Historic Women’s Republican Club in NYC faces fiscal woes

The Women’s Nationwide Republican Club turns 100 this 12 months, but may perhaps not make it to 101.

The historic political club in midtown Manhattan has identified alone in dire economic straits as a outcome of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, according to a fundraising appeal despatched to customers on Dec. 15 which claimed the institution was “in jeopardy.”

“Because most of our revenues comes from our 28 hotel rooms and our catering company, the club has been especially tricky strike by this year’s COVID-19 pandemic,” the club reported in a letter signed by all of its senior officers. “Our membership dues only account for about 5% of our general revenue.”

The letter, which implored associates to give, said the club envisioned resort income to be down 68% in 2020 and at minimum the initial half of 2021. Catering was off 80%.

The club was founded in 1921 by New York suffragette Henrietta Wells Livermore as a location for politically lively girls to fulfill and share concepts.

The group was warmly embraced by President Calvin Coolidge, who was keen to appeal to newly empowered women of all ages voters just after the passage of the 19th amendment in 1919. His portrait hangs in a the club’s fourth-ground library, which was dedicated by 1st Woman Grace Coolidge.

The club’s present-day headquarters on 3 West 51st Street was erected for the duration of the depths of the Excellent Depression in between 1932 and 1934. The neo-Georgian mansion by Frederic Rhinelander King is detailed on the Countrywide Sign-up of Historic Sites.

Former Initially Girl Laura Bush, and previous 2nd Girls Lynne Cheney and Marilyn Quayle, are listed as honorary customers.

When attained for remark, club officers insisted the fundraising generate experienced labored and the club’s long term is safe.

“The letter was incredibly productive. We have donations, we have secured funding, and we are hopeful that the pandemic will be above in a sensible sum of time and we can get back again to 100% organization,” club treasurer Carol Mann told The Submit.

She declined to say how significantly was elevated or how deep the gap is.

President Rosanne Varvaro insisted the club was at no threat of closing and they prepared to stick all-around for a very long time.