[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 13 (Thursday, January 22, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E128]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          IN HONOR OF ``CLUB''

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JACKIE SPEIER-

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 22, 2009

  Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I have often said that women working 
together can accomplish great things. I rise this evening to pay 
tribute to such a group of women, born and raised in the depression in 
our favorite city, San Francisco, who have helped, consoled, networked, 
laughed, cried and raised their families together since meeting as 
schoolchildren some 70 years ago. This special group of ladies is known 
to themselves and in excess of 100 sons, daughters, grandchildren and 
great-grandchildren by the simple name: ``Club.''
  The original eight members met as children in the Excelsior District. 
Marie Regalia (later Kennealy), Anne Desmond (Cordes), Ann Espinosa 
(Sanchez), Connie Slevin (Voreyer), Mary McBrady (Ghiorso) and Rose 
Damonte (Larsen) were students at Epiphany Catholic School and Grover 
Cleveland Elementary but played together at Crocker Amazon Park and 
remained together through High School and into adulthood.
  Along the way, they picked up new members Irene and Janet Loretto, 
Gena O'Brien, Shirley Kennealy, Jeanne McKevitt, Barbara Dykstra, Elli 
Morris and Lori Carlin. The group has raised 58 children between them, 
trading used clothes, toys and baby furniture and providing moral, 
psychological and baby-sitting help long before modern innovations like 
the internet, self-help books and Oprah.
  Madam Speaker, the women of ``Club'' represent the finest of America. 
Each has made a profound mark on her community--from serving on boards 
of charities, presiding over parish women's guilds, coaching and 
teaching young girls, and unselfishly passing on their hard-earned 
wisdom to anyone looking for guidance.
  After graduating from high school in 1950, the women pledged to meet 
regularly to compare notes and ideas on how to navigate their rapidly 
changing world. Most are daughters of immigrants who were raised in the 
customs and traditions of ``the old country'' and were now charged with 
charting their own course. For nearly six decades, they have stayed in 
constant touch, sharing lunches, laughs and the kind of camaraderie 
that comes only with a lifetime of mutual experiences. Together, they 
have celebrated births and weddings, grieved at funerals, offered 
support during divorces and other setbacks and lent a hand whenever any 
of them needed a lift. In addition, ``Club'' has held more than 100 
showers for births, weddings and ordinations to the priesthood.
  The families of these confident and outgoing women know all-too-well 
the far-reaching influence of ``Club''. Indeed, few important decisions 
are made without running it by the group and woe to the husband who 
does something foolish or insensitive enough to top the agenda at a 
monthly get-together.
  Madam Speaker, you and I have both said that it is San Franciscans 
that make San Francisco such a special place. I can think of no greater 
example to illustrate this point than the vibrant, beautiful and 
passionate ladies known to all who have made their acquaintance as 
``Club.''

                          ____________________