WDC Established After 1956 Presidential Election

Eleanor Roosevelt With WDC Members - 1957

Eleanor Roosevelt With WDC Members - 1957

Our Start

Woman's* Democratic Of Montgomery County, MD (WDC) was launched after the 1956 election, the talented and enthusiastic women who ran Adlai Stevenson's Bethesda campaign headquarters decided to establish a club for Democratic women. The founding luncheon in January 1957 featured Eleanor Roosevelt, who spoke to 250 women at Normandie Farm Restaurant in Potomac. By 1960, WDC had become a vital force in both county and national politics, with the Democratic National Committee (DNC) enlisting members for various activities and to staff offices for Democratic Inaugural events. In the 1960s and ‘70s, the Club ran the Bethesda-Chevy Chase campaign headquarters for the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee (MCDCC). To finance the office, the Club sponsored events ranging from sales of food and Democratic novelty items to the famous biannual VIP auctions at the Mann farm in Poolesville.

Today

Today the Club continues to strongly support Democratic candidates and the MCDCC. Our members can be counted on to volunteer for key campaign responsibilities and for the Democratic tent at the Montgomery County Fair. At luncheons and forums, members meet and question top newsmakers, political analysts, journalists, and local and national candidates. WDC sponsors a biennial trip to Annapolis to meet with state lawmakers and co-sponsors the Women’s Legislative Briefing. Every four years, WDC sponsors our famous post-primary “Kiss and Make-Up Party.”  Our website and our emails keep members updated on legislative activities, political meetings and ways to become involved.

*Woman's is the original spelling of the club's name.

Past Presidents

  • 2022-2023 Diana Conway

  • 2021-2022 Leslie Milano

  • 2019-2021 Diana Conway

  • 2017-2019 Fran Rothstein

  • 2015-2017 Linda Kolko

  • 2013-2015 Beth Tomasello

  • 2011-2013 Jane Merkin

  • 2009-2011 Susan Elwell

  • 2005-2009 Darlene Montgomery

  • 2005 Jane Lawton

  • 2003-2005 Dorothy Barthelmes

  • 1999-2003 Carole Brand

  • 1997-1999 Rebecca Kahlenberg

  • 1995-1997 Miriam Silver

  • 1991-1995 Daphne Bloomberg

  • 1989-1991 Natalie Bouquet

  • 1987-1989 Madeleine Sigel

  • 1985-1987 Dorothy Barthelmes

  • 1983-1985 Susan Messitte

  • 1981-1983 Anne Healy

  • 1979-1981 Kelly Pelz

  • 1977-1979 Roberta Hochberg

  • 1975-1977 Madeleine Sigel

  • 1973-1975 Dorothy Barthelmes

  • 1971-1973 Marilyn Goldwater

  • 1969-1971 Grace Orlansky

  • 1967-1969 Mary Lou Freidman

  • 1965-1967 Margaret Carpenter

  • 1963-1965 Paula Locker

  • 1961-1963 Virginia Sprecher

  • 1959-1961 Peggy Mann

  • 1957-1959 Barbara Pryor