WCV History

The Woman’s Club of Vista was founded in 1916 and is celebrating over 100 years of service to our community. Originally organized as the Woman’s Current Events Club, and adopting the motto, “Along the friendly way we journey together to achieve the best things for country life,” members of the Woman’s Club were active in marking El Camino Real with guide posts and promoting Vista’s first Clean Up Day. In 1927, after affiliating with the State and General Federation of Women’s Clubs, members voted to change the name to The Woman’s Club of Vista.

The Woman’s Club built a clubhouse in Vista, dedicated in 1929, and it served many purposes for the community including being opened to the Camp Pendleton Marines during WWII as a canteen and service club. In 1959 the Woman’s Club of Vista outgrew its clubhouse and in 1965-66 constructed a 7,100 square foot clubhouse on Oak Drive. Sponsored by the Woman’s Club in 1960, the Vista Junior Woman’s Club donated $1,000 toward the Brengle Terrace Park Amphitheater, installed a wooden sign for the Brengle Terrace Park playground, and paid for the first polio shot vaccines for children at a local clinic.

In 1980 the Woman’s Club began the first glass recycling service for Vista and created a “Hazardous Household Waste” pamphlet, printed and distributed to over 25,000 residents. The project chairman explained the Club’s recycling success to delegates from 70 countries attending the Global assembly of Women and the Environment in 1991. The 1990’s Keep America Beautiful and the United Nations Environmental Program recognized the Woman’s Club for the planting over 700 oak tree seedlings in local parks.

Since the Woman’s Club of Vista sold their clubhouse in 2005, the Club has donated over $720,000 to 72 non-profit organizations working with people in our community: children, women, families, youth, and veterans, homeless families and foster children, Gardens and field trips, as well as the Vista Fire Department and Sheriff’s Department.

The Club awards annual scholarships to students of Vista High School, Rancho Buena Vista High School, Guajome Park Academy, Mission Vista High School, North County Trade Tech High School, and Maj. General Raymond Murray High School.

Woman’s Club members have given thousands of hours in volunteer service to non-profit organizations. The Club supports Vista Community Clinic with blankets for babies and supports Operation HOPE with food and activity packets for kids. The Club contributed to building the ponds and stream project at Alta Vista Gardens using funds from recycling and provides reduced-fee nature field trips for eligible schoolchildren.

View of list of Past Presidents.

WCV regularly participates in GFWC activities, including the annual convention.