part of the “rich history” of the club, which will include expanding the role of women within the club.
“Together, we are transforming the club into a sustainable entity that will be relevant for generations to come,” she said.” We have an ambitious agenda, completing beautiful renovations, increasing membership, and yes, expanding the role of women within the club.”
According to the club’s announcement, women weren’t elected to membership until 1988. Now, the club has more than 50 female members, the Business Journal reported.
While founded as a men’s club, women were allowed entry through a private doorway as long as they were accompanied by a member. Moynihan-Manoog told the Business Journal that she remembers her mother, sister and herself using the infamous “back door” years ago.
“While I was too young to realize the significance of such an entrance, I will say that entering the club was always special regardless,” she said. “Not only have we celebrated engagements, graduations, and anniversaries at the club, but we have also marked sad occasions like family members’ passing within the clubhouse.”
Now, the new club President hopes to increase the number of women members, which currently sits at 20 percent, the Business Journal reported. Her family and husband’s family have both long been members of the club, and Moynihan-Manoog hopes to continue that history.
“I am honored to follow in their footsteps as the first woman President of the Worcester Club,” she said.
For the Business Journal’s full report, go to http://www.wbjournal.com/article/20180615/NEWS01/180619963/worcester-club-elects-first-woman-president
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